second timers/ boob question

kcave21 · May 2015

After I had my first I tried and tried to breast feed but she would never latch and nothing came in bc she would never latch...I really want to try again...but I am nervous to buy a $300 pump that I want if my milk will not come in--I am thinking if I pump and pump and much as I can it will come in??? anyone else have success with this at all? any tips and tricks to help my milk come in if I start them now?

laurendutch · May 2015

Your milk and latching is two separate issues. Some women have supply issues and milk never comes in for them. I had twins and one of my sons never latched (he was born at 38 w). So I breastfed my one son and than pumped for 30/45 min to get milk for my other son and build my supply up for two. My hospital had a pump in the room for me. I also rented a hospital grade pump for a month. That could be an option. Also, your insurance may pay for a double electric pump.

kcave21 · May 2015

thank you for your help!!

Sammy K · May 2015

All US insurance has to cover breast pumps. Thank you Obamacare. It might be a pain to get, but they are required to be covered.

lovethatcolosun · May 2015

I've heard mothers milk tea helps a lot. You can start that before LO is born (always check with your doc first) to help build up your supply. Do not start pumping before you give birth. This can bring on early contractions.

auburnmamma · May 2015

Sammy K said:
All US insurance has to cover breast pumps. Thank you Obamacare. It might be a pain to get, but they are required to be covered.

Not all. Certain plans are grandfathered and are not required to pay for a breast pump.

laurendutch · May 2015

auburnmamma said:

Sammy K said:
All US insurance has to cover breast pumps. Thank you Obamacare. It might be a pain to get, but they are required to be covered.
Not all. Certain plans are grandfathered and are not required to pay for a breast pump.

I think Tricare (military) is also exempt

lilitaliangirl · May 2015

Use this website to see if you qualify with insurance. ..https://www.breastpumps.aeroflowinc.com/
Super quick and easy. I just had my free Medela delivered Friday

katyertl · May 2015

Funny how Tricare is excempt from that....

laurendutch · May 2015

katyertl said:
Funny how Tricare is excempt from that....

I think I heard that but I'm not entirely sure...

KaLikeAWind · May 2015

laurendutch said:

auburnmamma said:

Sammy K said:
All US insurance has to cover breast pumps. Thank you Obamacare. It might be a pain to get, but they are required to be covered.
Not all. Certain plans are grandfathered and are not required to pay for a breast pump.
I think Tricare (military) is also exempt

I gots the answer on this. Tricare is technically NOT exempt, but since it IS Tricare, it took a literal act of Congress to make the change within Tricare. Now, Tricare is NOT covering breastpumps because they have not yet 'written policies' on how they will be covered or funded, or what circumstances will get you what kind of pump. Even tho they just made a change within Tricare policy (pretty much overnight) about compounding pharmacies and pain medications, so we all know they can get stuff done. They are just dragging their feet (probably hoping to outlast until someone manages to overthrow the ACA and they won't have to cover them). I sound jaded, I know, and its because I am

For a real laugh check out this link Tricare put on fb about the coverage, and check the comments / questions below. Months and months go by of people asking questions and all they get is the same damned answer. Smh...

https://m.facebook.com/notes/tricare/tricare-update-breastfeeding-supplies/10153032692656101

HayesRN13 · May 2015

The moments after birth have a huge impact on successful feeding... Immediate skin to skin and early latch on greatly impacts long term success..what happens after delivery and in regards to having a ton of people in room.. (Passing around baby puts them into shutdown mode, etc)..I am going to post a new discussion soon regarding skin to skin and baby friendly, there is so much you can do to set up for success and what really is best for baby...things I wish I would have known (before working as an OB nurse) when I had my daughter 12 years ago.. Stay tuned

virginiaunicorn11 · May 2015

@HayesRN13 I think this may have been answered somewhere already, so apologies if so...

I plan to do skin-skin and am wondering when you would recommend that my husband can hold the baby? I know the hospital staff will probably take the baby at some point, and obviously this is a question for them when I preregister at the hospital, but just curious on your thoughts (or others') since you raise the topic.

lindsladle15 · May 2015

I'm also going to try fennel seed essential oil (rub/massage it on the boobs! I buy/sell DoTerra.) to help if I have supply issues. I had issues with DD, buuuut, think it was due to getting pregnant when she was 3 mo.

HayesRN13 · May 2015

@amark11 so yes, eventually they will take baby to do what they need to as far as assessments, bath, etc.. Try and let them have as much time with you before that happens..all of the vital signs checks can be done while baby is skin to skin. (You can let them know that) I like to have dad be involved in helping with the bath..they love it! And it's a good time for teaching and questions which dads are really receptive at that time....That gives you a chance to eat something, etc.. after that dad can have some time with baby, that's when they usually get sleepy and stay sleepy for about the first 24 hours.. When I always encourage pumping every 2 hours during that sleepy phase.. You might not get anything but it's about the stimulation.. Some dads can't wait that long, so they get a holding in after skin to skin as long as you get at least an hour (or more if possible) it really is important.

obviously there might be variances ( if you have a section, or if baby needs some help transitioning after birth) but for the most part every hospital should not have a problem accommodating your wishes, I would def let your nurse know when getting to hospital what you would like to happen. It helps if the hospital is certified "baby friendly" because this caters to all these things... But I find you really still need to advocate for yourself and what you want. Always do skin to skin during each feed also, that's why it's best to leave baby in a button front shirt and diaper you can just unsnap the front and you are ready to go! Also no mittens, they should have their hands free while nursing, little scratches from their nails are superficial and doesn't bother them (just the parents).. Along with them being able to feel where they are, studies show the bacteria from your skin gets on their hands.. And by their hand to mouth helps them build up their good bacteria in their gut

aj1327 · May 2015

@HayesRN13 so excited about your post and now I'm super thankful for my hospital. They do all possible to make sure mom gets skin to skin time with baby for at least an hour after birth and I'll also nurse in that time. After an hour or more, they'll clean baby up swaddle him, and then it's dad's time. We were also told at our infant care class yesterday not to use the mittens!

HoneyBadger8 · May 2015

At the breast feeding class I attended they said your milk supply is all about supply and demand concept! They also stated that skin to skin helps with getting your initial productions started and so on and so forth as others have stated!

JessHeppell · May 2015

lilitaliangirl said:
Use this website to see if you qualify with insurance. ..https://www.breastpumps.aeroflowinc.com/
Super quick and easy. I just had my free Medela delivered Friday

the website isnt working for me :c

lilitaliangirl · May 2015

JessHeppell said:

lilitaliangirl said:
Use this website to see if you qualify with insurance. ..https://www.breastpumps.aeroflowinc.com/
Super quick and easy. I just had my free Medela delivered Friday

the website isnt working for me :c

I can't access it at work either; only at home on on my phone. I assume there is some sort of block (though I don't know why). Maybe try to Google Aeroflow Breastpump.

pixieprincss · May 2015

Ditto that there are two different issues, here. Also, I'd like to point out that most home-grade pumps say that they shouldn't be used until the milk is in. So, really what you are looking for--if you need to pump early--is a hospital grade pump rental. Does your hospital provide this option? Also, I encourage you to go to a local LeLeche League meeting while you are still pregnant. Having additional support and knowing names and faces of people you can call is really, really helpful. I saw seven, yes, seven, LCs with DS1. Five of them didn't even compare to what the LLL leaders knew! (And one of those two good ones actually had been a LLL leader!)

knwilliams01 · May 2015

From a recent experience, my LO is small for her age (though still within normal), and couldn't physically get her mouth around my nipple to latch after my milk came in. We saw the LC in the hospital and she said cases like this are the perfect example of when to use a nipple shield. We will try to wean it when she hits 8-9lb and has a larger mouth.
We have also had to supplement with formula since she's a preemie (36 weeks) and we didnt want any doubt that she's getting enough calories. Surprisingly she still prefers the breast with the shield - so don't freak out if you need to supplement via bottle.

klkonwi · May 2015

@knwilliams01 so glad you said this! Infants prefer breastmilk to formula. Breastmilk is sweet/sugary like and they def prefer it. If you need to supplement it is nothing to stress over.

so glad you said this. I've seen it time and time again!

Pnut050515 · June 2015

Skin to skin contact is super important...I was just reading an article about it on Aeroflow's website. I'd say get a breastpump regardless...just in case. I got mine for free through Aeroflow..didn't pay a penny!

valeriemarie24 · June 2015

This may not be an ideal option for everyone, but I got a used pump off of kijiji..everything was boiled and sterilized and in perfectly usable condition. Part of the reason why was because I did not have the option of insurance to cover it and I had bigger items to put $300-400 towards than breast pumps. It's an ok option and you can find some for way less than what full price in a store would be. Of course if you have the option to get it covered by your insurance then definitely do that. And if you never use it then maybe you can sell it and make a bit of money back.
But like one of the PPs said, I have formula on hand just in case I need it, nothing is wrong with formula supplementation. And I've heard (and plan to use if I need to) that LaLeche league is top notch in terms of lactation consultants and breastfeeding. I'm a FTM so I don't have any prior experience, sorry if I can't be more helpful. But I wish you luck this time around

NotISaidtheCat · June 2015

@kcave21 Try hand expressing before dropping that much cash on a pump. Hand expressing is generally more successful for getting things started, so that way you'll know whether you are even producing or not.

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