Wow, thanks so much, ladies! Over the last two feeds, I've taken your advice and both lumps are way down. Left is almost gone and right is shrinking but we have a bit to go still.
I knew it wasn't good, but football position while massaging did the trick. Thanks again!
@henrytviii THIS!! I was getting them around the lines of the nursing tanks I was wearing, they were too tight. I massage to high heaven all day long I feel like I'm going to be in public just massaging without noticing..
Ha! So I've been lap swimming each morning this week and it makes my boobs engorge from the rubbing of my swimsuit. I totally rubbed them and felt them up to see if lumps were forming and then realize a dude in the next lane was staring at me. Oops.
I know, don't lecture, too soon, bleeding started again today and I though my stitches were healed but now it feels like something is pinched down there. So I'm backing of the swimming. Bummer, it was making me feel human. I'm only 15 days out, guess I am not quite ready to feel human again.
Another trick on the lumps is to do the hot compress, lay baby on the bed and hover over them. Hurts like heck but they suction it right out. I am worried about clearing these this go around. DS2 seems like a lazier nurser. His latch isn't great and I worry that he's not going to be able to suction out clots.
Hi ladies! We took our first non-mandatory trip out in the world today - to the outdoor outlet mall for a few hours - and emerged relatively unscathed!
Found out my LO has a tongue tie which was causing improper sucking which was causing low supply for me. Getting it revised today. So nervous. Will need to do exercises after and teach him to learn to latch again. Working with a lactation consultant. Right now i BF, pump, then supplement with syringe from my milk and donor milk. I am tired
Found out my LO has a tongue tie which was causing improper sucking which was causing low supply for me. Getting it revised today. So nervous. Will need to do exercises after and teach him to learn to latch again. Working with a lactation consultant. Right now i BF, pump, then supplement with syringe from my milk and donor milk. I am tired
Good luck! We had our LOs tongue tie released too. It did change how she fed immediately!
my lactation consultant (who is a midwife at the hospital where I delivered, and is just doing me favors by volunteering to see me) was so pleased that DS is almost back at his birth weight that she said we don't need to work on latching. at first this frustrated me, but I think we ARE getting the hang of it.
lumps are so much smaller after all the advice here. she said prep my boobs with a warm compress, keep changing positions each feed (moving his legs around, kind of like a clock - so his chin massages me in a new place each time), and then finish with a cold compress to shut the girls down again.
feeling so much better today! despite the Virginia pains, blech
DS did such a good job sleeping last night I had to wake him up to feed him around 10 and then he ate once around 3 and has just been sleeping peacefully ever since pretty good for less than 24 hours old! Dr just took him away to do his circumcision and I almost cried because he was sleeping peacefully in my arms and I know he's going to be in pain (
Feeling super positive today! Yesterday was my first day as a SAHM without any help and we survived! Seriously, though, LO is such a good baby. She basically slept the day away and has been doing that today, too. This is letting me get caught up with my schoolwork. It's crazy how behind I got by only missing a week! I still have a long way to go, but the past two days have been really helpful.
On a whim today I decided to try breastfeeding again. I've been pretty much exclusively pumping since Friday because breastfeeding was just frustrating both of us and DH and I decided it just wasn't worth the effort when bottle feeding her breast milk was going so smoothly. Well, I've been reading up on nipple shields (LC recommended them) and my google search came up with a lot of conflicting information about them. I checked out La Leche League's website and they provided me with some info about how to try to breastfeed without the nipple shield when you have flat/short nipples (which is the problem in my case). I followed their advice and was able to successfully nurse LO for twelve minutes on my right side and five minutes on my left! This has given me so much more hope for our breastfeeding journey. I won't beat myself up if this doesn't work out in the long run, but I've decided I'm not going to wholly give up just yet - it's only been 10 days!
Current plan of attack: I'll attempt nursing, but have bottles ready if LO needs them. If, after nursing on both sides, she's still expressing that she's hungry, we'll give her the bottle. We are definitely going to stick to bottles at night, at least until I'm feeling more confident about nursing. And I'm going to start attending meetings for La Leche League in my area, starting two weeks from tomorrow if I'm healed enough to drive LO and myself there by myself. I'm really excited for this meeting - breast feeding help, plus I get to meet other moms! Yay!
My LO let me sleep for a total of 9 hours last night!!! I feel great today and am actually going to shave my legs and put makeup on. I'm feeling much better about being a mom after the last couple days.
Taking care of her is starting to come more natural. She still hasn't popped since Tuesday afternoon though! She's gonna explode here soon and I am not looking forward to that.
So last night LO finally slept really well and woke up every 2.5 hours to eat. I'm hoping it'll stay like this. I just ordered my breast pump yesterday so excited to get that in the mail. But it's just all so confusing and time consuming to pump and breast feed at the same time. Im so temped to just exclusively pump. I start back to work in a few weeks and am nervous how that's going to transition with feeding and what not. I've also realized today on little i am actually eating. I was in the shower and felt super dizzy and now laying on the couch I feel the same way. I just made myself lunch and downed a ton of water so I'm hoping that helps and it's the reason for feeling like this. Never thought I'd be the one to forget to eat or rather get a nap in then eat. Motherhood is exhausting, awesome but exhausting
I successfully made a trip to the grocery store with my twins! I only needed a few things, so I took our double stroller and I have a giant clip thing that I put on the stroller handle for my reusable bags to carry stuff. Worked great! Also, felt good to get out of the house so we went for a stroll around the neighborhood when we got back too.
Oh, they also slept great last night! They went 4hrs between each feeding, so 12, 4, and 8 which is a great schedule allowing momma some sleep! We just hooked up the humidifier in our room, so not sure if that helped them with sleep. We will see how tonight goes!
Accomplishment: just got home from the hospital today and after feeding baby girl, we got her to sleep in her pack n play while me and DH left the room (she doesn't like when we leave her side) andddd she didn't even have her pacifier! She's now going on 3 hours of peaceful sleep
So last night LO finally slept really well and woke up every 2.5 hours to eat. I'm hoping it'll stay like this. I just ordered my breast pump yesterday so excited to get that in the mail. But it's just all so confusing and time consuming to pump and breast feed at the same time. Im so temped to just exclusively pump. I start back to work in a few weeks and am nervous how that's going to transition with feeding and what not. I've also realized today on little i am actually eating. I was in the shower and felt super dizzy and now laying on the couch I feel the same way. I just made myself lunch and downed a ton of water so I'm hoping that helps and it's the reason for feeling like this. Never thought I'd be the one to forget to eat or rather get a nap in then eat. Motherhood is exhausting, awesome but exhausting
My milk supply dropped DRASTICALLY when I put off eating. It's been 5 days and I'm still trying desperately to reestablish the supply. I know it's incredibly hard but please try to keep up with food and water.
Also, exclusively pumping often takes just as much time as nursing and pumping. That's my experience, anyway.
Do formula fed babies also cluster feed? Sorry if this is stupid but I have no experience with formula fed babies except their moms seem a lot more rested!
Do formula fed babies also cluster feed? Sorry if this is stupid but I have no experience with formula fed babies except their moms seem a lot more rested!
Cluster feeding is generally more for breast fed babies to increase moms supply by feeding more frequently thus sending the signal to your body to amp up production. With formula babies you just add more to the bottle so they feel fuller after just your routine feeding.
Formula is "harder" to digest so babies I think have a tendency to go longer between feedings because they feel fuller. Breast fed babies process the milk easier and "faster" many times. I also noticed that when my DS are more breast milk he wouldn't poop as often. Like some times five days between poops. It freaked me out. Just had to be patient and let it come in its own time. Massaging his tummy in a clockwise rotation helped with his gas and digestion though. Hope this helps.
Ugh just as I gave up on pumping... My milk comes in today. On day 12! Still not sure how to proceed. Mentally I had moved on, and I'm still not producing much. But my boobs are leaky and hurting!
Accomplishment: just got home from the hospital today and after feeding baby girl, we got her to sleep in her pack n play while me and DH left the room (she doesn't like when we leave her side) andddd she didn't even have her pacifier! She's now going on 3 hours of peaceful sleep
Congrats! We just moved LO to her own room and it's made a world of difference in our sleep. I'm happy for you!
I am so behind on this thread but from what I've read everyone is doing so greet working through their struggles.
LO is 5 days old now and I feel like we have been operating in too much of a go with the flow attitude since we have been home instead of really trying to establish good routines. Breastfeeding has been challenging since my milk came in and LO seems frustrated because I think the overwhelming supply is making it difficult to latch. I ended up pumping tonight and that feeding was great. Her first pediatrician appointment is today so I'll be interested to see if she's gaining weight back. I might need to think about pumping more which I hadn't planned on doing so early. Breastfeeding is mentally much tougher than I expected. For something so natural, it's so easy to overthink and can be very stressful.
The other challenge is definitely sleep time. She hates her arms to be swaddled, but otherwise startles herself awake so often. She doesn't like to be put down but we can't take turns snuggling her each night for the rest of our lives (we desperately need sleep) - although she's cute enough to!! So next mission: bedtime routine. Suggestions welcome. Types of sleep sacks, environmental "helps", in their own nursery or our room ??? Must find the right combo.
LO was born 6/9, and I guess I bruised my tailbone during labor. It is the absolute worst and nothing is helping the pain. anyone else experience this ever?? Also baby won't sleep unless she is attached to my boob! I'm exhausted while hubby sleeps soundly :-/
no baby for me yet, but just thought i would put this out there for you ladies dealing with clogged ducts and lumps, i remember reading a hospital bag list and the OP said that she drank pineapple juice (ah yes more pineapple) and that helped with the clogging (i dont remember it enough to give you the reason why it worked, but it could be worth a google search for you ladies) also, you guys are awesome.
LO was born 6/9, and I guess I bruised my tailbone during labor. It is the absolute worst and nothing is helping the pain. anyone else experience this ever?? Also baby won't sleep unless she is attached to my boob! I'm exhausted while hubby sleeps soundly :-/
My LO won't sleep unless attached to my boob as well! He currently sleeps on my chest (bad habit I know!) we have a co sleeper and he just wants nothing to do with it.
I am so behind on this thread but from what I've read everyone is doing so greet working through their struggles.
LO is 5 days old now and I feel like we have been operating in too much of a go with the flow attitude since we have been home instead of really trying to establish good routines. Breastfeeding has been challenging since my milk came in and LO seems frustrated because I think the overwhelming supply is making it difficult to latch. I ended up pumping tonight and that feeding was great. Her first pediatrician appointment is today so I'll be interested to see if she's gaining weight back. I might need to think about pumping more which I hadn't planned on doing so early. Breastfeeding is mentally much tougher than I expected. For something so natural, it's so easy to overthink and can be very stressful.
The other challenge is definitely sleep time. She hates her arms to be swaddled, but otherwise startles herself awake so often. She doesn't like to be put down but we can't take turns snuggling her each night for the rest of our lives (we desperately need sleep) - although she's cute enough to!! So next mission: bedtime routine. Suggestions welcome. Types of sleep sacks, environmental "helps", in their own nursery or our room ??? Must find the right combo.
Am having this same issue. The past two nights, my babe has slept in shifts: in the bassinet once, in my arms once (I prop myself up with pillows and use the Boppie to ensure we are well enough situated that I can fall asleep safely) and he lays between DH and me in bed for the third sleep session.
I am personally not trying to establish routine yet. Just feeding on demand and letting him sleep however he will do it. He's only 6 days old! But I have lots of help, with DH home and both grandmas in town, so I get to nap during the day.
In the hospital, my baby loved their sleep sack. It was sleeveless, so he could move his arms and legs, but it seemed to keep him from startling so often - and kept him warm, which has been a concern of mine.
Question: DH is being *amazing but he's a little frustrated that I get much more time with DS. DH said yesterday he feels like he only gets to change diapers - which he really doesn't mind doing but since DS hates it, he doesn't want to be associated only with something bad. Fair enough.
Ah, an important detail: DH can't keep his hands off DS or not coo at him.., so DH will often wake the sleeping baby, who will only go back to sleep by nursing. I've tried pointing this out, but it's hard to criticize enthusiasm. If DH would let the kid sleep, he could hold him for hours!
@virginiaunicorn11 DH feels the same way but...I remind him he doesn't have boobs and right now her only job is to eat and sleep. He is more frustrated that he cant do more since I'm a walking zombie (she eats every 2.5 hour for 45-60 min).
If he was waking her up I'd chop his balls off. It's cute he wants to be around her but not when she sleeping!
TTC: 1/2014
BFP: 9/24
EDD: 6/8/2015
Sorry for the poor man's siggy...ticker won't load regardless of how many tips I read.
@virginiaunicorn11 maybe you can get him involved with your care too (like if nursing has started and you need a burp cloth or an extra pillow... Or if you decide to pump he can give a bottle?)... Also he can help with sponge bathing or dressing.... Boy don't you wish he did have boobs and could feed her? That is my fantasy (haha but only for this short time!)
Last night DH fell asleep with DS in his bed and slept all night so god help him if he complains of feeling tired!! On a positive note I felt our nursing last night was very successful and we even slept from 4 to 7!
Question: DH is being *amazing but he's a little frustrated that I get much more time with DS. DH said yesterday he feels like he only gets to change diapers - which he really doesn't mind doing but since DS hates it, he doesn't want to be associated only with something bad. Fair enough.
Ah, an important detail: DH can't keep his hands off DS or not coo at him.., so DH will often wake the sleeping baby, who will only go back to sleep by nursing. I've tried pointing this out, but it's hard to criticize enthusiasm. If DH would let the kid sleep, he could hold him for hours!
Advice?
When I was just nursing, DH took care of diaper changes and burping, so he'd get a little more time with her awake. When he was burping her she usually wasn't fussy. Then when I was exclusively pumping we'd take turns with the bottle. Now I'm doing both nursing and pumping so we only take turns at night, but she's more alert so he gets more time with her awake anyway.
I've noticed that our "normal"changes daily, so if all else fails, just remember that the older LO gets the more alert he'll be. I bet you that this time next week, your husband won't be complaining anymore!
Our LO is 13 days old and is only waking up once in the middle of the night! I feel so much more positive and good about being a Mom when I get some sleep to those of you struggling, it will get better!
I have no idea if it was advice of Drs or if we just lucked out, but since we got home from hospital have had lights on during the day shades open and don't try to be quiet at all, wake her to feed every 2-3 hrs. At night, quiet and dark. Once she surpassed birth weight Dr. Said don't wake her up at night, feed more during the day, and since then have been getting 2 3/4 hr stretches at night, which is what I need to feel human! Hope this helps someone!!
@eanorberg I tried letting her sleep for a 4 hour span last night and have since been nursing my engorged boobs and clogged ducts. She feeds so frequently during the day that I physically am unable to not wake her up to eat because my supply will diminish. Only a few more weeks of this before it all regulates. I'm very hAppy for your sleep though get some for me!
TTC: 1/2014
BFP: 9/24
EDD: 6/8/2015
Sorry for the poor man's siggy...ticker won't load regardless of how many tips I read.
We get to go see our newborn photos today! But that means I have to get DD, SD, and LO all ready and out there at 11. This is going to be an adventure.
I feel like it's been days since I've had time to visit y'all! BFing is going well. Painful still but I'm nowhere near wanting to give up anymore. Thank goodness it does get better like they said it would!
accomplishment: two squishy, floppy boobs!!! I am jinxing myself, but am soooo happy not to have lumps or engorged boobs right now!! spent all day braless, wearing one of DH's flannel button downs (vs my normal nursing tanks). not sure if that helped or what. am kinda freaking out my mom and MiL who are here to help. oh well, I feel so much better!!
@virginiaunicorn11 DH would take DS after a feeding and burp him and then do some snuggle/tummy time on his chest. I think that helped with the bonding and feeling like a part of the team. Also maybe some time in a Moby wrap or Baby K'tan wrap would give him some good baby time while giving you some time to yourself.
My son is 9 days old and I've been exclusively breastfeeding, but have to go back to work at the 6 week mark. When are other working mommas planning on introducing a bottle to their little ones?
So LOs umbilical cord fell off but there's still a small scab from where it came off...do you think that's ok to give her a submerged bath?
We asked a nurse about this, she said to give baby a bath then use a q tip to make sure belly button was dry after. Our little ones belly button is totally healed now!
LO was born 6/9, and I guess I bruised my tailbone during labor. It is the absolute worst and nothing is helping the pain. anyone else experience this ever?? Also baby won't sleep unless she is attached to my boob! I'm exhausted while hubby sleeps soundly :-/
I had a bruised butt plus hemorrhoids... Doc prescribed me oxycodone, ibuprofen and Tylenol. Hopefully some version of that can help you!
For those pumping... What size bottles are you making? I just hand pumped one bottle of 2 oz ... I think they usually eat about 2-3 oz per feeding. ... I haven't set up the electric pump yet but figured I was better off with smaller amounts handy to avoid waste.
For those pumping... What size bottles are you making? I just hand pumped one bottle of 2 oz ... I think they usually eat about 2-3 oz per feeding. ... I haven't set up the electric pump yet but figured I was better off with smaller amounts handy to avoid waste.
In the morning, I get 4.5-5 oz from each breast, as the day progresses I tend to go back down to 2-3 oz each. I had been pumping every 3-4 hours; now that I'm attempting nursing again I'm only pumping in the morning and at night, but I'm still getting about the same amount per bottle as before.
Re: New Moms - Weekly June 6-13 Updates, Issues, Accomplishments
I knew it wasn't good, but football position while massaging did the trick. Thanks again!
I know, don't lecture, too soon, bleeding started again today and I though my stitches were healed but now it feels like something is pinched down there. So I'm backing of the swimming. Bummer, it was making me feel human. I'm only 15 days out, guess I am not quite ready to feel human again.
Another trick on the lumps is to do the hot compress, lay baby on the bed and hover over them. Hurts like heck but they suction it right out. I am worried about clearing these this go around. DS2 seems like a lazier nurser. His latch isn't great and I worry that he's not going to be able to suction out clots.
lumps are so much smaller after all the advice here. she said prep my boobs with a warm compress, keep changing positions each feed (moving his legs around, kind of like a clock - so his chin massages me in a new place each time), and then finish with a cold compress to shut the girls down again.
feeling so much better today! despite the Virginia pains, blech
Taking care of her is starting to come more natural. She still hasn't popped since Tuesday afternoon though! She's gonna explode here soon and I am not looking forward to that.
I've also realized today on little i am actually eating. I was in the shower and felt super dizzy and now laying on the couch I feel the same way. I just made myself lunch and downed a ton of water so I'm hoping that helps and it's the reason for feeling like this. Never thought I'd be the one to forget to eat or rather get a nap in then eat. Motherhood is exhausting, awesome but exhausting
Also, exclusively pumping often takes just as much time as nursing and pumping. That's my experience, anyway.
Formula is "harder" to digest so babies I think have a tendency to go longer between feedings because they feel fuller. Breast fed babies process the milk easier and "faster" many times. I also noticed that when my DS are more breast milk he wouldn't poop as often. Like some times five days between poops. It freaked me out. Just had to be patient and let it come in its own time. Massaging his tummy in a clockwise rotation helped with his gas and digestion though. Hope this helps.
LO is 5 days old now and I feel like we have been operating in too much of a go with the flow attitude since we have been home instead of really trying to establish good routines. Breastfeeding has been challenging since my milk came in and LO seems frustrated because I think the overwhelming supply is making it difficult to latch. I ended up pumping tonight and that feeding was great. Her first pediatrician appointment is today so I'll be interested to see if she's gaining weight back. I might need to think about pumping more which I hadn't planned on doing so early. Breastfeeding is mentally much tougher than I expected. For something so natural, it's so easy to overthink and can be very stressful.
The other challenge is definitely sleep time. She hates her arms to be swaddled, but otherwise startles herself awake so often. She doesn't like to be put down but we can't take turns snuggling her each night for the rest of our lives (we desperately need sleep) - although she's cute enough to!! So next mission: bedtime routine. Suggestions welcome. Types of sleep sacks, environmental "helps", in their own nursery or our room ??? Must find the right combo.
also, you guys are awesome.
I am personally not trying to establish routine yet. Just feeding on demand and letting him sleep however he will do it. He's only 6 days old! But I have lots of help, with DH home and both grandmas in town, so I get to nap during the day.
In the hospital, my baby loved their sleep sack. It was sleeveless, so he could move his arms and legs, but it seemed to keep him from startling so often - and kept him warm, which has been a concern of mine.
DH is being *amazing but he's a little frustrated that I get much more time with DS. DH said yesterday he feels like he only gets to change diapers - which he really doesn't mind doing but since DS hates it, he doesn't want to be associated only with something bad. Fair enough.
Ah, an important detail: DH can't keep his hands off DS or not coo at him.., so DH will often wake the sleeping baby, who will only go back to sleep by nursing. I've tried pointing this out, but it's hard to criticize enthusiasm. If DH would let the kid sleep, he could hold him for hours!
Advice?
If he was waking her up I'd chop his balls off. It's cute he wants to be around her but not when she sleeping!
Last night DH fell asleep with DS in his bed and slept all night so god help him if he complains of feeling tired!! On a positive note I felt our nursing last night was very successful and we even slept from 4 to 7!
I've noticed that our "normal"changes daily, so if all else fails, just remember that the older LO gets the more alert he'll be. I bet you that this time next week, your husband won't be complaining anymore!
I have no idea if it was advice of Drs or if we just lucked out, but since we got home from hospital have had lights on during the day shades open and don't try to be quiet at all, wake her to feed every 2-3 hrs. At night, quiet and dark. Once she surpassed birth weight Dr. Said don't wake her up at night, feed more during the day, and since then have been getting 2 3/4 hr stretches at night, which is what I need to feel human! Hope this helps someone!!
I feel like it's been days since I've had time to visit y'all! BFing is going well. Painful still but I'm nowhere near wanting to give up anymore. Thank goodness it does get better like they said it would!
I am jinxing myself, but am soooo happy not to have lumps or engorged boobs right now!!
spent all day braless, wearing one of DH's flannel button downs (vs my normal nursing tanks). not sure if that helped or what. am kinda freaking out my mom and MiL who are here to help. oh well, I feel so much better!!