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February 2016 Moms
Twindling
member
BTDT Breastfeeding Moms
Twindling
member
So.
Nursing one baby is completely foreign to me and I need some guidance. When I was nursing my girls, each just got one boob. That lasted for about 3 weeks until exclusively pumping became the easier route for us.
How does nursing work with just one LO? I would like to avoid pumping because 1. Pumping seriously sucks. And 2. It caused a massive oversupply for me.
Do you feed baby for so long on one side and then unlatch and switch? What if baby doesn't empty you? Does the leftover milk create problems or do you still have to pump it?
Do you feed until empty on one side and still have to pump the other breast?
If you exclusively nurse, how do you build any kind of stash to have for stuff like date nights?
What'd your normal schedule look like? Especially if you are a SAHM/work from home mom?
You would think someone who pumped for 4 months would know this stuff but I'm clueless...I plan to take a class to be more successful nursing but wanted to ask some BTDT moms.
TIA!
Nursing one baby is completely foreign to me and I need some guidance. When I was nursing my girls, each just got one boob. That lasted for about 3 weeks until exclusively pumping became the easier route for us.
How does nursing work with just one LO? I would like to avoid pumping because 1. Pumping seriously sucks. And 2. It caused a massive oversupply for me.
Do you feed baby for so long on one side and then unlatch and switch? What if baby doesn't empty you? Does the leftover milk create problems or do you still have to pump it?
Do you feed until empty on one side and still have to pump the other breast?
If you exclusively nurse, how do you build any kind of stash to have for stuff like date nights?
What'd your normal schedule look like? Especially if you are a SAHM/work from home mom?
You would think someone who pumped for 4 months would know this stuff but I'm clueless...I plan to take a class to be more successful nursing but wanted to ask some BTDT moms.
TIA!
Re: BTDT Breastfeeding Moms
Do you feed baby for so long on one side and then unlatch and switch? What if baby doesn't empty you? Does the leftover milk create problems or do you still have to pump it?
I switched when he was younger just because he wanted more and feeling engorged sucks, when he got older he'd do one side at a time and it was fine. I didn't have issues with leftover milk that I remember.
Do you feed until empty on one side and still have to pump the other breast?
No, I switched when supply was still enough to make me feel really full. By the time he switched to just one side per feeding, my supply was super regulated and I never felt engorged. I didn't pump.
If you exclusively nurse, how do you build any kind of stash to have for stuff like date nights?
I didn't build a stash, if I knew I was going out, I'd pump the day before. I didn't leave him much before he was eating solids along with breastmilk, so it wasn't really an issue. I'm sure someone else will have better advice on this! I do have friends who'd just pump once a day to get a little something in the freezer.
What'd your normal schedule look like? Especially if you are a SAHM/work from home mom?
Feed baby when he was hungry. The end. Haha, no but seriously that was it. I really didn't pay attention to how often I was feeding him, I just stuck a boob in his mouth when he wanted it. It was pretty easy for me. Also probably not very helpful, I'm sorry. Obviously he ate way way more as a newborn, every couple of hours.
*I would always let her empty/finish on one side, then switch if she still was hungry. You don't want to switch mid feed without "emptying", because the fatty hindmilk is towards the end and you want baby to get both the foremilk and hindmilk. (An imbalance can cause GI issues). If baby isn't hungry enough to completely drain that side, it's not a big deal, you don't need to pump. You can tell when things are sling down by their swallow.
Do you feed until empty on one side and still have to pump the other breast?
*no, you don't have to and shouldn't pump the other side. It isn't necessary and can lead to an oversupply (which isn't good for you or baby). This can be hard in the beginning when your milk is regulating and you're engorged, but don't give in and pump! If it's too much and you need to relieve some pressure, hand express a little.
If you exclusively nurse, how do you build any kind of stash to have for stuff like date nights?
*I work, so it was different, but I didn't worry about covering date nights because I never left LO alone long enough to need a bottle before she was taking solids, unless I was at work (where I pumped). Once your supply regulates, you could try pumping right after a feed, once a day, maybe a couple times a week until you get what you want in the freezer. It won't build up fast, but that's ok , it's normal.
What'd your normal schedule look like?
*the worst thing you can do is intentionally put a BF baby on a schedule. BF on demand is the name of the game, but as far as what to expect, my LO ate every 1.5-2hrs in the beginning, then stretched it to 2-3hrs. She was still around every 3hrs well past a year. During growth spurts, you might as well plan to pop in a DVD, grab some snacks, and park it on the couch for the day.
****As a general note for any FTMs reading this... Please know that breastmilk metabolizes very quickly, so it is NORMAL for breastfed babies to still be up frequently during the night. Don't let all the "why isn't your baby sleeping through the night" or, "my LO is xx months and STTN!" stress get to you. It is NORMAL and EXPECTED that they will not STTN while only taking in breastmilk.
I would only really feed him on one side per feed, this was always enough. If one boob felt empty and he was still hungry, we'd try the other side for a few minutes.
I think each baby has a distinct appetite and nursing style, so you'll figure out what works for this little one. Just remember, your body knows what to do!
**You should need to unless you're going somewhere or right in the beginning if you get oversupply and until you get your personal system all figured out. Everyone's supplies are different so what worked for one might not work for all...**
Do you feed baby for so long on one side and then unlatch and switch? What if baby doesn't empty you? Does the leftover milk create problems or do you still have to pump it?
I did the switch thing in the beginning because she needed from both until I figured out my supply, it's also what the lactation consultant said to do. After awhile j would just do one side then do the other side next time. At night when she started sleeping longer I would wake up way engorged on one side and slightly on the other so I'd nurse her on the super full and pump the other. **
Do you feed until empty on one side and still have to pump the other breast?
**Yes but only at night or if randomly I produced more milk. *
If you exclusively nurse, how do you build any kind of stash to have for stuff like date nights?
*when I was engorged I'd pump, I pumped like crazy though for the first about 6 months because I had it in my head I needed a LOt of a stash when in reality I didn't at all. All the other moms on my bmb had hundreds of ounces in the first month and I didn't so it was stressful but I realize now you don't need that **
What'd your normal schedule look like? Especially if you are a SAHM/work from home mom?
Ugh well I had a nurser! She nursed a TON and for longer periods of time... She must just have been a slow eater because when j would unlatch her she would cry and not be done. So in the beginning she nursed every 2 hours sometimes a little sooner then she got better maybe and she nursed less lengths of time and was a pro.
Every baby is different though so maybe you'll get a pro right away.
I nursed him on one side it until it was emptied and then the other side as a "dessert". The next session, I would start on the other side and then switch again.
I started pumping a few weeks in once my supply was more regulated. I would pump once in the morning after a feeding and whenever I was away from DS.