@Schmooie730 We too are supplementing with formula and when we do, I do 2oz. That seems to be perfect. By the end she isn't trying super hard to get it fast and is content when it's gone.
The new mom terror is kicking in. I am constantly checking to make sure he's still breathing, I feel so awful about anything that hurts him (the nurse that tagged his ankle ID put it on so tight it was literally digging into his skin and we had to get another nurse to cut it off, his umbilical clip keeps catching on things, and they're doing his circ in the morning), and I worry about him getting enough to eat and being warm enough. I think I will be worried the rest of his life, it's amazing how much a tiny little person can rock your entire world.
Married 6/1/13
BFP #1 7/2013 MMC 9/17/13
BFP #2 5/2014 MC 6/15/14
BFP #3 11/13/14 (Found in ER with ruptured cyst) Diagnosed MC 11/15/14
BFP #4 4/2015 MC 7/1/15
BFP #5 10/21/15 EDD 7/3/16 Praying for our rainbow!
Currently pumping and using a bit of supplement formula. Ellie is 6 days old and now takes 1.5 to 2 ounces depending on how hungry she gets. It's mainly breast milk now that I have been pumping every 2 to 3 hours to get my supply up. I still want to breastfed but what's important is she is getting what she needs.
@Schmooie730 I'm nursing, pumping, bottlefeeding too. We had a lactation consultant visit today and she said there's no way to "over feed" with breastmilk, just feed baby until he's done either at the breast or with pumped milk. For formula she said don't go over 2 ounces per feeding (every 3 hours) because formula can be overdone. DS is 8 days old. Similar to @DarkCat I'm mostly using pumped milk and then use formula as a last resort.
I don't have a newborn yet, but I just wanted to say congratulations to all of you!! I've been trying to keep up on all of your birth announcements/stories and am so excited for you all.
@shanparadise Any update on getting to hold your LOs? Hopefully soon if not! My DH and MIL advocated to the NICU staff earlier to allow me to finally do some skin to skin time and I finally got to hold her for about 1.5 h. She just slept in my arms the whole time and even though she still needed her breathing equipment, it was wonderful!
Me: 31 DH:35 Started TTC in June 2014 Started seeing RE in June 2015 HSG in July 2015 = normal, started Clomid/Ovidrel/IUI cycle in August 2015 Cycle #3 in October afforded 1st month of mature follicles - underwent IUI BFP on 10/27/15 - EDD 7/8/16 DD#1 born on 7/1/16
TTC #2 in September 2018 BFP on 12/2/18 - EDD 8/16/19
Team Green!
Any tips on how to wake a newborn baby to feed them?? She fed for an hour right after birth but I can't get her to wake up at all now. They really want me to feed her again but she has no interest. I tried blowing on her face, stripping her naked, tickling her head and feet.
@shaylair have you tried just to get her to latch without being fully awake? If you just brush your nipple over her mouth she might latch on and eat with her eyes still closed
@kim1989 she latches but won't eat anything. she keeps waking up crying and putting her hands in her mouth but she just falls asleep at my breast and won't eat.
My husband has to literally take my baby's hands and feet and move them around, kind of like an exercise video so he'll get up. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Our ped said it will be a work in progress to get him to wake for feelings. Even if he wakes, it's hard to get him to latch and suck. It's just so much work for our lil babes. Good luck @shaylalr
Thanks guys! Finally getting her to eat again. It turns out she had swallowed a lot of blood and it was really upsetting her stomach. After throwing it all up she is finally awake and interested a couple hours later.
@MollyH1987 Yes! I was finally able to go see them yesterday afternoon. Got to do skin to skin with Ruby and then Beck today. It's amazing how much better I feel when I'm with my babies. I'm so glad you were able to hold yours too!
@shaylalr I find a cool cloth helps too, I'll wipe his face gently and his head to get him alert but it is challenging for sure!
How long did everyone's milk take to come in? I was really hoping it would magically be there when I woke up this morning but nothing yet. I know he's fine and his tummy is tiny but it seems like he's unsatisfied with colostrum at this point and it's making me feel all guilty and emotional.
@stellaluna14 my milk came in on day 4. I want to say with my first, it was closer to day 6. I know it's super frustrating but it will show up soon! Just keep feeding on demand.
@stellaluna14 Adalynn was born last Sunday (a week ago - already!) and I think my milk started coming in by Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. It's different for everyone so hang in there!
July BMB Siggy Challenge: Weird Hot Dog Situations
@stellaluna14 he was born Sunday and my milk came in Thursday. And the inbetween was tough! The emotions didn't help while waiting and worrying. Hang in there!
@stellaluna14 Layla was born late Monday night and milk came in yesterday. Man that's a bittersweet experience. Painful as all hell!! I felt the same as you...super guilty about her not getting what I figured she needed. We did some formula supplementing but hopefully can quit that now.
@shanparadise so glad you got to hold your LOs!! It helps so much with all of the fatigue and the emotions and everything...
@Schmooie730 my supply has been increasing thank goodness, about an ounce more per week - so 0-1oz on week1, 1-2oz week2, 2-3oz week3, and about 4oz now on week4, crossing fingers it'll keep going (clogged ducts did cause temporary drops...). I still can't store anything though (I'm pretty jealous of anyone who can freeze milk and use later, she drinks what I make and then nothing's left).
@stellaluna14 I gave birth on a Friday and milk didn't come in until the next Wednesday-Thursday, we supplemented then and again now sometimes!
I'm glad to read everyone's experiences with breastfeeding - it is definitely a challenge. Harper loves to have her hands in her face constantly; it's sometimes hard to get her to latch without her hands popping up in there first and she gets so frustrated. I'm using a nipple shield for slightly flat nipples and it has been a lifesaver. The LC had me pump for about 15 minutes after I'd breastfeed while in he hospital. Any colostrum that came out I'd save in a little syringe and feed it to her later. It helped me figure out how much she was actually getting. (Not that it is crucial to know with the colostrum.) I got about 1-2mL the first day, 3 or so the next, then over 6 the third day I was there. My milk came in the third night and those suckers were hard as rocks the next morning. I've been mostly breastfeeding followed by pumping afterwards so I can start stockpiling and also so we can bottle feed if we will be out and about for a bit. Even with a pacifier, she has moved between everything pretty well which I'm thankful for. I will say we will be picking up some preemie nipples for my Dr. Brown's bottles. The level 1, even though age appropriate, seem like they come out a little faster than what she is used to with the boob.
Just try to be persistent and do what works best! My nipples were so sore the first few days. I've been using lanolin which is so thick it can be painful to apply. It wasn't a huge relief either. I put coconut oil on them once and it was such a big difference. I'll definitely be going that route instead.
Unrelated to BF but has anyone been experiencing ear popping/ringing? My ears were ringing and popping so badly at the hospital but I wasn't sure if it was related to all the post-pregnancy hormones or from the pain medicine they had me on for post-surgery.
@brandiK I've been using the Earth Mother Angel Baby nipple balm and it's really nice - very soft so you don't need to rub it in very much, just kinda spread it around.
@brandiK I've been using the Earth Mother Angel Baby nipple balm and it's really nice - very soft so you don't need to rub it in very much, just kinda spread it around.
I've read good things on here about it! Might have to pick some up from target tomorrow.
@thepen15ismighty our town gets ridiculous. The weather is finally cooling off and I'd love nothing more than to open the windows but that'll be a disaster.
We are finally going home!!! When are you guys planning on introducing a pacifier?? Lactation consultant said she has a strong sucking instinct and has been using me for comfort. My one nipple is cracked already. I'm tempted to start it earlier than 2 weeks. Right now she sucks on my finger I between feeds.
We are finally going home!!! When are you guys planning on introducing a pacifier?? Lactation consultant said she has a strong sucking instinct and has been using me for comfort. My one nipple is cracked already. I'm tempted to start it earlier than 2 weeks. Right now she sucks on my finger I between feeds.
The first night home was the best without people walking in every hour to wake you up! I had a similar situation. She seems very oral - hands always in her mouth and on her face, used me as a pacifier and my nipple was so cracked and sore. I started using a shield which helped but we needed something to just pop in her mouth to keep her from freaking out while falling asleep. So we started really on the second night. It hasn't had a negative effect on feeding whatsoever but again, I use a shield which is a little more closer in resemblance to the pacifier than a nipple which might help avoid confusion. She spits it out once she's asleep so it's really not used a ton anyways. I would think if you have a solid latching occurring with good sucking established, it probably wouldn't hurt to give it a shot. It's a totally personal decision though. I'm definitely not anti-pacifier when necessary.
I gave into the pacifier this morning - day 6. I too was convinced she was using my breast as a pacifier. We haven't had any confusion issues and she didn't care to keep the paci in too long but it worked to help calm some fuss that otherwise would have meant me providing my breast even though she wasn't hungry! I'd guess if your LC have you the green light, it will probably be ok!
Man.. Crazy thing just happened. Ari was sleeping, and had been for a bit, and all of a sudden I started getting really antsy, body felt very hot, my breasts felt heavy, and I was randomly close to tears for no apparent reason.. Little bit later he woke up and nursed for a good 35 minutes. Magical. the almost crying bit though... What the??
We are finally going home!!! When are you guys planning on introducing a pacifier?? Lactation consultant said she has a strong sucking instinct and has been using me for comfort. My one nipple is cracked already. I'm tempted to start it earlier than 2 weeks. Right now she sucks on my finger I between feeds.
I gave Paige a pacifier on day 3 because she just wanted to suck all day. Two weeks old now and she's still eating fine and happy with her pacifier in between
Man.. Crazy thing just happened. Ari was sleeping, and had been for a bit, and all of a sudden I started getting really antsy, body felt very hot, my breasts felt heavy, and I was randomly close to tears for no apparent reason.. Little bit later he woke up and nursed for a good 35 minutes. Magical. the almost crying bit though... What the??
That's crazy how our bodies just "know." We had family over, including DH's 3-month-old niece. Between her and my own crying, I experienced my first crying baby leaky boobs. It's the strangest thing lol.
@shaylalr We went ahead and gave him a pacifier in the hospital because he was sucking on his hands otherwise whether he was hungry or not. I haven't noticed it interfering with anything else, and sometimes he will still just suck on his fingers. I kind of killed my nipples day 1 and they were already bleeding morning of day 2 so I went ahead and got the shield to use at least until they heal just a little and both of us get more coordinated with our breastfeeding positions, lol. Although my left nipple is still hurting even with the shield and not making as much colostrum while my right side feels fine and already seems to be moving towards full on milk. It's tough!! This every two or three hours thing is hard too on so little sleep...especially when I have to wake him up to feed him almost every time. Last night was our first at home and he definitely slept better than at the hospital, where he basically only slept if one of us held him. He's done well tonight and I finally got 3 consecutive hours of sleep!
Married 6/1/13
BFP #1 7/2013 MMC 9/17/13
BFP #2 5/2014 MC 6/15/14
BFP #3 11/13/14 (Found in ER with ruptured cyst) Diagnosed MC 11/15/14
BFP #4 4/2015 MC 7/1/15
BFP #5 10/21/15 EDD 7/3/16 Praying for our rainbow!
Re: Newborn/Postpartum Thread
Started TTC in June 2014
Started seeing RE in June 2015
HSG in July 2015 = normal, started Clomid/Ovidrel/IUI cycle in August 2015
Cycle #3 in October afforded 1st month of mature follicles - underwent IUI
BFP on 10/27/15 - EDD 7/8/16
DD#1 born on 7/1/16
TTC #2 in September 2018
BFP on 12/2/18 - EDD 8/16/19
Team Green!
@shaylair have you tried just to get her to latch without being fully awake? If you just brush your nipple over her mouth she might latch on and eat with her eyes still closed
*tag not working sorry*
Also ladies with engorgement ice packs for 15 min post feeds was a lifesaver for me!! And massaging my boobs in the warm shower!
How long did everyone's milk take to come in? I was really hoping it would magically be there when I woke up this morning but nothing yet. I know he's fine and his tummy is tiny but it seems like he's unsatisfied with colostrum at this point and it's making me feel all guilty and emotional.
@Schmooie730 my supply has been increasing thank goodness, about an ounce more per week - so 0-1oz on week1, 1-2oz week2, 2-3oz week3, and about 4oz now on week4, crossing fingers it'll keep going (clogged ducts did cause temporary drops...). I still can't store anything though (I'm pretty jealous of anyone who can freeze milk and use later, she drinks what I make and then nothing's left).
@stellaluna14 I gave birth on a Friday and milk didn't come in until the next Wednesday-Thursday, we supplemented then and again now sometimes!
Just try to be persistent and do what works best! My nipples were so sore the first few days. I've been using lanolin which is so thick it can be painful to apply. It wasn't a huge relief either. I put coconut oil on them once and it was such a big difference. I'll definitely be going that route instead.
Unrelated to BF but has anyone been experiencing ear popping/ringing? My ears were ringing and popping so badly at the hospital but I wasn't sure if it was related to all the post-pregnancy hormones or from the pain medicine they had me on for post-surgery.
Married May 16th 2015
July BMB June Siggy
@thepen15ismighty I hope you can still get some zzzzzz....... so annoying!
@thepen15ismighty our town gets ridiculous. The weather is finally cooling off and I'd love nothing more than to open the windows but that'll be a disaster.
@thepen15ismighty I hate fireworks and something tells me that this year will solidify that even more.
the almost crying bit though... What the??