So I thought I'd go ahead and start this check-in. It's my feeble attempt at keeping things organized. Whether or not you breastfeed anyone is welcome to participate and ask questions or give feedback.
1. How old is your LO?
2. Are you breastfeeding, formula feeding, pumping? A combination of two or all three?
3. Any concerns or questions you'd like to share with the group?
GTKY: What's something you do for yourself to maintain your sanity?
Re: Breastfeeding Check-in Week of 6/22
Spitty is about 8 weeks old
2. Are you breastfeeding, formula feeding, pumping? A combination of two or all three?
Breastfeeding and pumping
3. Any concerns or questions you'd like to share with the group?
Seems like I'll have to learn to live with the constant spit up. My other concern is the comfort nursing. This little dude doesn't like his pacifier anymore! We were using soothies since it's what he had in the NICU. Does anyone have another brand they recommend?
GTKY: What's something you do for yourself to maintain your sanity?
I draw in my sketchbook and/or journal. Or shop online:)
Edited to add the shopping part.
1) LO is 2 weeks today.
2)I'm breast feeding exclusively. I did pump to keep my supply up last week. We gave formula because pediatrician said it would help with his jaundice, so now I have a stash in the freezer. I'm hoping to pump more at around 4 weeks so others can feed him.
3) Are you ladies pumping now? If so, has it made your supply increase? I'm already making quite a bit of milk so I'm hesitant to pump a lot.
To stay sane I...
Read when I can...just finished Girl on the Train.
Run quick errands when DH is home.
Try to nap once a day. Yesterday this didn't happen and I was melting down! Lol
ETA: I shop too!
2. I'm Breastfeeding and pumping occasionally to build supply and start an emergency stash.
3 I'm terrified I'm not going to make enough milk/ and she isn't gaining weight. We have weight check Thursday, and if they tell me to supplement formula I will throw a fit.
Due to lack of sleep, I'm not in the position to judge my sanity.
2. Actually a combo of all 3. Crazy I know. We're actually transitioning to mainly formula since it'll be easier with my job and going back to school in the fall.
3. I'm concerned about my milk supply and how my boobs will be during this transition to formula. We're adding a formula feeding every few days. She's doing really great with it. Just nervous about how my boobs will take it lol
Any advice to anyone who switched to formula now or with another child? I still want to BF her a few times a day. Maybe morning and bedtime but that would be it.
5 days, I'm also a STM
2. Are you breastfeeding, formula feeding, pumping? A combination of two or all three?
BF and pumping to relieve engorgement. But that seems to be getting better so I'm hoping to put the pump away until LO goes more than 3 hours between feedings. Then I'll pump to start a freezer reserve.
3. Any concerns or questions you'd like to share with the group? Nope, but I've done this before so I will try to help where I can. BF-ing is hard work!
GTKY: What's something you do for yourself to maintain your sanity?
Baby #2 is so much easier. But I read, walk, nap, and try to see friends outside of the house. And I just bought a package of mint Oreos.
Four and a half weeks.
2. Are you breastfeeding, formula feeding, pumping? A combination of two or all three?
Pumping and supplementing formula. LO was in the NICU for ten days, so we sadly couldn't get the whole breastfeeding thing down. I've pumped and he's gotten exclusively BM until today, but our ped said he needs to eat more frequently so we are going to start supplementing formula bc my supply can't keep up with his needs.
3. Any concerns or questions you'd like to share with the group?
For those who use formula- how often do you feed your LO and how much do you give?
GTKY: What's something you do for yourself to maintain your sanity? I try to make sure I get a nap in every day. I also make it a point to get out with LO every day- whether it's running errands or just going for a walk. My mom is coming on Wednesday so I can have a whole day to myself- can't wait to go get my nails done!
1 week old
2. Are you breastfeeding, formula feeding, pumping?
EBF now- I plan to start pumping around 3 weeks to build stash & let DH get some feedings in.
3. Any concerns or questions you'd like to share with the group? Didn't prepare myself for the nipple pain! Ouch!! SLOWLY healing though.
GTKY: What's something you do for yourself to maintain your sanity?
LO has been pretty good, but I try to nap once a day with her, read, & tell myself to stay on the couch to relax & heal!
10 days-- how quickly time has passed!
2. Are you breastfeeding, formula feeding, pumping?
breastfeeding and occasionally pumping
3. Any concerns or questions you'd like to share with the group?
GTKY: What's something you do for yourself to maintain your sanity?
That's the dream at least. Like my idea of labor, I'm reminding myself to stay flexible.
Rohan is 12 days old today.
2. Are you breastfeeding, formula feeding, pumping? A combination of two or all three?
Just breastfeeding for the moment
3. Any concerns or questions you'd like to share with the group?
LO seems to swallow alot of gas when he nurses - we have to burp him for quite a bit after each feed. Any tips to reduce this, or at least speed up the burping process?
My other main issue is that my right nipple is still really sore. I think there's a crack where he bit me the other day, and it's pinched every time he latches on. Didn't help that he kicked me there while feeding on the other side last night.
And if anyone has any tips on how not to get covered in milk while breastfeeding that would be appreciated!
GTKY: What's something you do for yourself to maintain your sanity?
Just getting out of the house for a few hours has worked wonders. Yesterday evening DH and I strapped LO into the car and drove halfway across town to a coffee shop just to get out for an hour. LO loves the car, he slept for 3 hours solid afterwards!
@SammeMotley I'm rooting for you! Hang in there!
1. How old is your LO?
4 weeks tomorrow, STM as well.
2. Are you breastfeeding, formula feeding, pumping? A combination of two or all three?
Breastfeeding, pumping just the bare minimum as I am trying to avoid oversupply. I pump only when DH gives LO a bottle from the fridge, which is every time I leave the house. Even if I just feed him and I'm only gone for 45 minutes. Really?
3. Any concerns or questions you'd like to share with the group?
Things are getting a lot better for me. Introduced a pacifier this weekend and that has made a huge difference. Less nipple pain, less engorgement, LO isn't drowning in milk he doesn't want and his latch is much better. I wish I hadn't been scared of these with DS1. My biggest issue is being nervous about returning to work in 2 weeks.
GTKY: What's something you do for yourself to maintain your sanity?
Run. Right now I'm stuck with swimming for quite a while. I just took myself & LO out for dinner while DH and my toddler took the dog for a walk. Walked for Chipotle and a 12 pack of Grainbelt Nordeast. I'm sure that looked classy balanced on LO's pram. Best dinner date ever. FYI - its helps your milk supply!
2. Breastfeeding and pumping. Depends on the mood, plans for the day, and how engorged I am.
3. Any tips on how to handle a MIL that is constantly giving "tips" like "give the baby water between feedings" & "you aren't dressing the baby properly" when my dr says I'm doing a good job?! Just venting really
2. EBF but I just pumped for the first time. Gotta get LO used to a bottle before I go back to work! Thank goodness I have my own office to pump in (Audiologist so I'll pump in my nice, peaceful sound booth)!!!
3. It's been a long month full of cracked nipples and a bout with mastitis. Nipples are still not healing! Any pumping moms see a difference in cracking pain when they started pumping?
GTKY: Read! I go through two to three books a week on average. It's my escape from reality. And really good chocolate.
4 weeks
2. Are you breastfeeding, formula feeding, pumping? A combination of two or all three?
Pumping and formula
3. Any concerns or questions you'd like to share with the group?
I'm trying to switch over to formula and am slowly weaning off the pump. I'm up to 4 pumps a day every 6-7 hours. I really just want to be done with it but one morning I woke up severely engorged with a clogged duct. I did ubspeakable things with that pump to get it unclogged (and my sister was more involved than she probably should have been haha). But it scared me from attempting to space it out further. Anyone have experience tapering off the pump? Suggestions for getting through it?
GTKY: What's something you do for yourself to maintain your sanity?
I feel like I'm keeping it together pretty well for the most part. I typically garden at dusk while my husband tends to LO.
2) Only breastfeeding for now, but looking into a manual pump for the occasional engorgement
3) I got a nipple shield which worked wonders at first but started hurting again... Normal?
I have frequent tingling in the nipples and the occasional shooting pain. I'd like it to stop buying don't think anything's really wrong... Is there?
4) I used to spend a day at a Korean bath house to keep my sanity, or read. Since LO arrived, I've been napping and watching Call the Midwife
If that is too fast, start with 1-2 min reduction every few days. I think it took me about 2 weeks to stop completely and I was pumping 8-10 ounces per side, per pumping session.
ETA spelling
2- EBF and pumping to start my stash for work
3- she ate every hour yesterday afternoon and night. Very hard to find time to pump. Going to do it now even though I'd like to be sleeping.
2. Breastfeeding
3. How was others first few nights for sleeping? I was sure I saw a thread on it before baby was born but now I can't seem to find it. This LO won't let me put him down to sleep. He wants to sleep with a boob in his mouth, and when he can't have that he'll settle for sleeping on my chest but I can't set him down beside me on the bed or in the bassinet without him fussing and waking up. It's only been two nights, but if anyone has advice, please share!
4. Wine! Which will have to continue to remain in hold for at least another few weeks lol
2. I am breastfeeding exclusively but in the hospital had to supplement with pumped milk and formula. I am pumping now to create a frozen stash.
3. This is my third baby but honestly I forgot how much it hurts. My nipples are on fire and I can't get him to latch deeply. We will head back to the lactation nurse.
4. I also read during nursing sessions and finished girl on the train (so good!) and China rich girlfriend (sequel to crazy rich Asians). But wine sounds awesome! Can't wait for that day! I also have been having ice cream. I had GD so I have been indulging...
https://www.emmapickettbreastfeedingsupport.com/twitter-and-blog/the-dangerous-game-of-the-feeding-interval-obsession
2) pumping and supplementing with formula when needed. I can't seem to keep up with this girl! Breastfeeding didn't work out, we just couldn't get the latch right and my nipples were so beat up that first week!
3) switching to formula exclusively seems so good some days.
Online shopping. I've gotten so bad I started mailing stuff to my moms lol.
2. EBF
3. My boobs hate the pump. Anyone else? I make plenty of milk to feed LO. And they even leak during the night. But when I try to pump I don't even get 1/4 oz! It's very frustrating. I'm going to have to go back to work sooner than Id like but if my pumping continues to go this way, I see a lot of formula in my babies future.
2. Are you breastfeeding, formula feeding, pumping? A combination of two or all three? Mostly breastfeeding, pumping a bit so DH can give her a bottle at night and I can get some extra sleep.
3. Any concerns or questions you'd like to share with the group? I'm still not totally sure that she's latching right, especially on my right side - it's super painful when she first latches on. Sometime the pain goes away, sometimes it doesn't. It doesn't help that my right nipple is cracked. Oy. No fun. I'm going to a La Leche League meeting on Friday (can't wait!!!) so hopefully this will be corrected soon.
GTKY: What's something you do for yourself to maintain your sanity? Well, my schoolwork is helping me maintain a life outside of Mommyland, only because it's something I HAVE to do. It's good and bad, because while it does give me something to focus on other than LO, it's also a distraction sometimes and causes some stress.
SO i dont want to invest too much money into extra tubes, pump cleaning supplies, nipple care products, etc.. if it ends up that breastfeeding doesnt work for me.. What items would you say are worth investing in to help me give this a fighting chance? Obviously if thigns are going well, i can order more supplies as needed. I'm just curious if i should have more stuff for as soon as she arrives. Or if you guys recommend i just wait and see how things go before purchasing any thing at all.
I appreciate the help/insight mommas!