- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
October 2014 Moms
Emerald27
member
••• Breastfeeding Check-in •••
Emerald27
member
I haven't seen one of these in a while, so I thought I'd get it started this week!
1. How old is your baby?
2. Recent breastfeeding successes or challenges?
3. Questions or concerns?
4. GTKY - Has anyone said anything to you, made any wacky suggestions or asked you any questions about breastfeeding LO? What's the most surprising thing someone has said to you about breastfeeding?
1. How old is your baby?
2. Recent breastfeeding successes or challenges?
3. Questions or concerns?
4. GTKY - Has anyone said anything to you, made any wacky suggestions or asked you any questions about breastfeeding LO? What's the most surprising thing someone has said to you about breastfeeding?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: ••• Breastfeeding Check-in •••
2. Recent breastfeeding successes or challenges?
Currently we're struggling against the congestion and cough of this nasty cold. I dusted off ye olde pump and sanitized the parts today because DS was fussy and uninterested in nursing for a while, but he ended up nursing enough to satisfy me that I didn't need to pump. Whew - I hate that thing.
3. Questions or concerns?
Not really. Just keeping my fingers crossed that this cold leaves us very swiftly.
4. GTKY - Has anyone said anything to you, made any wacky suggestions or asked you any questions about breastfeeding LO? What's the most surprising thing someone has said to you about breastfeeding?
The cashier at DH's PT asked me if I was breastfeeding. I said yes, and she said something about that being wonderful, etc. I can't help but wonder what she would have said if I'd answered no.
At E's baptism I was wearing a tank top under a sweater, and was nursing without a cover as I always do. I'm an advocate of nursing in public and of normalizing breastfeeding this way. My mother knows this, but she still gestured to me during church to cover up and "show some modesty." I pretended like I couldn't hear her and said; "hmm? Oh, is this too much? Should I take the sweater off?" She mumbled something about this not being the place to prove anything and turned to face away from me. ...I'm not proving anything. I'm just not making my kid eat under a blanket. :P
2. Recent success: we are finally having some success weaning off the nipple shield! Prob using it only 10-20% of the time
3. Concern: working on introducing a bottle in preparation for returning to work next month. He has taken one successfully once. But I guess we need to give one a bit more frequently to normalize it.
4. No one has really said anything to me about bf. Both my sisters EBF their LOs so it's pretty normal in my family. My mom does try to cover me if she thinks I might be too exposed - even in my own home
1. How old is your baby?
9 weeks today.
2. Recent breastfeeding successes or challenges?
I was very lucky in that I never had any major issues with latching or getting a rhythm down with LO. However, righty has always been my over-achiever and lefty my under-achiever, but recently lefty has pretty much gone out of commission. I can maybe get 2 oz/day out of her. Luckily righty has stepped it up, and LO is gaining and getting all she needs. But it does leave mama pretty lopsided. We're talking apple vs cantaloupe here...
3. Questions or concerns?
Any suggestions on how to get lefty working again? I'll put LO on a few times a day to try and get the milk flowing, but it hasn't seemed to get things moving like they need to.
4. GTKY - Has anyone said anything to you, made any wacky suggestions or asked you any questions about breastfeeding LO? What's the most surprising thing someone has said to you about breastfeeding?
While I was pregnant, a lot of my clients would ask me if I was planning on breastfeeding. It was awkward to talk to middle aged men about my breasts. My step MIL told me to scrub my nipples with a towel to toughen them up. And I have a friend who lost her mind when I ordered a cup of coffee at lunch the other day. A little bit of caffeine will not damage my child. I, and the American Academy of Pediatrics promise.
1. How old is your baby?
6 weeks, 2 days
2. Recent breastfeeding successes or challenges?
We are having a hard time weaning from the nipple shield. DS was in the NICU for 17 days and I wasn't able to BF until he was 15 days old. He latches a few times a day without the shield but if he's upset at all won't take it without the shield
3. Questions or concerns?
See #2
4. GTKY - Has anyone said anything to you, made any wacky suggestions or asked you any questions about breastfeeding LO? What's the most surprising thing someone has said to you about breastfeeding?
No one has really said anything but my MIL consistently barges in while I'm feeding to try to give advice...I'm not shy, but really?!
1. How old is your baby?
He will be 8 weeks on Thursday.
2. Recent breastfeeding successes or challenges?
Successes- We've been breastfeeding pain free for about two weeks! My supply has regulated and I don't feel so gross every day. I'm actually enjoying breastfeeding now and I'm really proud I've made it this far. I don't know anyone IRL that breastfed and my mom isn't very supportive. So the fact that u haven't given up is something I'm super proud of.
Challenges- Occasionally DS likes to refuse one side. Usually it resolves itself in a few hours, but it was longer the past two days.
3. Questions or concerns?
I'm starting to get concerned about pumping enough for him when I go back to work. In order for me to take breaks, someone has to do my job and she's had to cover all of my maternity leave without extra pay. I feel super shitty adding more to her plate. She didn't decide for me to have a baby and I don't think it's her responsibility. Also, I hate pumping. My nipples turn purple and I just don't like it.
4. GTKY - Has anyone said anything to you, made any wacky suggestions or asked you any questions about breastfeeding LO? What's the most surprising thing someone has said to you about breastfeeding?
I've said it before on here, but my mom equates any concern about DS to something negative about breastfeeding. She also makes a lot of comments about how I wont be doing it much longer. It's a bit disheartening.
Also, at the mall there is a nursing station. It is just a leather couch thrown back in a room. The first time I nursed him there, I was on one side of the couch and another woman was on the other. A third woman walked in and sat between us. She was rubbing both of our arms, as the couch wasn't large. She kept looking at me feeding him and was asking questions. She was really nice, it was just awkward for me as I am just getting to be comfortable with everything and I wasn't really game to be rubbing arms with a stranger as I fed my 5 week old.
You also may not always feel letdown. Some women feel it early on PP and then can't feel it anymore. Some feel it for the duration of breastfeeding. Others never feel it. I felt it once with DS1 and never again. Haven't felt even one letdown with this LO.
Let baby's diaper output and disposition tell you whether she's getting enough milk. Happy baby who poops and pees adequately is getting exactly the right amount of milk.
I felt bad for embarrassing him and made an effort to face away from the kid when he came out of the restroom...next thing I know, two more awkward teenage boys go past. And I can tell from their faces that they did not go to the bathroom for the usual reason. That little kid sent his friends to get a look at the boob!! -.- Teenagers!
11w 4d
2. Recent breastfeeding successes or challenges?
After 11 weeks, I'm finally starting to feel like it's a bonding experience.
3. Questions or concerns?
I'm going back to work in two weeks and I'm concerned about maintaining the supply I do have. Shortly after I went back is when supply nosedived with my DD, to the point where I was only making 1.25 oz the ENTIRE day. I felt so much guilt, anxiety, and misery......I cannot go through that again.
4. GTKY - Has anyone said anything to you, made any wacky suggestions or asked you any questions about breastfeeding LO? What's the most surprising thing someone has said to you about breastfeeding?
Surprisingly, I have not yet encountered any assanine comments or questions this time around.
I'll share the worst from my first go round though......
*My step-MIL's brother lectured me about how I should not be giving my DD formula. He was quite condescending and rude about it. I could only explain to him that I was making painstaking efforts to give her as much BM as possible and that it just wasn't working before I went and ugly cried in the bathroom (on TG day).
*One time I had to pump at the home of a friend of the family. When she offered to put the milk in the fridge for me, she took the bottle, looked at it, and said "that's it?"
Sorry for the novel, had a lot to share!
O14 January Signature Challenge: Snow Fails
Do you know why your supply dropped when you returned to work? There are a few things you can do to help keep it up while pumping at work.
1. Pump every 2-3 hours and completely empty your breasts. Avoid letting your breasts get full.
2. Nurse just before you leave LO and immediately upon your return. Ask that LO's caregiver not feed her within an hour or so of pick up, so that she's hungry and nurses readily when you get there.
3. Limit the amount of milk you send with LO to one ounce or so per hour you're away, and ask that her caregivers pace her bottles (a couple ounces every couple hours). This will make more of her total daily intake come directly from the breast, which will help you maintain your supply.
Best of luck with your return to work!
I'll elaborate further......
I *think* this time will be better for the following reasons, but the worry is always present in my mind:
*I have a good nursing relationship with DS and plan to nurse when we are together. (With DD I did not nurse her at all after her first few weeks of life).
*I'm returning to a MUCH less stressful position this time.
*I'm going to insist on three pump breaks during my workday to minimize time between pumps/nursing sessions. ( Only had two breaks with DD and oftentimes there were 4 1/2 hours in between).
Thank you for the suggestions and support!
O14 January Signature Challenge: Snow Fails
2. Recent breastfeeding successes or challenges? The witching hour's feeding has been a nightmare for a while... DD just latches/unlatches/screams the entire feeding so over the last week I've resorted to pumping and giving her that feeding from the bottle. Seems to have solved the issue and that feeding is going smoothly now. Breastfeeding is not my favorite thing, to be honest, but it has gotten better over the last week and our hour-long feedings have gone down to about 25-35 minutes, which I really needed.
3. Questions or concerns? None right now.
Married 8/27/2011
BFP #1 9/28/2011 DS born 5/22/2012
BFP #2 4/24/2013 m/c 4/25/2013 at 4w
BFP #3 1/31/2014 DD born 10/14/2014
BFP #4 1/20/2016 m/c 2/12/2014 at 7w2d
BFP #5 8/19/2016 DS2 born 4/29/2017
BFP #6 3/7/2018 EDD 11/18/2018
The biggest challenge right now is eliminating dairy. I still haven't seen any improvement yet but it hasn't even been 48 hours since my last dairy intake. I'm just tired of stressing over the small amount of blood in her stools.
I did nurse in public for the first time yesterday. I have nursed in front of lots of family and I sat in the car previously but yesterday I nursed in a restaurant.
I'm a little concerned about pumping when I go back to work. Right now, I have planned out to pump at 8:00, 11:30, and 2:30 which works with my schedule. Will I need to pump both sides at each session or just one side? LO usually only eats from one side at a time. How long do you think I should pump? I only have about 20 minutes at the 8 and 11:30 sessions.
2. I have mastered breastfeeding in public! That will happen when you spend a whole day Christmas shopping.
3. Like others, I am concerned about going back to work. That first day do I send milk from my stash, and then every day after send milk pumped from previous day? Does that mean every Monday I will send freezer milk?
4. No one in my family breastfed, so the crazy comments are constant.
-Hopefully she doesn't get teeth early, you will have to quit.
-Don't you think you've done this long enough?
The list goes on, but I'm up for a MOTN feeding & my brain is fried.
2. My little guy took on to bf like a champ from the beginning! It's had its frustrations at times but been a rewarding experience. I've recently figured out our burping issues and try at more frequent intervals. This has cutdown on major spit up episodes! Also figured out the angle to sit him up that gets the gas out quickly. I used to get frustrated during cluster feeding and I now just accept it and chill.
1. How old is your baby?
10 weeks
2. Recent breastfeeding successes or challenges?
Things are going pretty well. Nursing sessions have shortened, DS sleeps for longer stretches at night, and I don't feel engorged all the time. DH As been giving little man a bottle each night to prepare him more for daycare. Sometimes he takes it easily, other times he screams bloody murder and closes his lips tight. I hope we get to the point where he consistently takes it.
3. Questions or concerns?
Not at the moment
4. GTKY - Has anyone said anything to you, made any wacky suggestions or asked you any questions about breastfeeding LO? What's the most surprising thing someone has said to you about breastfeeding?
I don't think I've gotten any wacky suggestions or surprising comments.. Thankfully everyone is supportive
2. Recent breastfeeding successes or challenges? I'm almost at my short term goal of breastfeeding until I go back to work jan 5. Today I got a second pump to keep at work and extra pump parts. I'm already feeling optimistic of making it to my second short term goal of exclusive breast milk for 6 months. My long term goal is between 1 and 2 years.
3. Questions or concerns?
I have an outpatient surgery on Friday for a hernia repair. Does anyone know how this might affect breastfeeding if at all. I've been pumping a small stash that can feed LO for maybe 48 hours after. Any tips or experience with this? From what I have read I can go back to breastfeeding after surgery and there are breastfeeding safe pain meds. Any position suggestions that won't bother my incision?
Also is bed sharing unsafe while on pain medicine? I'm thinking it might make me sleep heavier?
4. GTKY - Has anyone said anything to you, made any wacky suggestions or asked you any questions about breastfeeding LO? What's the most surprising thing someone has said to you about breastfeeding?
I haven't really gotten and weird comments.
1. How old is your baby?
2. Recent breastfeeding successes or challenges?
3. Questions or concerns?
4. GTKY - Has anyone said anything to you, made any wacky suggestions or asked you any questions about breastfeeding LO? What's the most surprising thing someone has said to you about breastfeeding?
Married 10/06
Baby Girl "C" arrived on 10/07/14 (39 weeks, 6 days)
11w3d
2. Recent breastfeeding successes or challenges?
We're getting really efficient. He can empty a boob in like 8 minutes. No real challenges other than he absolutely will not take a bottle when I'm around unless he's really hungry.
3. Questions or concerns?
Not really, just general concerns about supply when I go back to work on 1/12.
4. GTKY - Has anyone said anything to you, made any wacky suggestions or asked you any questions about breastfeeding LO? What's the most surprising thing someone has said to you about breastfeeding?
People ask all the time if I'm nursing and when I say yes, they say "good for you" which I find so strange. It's none of their business anyway. My aunt did say something like, well when you finally switch to formula... Hm, no, I don't plan on switching to formula ever so...
2. Recent breastfeeding successes or challenges?
I think we have the OALD more manageable. Leaning back and feeding during letdown helps tremendously. The block feeding has regulated my supply much better. I've even been a little worried that it brought it down too low. It's like I either have too much or too little. Hopefully we can find a nice medium. Boobs are softer which is nice. Spit up isn't as bad. She hasn't thrown up an entire feed in 2 weeks. But her gas is still pretty bad. And it smells so awful!!
BF in public. Kind of. Buy buy baby nursing room. Little steps. So was proud of that.
She's sleeping better at night. Finally. And I'm trying to make sure we get at least 8 feeds in a day when she sleeps long stretches.
3. Questions or concerns?
Concerned that we haven't tried a bottle yet. I'm a SAHM so i don't have to push it for going back to work but it would be nice to know that if ever need be she can take one. I'm a bit confused on how to go about it, which is why I haven't done it. When do I pump etc. I think I pump to replace the feed and have hubby try the bottle. What do I do if she refuses then?
4. GTKY - Has anyone said anything to you, made any wacky suggestions or asked you any questions about breastfeeding LO? What's the most surprising thing someone has said to you about breastfeeding?
Nothing weird. No family BF and my friends all get it since most of them have BF.
@Dani0329 Monday you can send the milk you pumped on Friday.
As far as positions for breastfeeding, you'll need to experiment to find what is most comfortable. Football hold and side-lying may be comfortable for you. Gather lots of pillows to make sure you're well supported in whatever position you choose.
1. How old is your baby? 7 weeks
2. Recent breastfeeding successes or challenges?
My success has been NIP. Granted it has been either in nursing mother rooms, or once at a museum where literally no one else was in the exhibit. Baby steps though.
My issue is always supply. Since the beginning the max DD ever transfers is 1 oz, even offering both sides. For several weeks I was pumping after and would get an additional 1/2 oz, but that was it.
I am giving one last go at increasing my supply, then I will probably just say it is what it is and nurse her so she gets what breast milk I can give her til I go back to work (she will be 5.5 months old).
The LC consultant I have been working with gave me a book on increasing milk supply. One suggestion was to take Metformin if you have PCOS, so I started that Monday. I am also taking "More Milk Plus Special Blend" tablets, which are supposed to help moms who did not have an increase in breast size during pregnancy (which I didn't). I also started drinking mothers milk tea. I am shooting for at least 3 cups a day.
I have a hospital grade pump, but I think I may still try renting one from the hospital to see if it helps with pump output.
3. Questions or concerns?
On the mothers milk tea...is it better to drink it throughout the day? Or is 2 cups with breakfast and one before bed ok?
4. GTKY - Has anyone said anything to you, made any wacky suggestions or asked you any questions about breastfeeding LO? What's the most surprising thing someone has said to you about breastfeeding?
My MIL told me skin to skin time was impractical because other people want to see the baby. They also kept making a huge deal about DD wanting to eat again right after I would feed her when she was a newborn. I kept trying to tell them that is just how it is. I still place a lot of blame on them (and guilt on myself for not standing up to them better) for letting them stress me out so much about DD getting enough to eat. They will not be staying with us until at least 1-2 weeks after our next LO is born because I can't handle their second guessing our parenting decisions.
2. Recent breastfeeding successes or challenges? We have finally gotten to the point where breastfeeding is painless for the most part. I still think her latch is a little shallow and my nipple will be slightly compressed, but it has gotten so much better.
3. Questions or concerns? Still working on NIP. I've done nursing rooms at the outlets, but haven't attempted walking around with the cover on- just curious of the logistics of it with getting the cover on, clothes moved and her latched. I'll have to try it at some point and see how it goes.
4. GTKY - Has anyone said anything to you, made any wacky suggestions or asked you any questions about breastfeeding LO? What's the most surprising thing someone has said to you about breastfeeding?
2. Recent breastfeeding successes or challenges? BFing is going well with some supplementation couple times a week. Challenge: baby is still only going 2-4 hours between feedings at night and I go back to work in 2 weeks (:|
3. Questions or concerns? Ready for longer stretches between feedings at night, but that may be a while at this rate. A little concerned about getting into the groove of pumping once back at work, I've used the pump a hand full of times, so at least I know how to use it :-bd
4. GTKY - Has anyone said anything to you, made any wacky suggestions or asked you any questions about breastfeeding LO? What's the most surprising thing someone has said to you about breastfeeding?
If anyone asks I answer yes, and don't volunteer info so they have to keep asking if they really want to know. Usually the leave it at that. Lots of support though.
Technically there's no need, though, if you're getting enough milk when you pump at work. Make sure you're completely emptying your breasts (sometimes takes about 15 minutes), and try not to let your breasts become full in between pumping sessions. Your supply will be just fine.