Links to articles/sites/posts about breastfeeding will be posted here!
Also, it may be valuable to post BF related questions in this thread so that all the Q&A reside in one place. Easy reference!
5 cycles of "TTC" - 3 intentional, 2 not so intentional. 5 BFPs. My rainbow arrived 10/15/14.
TFMC 08.02.13 at 19+ weeks. Everyday I grieve for my little Olive.
Re: Breastfeeding Links & Talk
I struggled with supply with my DD. So, I preemptively ordered some fenugreek. Should I start taking it now or wait and see how it goes before using that and the mother's milk tea I have?
I need to double check this, but if I remember correctly, your body can become dependent upon Fenugreek for production. Galactagogues are typically recommended as a last resort for increasing supply, after increasing calorie and fluid intake and after nursing more frequently and skin-to-skin.
ETA: New breast tissue develops in every pregnancy, so your total production capacity might be higher this time too!
She also sucks in her bottom lip. I'm working on seeing a lactation consultant but I was just wanting to do what I can up until I can see someone.
Is there anyone who could help you while baby is not nursing so that you can get some extra rest? If you can shower and nap when baby isn't nursing, even just for part of the day during the day, that might make a huge difference in how you feel.
And take heart! They don't nurse every 2.5 hours forever. The stretches between feedings will lengthen (until they grow or teethe or hit a milestone, lol)...and they also become more and more efficient, until feedings take 5-10 mins or so.
So she's waking often to nurse throughout the night? This is so so common early on, because baby is used to being lulled to sleep in utero by your movements during the day, and she was wakeful while you were still at night...so they confuse night and day. They also metabolize the milk quickly and need to feed frequently for growth and brain development.
The great news is that the more frequently baby nurses at night in the early weeks, oftentimes the better baby will sleep later on. Your nighttime milk contains melatonin, which helps regulate baby's sleep until he/she is producing his own:
https://breastfeedchicago.wordpress.com/2013/05/24/5-cool-things-no-one-ever-told-you-about-nighttime-breastfeeding/
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You can express some milk onto your nipples after nursing and clearing the blister, and allow them to dry in the open air. This will help them heal. You could also ask your OB or pedi if some all purpose nipple ointment (APNO) might help, and they can prescribe it for you.
Here are some helpful resources:
https://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mother/nipplebleb/
https://www.nbci.ca/index.php?option=com_content&id=76:all-purpose-nipple-ointment-apno&Itemid=17
Breast softness and shorter feeding duration are not signs of low supply. It's not outside the norm to regulate that fast, and some moms never experience engorgement. If you're concerned, though, just offer to nurse a bit more frequently and spend some time every day skin to skin.
ETA: It could actually be that you have a bit of an oversupply, so LO is filling up fast. Keep an eye out for fussiness at the breast.
You might have a forceful letdown or oversupply, both of which are very common early on and will typically regulate between 4 and 6 weeks. As long as baby nurses happily/comfortably and is not bothered by the spit up, there's no need to take steps to reduce your supply.
ETA: if baby is uncomfortable or you are frequently engorged, you could try some block feeding a few feedings per day, that is, nurse from just one breast per feeding.
Block feeding usually involves nursing from just one breast for an additional feeding before switching to the next. I didn't explain that correctly, sorry. Here's some helpful info about oversupply and block feeding, with some alternative tips for how to help baby manage milk flow:
https://www.nancymohrbacher.com/blog/2013/10/9/block-feeding-dos-donts.html
Is this just something that will continue to improve as the mastitis clears or is this another issue?
I feel terrible because he's soooo good at his part; even the geneticists complimented his rooting and desire to suck EVERYTHING during his exam, but my nipples are failing. I pumped for 20 min today to try and work the nipples out, and I'll keep doing that and hope it helps. We are also going to try a nipple shield tomorrow.
TFMC 08.02.13 at 19+ weeks. Everyday I grieve for my little Olive.
Or is that once your cycle returns, supply is permanently decreased?
O14 January Signature Challenge: Snow Fails
Pumping may help a lot. You can also use a syringe to try to draw out your nipples, or buy a one specially-designed just for this task. The LC may have access to one for you:
https://www.maternalconcepts.com/index.pl?p=products/evert-it&id=e4
You may want to try laid-back breastfeeding (ask the LC to help) which uses gravity to help baby get a deep latch. This position is great for moms with small or inverted nipples, because it allows baby to get more breast tissue into his mouth.
Also, if it's recommended that you supplement, you can ask about using an SNS (supplemental nursing system) or at-breast supplementer so that your breasts are stimulated while you supplement.
T&Ps for you and baby!
We discussed the SNS today after the nipple shield left me in tears, but I still haven't even seen any moisture from my nipples. I am going to rent a hospital grade pump and try pumping a few times a day for a week or so and see if that helps the milk come out at all. I'm also going to keep offering him the breast with every meal so he doesn't forget about it, and use the slowest possible nipples with formula to keep him from getting used to the fast flow. Right now he's gulping down 30cc in a quarter of the time he would be at the breast, and we don't want him to get frustrated at the breast if if starts suddenly working.
TFMC 08.02.13 at 19+ weeks. Everyday I grieve for my little Olive.
TFMC 08.02.13 at 19+ weeks. Everyday I grieve for my little Olive.
Then later she pulled her usual fussing and refusal to latch and eat without the shield when I fed her 3 hours later when we were long finished at the LC visit.
During the day, you can pump more frequently than every 3 hours, if you like. Skin to skin is perfect; you can also hold baby skin to skin while you pump, or put baby to the breast if possible and pump the other side.
I'm so so happy for you! Keep up the good work!
Were you able to get some helpful tips from the LC anyway? Think about what was different in the room - were you sitting straighter or more reclined than at home? Was it cooler or warmer in the room? Did you put her to the breast before she was hungry or after she was showing cues? Maybe there's a real reason she did so well at the appt, and it wasn't just the LC being in the room.
TFMC 08.02.13 at 19+ weeks. Everyday I grieve for my little Olive.
Has he had any more luck latching well?
https://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/pumping/exclusive-pumping/
Are you EPing or supplementing? I might offer an ounce and reserve the second for if baby isn't satisfied after the first.
Also, the feeding technique called "paced bottle feeding" can prevent overfeeding and most closely mimics breastfeeding. Here's some info on paced bottle feeding to get you started:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UH4T70OSzGs
https://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/feeding-tools/bottle-feeding/