Breastfeeding Links & Talk

Emerald27 · November 2014

@erawka She's probably just fine. My DS does this often. I think it's because he's no longer hungry and wants to comfort nurse but doesn't want the milk.

I'm dealing with a bit of an oversupply too, and he objects to my forceful letdown.

You can always try to calm her without the pacifier and offer the breast once again first, or just keep an eye on her poops and disposition and continue as you're doing. Follow your instincts. If you think you should offer to nurse a bit more, do it. She probably won't nurse if she's not hungry, or not for very long.

Emerald27 · November 2014

@JessAnnJ Congratulations on this awesome accomplishment! Sounds like things are going well and you are doing everything right.

You will not starve her if you watch her cues closely and nurse whenever she seems hungry. If she has just nursed but still acts hungry, offer the other side again. Your supply will adjust with her ever changing needs. Trust your body. You've got this!

LightBright515 · November 2014

I don't know what I'll do when my breast feeding days are gone. The boob solves problems 99% of the time.

But @Emerald27‌ she wasn't even latching with a shield!! I finally got her on with a shield as I was texting my LC. Snagged an appointment on Monday. Phew!

Emerald27 · November 2014

LightBright515 said:
I don't know what I'll do when my breast feeding days are gone. The boob solves problems 99% of the time.

But @Emerald27‌ she wasn't even latching with a shield!! I finally got her on with a shield as I was texting my LC. Snagged an appointment on Monday. Phew!

Yay for a Monday appt! When she completely refuses, that's when I would change tactics and do skin to skin for a while. Once she is calm, I'd try again.

I felt the same way when I was nursing DS1 as a toddler and many of my friends had weaned. The boobs heal bonked heads and other sadness, cure sickness and stop tantrums in their tracks! I wondered what I would do once DS weaned and also felt sorry for the parents with weaned toddlers! Lol

irrekb · November 2014

erawka said:
Ok folks, I have another question:

Backstory: I have oversupply/forceful letdown. Block nursing is helping. I pumped today after nursing DD because I needed milk for a bottle for tomorrow (DH will have her for a little while while I'm out). Even after feeding her on that breast I was still able to get almost 3 ounces in 5 minutes. Once I had that I stopped.

DD will usually eat well for anywhere between 10-15 minutes with the block nursing, but then gets really fussy and pulls away. After she pulls herself off (I never do this, she always does) she starts sucking maniacally at her hands and otherwise looking like she's still hungry. BUT, if I try to put her back to the breast she screams. Poops and pees are good and she's more or less acting normally.

The past few times this is happened I've given her the pacifier which she has happily taken, and after a few minutes of sucking that she usually falls asleep.

Here's my thinking: after the 10 or so minutes, she's full, but she misses the comfort sucking/nursing and therefore is still looking to suckle to settle herself down. Does this sound correct? Or am I starving my baby?

My BFing life with LO exactly!! It used to make me close to tears bc she cried and acted hungry but wouldn't latch on. I started giving her to DH when it happens to give LO and I mental breaks and she falls asleep. Which we now assume is her problem. I even went to a LC because of this.

ANGnJON · November 2014

To all the breast feeding gurus please advise me!

I had my 6w PP check up & I have an infection, ugh. My OB prescribed metronidazole 250mg 3x/ day. She knows I'm EBF the twins so this particular antibiotic is "safe" but my big concern is thrush! Is there anything I can do to try to prevent it? I haven't started the meds yet, as I'm hoping to be proactive vs reactive if possible. I'm also not sure if there are possible other concerns I should be on the look out for! Any advice is greatly appreciated! Please help, TIA !

vrj0522 · November 2014

Question: I've been pumping a couple of ounces of milk every morning for a freezer stash. The last couple of evenings I've been giving the pumped milk from that morning to LO. I know this can decrease my overall supply for the day but will it also decrease my supply during the evening or just overall? I haven't been pumping again when I give her the previously-pumped milk because I can hardly pump anything out in the evenings so I haven't bothered and I have enough of a stash to be okay with not stashing anymore at this point if it comes down to that. I think she might have hit her 6-week growth spurt and I'm just exhausted right now but I am worried of hurting my evening supply by giving her that morning's pumped milk.

cmac6186 · November 2014

ANGnJON said:
To all the breast feeding gurus please advise me!

I had my 6w PP check up & I have an infection, ugh. My OB prescribed metronidazole 250mg 3x/ day. She knows I'm EBF the twins so this particular antibiotic is "safe" but my big concern is thrush! Is there anything I can do to try to prevent it? I haven't started the meds yet, as I'm hoping to be proactive vs reactive if possible. I'm also not sure if there are possible other concerns I should be on the look out for! Any advice is greatly appreciated! Please help, TIA !

With any antibiotic I try to eat more yogurt to keep the good bacteria. There are also probiotics you can take- not sure what's safe for BFing

cmac6186 · November 2014

vrj0522 said:
Question: I've been pumping a couple of ounces of milk every morning for a freezer stash. The last couple of evenings I've been giving the pumped milk from that morning to LO. I know this can decrease my overall supply for the day but will it also decrease my supply during the evening or just overall? I haven't been pumping again when I give her the previously-pumped milk because I can hardly pump anything out in the evenings so I haven't bothered and I have enough of a stash to be okay with not stashing anymore at this point if it comes down to that. I think she might have hit her 6-week growth spurt and I'm just exhausted right now but I am worried of hurting my evening supply by giving her that morning's pumped milk.

I'm no expert but FWIW if you're worried about your supply I would pump in the evening anyway. It signals to your body that you should be producing even if you don't get much.

supplycloset · November 2014

Ok so I had to go back to work today. This totally sucks. It's only for today- then not again until mid-December. My question: I work for a small business. When I am at work, I am the ONLY employee here. Today I am only here for 4 1/2 hours so hopefully won't need to pump. When I come back for full days, how do I pump?? It's a retail store so it's not like I have an office door to close. I can't go sit in the back room for 15-20 minutes- can't leave store unattended. If I pump at the front counter area, I can't help customers because I am tied to the electric pump... I have no idea what I am going to do! LO will be with Grandma and we are starting to give her a bottle of breastmilk every day so she will be ok when I am at work. But, what do I do about pumping? Any ideas would be GREATLY appreciated!!

Emerald27 · November 2014

supplycloset said:
Ok so I had to go back to work today. This totally sucks. It's only for today- then not again until mid-December. My question: I work for a small business. When I am at work, I am the ONLY employee here. Today I am only here for 4 1/2 hours so hopefully won't need to pump. When I come back for full days, how do I pump?? It's a retail store so it's not like I have an office door to close. I can't go sit in the back room for 15-20 minutes- can't leave store unattended. If I pump at the front counter area, I can't help customers because I am tied to the electric pump... I have no idea what I am going to do! LO will be with Grandma and we are starting to give her a bottle of breastmilk every day so she will be ok when I am at work. But, what do I do about pumping? Any ideas would be GREATLY appreciated!!

Are there always customers coming in and out of the store? Would it be possible to create an unusual but workable pumping schedule, wherein you pump for just five minutes but as often as you can (when no one is in your store)? Maybe contact a LLL Leader to brainstorm about an alternative pumping schedule that will work for you.

...also, I would try to pump once if you're working 4.5 hours. That plus commute is a LONG time not to nurse, and you'll be pretty uncomfortable. You might also risk plugged ducts and an early return of fertility. Pump just once.

supplycloset · November 2014

Emerald27 said:

Ok so I had to go back to work today. This totally sucks. It's only for today- then not again until mid-December. My question: I work for a small business. When I am at work, I am the ONLY employee here. Today I am only here for 4 1/2 hours so hopefully won't need to pump. When I come back for full days, how do I pump?? It's a retail store so it's not like I have an office door to close. I can't go sit in the back room for 15-20 minutes- can't leave store unattended. If I pump at the front counter area, I can't help customers because I am tied to the electric pump... I have no idea what I am going to do! LO will be with Grandma and we are starting to give her a bottle of breastmilk every day so she will be ok when I am at work. But, what do I do about pumping? Any ideas would be GREATLY appreciated!!
Are there always customers coming in and out of the store? Would it be possible to create an unusual but workable pumping schedule, wherein you pump for just five minutes but as often as you can (when no one is in your store)? Maybe contact a LLL Leader to brainstorm about an alternative pumping schedule that will work for you. ...also, I would try to pump once if you're working 4.5 hours. That plus commute is a LONG time not to nurse, and you'll be pretty uncomfortable. You might also risk plugged ducts and an early return of fertility. Pump just once.

I have breastfeeding support group on Tuesday- didn't even think about asking the lactation consultant for ideas! Thank you so much! Customers are not constant- just know it's my luck that they would come in as soon as I start pumping! Maybe just suck it up and pump under a nursing cover up at the front counter area. Our customers are mainly women so hopefully they would understand if I can't get up immediately and help them... Brought my manual hand pump today just in case- will find a way to break that out in an hour or so.

Emerald27 · November 2014

supplycloset said:

Emerald27 said:

supplycloset said:
Ok so I had to go back to work today. This totally sucks. It's only for today- then not again until mid-December. My question: I work for a small business. When I am at work, I am the ONLY employee here. Today I am only here for 4 1/2 hours so hopefully won't need to pump. When I come back for full days, how do I pump?? It's a retail store so it's not like I have an office door to close. I can't go sit in the back room for 15-20 minutes- can't leave store unattended. If I pump at the front counter area, I can't help customers because I am tied to the electric pump... I have no idea what I am going to do! LO will be with Grandma and we are starting to give her a bottle of breastmilk every day so she will be ok when I am at work. But, what do I do about pumping? Any ideas would be GREATLY appreciated!!
Are there always customers coming in and out of the store? Would it be possible to create an unusual but workable pumping schedule, wherein you pump for just five minutes but as often as you can (when no one is in your store)? Maybe contact a LLL Leader to brainstorm about an alternative pumping schedule that will work for you.

...also, I would try to pump once if you're working 4.5 hours. That plus commute is a LONG time not to nurse, and you'll be pretty uncomfortable. You might also risk plugged ducts and an early return of fertility. Pump just once.

I have breastfeeding support group on Tuesday- didn't even think about asking the lactation consultant for ideas! Thank you so much! Customers are not constant- just know it's my luck that they would come in as soon as I start pumping! Maybe just suck it up and pump under a nursing cover up at the front counter area. Our customers are mainly women so hopefully they would understand if I can't get up immediately and help them... Brought my manual hand pump today just in case- will find a way to break that out in an hour or so.

--------------------
Pumping under a cover at the front is a great solution. Is it the sort of job where you can direct customers to an aisle or rack from where you're sitting (i.e. "That's on aisle 4 at the bottom of the shelf, or I can be with you in a moment.")? As long as it's not continuous, a short break from pumping to help a customer won't hurt anything. Just get back to it after the customer checks out.

Emerald27 · November 2014

@ANGnJON‌ Taking probiotics like PP suggested is helpful. Also, allow your nipples to dry before covering them up and to be in open air as much as possible. This can help prevent yeast growth too. Eat lots of garlic and cross your fingers. lol

ANGnJON · November 2014

@cmac6186‌, @Emerald27‌ & @theresat858‌
Thanks for the super advice lady's

I knew I could count on the two of you! I'm stopping at CVS in a few minutes for the probiotics for the kiddos & myself! FX I can ward off the funk!

Emerald27 · November 2014

ANGnJON said:
@Emerald27‌ & @theresat858‌
Thanks for the super advice lady's I knew I could count on the two of you! I'm stopping at CVS in a few minutes for the probiotics for the kiddos & myself! FX I can ward off the funk!

Here's a little extra info, with tips on how to give the babies probiotics and other good info:
https://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/child/preventing-thrush/

[Deleted User] · November 2014

theresat858 said:

cmac6186 said:

vrj0522 said:
Question: I've been pumping a couple of ounces of milk every morning for a freezer stash. The last couple of evenings I've been giving the pumped milk from that morning to LO. I know this can decrease my overall supply for the day but will it also decrease my supply during the evening or just overall? I haven't been pumping again when I give her the previously-pumped milk because I can hardly pump anything out in the evenings so I haven't bothered and I have enough of a stash to be okay with not stashing anymore at this point if it comes down to that. I think she might have hit her 6-week growth spurt and I'm just exhausted right now but I am worried of hurting my evening supply by giving her that morning's pumped milk.

I'm no expert but FWIW if you're worried about your supply I would pump in the evening anyway. It signals to your body that you should be producing even if you don't get much.
This. You should pump whenever baby gets the bottle, even if you don't get enough for that bottle.

I haven't started pumping yet, but your response made me wonder: if I give baby the bottle and pump to replace the feeding, do I want to pump both breasts for the full 15 minutes each, even if LO doesn't nurse as long on the second breast in a normal session?

Emerald27 · November 2014

keelyd said:
In the past two days, DS has gone from having a pretty good (and comfortable) latch on the right and a kind of shallow latch on the left, to having a swallowing, chewing kind of latch on both sides that's leaving me super sore. This, despite spending more time working on our latch more.
I just can't get him to open his mouth wide, or to maintain a deep latch when he does get one.
Any thoughts?

Eta: is there a possibility that has to do with DS getting more bottles lately? We are using the Dr. Brown's premie nipple.

This does sound a bit like he's trying to use your nipple like a bottle.

Can you hold off on bottles for just a few days to see if it improves, and then slowly reintroduce them?

Emerald27 · November 2014

keelyd said:

Emerald27 said:

keelyd said:
In the past two days, DS has gone from having a pretty good (and comfortable) latch on the right and a kind of shallow latch on the left, to having a swallowing, chewing kind of latch on both sides that's leaving me super sore. This, despite spending more time working on our latch more.
I just can't get him to open his mouth wide, or to maintain a deep latch when he does get one.
Any thoughts?

Eta: is there a possibility that has to do with DS getting more bottles lately? We are using the Dr. Brown's premie nipple.
This does sound a bit like he's trying to use your nipple like a bottle. Can you hold off on bottles for just a few days to see if it improves, and then slowly reintroduce them?
Not really since we're still needing to supplement him and we don't have any tubing for the SNS we were using anymore.

Keep working on helping him open wide. Maybe also try the laid-back breastfeeding position. Do you supplement after every feeding or just a few? And are you using the paced bottle feeding technique?

JessAnnJ · November 2014

@keelyyd - we learned exercises from an OT that have helped tremendously with our issues. We have a few things going on (I have pain and she has weakness) but one thing I do is run my finger from her top lip down her bottom lip and rest it there gently until she opens really wide. If you've seen a LC they do the same thing when they look in their mouth and that's also what we so with the nipple to get them to open wide. Anyway, doing it first with my finger seems to encourage her to open wider and more calmly when I put her to the boob right after.

ETA - we were also told to make sure to make her open wide for the bottle by running the nipple slowly from the top of her top lip gently down to her bottom lip and resting it there until she opens wide. She was really stubborn about opening for the bottle and I think it was really setting us back when I wasn't taking the time to do this.

vrj0522 · November 2014

theresat858 said:

Question: I've been pumping a couple of ounces of milk every morning for a freezer stash. The last couple of evenings I've been giving the pumped milk from that morning to LO. I know this can decrease my overall supply for the day but will it also decrease my supply during the evening or just overall? I haven't been pumping again when I give her the previously-pumped milk because I can hardly pump anything out in the evenings so I haven't bothered and I have enough of a stash to be okay with not stashing anymore at this point if it comes down to that. I think she might have hit her 6-week growth spurt and I'm just exhausted right now but I am worried of hurting my evening supply by giving her that morning's pumped milk.

I'm no expert but FWIW if you're worried about your supply I would pump in the evening anyway. It signals to your body that you should be producing even if you don't get much.
This. You should pump whenever baby gets the bottle, even if you don't get enough for that bottle.

Okay. Thanks!

MrMrsandBaby · November 2014

Ok silly question I hope. When I pump in the morning I only pump the side she hasn't eaten from and it has usually been about 5 hours since she ate on the side I'm pumping. If I'm lucky I get two ounces. Should I start pumping more? I'm worried about having a couple days stashed before I go back to work and pumping enough when I'm at work.

Emerald27 · November 2014

savagek7 said:
Yellow stringy poo? Something to do with my diet? Not enough water? Allergy? Nothing to worry about?

Probably nothing to worry about. What kind of "strings"? Like strings of curds or mucus?

Emerald27 · November 2014

MrMrsandBaby said:
Ok silly question I hope. When I pump in the morning I only pump the side she hasn't eaten from and it has usually been about 5 hours since she ate on the side I'm pumping. If I'm lucky I get two ounces. Should I start pumping more? I'm worried about having a couple days stashed before I go back to work and pumping enough when I'm at work.

Two ounces is a good yield for a mom who EBF full time. If you want more for your stash, certainly add an extra pumping session. Maybe pump both sides after the feeding you're pumping after now, and pump again after the next time LO nurses (or pump after a night feeding).

windwithfingers · November 2014

Is it possible anxiety could affect letdown? Over the last few days I've been really anxious and DS pops on and off and cries at the breast. He has no reflux symptoms. I usually feel letdown and I haven't been with feedings at night.

Emerald27 · November 2014

savagek7 said:

Emerald27 said:

savagek7 said:
Yellow stringy poo? Something to do with my diet? Not enough water? Allergy? Nothing to worry about?
Probably nothing to worry about. What kind of "strings"? Like strings of curds or mucus?
It was like the same consistency as the normal "seeds", but long and stringy. There were also some regular seeds, but the consistency of the rest of it was a little slimy.
Eta- he's been seemingly kind of constipated the last couple days.

Eh, sounds pretty normal.

Emerald27 · November 2014

windwithfingers said:
Is it possible anxiety could affect letdown? Over the last few days I've been really anxious and DS pops on and off and cries at the breast. He has no reflux symptoms. I usually feel letdown and I haven't been with feedings at night.

Stress and anxiety can definitely affect letdown. Babies are also very aware of how mom is feeling, so he may have been picking up on your anxiety and not nursing well. Extra cuddles and trying to relax will help.

I know you're going through a lot right now and worrying about being stressed does not help! ((Hugs)) It will be ok.

Now many mothers who report feeling letdown early on say that they were no longer able to feel letdown as their supply regulated. It may be that you won't be able to feel it much longer. That's not an indication of low supply. It just happens that lots of moms don't feel letdown anymore after a certain point.

Emerald27 · November 2014

@windwithfingers‌ here's some follow-up info:

https://kellymom.com/bf/got-milk/supply-worries/letdown/

"Many things can be the cause of a slow or inhibited let-down: anxiety, pain, embarrassment, stress, cold, excessive caffeine use, smoking, use of alcohol, or the use of some medications. Mothers who have had breast surgery may have nerve damage that can interfere with let-down. In extreme situations of stress or crisis, the release of extra adrenaline in the mother’s system (the “fight or flight” response) can reduce or block the hormones which affect let-down.

Sometimes a cycle is created, where baby fusses and pulls off because the let-down is slow, which makes mom tense up, which makes the let-down even slower, etc. You can use relaxation techniques and let-down cues to break this cycle."

hecklet · November 2014

Should my LO be more efficient by this point? He's 6 weeks and still takes 15-20 minutes per side.

sabby2 · November 2014

When babe sleeps long stretches at night (5 to 6 hours between feedings) should I be waking baby up to eat at 6 hours or should I be pumping and letting baby sleep? At what point in the stretch would I pump? 4 hours? 6 hours? How am I still struggling with this..

ckg1490 · November 2014

Ok so I've been reading a lot here and the forum is very helpful but I have a question. I am returning to work in about two weeks and have been pumping and exclusively Breastfeeding my LO while on maternity leave. My question is how should I store the milk to take to his day care center so that they can feed him? I am in the military and I am allowed to pump at work so continuing to pump won't be an issue.

JessAnnJ · November 2014

@ckg1490‌ ask your daycare how they handle things. We always made up 4 oz bottles which was what she was eating at the time. We labeled the bottles with her name, the date, and that there is BM in the bottles. I believe our state requires that all bottles contain this information. We transported the bottles to daycare in a cooler bag and then transferred them to their refrigerator when we got there. I highly recommend the name bubbles labels, but there are other similar companies or you can just use masking tape. Also, don't forget to label the caps as well.

Emerald27 · November 2014

FamousEa said:
Yesterday LO spit up after every nursing session, curdled and Uncurdled milk. Was also very fussy last night, slept a long stretch in the after noon between feedings and a long stretch last night...he felt warm earlier in the evening but no fever when I checked his temp, is all that normal?

Yeah. That all sounds like normal baby behavior. BUT follow your instincts. If they're telling you something isn't right, he might have a bug or something. Lots of snuggles and keep an eye on diaper output.

Emerald27 · November 2014

AmyG* said:

sabby2 said:

When babe sleeps long stretches at night (5 to 6 hours between feedings) should I be waking baby up to eat at 6 hours or should I be pumping and letting baby sleep? At what point in the stretch would I pump? 4 hours? 6 hours? How am I still struggling with this..

about 6 hours is fine if baby's weight gain stays where it should. no need to pump or wake baby unless you are uncomfortable and you want to.

Longer that 8 hours without nursing or pumping becomes an issue with supply lowering for the whole day for many moms, as your boobs begin to think you are nursing a much older baby. so I'd probably wake or pump or do a dream feeding if you get in the 8 hour range.

------------------------------
I dream feed LO if he sleeps more than 4 hours, because my breasts become engorged and painful, and because I want to keep my fertility at bay for some time yet (we don't use BC).

It's really up to you.

narabug · November 2014

Any tips for dream feeding? I can't get Lo to do it. Sometimes he'll latch on, but he won't suck at all.

vrj0522 · November 2014

hecklet said:

Should my LO be more efficient by this point? He's 6 weeks and still takes 15-20 minutes per side.

I wish LO was that "inefficient". She takes 60-70 minutes each feeding!

ohioloveyou · November 2014

keelyd said:

After a pretty good day yesterday, weve regressed to a super shallow and biting latch. DS also seemed very frustrated and kept pulling away from the breast this morning. I'm not sure if he was doing this bc I kept breaking have his painful latch, or bc he's stsrting to prefer bottles. Either way, I'm feeling pretty defeated this morning. I am beginning to believe bf kust isn't going to work for us, and it breaks my heart.

Just wanted to say we're going through the same thing. Just when I think we're good, some other problem crops up. I am so over these painful nipples. I don't have to supplement, so I don't know how you do the frustration at the breast and then still not be done feeding! Kudos...I'm just wishing LO would figure out his latch and my boobs would stop spraying him.

JessAnnJ · November 2014

@keelyd‌ I'm sorry. Maybe tomorrow will be better.

[Deleted User] · November 2014

Anyone have any experience with the Medela Calma nipple? It's also supposed to have baby really work at it in order to get milk flowing, mimicking the breast. I'm probably going to introduce a bottle in the next few days, as LO will be 4 weeks on Wednesday. Kind of nervous about the whole thing!

Katedann · November 2014

Is/has any one dealt with a tight jaw? If I can get my LO to open wide, she tends to tighten her jaw gradually throughout the feed. If I unlatch her or try to pul her chin down, it seems to make it worse, if anything. I'm waiting on a referral for a PT from her pediatrician, but I'm assuming we won't be able to get an appointment until next week at the earliest. Anything to help me get through this week? I thought we were doing better, but had one bad feeding on one side last night and I ended up with not one, but 2 what I think are) blood blisters. When will this stop hurting?!

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