FTM, STM, Whatever: Share something you've learned or were surprised to learn about breastfeeding!
Mine - I didn't realize how much breastfeeding is a mind game. Not knowing how much they are getting. Its normal for them to want it all the time and just go with the flow at first!
Re: Share a breastfeeding fact you've learned!
ETA: Sorry, I guess that was more than just a fact I learned.
Breastfeeding induces uterine cramping to help your uterus go down in size (which is why your tummy tends to go down a little quicker). However, it's not very pleasant feeling considering that your breasts are hurting while LO is trying to get out as much milk as they can and you are adjusting to feeding, plus now you have strong menstrual cramp to go along with it! I would have appreciated a heads up people! Whenever I would nurse DS I would tell everyone to just not talk to me because I needed to breathe through the cramps. Eventually it stops and your boobs get used to the nursing, but in the beginning it's not painless. Yey.
I didn't know milk doesn't even really come in for a few days after birth.
I had no idea. I think I thought it came in sometime before giving birth, or immediately after - or never thought about it. I'm just glad I learned that little tidbit before feeling like a failure for the first two to three days.
I also did not realize how much I would treasure the breastfeeding relationship. DD weaned around two, but it was such a special relationship.
Coconut oil works well too on sore nipples if you run out of lanolin.
Fortunately, I also discovered that some milk banks will accept lipase milk. It's not harmful; it just doesn't taste good (soapy and metallic and sour). But since milk banks use it to tube feed preemies in the NICU, it doesn't matter what it tastes like. So at least I didn't have to throw it away. But still, it was pretty awful to realize all that hard work had been for nothing and I had to start my stash all over.
The only way you can store lipase milk is to scald it first (bring it to near boiling -- 180 degrees) and then cool it quickly. So in addition to pumping all day at work and cleaning bottles and pump parts in the evenings, I had to scald my milk before freezing it. It was a lot of work.
Moral of the story: even though the lipase issue isn't common, I'd recommend making sure your baby will take a bottle of frozen milk before you put too much effort into building your frozen stash!
BFP #2 8/22/12 | EDD 5/5/13 | DS1 born 5/9/13
BFP #3 4/25/15 | EDD 1/7/16 | MMC 7/2/15 @ 13w1d | D&E 7/8/15
BFP #4 12/9/15 | EDD 8/22/16 | DS2 born 5/18/16 at 26w2d
Just keep swimming.
1. I didn't know it could take 10 days or more for your milk to come in....wtf, poor baby!!!
2. I thought BF was supposed to be a magic weight loss remedy, but all it did was make me gain 30 lbs.
Also, the uterine cramping didn't bother me all that much, but the fact that it took 4-5 weeks before DD got her initial latch right wasn't something I was ready for. Every time she would latch I'd have to bite a pillow for like 30 seconds until she got it and the pain stopped. Then, around 4 or 5 weeks, something clicked and it stopped hurting.
Baby #2 due 8/11/2016
Baby #2 due 8/11/2016
Also, do not be afraid to use a nipple shield. I heard so many dire warnings about not relying on them because of getting them to wean off, but you know what...between flat nipples, a bad latch, chapped nipples and a fast let down, it was the only way I could breastfeed. It wasn't that bad, so we just kept using them the whole 10 months I breastfed until my daughter self weaned off nursing all together.
I've learned that boobs are weird and mastitis is a bitch.
BFP #2 8/22/12 | EDD 5/5/13 | DS1 born 5/9/13
BFP #3 4/25/15 | EDD 1/7/16 | MMC 7/2/15 @ 13w1d | D&E 7/8/15
BFP #4 12/9/15 | EDD 8/22/16 | DS2 born 5/18/16 at 26w2d
Just keep swimming.
- Breastfeeding is hard. There will be times you want to scream, times you want to cry. It gets easier. Just keep trying!
- If your hospital offers a breastfeeding class, take it!
- The Lactation Consultants at the hospital are an invaluable resource. Let them help you when you are there and take down their info to contact them with any questions/concerns when you are home.
- www.kellymom.com is a great resource for all things breastfeeding.
- Little mouths sometimes have a hard time latching properly. Nursing shouldn’t hurt. It may hurt at the initial latch, but if the pain persists, then the latch isn’t correct. Detach and try again.
- Feeding times should be unrestricted. The baby will know when it’s full.
- The baby doesn’t have to take both breasts at each feeding.
- Cluster feeding is normal.
- Feedings may be bunched together followed by longer sleep periods.
- During growth spurts (3 weeks, 6 weeks, etc) the baby may be hungry constantly throughout the day. This is normal.
- If the baby shows no signs of pain and burps easily but still spits up, it’s nothing to worry about. You just have a “happy spitter.”
- Drink lots of water!
- If you find you are leaking from the breast that you are not feeding from, buy Milkie’s Milk Saver so you don’t waste valuable milk.
- When you go to pump, make sure that you have the correct size breastshield (the standard one that comes with the pump is too small for most women).
- If you find that your nipples are very sore, you can purchase nipple shells that help protect them from rubbing against any fabric while they heal (they are like plastic domes for your nips).
- Wear nursing pads! You don’t want to get caught leaking with no change of shirt.
- Reusable, absorbent nursing pads are amazing, especially at night. They are softer than the disposable kind. There are several brands, so try them out to see which are right for you (I like Bamboobies and Advent).
- When you are going out in public and think you’ll need to nurse, layers are a great option. Wear a tank (nursing or non) that you can pull down under a shirt that you can pull up. That way you can be discreet while still feeding your little one (with our without a nursing cover).
- Breastfeeding is hard. It doesn’t work out for everyone. If you find yourself wanting to quit, that is ok. You have to do what is best for you and the baby. They just say never quit on a bad day, so you won’t think of breastfeeding as horrible.
- Enjoy the bonding time with your baby. You are keeping that little one alive and giving the baby all of the nutrients it needs to thrive. How amazing is that?!
Baby #2 due 8/11/2016
I used to be terrified of breastfeeding in public, even if covered. So when my daughter was 8 weeks old (ish), when her dad and I decided to go out to eat and bring her with, I made sure she was fed before we left, and I also brought a small bottle to the restaurant with pumped milk in case she got hungry (at this point, she pretty much had a "feeding routine" down and I was SO SURE she wouldn't get hungry before we got home). Sure enough, as soon as we got to the restaurant she was hungry again. I gave her the bottle but, of course, it wasn't enough. She started wailing. I quickly rushed off to the bathroom; there was nowhere to go but into a stall. I fed her, alone and crying, in the bathroom of some restaurant for 15-20 minutes while her dad sat at the table with our food, which was cold by the time I returned.
Moral of the story? Don't be afraid to breastfeed in public. Seriously. Get yourself a cover if you're uncomfortable; try the two-shirt method (I haven't done this but I'll be giving it a try with this little guy) or just let 'em hang out if you're comfortable with that. Don't subject yourself to crying on the bathroom floor of a restaurant.
Also, another moral of the story - just when you think their feeding schedule is "regular," it'll change. If you're going to be out and about for a while and you're NOT breastfeeding, make sure you have an entire can of formula with you rather than a rationed number of bottles because I assure you, the moment you think you have just enough to feed them will be the moment they decide cluster-feeding sounds like fun.
BFP #2 8/22/12 | EDD 5/5/13 | DS1 born 5/9/13
BFP #3 4/25/15 | EDD 1/7/16 | MMC 7/2/15 @ 13w1d | D&E 7/8/15
BFP #4 12/9/15 | EDD 8/22/16 | DS2 born 5/18/16 at 26w2d
Just keep swimming.
BFP #2 8/22/12 | EDD 5/5/13 | DS1 born 5/9/13
BFP #3 4/25/15 | EDD 1/7/16 | MMC 7/2/15 @ 13w1d | D&E 7/8/15
BFP #4 12/9/15 | EDD 8/22/16 | DS2 born 5/18/16 at 26w2d
Just keep swimming.
I've also discovered that nursing makes me temporarily infertile. I don't have to use bc while nursing. (downside i have to wean to get pregnant).
Note: temporary infertility does not apply to everyone. I would not roll the dice on that unless you are okay with the possibility of getting pregnant again very quickly, which we were.
Along those lines, it's common for your supply to take a big hit when your period returns. Thankfully, most babies are on solids by the time that happens, but sometimes it happens earlier.
BFP #2 8/22/12 | EDD 5/5/13 | DS1 born 5/9/13
BFP #3 4/25/15 | EDD 1/7/16 | MMC 7/2/15 @ 13w1d | D&E 7/8/15
BFP #4 12/9/15 | EDD 8/22/16 | DS2 born 5/18/16 at 26w2d
Just keep swimming.
1- it's not as easy as it looks. You know what the boobs are for, baby knows what they are supposed to do. But it doesn't always work that way.
2- milk does not arrive the same day as baby.
3- it's ok to pump if things don't work out.
1. I don't care who sees my boobs.
2. Nursing may not help you
lose weight. It made it very hard for me to lose any weight at all.
3. It took two weeks for my milk to
come in, and I never produced enough. Nursing doesn't have to be an all or nothing endeavor. My son was a hybrid feeder, having formula, bottles, pumped breastmilk and nursing. It doesn't matter how you feed your kid.
4. Nipple confusion is not a thing. Use a pacifier if you want. If you want to sleep more than two hours at a time, pump some milk or give a bottle of formula if you don't have enough yet (use a super slow nipple) and let Dad do some feedings or you will die from exhaustion.
5. You are not a failure if you can't exclusively nurse. You are doing the best you can and that's all you can do.
For the first few days, before your milk comes in, put baby on the boob as much as you can. Even if it doesn't seem like baby is getting much, this will signal your body to start producing and get your supply off to the right start. One of the mistakes many women make is giving formula while they are waiting for their milk to come. With few exceptions, baby doesn't need anything more than the bit of colostrum you're producing, and any time baby takes a bottle instead of you, you're missing that opportunity to signal your body. Not that there's anything wrong with formula or a hybrid, but it will affect your supply and many women who start supplementing will find themselves feeding more formula and less breastmilk over time. Again, nothing wrong with that, but something to keep in mind if you plan to EBF.
BFP #2 8/22/12 | EDD 5/5/13 | DS1 born 5/9/13
BFP #3 4/25/15 | EDD 1/7/16 | MMC 7/2/15 @ 13w1d | D&E 7/8/15
BFP #4 12/9/15 | EDD 8/22/16 | DS2 born 5/18/16 at 26w2d
Just keep swimming.
Baby #2 due 8/11/2016
I leaked colostrum with DD, too, and it freaked me out because I didn't know that could happen. It was around 16 weeks and one morning my nipples were stuck to my bra with this lovely yellow substance...holy hell it hurt to take that bra off! It gathered for a few days after that but only at night. This time so far no leaking yet but my boobs are waaaaaay fuller than they ever were my entire pregnancy with DD, and they still get sore from time to time.
Baby #2 due 8/11/2016
Baby #2 due 8/11/2016
I know it's been mentioned here before, but Kellymom.com was a great resource!
Have patience when you breastfeed, it really is a learning curve but eventually you and your baby figure it out.
And I didn't mean to oversimplify the supply and demand part, as there are definitely other factors like hormones that can certainly affect supply. But I do think it's helpful to remember that in general, each time baby nurses, he is putting in his order for his next meal. This is important to remember when women talk about wanting DH to take some of the night feedings - that's fine and all, but you're still going to need to pump while he feeds or you're telling your body to make less.
BFP #2 8/22/12 | EDD 5/5/13 | DS1 born 5/9/13
BFP #3 4/25/15 | EDD 1/7/16 | MMC 7/2/15 @ 13w1d | D&E 7/8/15
BFP #4 12/9/15 | EDD 8/22/16 | DS2 born 5/18/16 at 26w2d
Just keep swimming.
Baby #2 due 8/11/2016
On a side note I called my insurance and they do cover a breast pump 100 percent! Yay! Buuuut they won't ship it until after the baby is born. How annoying for a planner like me.
DD: Aug '16
10/2017: Twins confirmed with TTTS at 22 weeks.
10/10/17 Twin B passed after in utero placenta surgery
11/2/17 Twin A & B born
11/26/17: Twin A passed after 24 days fighting in the NICU
Benched 6 months
BFP: 6/28/18 MC:7/16/18 BO
BFP: 10/2/18 EDD 6/15/18
Baby #2 due 8/11/2016
DD: Aug '16
10/2017: Twins confirmed with TTTS at 22 weeks.
10/10/17 Twin B passed after in utero placenta surgery
11/2/17 Twin A & B born
11/26/17: Twin A passed after 24 days fighting in the NICU
Benched 6 months
BFP: 6/28/18 MC:7/16/18 BO
BFP: 10/2/18 EDD 6/15/18