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EBF and EBP tips, tricks, and rule breakers

7425cait7425cait member
edited August 2015 in June 2015 Moms
I mainly use the mobile site, so with that said, I apologize if this thread has already happened. I know there is a feeding thread, but I thought it might be nice for all of us who are giving our babies breast milk to discuss any tips, tricks, and broken rules. Breast-feeding can be really hard, and many of us want to stop at times. What makes it even tougher are all the rules that go along with feeding and milk storage. What are some tips, tricks, and rules that you have broken that have seem to help you with feeding you LO.

I have been breast-feeding for six weeks now. LO gets a pumped bottle once a day.

One tip that I know many of us know is that when I know I'm going to be pumping more than once a day, I rinse the pump parts and store them in a Ziploc bag in the fridge. This way I don't have to continuously wash all the parts every time I pump.

One bended rule, is I only feed from one side per feeding. The bend is that I rarely offer the second breast. If LO is still hungry I put her back on the same side. This has helped my nipples heal and regulate my milk a little better. LO is gaining weight, so I'm not worried about her getting enough.

I'm working out some engorgement/overproduction/leaking issues during the night, so if anyone has any tips on that, it would be great!
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Re: EBF and EBP tips, tricks, and rule breakers

  • hbornzinhbornzin member
    I and my son favor one breast over the other and so I use my left side way more than my right! I sometimes pump in the middle of the night if he doesn't wake up or barely eats when he does, and I just rinse my pump since I'm tired and I know I'll be pumping after his 7am feeding!

    I have a question though regarding milk supply and the pill?!

    I am starting the mini pill today and was wondering if anyone has had a decline in their milk supply from taking it?
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  • hilgspritchhilgspritch member
    @hbornzin I just started my second pack of the mini pill and haven't experienced any issues with supply.
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  • hbornzinhbornzin member
    Okay that makes me feel so much better!
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  • bethanne09bethanne09 member
    My LO only takes one side, too. I pump the other side overnight to keep them from getting engorged and painful. I do it while he's eating, for as long as he's eating so I don't have to use extra sleeping time. It gets me an extra bottle for the next day too, so I feel like I've accomplished something.
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  • 7425cait7425cait member
    @bethanne09 I like the idea of extra milk for the next day. I'm hoping that eventually my body will regulate and they will stop getting engorged like they have during the day time. So I'm hesitant to pump at night cuz then that boob will keep producing. I'm also afraid that the pump will wake LO and me up. We are both in a fog during the mid night feeding and go back to sleep really easily. So right now I've just been sleeping with a towel under me and hoping for minimal leakage.
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  • rweaver8611rweaver8611 member
    I pump after each feeding for the most part to have a freezer stash. I started that a month ago and have 450 oz frozen as of now. I wanted a stash for when I return to work. I made lactation cookies (soooo good!) and smoothies to help keep my production up when I go back to work Monday. I'm worried without nursing him all day that my supply may start to drop. Any mommas on here have experience pumping at work? How did your supply hold up? I'm a teacher, so I work about 7-8 hours a day....
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  • dancegurl1118dancegurl1118 member
    @Wanderlust65158611 pumping after each feeding? Wow! That is some serious dedication! Great job. I pump once or twice a day and it's still too much for me, haha.
    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.
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  • rweaver8611rweaver8611 member
    @dancegurl1118 that's because I stress about not having a big enough stash! I'm sure once I get comfortable with what I can pump fresh for his daycare and what I'm needing to pull from the freezer I may slow down on the pumping! And after 2 rounds of mastitis, my OB/GYN said to make sure I empty after each feeding. Mastitis is no fun at all. :(
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  • 7425cait7425cait member
    @Wanderlust65158611 are you planning to pump at work? I'm a teacher too, and I'm trying to figure out how to do that since the periods I have off may not coincide with my pumping schedule. I'm staying out of work until Thanksgiving break, so I'm hoping at that point LO is on solids and will only be breast-feeding a few times a day.
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  • rweaver8611rweaver8611 member
    I am going to pump at work. I have my conference first thing in the morning, then lunch at 11 and will pump at both of those times. I just need to find a time around 2 or so to pump. Luckily, I am a Special Education teacher, so I have an assistant in the room with me to cover if I need to step out. I don't know what state you are in, but in Texas, the employers are legally required to give you 15 mins to pump for every couple of hours worked (I need to look it up, my cousin was telling me this because she had to pump at work). Lucky you not going back until after thanksgiving! With my students having such special needs, I didn't want a substitute setting my room up and routines while I was out. That would mess my poor kids up. :( And thankfully LO goes to the preschool my mom directs, so he gets to be with Honey all day!
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  • aj1327aj1327 member
    I only feed off one side per feeding. LO usually takes himself off and doesn't need the other side. I just switch back & forth with each feeding. I pump once a day too, although lately he hasn't wanted bottles.
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  • msahinoglumsahinoglu member
    I just wanted to post to say that I have no idea what I'm doing.  The breastfeeding part is easy for me, thank goodness, but pumping suucccks (ha no pun intended).  Started working last week, and have been pumping twice during my ~7 hour day and I feed LO immediately before leaving for work and immediately when I get home. MIL watches LO 3 days a week, and I give her what I pumped at work the previous day, about 8 oz total.  I usually only feed her from one breast per feeding, but I feed her on demand.  So I have no idea how much milk she needs during the day when she is with MIL.  Prior to starting work she was like in the 92nd percentile in weight, so there has been no convo with dr about amount to feed her when going back to work.  LO is still not taking the bottle really, she will be 10 weeks tomorrow. She plays with it when she's in a good mood, if she's really hungry or crabby she cries and swats it away.  MIL has tried feeding her with a spoon, which she will accept, but it takes forever and I'd really rather her be able to take the milk from a bottle.  
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  • rweaver8611rweaver8611 member
    @msahinoglu I was always told to send 1-1.5 oz per hour you are going to be gone. My LO eats between 2-3 oz when we give him a bottle. I am going to send him with 3 oz bottles to preschool and then will back off if he isn't eating as much.
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  • msahinoglumsahinoglu member
    @wanderlust65158611 thank you for your reply.  Based on your rubric, then the amount I am giving is about right.  
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  • YouAreMySunshine15YouAreMySunshine15 member
    edited August 2015
    I feed off one side per feed mostly. I'm also terrible about remembering which one I'm on and I favor one side. Now I have one big boob and one small boob :) I pump once a day, after LO's second night feed. I offer her a bottle every day, but she still won't really take it. She's taken an ounce at most... So I throw a lot down the drain. I freeze the rest... Even though I'm not sure why if she won't take a bottle. So frustrating.
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  • YouAreMySunshine15YouAreMySunshine15 member
    @Wanderlust65158611 you are a GENIUS. I hadn't even thought of that!!!
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  • rweaver8611rweaver8611 member
    I literally only know these things because of a Facebook group I joined...wish I could take all the credit!!
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  • YouAreMySunshine15YouAreMySunshine15 member
    @Wanderlust65158611 well, thank you for sharing your knowledge :) I might start freezing some in ice cube trays and then storing in a freezer bag!
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  • 7425cait7425cait member
    @Wanderlust65158611 that is awesome that your baby gets to be with your mom. And you are such a dedicated teacher. I'm having a little bit of separation anxiety knowing somebody else is going to be in my classroom, but I've got to let it go. I live in New Jersey, and I know that they must provide a space for me to pump. I have to look into time to pump. I'll probably try to work around my schedule, just because I don't want to have to leave my classroom and cause a fuss.
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  • 7425cait7425cait member
    @Sjeff0816 you can also use your frozen stash when LO starts eating solids. You can mix it into rice cereal.
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  • 7425cait7425cait member
    Does anybody have any storage rules that they broken? I find that storing the milk is so persnickety. I find myself stressing out about frozen milk being thawed correctly, and if taking refrigerated milk along with me in a cooler pack is safe to feed my baby.
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  • theletlerstheletlers member
    One rule I bend is how long it can sit out. I just tend to smell it first. But my LO eats about every hour and demands to be held often so sometimes if DH is feeding him I just let the milk sit out for about 20-25 minutes before he will get hungry and DH just feeds him until the bottle is empty which usually is two feelings. My milk seems to be okay for about 2-3 hours at room temp. Or if I know I'm going out for a few hours I just pump a fresh bottle and leave him like 3-4 ounces since it says freshly expressed milk can sit out for like 6 hours. I don't usually let it go that long though. I just always give it a smell test! If I'm freezing it though I bag it right away!
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  • dancegurl1118dancegurl1118 member
    I'm going to a wine fest And bringing LO this weekend. Any suggestions on how to do it since I won't be able to feed her (I plan on having many glasses)? If I bring a bottle from the fridge what should I do? We will be outside for 3-4 hours and it will be about 80 (I will be in the shade with LO). Can a bottle from the fridge be okay in that temp for a few hours without spoiling? She won't take a cold bottle.
    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.
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  • theletlerstheletlers member
    @dancegurl1118 mine is usually fine for that length of time. I just keep it in the diaper bag so it doesn't get cooked and start to spoil. I would recommend to try and pump before you go out and just keep it out, not warmed milk from freezer or from the fridge. I find freshly pumped keeps the best for longer periods of time!
    Ps how's baby doing after her lip and tongue procedure the other day? (Sorry I know it's the wrong thread!)
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  • dancegurl1118dancegurl1118 member
    @theletlers so much better! The stretches still make me want to die and I feel I'm slacking on her tongue one because she screams the worst scream known to man. But no Tylenol since 8pm and she slept through the night. It's taking her some time to relearn habits with sucking but I definitely notice her taking deeper pulls with a deeper latch and my nipples don't hurt! Wahoo. Thanks for the BM advice. I may have a bottle for her before we go out and pump so that its fresh and try and keep it in an insulated bag. Ugh! Don't want it to cook and spoil because then my choices will be spoiled milk or spiked milk...
    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.
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  • krystleshelkrystleshel member
    @Wanderlust65158611 i am a middle school teacher & went back 2 days ago. I nurse her at 6am after we're ready to go (so burp & out the door). Then I pump 2 times at work. We have a rotating schedule, so I have to miss 2 morning classes for 10 min. Otherwise I pump on planning & at the start of lunch. You'll get in a routine.
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  • 7425cait7425cait member
    @dancegurl1118 I agree with @theletlers about doing freshly expressed milk and just try to keep it as cool as possible. If you have a lunch bag and a freezer pack or bag of ice, I would freshly express and put it in the bag with that. Just take it out 10 minutes before she eats to take the edge off.
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  • mypower610mypower610 member
    bethanne09 said:

    My LO only takes one side, too. I pump the other side overnight to keep them from getting engorged and painful. I do it while he's eating, for as long as he's eating so I don't have to use extra sleeping time. It gets me an extra bottle for the next day too, so I feel like I've accomplished something.

    That's talent! I tried to pump at the same time but it was a disaster. How do you balance baby & the pump bottle?
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  • bethanne09bethanne09 member
    @mypower610 I kind of finagle my sleep bra around the flange so it's mostly stable so I can hold that secure with a finger or two and hold LO in place with my other arm. He nurses best footballed, so that makes it easier. Unhooking to get him laid down is tricky, though. I normally end up stirring him a little in the process, but he goes back down with some shushing.

    I hate pumping, so my motivation is not waking up every hour with leaky boobs. Not wearing nursing pads to be has been awesome. Hate them. Every brand. Every style. We don't get along.
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  • jessieR358jessieR358 member
    Question about my pump that I'm having a hard time figuring out. How do I know if my flanges are too small. Halfway thru pumping my nipple will sometimes touch the side and I have to readjust. Do I need to go up a size?
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  • rweaver8611rweaver8611 member
    You can google flange size chart and it give you measuring tips to make sure you have the right size.
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  • jessieR358jessieR358 member
    Wanderlust65158611 said:

    You can google flange size chart and it give you measuring tips to make sure you have the right size.

    I have. It doesn't give a good answer.
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  • seeseaseesea member
    @jesshrou same thing happens to me sometimes. I think it's ok as long as it doesn't hurt. If you can maybe have an LC take a look? My LC helped me find the right size flanges.
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  • jessieR358jessieR358 member
    So I figured it out with the flanges. I had them on too tight which I have also figured out is causing plugged ducts ugh. I hate pumping.
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