BF/Pumping Thread

SoSayWeAll · October 2014

I haven't seen one of these in awhile and I have a question

Backstory: DS sleeps a 6-7 hour stretch at night in the PNP for which I am truly grateful and thankful. When I wake to feed him(typically around 4 AM) my boobs are about to explode. It makes feeding difficult because the letdown is so strong at that point. I usually give him one side only. Then he falls asleep and I reswaddle and keep him upright about 15 min. I have to put him in the RNP because he is uncomfortable laying flat at that point. I then pump the other side and go back to bed. He wakes up and feeds again 2 hours later but seems uncomfortable. It seems like things go downhill from there. He acts hungry a lot but I don't think he is because he will eat until he spits up. I can't really let him comfort nurse anymore because of this. He doesn't take a paci very well from me(takes it better from DH or other family members) and only takes 40 min naps if I put him down. I can get some longer naps sometimes if he lays on my chest, so I do that at least once a day for 2-3 hours. Right now he's asleep in the Moby. At first I thought this was maybe reflux but now I think he is getting too much milk too fast and it's causing gas/distension which leads to a vicious cycle. Things usually improve in the evening. I feel like part of the reason I get such a long stretch is that he is so tired from the day

Edit to add: I do take him off at the beginning of the MOTN and let some of the milk spray into a towel but we still have issues. I can't get the hang of that laid back nursing position.

My question is should I be waking up to pump say around 1 AM so that I'm not so engorged when he wakes up for that MOTN feeding? Any other suggestions?

Elaina22 · October 2014

Can you pump a little before you feed him? I found that worked best for me. I was much more comfortable and LO wasn't drowning in milk. Good Luck and enjoy that 6-7 hour stretch!!

SoSayWeAll · October 2014

@Elaina22 I could try that. I was a little worried that would create more supply but maybe not if it's just a little bit. I guess I could keep the hand pump by my bed and maybe pump a little when I hear him start grunting. He gets very upset if I don't feed him right away(like if I change his diaper first).

Elaina22 · October 2014

I just pump enough to relieve the engorgement/avoid the forceful letdown. Also, I'm a light sleeper so I get moving as soon as I hear her stirring. I usually have time before she fully wakes up but that might not work for you.

Valancyy · October 2014

My LO will sleep 8 hours a night at times (typically more like 6 or 7). I'm so full that he only eats from one side, then goes back to sleep. My other side was bursting for a few nights, but I didn't pump. He had that side only in the morning when he woke up. By mid-morning both sides are drained and soft again, from his nursing.

Now my supply seems to have regulated during the night and I'm not nearly as engorged as I had been for a few nights.

Maybe you have an oversupply from the pumping? Try not pumping for a few nights?

Nicole Brumfield · October 2014

I went through the same exact thing. He's spitting up bc he's getting too much milk at one time. Initially I did keep a hand pump by the bed when she started sleeping for those long stretches. I would pump like 2oz out and then let her feed. But you'll see that sometimes he'll be so hungry that you won't have a moment to pump first unless you can have your partner hold him and soothe him while you do it. (It doesn't take long when you're that full) If you don't have a partner or don't want to walk your parter, let him suck and eat that intial let down then after about a minute or if he coughs sit him up and burp him. That's what did, night after night I'd let her feed then burp after a min, put her back on the same boob, burp her again and repeat until she was full. I'd also sit her upright at least 15 min. Milk will stay down, gas will rise up and he'll sleep better. Eventually your body will know not to produce that much milk at that time. And you'll eventually be feeding on both sides for that feeding

raquelynn714 · October 2014

I didn't have the spit up problem, but I did wake up engorged when I first slept more hours before feedings. The engorgement settled without me needing to pump before breast feeding. My boobs adjusted to the new schedule after a couple days.

Elaina22 · October 2014

@zoegirlTX‌ I am going through the same thing right now with my 7wk old daughter. I posted on the breastfeeding board and some suggestions were stand and sway, pat her butt, nurse while she's sleepy, or try nursing in new locations. Unfortunately, these ideas have not helped. I am headed to the doctor soon for a separate issue and plan to bring it up. I'll let you know if I get any great ideas or info. I know how frustrated you are!

SoSayWeAll · October 2014

@zoegirlTX‌ https://kellymom.com/pregnancy/bf-prep/how_breastmilk_protects_newborns/ I don't know what the difference would be with EBF and nursing in AM and evening only though. My friend who EBF her daughter says she barely got sick despite going to daycare, but that's more anecdotal. In the end you have to do what is best for both of you and that sounds like a very frustrating situation.

workmm01 · October 2014

zoegirlTX said:
somebody convince me that it really does make a difference to their immunity to BF, especially when starting daycare...otherwise I may just start giving formula and only nursing in the AM/PM.

=(

Hang in there! You've made it this far and that's awesome! When we hit the 2 month mark I wanted to through a party! I never expected it to be this hard. Every couple of weeks I've set a new goal. We have needed to supplement with formula a few times and at first I felt horrible, but now I'm OK if that's what we need to do. Is there somewhere other than your office that you can pump? Can you go home at lunch to pump? If you decide to stop pumping and nurse at home, you're still doing an awesome job and if you go to formula only, she's still feed, happy and loved.

becominggold · October 2014

I have a pumping question...I just started back to work pt time and LO takes 2 bottles while I am gone, about 7-8 oz. Is it ok to pump only 1x ( around the time of bottle #2) if I am expressing 7-8oz or do I really need to do it the # of times LO eats?? I do not want to create any supply issues!
@zoegirlTX‌ I agree w the awkwardness of pumping at work. I am a teacher and have to do it in a small office. I am paranoid a middle schooler will walk in. If I only pump 1x I can do it in my car or when I get home.

Valancyy · October 2014

@becominggold: I think it would be better to pump two times. I'm assuming LO takes two feedings while you're gone? You really want to try to pump as many times as your LO eats.

That said, you could always try pumping once a day and see what happens. If you stop pumping as much milk, go back to 2x.

dvmmomma · October 2014

@saysoweall, how old is your LO? I went through this with mine when she was 5 weeks. I thought it was me and my letdown but in hindsight I think it was another "phase". We're both better now and I did nothing different except wait it out. I no longer spray her in the face and she no longer acts like I put her in an immense amount of pain/discomfort after a MOTN feeding. I'd avoid extra pumping except maybe to just take a little of the top before feeding. The last thing you want your boobs to think is that they're not making enough and to start making more! Good luck and trust your body to figure it out soon

SoSayWeAll · October 2014

@dvmmomma DS is 7 weeks. Today(cross my fingers) has been much better. He actually did a 1 am and a 4am feeding last night and I don't know if that had anything to do with it. I have him in his crib napping right now. I also realized that I am probably going to him too soon during naps. He doesn't cry; just kind of grunts and flips his head around and puts his legs in the air(swaddled) Yesterday afternoon I waited this out instead of getting him up and he went back to sleep. DH says he does that at night and I just don't know it because I am asleep.

dvmmomma · October 2014

@SoSayWeAll, I find it's such a fine line! I want to go get DD before she's all in a tizzy and screaming but at the same time, I also try and wait it out. I'm glad yesterday was better for you! I hope it keeps up. Breast feeding is so frustrating sometimes. Too much, too little, too fast, too slow ahhhhh

slippintrippn84 · October 2014

I'm also struggling with continuing to pump to feed LO. I've only EP-ed and I'm so over it. This week we've introduced formula a teensy bit and will increase it as we get closer to me going back to work. I carry guilt about the not providing antibodies and immunities to LO, especially since he'll be starting daycare, but I am at a breaking point with it. I want my life back. I don't want to pump every couple of hours, or have to cut a trip out of the house short b/c LO is hungry and I don't have a bottle or b/c I need to pump.

SoSayWeAll · October 2014

@slippintrippn84 I would be going nuts if I had to EP and I think BF is going to get a lot harder when I go back to work. You are doing the best you can and it's awesome that you've made it this far.

SoSayWeAll · October 2014

I have a question about dreamfeeds. I'm thinking of trying it. If you swaddle, do you unswaddle and check LO's diaper before feeding? I am not opposed to not changing a wet diaper at night since the diapers are so absorbent, but I do want to make sure I change a poop diaper. I might be defeating the whole purpose of a dreamfeed though. Too bad I can't have Xray vision.

Peaece13 · October 2014

stoofewok said:
Does anyone else's LO do a whiny/pouty cry when coming off the breast? It just started recently and I can't figure out why he's doing it.

Mine has started doing this when I make him pause to burp! He stops as soon as I start to put him back on though.

SherryBaby2014 · October 2014

stoofewok said:
I do put him back on and I would say at least half of the time he still does the whining cry for a couple of mins even after de latching himself. It makes no sense. It stops after a few mins and then he's fine, whether I put him back on the other or not... :-/

My LO is unpredictable when coming on and off the tits. ;-)

rstarrlemaitre · October 2014

stoofewok said:

Ok I've got another question, but moreso about hunger cues rather than feeding methods. Lately I feel like DS has pretty much stopped showing me hunger cues. Instead, he just cries. It's like a guessing game, but when I get him on he gulps like he was super hungry. Is it normal for them to discontinue hunger cues as they get older? @SherryBaby2014‌ I get what you're doing there

Following. I'm so glad you asked this. Now that he likes (rd: adores) sucking his thumb, I can't tell if LO is rooting because he's hungry, or just wants that thumb for comfort.

Elaina22 · October 2014

My LO has either finally started eating faster or she is eating less. Thoughts? When I pump I still get the same amount as before so I don't think it's a supply issue. We struggled with weight gain the first two weeks so it's making me crazy.

lynds002 · October 2014

Can every baby do a dream feed? I tried and I was just pressing my nipple on him gums. I ended up getting two sucks after 15 minutes, and then when I pulled him off, the pooled milk just spilled out of his mouth. Someone please tell me what I'm missing.

pmpkn219 · October 2014

I haven't had luck dream feeding either of mine, they do just what you describe. Or once my daughter woke up, and it's not really df anymore! She just ate like she normally would morn, not super drowsy/sleepy

Elaina22 · October 2014

No luck dream feeding here either. I was met with pursed lips and a clamped jaw.

Unknown · October 2014

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Eena1242 · October 2014

In order to have a successful dream feed here, I have to wait until he starts to stir a little. I think that's when he's in his REM sleep. If he's conked out and I try either the nipple just sits at his mouth, or he wakes up super ticked off and it takes forever to get him back down.

cachoque · October 2014

@stoofewok‌ @rstarrlemaitre

My 9wo LO has also stopped showing cues too. Also his technique to find and latch has gone out the window. I started reading wonder weeks recently and to summarize, the 8 & 12 week mental leaps are all about leaving the fuzzy infant world behind & entering into a new state of consciousness where baby is becoming more self aware. With this, baby begins to abandon the built in reflexes that help him survive without this awareness. So, all that said, I've definitely started to notice the reflexes like rooting disappearing as well as the startle and automatic fist clenching. And at the nipple, it's almost like we've reverted back & DS doesn't know how to find it and when he latches now he "plays around" a lot before getting to business.

I'm chalking it all up to baby "waking up" & choosing to cry to communicate hunger & experimenting more with how he feeds (playing around).

Maybe this isn't it but thinking about it this way is at least making me feel positive about it (like it's actual sign of progress)!

Elaina22 · October 2014

@zoegirlTX‌ We are dealing with the same thing, along with a lot less time nursing. Doctor mentioned reflux and we are revisiting it in a week at our 2 month appointment.

SoSayWeAll · October 2014

I feel like I have the opposite problem with hunger cues. I get them constantly and it's hard to determine true hunger from a need to burp, toot, etc. DS will eat until he spits up. And he is a pork chop so it's not he is having any weight gain issues. The way I try to determine true hunger is < 2 hours I offer a paci first. If he won't take it then I feed.

SoSayWeAll · October 2014

Does anyone pump during long naps? At what point? It's so hard to know when he'll wake up. My DS has been asleep for 2.5 hours(4 since the last feeding) I thought about pumping an hour ago but was sure he'd be up. I know if I get out the pump he will wake up immediately.

mdarmetko · October 2014

For those who are finding trouble dream feeding, in the book 'The Sleep Lady's Good Night, Sleep Tight' she suggests to do a set time feeding, where you feed the first time baby wakes up after midnight at least 4 hours after you put them to sleep and then consistently at that time each night.

Stellafriend · October 2014

I go to a breastfeeding support group and probiotics have helped for a lot of women in the group with gassy/reflux babes. I take a probiotic 3 times daily and it seems to work pretty well. I know some women even put it on their nipple and let their baby get it that way.
My guy still clenches his fists so intensely at the beginning of feed. The rooting had dominished but at 3 weeks, I wonder about the fists...

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