Anyone have lumps in your armpits? I have no fever, not sure if it's a swollen lymph node or clogged duct. I will ask my midwife but just wondering if anyone else has it?
Yes!! I did with my last baby too. And I can squeeze milk out my armpit!! I feel super human (or like I should be in the circus)! According to the reliable internet there are milk glands or something like that, that run from the armpit down all the way to the pelvis area. I have not had my OB check it out this time but last baby (different OB) she said it was nothing to worry about. I am going to have my OB check mine out at my 6 week PP visit.
You can mix milk! Try to mix from the same day or date the milk from the older pump session. I'm pretty sure you just need to cool milk before adding it to other cooled/frozen milk.
Yes! My LC really emphasized refrigerating new milk before mixing with frozen milk.
@mhuber223 So Delicious makes coconut ice cream that's fairly easy to find. As far as chocolate try kerab or (I can't remember the brand) I've found rice milk chocolate bars at Hyvee in the health food section and at Nature's Grocer that's pretty good. DS still can't handle any dairy except lactose free milk so I've found alternatives I can share with him. Thinking of trying coconut yogurt next.
I've been dairy free for a little over a week. I'm not sure I've seen much improvement in my little guy but I guess it might take a few more days?? Anyone have any insight on how long it took to see improvement?
As far as food I found chocolate Italian ice. It's really good. The brand is Luigis. I also made pancakes with silk almond milk. They turned out pretty good. I couldn't really tell they weren't regular pancakes, especially drowning in syrup. (Thankfully I'm not on the gestational diabetes diet anymore.)
I told my DS today he gets to take me out for ice cream in a couple months-I hope it will only be that long at least.
Breastfeeding is absolutely the best thing for your baby, that should be your drive regardless of pain, discomfort, frustrating nights and days and sore nipples. Things that can help with your nipple pain is lanolin, soothies, motrin and all the usual stuff but honestly I wouldn't waste time and go straight to your ob and ask for an APNO cream. It's pricey (and not always covered by insurance) but honestly it's the best investment you can make for yourself. Within 12 hours all soreness is gone and breastfeeding becomes enjoyable for you which in turn makes it better for your baby, especially in the first couple trying weeks. Just don't give up. Women are capable of so much only if we put our minds to it, just literally keep repeating to yourself that it's the best thing you can do for your little one and yourself. Stay strong, don't give up. It gets better.
@AnnH74 it can take up to 2 weeks for dairy to leave your system entirely. @mhuber223 I've been nondairy for a week and a half and things are getting better for baby. I've also stared giving her a probiotic, so it's hard to say which is causing things to get better.
There are some delicious dark chocolate bars by Theo that are vegan friendly and very delicious! I've gone on Pinterest for recipe ideas. Avocado is an amazing substitute for so much!
Breastfeeding is absolutely the best thing for your baby, that should be your drive regardless of pain, discomfort, frustrating nights and days and sore nipples. Things that can help with your nipple pain is lanolin, soothies, motrin and all the usual stuff but honestly I wouldn't waste time and go straight to your ob and ask for an APNO cream. It's pricey (and not always covered by insurance) but honestly it's the best investment you can make for yourself. Within 12 hours all soreness is gone and breastfeeding becomes enjoyable for you which in turn makes it better for your baby, especially in the first couple trying weeks. Just don't give up. Women are capable of so much only if we put our minds to it, just literally keep repeating to yourself that it's the best thing you can do for your little one and yourself. Stay strong, don't give up. It gets better.
Is that something that would be prescribed by pediatrician, OB or regular doctor?
Breastfeeding is absolutely the best thing for your baby, that should be your drive regardless of pain, discomfort, frustrating nights and days and sore nipples. Things that can help with your nipple pain is lanolin, soothies, motrin and all the usual stuff but honestly I wouldn't waste time and go straight to your ob and ask for an APNO cream. It's pricey (and not always covered by insurance) but honestly it's the best investment you can make for yourself. Within 12 hours all soreness is gone and breastfeeding becomes enjoyable for you which in turn makes it better for your baby, especially in the first couple trying weeks. Just don't give up. Women are capable of so much only if we put our minds to it, just literally keep repeating to yourself that it's the best thing you can do for your little one and yourself. Stay strong, don't give up. It gets better.
Is that something that would be prescribed by pediatrician, OB or regular doctor?
My midwife prescribed it to me, so I imagine OB or regular doctor. It's to do with your body so probably not pediatrician.
My little guy sometimes tries to yell while he's eating (breastfed). Clean diaper, milk going in his mouth, no gas...just will start yelling while he's eating randomly and go back to eating. He doesn't even unlatch.
Has anyone else ever had a baby that does something like this?
My little guy sometimes tries to yell while he's eating (breastfed). Clean diaper, milk going in his mouth, no gas...just will start yelling while he's eating randomly and go back to eating. He doesn't even unlatch.
Has anyone else ever had a baby that does something like this?
Is he squirming or looking otherwise uncomfortable? Mine can't always cope with fast letdown yet and tries to squirm away or fusses.
@abened I've noticed mine makes a lot of noise and squirms while nursing when I'm really full which leads me to agree with PP about a fast letdown. Do you notice he does it at certain times?
My little guy sometimes tries to yell while he's eating (breastfed). Clean diaper, milk going in his mouth, no gas...just will start yelling while he's eating randomly and go back to eating. He doesn't even unlatch.
Has anyone else ever had a baby that does something like this?
DD does this too, usually when my milk is letting down.
@Court11152325@kelseyofanne He usually does it mostly when he's on my right breast. Which is also the one he is messiest on so maybe it is the let down? He doesn't really squirm once he's latched. He does a little when I'm trying to get him to latch. I thought I might have a slow let down bc he always falls asleep when feeding and I have to wake him.
What's the best way to build up pumped supply? LO eats both sides each time so am just wondering how to get some goin for returning to work
Usually I read that pumping for a short time after a feed or pumping the full 15-20 minutes about an hour after a feed are recommended to build a supply.
@dmendo01 I started pumping in the evening after the session that she usually goes to sleep for a couple hours and first thing in the morning after a session. Then when I had enough I had my mom give her a bottle while I pumped to get more. It was mostly just a slow start, but got easier!
We love the laid back position! I have a very forceful letdown and at times this is the only way DS can nurse. I will also have him straddle my leg facing me and nurse while he sits up. I think both these positions help with forceful let down and as an added benefit he has great head control for his age.
@kksquared What's that position? I'm intrigued! We like the laid back position but sometimes she struggles to latch when she's sleepy (she has to lift her head up and over the breast).
@Alyssaerin996 Its called saddle hold or Australian hold. I usually fold up a blanket or use a cushion under LOs bum to make him taller. Added bonus DS looks like a cute baby monkey nursing like this
@rmarie13 thank you so much! We will give it a go and see if it makes a difference. I started singing to him while he ate today and that helped a lot. I talk to him usually, but the singing was preferred. It may be bc I had a lot of car concerts while I was pregnant lol
Wondering if others have struggled with mastitis because of oversupply. Part of the cure is to empty the breast but my oversupply makes it difficult for LO to empty it so then I pump which in turn only increases my supply. Thoughts? I was so ill I was put on antibiotics and I am feeling better but the lump in my left breast is still present. Talk about insult to injury!
@abned my baby has for 2 reasons. Initially it was my fast let down was overwhelming him (one night he tried harder and as a result gased, sputtered and choked on my milk since he couldnt keep up) a LC helped us with that and it started again. 2nd time was thrush which I was familiar with but he started reacting before I could tell he had it and not just some milk residue since his tongue was just the tiniest bit white (I honestly thought it was ftm anxiety and the fact that I had to many patients with thrush the first day I noticed it). The nystatin seemed to make him feel better in about 24 hours but it looked worse for a day before it started to look better.
@millieb14 I haven't had it but I've started to feel like I was heading that way and so I pumped and massaged and soaked in warm baths (& hand expressed in the tub/shower) until my ducts felt clear and no longer warm or engorged. I took Tylenol once or twice too. I pump or block feed for 3-4 hours (it hurts if I block longer). I start on the side that is crankier and do as much as needed to clear it (typically it takes 12-36 hours for me to feel like I cleared it). I also sometimes pump the other side if I'm not getting anything but still feel clogged and go back and it releases better (2nd let down?). I don't pump more than every 3-4 hours even if I'm trying to clear something. I'm trying to avoid oversupply but I'd rather freeze milk than be sick so once I feel better I just taper back down and my supply is normalising slowly.
My DS is 5 weeks old as of yesterday. Did anyone else notice their LOs eating more efficiently around this time? It seems as if he is not needing to eat as long per feed.
My DS is 5 weeks old as of yesterday. Did anyone else notice their LOs eating more efficiently around this time? It seems as if he is not needing to eat as long per feed.
DS is 5.5 weeks old and over the last week or so takes a lot less time to eat. He used to take almost an hour and now only takes about 25 minutes to eat.
My DS is 5 weeks old as of yesterday. Did anyone else notice their LOs eating more efficiently around this time? It seems as if he is not needing to eat as long per feed.
DD is 5 weeks and while she's always been a very efficient eater, I think she's eating more in the same amount of time. My boobs have definitely felt fuller, and I got 5oz last time I pumped. Usually I get 2-3. She's also crushing 4 oz bottles. I guess all of that cluster feeding worked!
Sports bras? I am a 34 D/DD now that I am BFing and I was a 32 B/C before and so I will need more supportive bra for higher impact activities like running.
Anyone find any great sport bras? My biggest concerns are adequate support for my now larger breasts and not a pain to get on and off. It doesn't have to have feeding access (it would be nice though).
Many of the high impact bras for D+ cup sizes have underwire which from my understanding is discouraged while BFing?
Sports bras? I am a 34 D/DD now that I am BFing and I was a 32 B/C before and so I will need more supportive bra for higher impact activities like running.
Anyone find any great sport bras? My biggest concerns are adequate support for my now larger breasts and not a pain to get on and off. It doesn't have to have feeding access (it would be nice though).
Many of the high impact bras for D+ cup sizes have underwire which from my understanding is discouraged while BFing?
I was a DD before getting pregnant and breastfeeding (who knows what I am now...) and loved Victoria's Secret sports bras. They are pricey, but inexpensive bras with a larger chest just aren't worth it - you'll end up hating them or replacing them multiple times.
I'll throw in a recommendation for old navy sports bras (surprisingly). I went to a DD while pregnant and I tried LOTS of sports bras to keep the girls down. Many of them (including the VS ones, at least for me) were too structured: stiff wires, or fussy closures. Old Navy has different levels of support and they were comfortable and affordable. My main activities are more medium impact (Pilates/barre cardio) but worth a shot for running?
If you find a great one especially with BF access, post back! Would love to hear.
@TomekiaB My highest level of activity is chasing a very active 15 month old. I've loved the Bravado original nursing bra plus. It says for low impact but I've wanted to try the body silk yoga bra and it may be worth a try for you. BTW I'm a 38DDD
So my baby is a little over two weeks old and my milk is not quite regulated yet. It took a long time to come in, and we initially had to supplement with formula. She would always nurse on me first, then formula, then I would pump what I could. Doing this I finally caught up to her last week, and we had been breastfeeding and pumping without formula. Now the last few days she is eating so much, she will nurse every hour in the evening for hours, then still cry for more. I feel like I can't keep up again.
Any help on how to increase my supply to keep up with my growing girl? Yesterday I started pumping for 10 minutes after every other nursing session. Has this worked for anyone? Any other ideas?
@mltarrio Pumping afterwards will help but even better is if baby will nurse longer. It may just be like DD yesterday and last night. She's definitely gearing up for a growth spurt and doing some pretty hard core clusterfeeding. One thing that helps me a lot with peace of mind if she's acting like she isn't getting enough is to hand express a little. If milk is still coming out then obviously she's still getting something even if it's slow.
Edited because I'm tired and everything is difficult.
@mltarrio it sounds like she is cluster feeding. This has nothing to do with your ability to produce enough milk, even though that's what it might seem like. She's probably going through the 2-3 week growth spurt and by letting her nurse on demand she's actually helping you out by getting your supply to what it needs to be during the growth spurt.
Cluster feeding sucks. My nipples feel so beaten up after a night of it. Also cluster feeding tends to happen in the evening hours. If I were you, I would not pump on those evenings. You could be signaling your body to overproduce by doing that.
@mltarrio Yes clusterfeeding is intense at that point, my LO would nurse 8 hours with 10-15 min breaks. Make sure latch stays good to protect your nipples and know that the clusterfeeding itself is increasing your supply. Just a side note, if babe is pulling at the breast or pulling back, this sometimes is because they are trying to poop and their tummies are a bit upset, having some pre pooping pain, and not because they are upset they are not getting milk fast enough.
@rzarembaThank you, I’ve
looked at Title 9 bras before they are mostly "moving comfort" I may have
to chat with their bra specialist and try one of those.
@LaceyH13 I love my VS
sports bras! My favorite has underwire and I think it is an older model.
Underwire seems discouraged during BFing but I may try it anyway because they’ve
worked so well for me before. I typically use a coupon or wait for a sale at VS (I think their semi-annual sale should be soon?).
@Alyssaerin996 Old Navy did
not occur to me for sports bras, thanks I’ll have to check there. Figure8Maternity
has a sports bra by Le Leche League that has access but I am not sure if it is
supportive enough for higher impact
activities.
@mizuirio007 I have the
Bravado Yoga Bra it is basically the same as the seamless “silk” one I have by
them but it has the option of a cross back and the colors are different. The
crossed back makes me feel like I’m wearing a more normal bra but it is more
work to get on when it is crossed (you can wear it crossed or regular) BTW I
have no idea why they call that bra “silk.” It is probably one of my favorites and I'd wear it to yoga or even to lift but I wouldn't recommend it for running or other high impact sports.
Re: Breastfeeding advice, questions, ect
As far as food I found chocolate Italian ice. It's really good. The brand is Luigis. I also made pancakes with silk almond milk.
They turned out pretty good. I couldn't really tell they weren't regular pancakes, especially drowning in syrup. (Thankfully I'm not on the gestational diabetes diet anymore.)
I told my DS today he gets to take me out for ice cream in a couple months-I hope it will only be that long at least.
There are some delicious dark chocolate bars by Theo that are vegan friendly and very delicious! I've gone on Pinterest for recipe ideas. Avocado is an amazing substitute for so much!
Has anyone else ever had a baby that does something like this?
He usually does it mostly when he's on my right breast. Which is also the one he is messiest on so maybe it is the let down? He doesn't really squirm once he's latched. He does a little when I'm trying to get him to latch. I thought I might have a slow let down bc he always falls asleep when feeding and I have to wake him.
Thanks ladies!!
Anyone find any great sport bras? My biggest concerns are adequate support for my now larger breasts and not a pain to get on and off. It doesn't have to have feeding access (it would be nice though).
Many of the high impact bras for D+ cup sizes have underwire which from my understanding is discouraged while BFing?
If you find a great one especially with BF access, post back! Would love to hear.
Any help on how to increase my supply to keep up with my growing girl? Yesterday I started pumping for 10 minutes after every other nursing session. Has this worked for anyone? Any other ideas?
Edited because I'm tired and everything is difficult.
Cluster feeding sucks. My nipples feel so beaten up after a night of it. Also cluster feeding tends to happen in the evening hours. If I were you, I would not pump on those evenings. You could be signaling your body to overproduce by doing that.
Check kellymom's page on cluster feeding.
Just a side note, if babe is pulling at the breast or pulling back, this sometimes is because they are trying to poop and their tummies are a bit upset, having some pre pooping pain, and not because they are upset they are not getting milk fast enough.
@rzarembaThank you, I’ve looked at Title 9 bras before they are mostly "moving comfort" I may have to chat with their bra specialist and try one of those.
@LaceyH13 I love my VS sports bras! My favorite has underwire and I think it is an older model. Underwire seems discouraged during BFing but I may try it anyway because they’ve worked so well for me before. I typically use a coupon or wait for a sale at VS (I think their semi-annual sale should be soon?).
@Alyssaerin996 Old Navy did not occur to me for sports bras, thanks I’ll have to check there. Figure8Maternity has a sports bra by Le Leche League that has access but I am not sure if it is supportive enough for higher impact activities.
@mizuirio007 I have the Bravado Yoga Bra it is basically the same as the seamless “silk” one I have by them but it has the option of a cross back and the colors are different. The crossed back makes me feel like I’m wearing a more normal bra but it is more work to get on when it is crossed (you can wear it crossed or regular) BTW I have no idea why they call that bra “silk.” It is probably one of my favorites and I'd wear it to yoga or even to lift but I wouldn't recommend it for running or other high impact sports.