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December 2016 Moms
jenlynne0624
member
Nursing 101
jenlynne0624
member
I figured since many of us are almost or at the half way point already, that we can start getting a little more specific in discussions. Seeing as we have a cloth diapering 101, baby gear thread, and med-free thread, I'm sure that a nursing thread would be helpful to many. I know I struggled with what to do when it came to nursing because all I knew was I wanted to do it. I knew nothing else, so hopefully we can clear up some concerns and questions with this! I'll ask a lot of questions because that's the teacher in me, but I want to try and help as many people as we can since nursing isn't just putting a nipple in baby's mouth and letting them do their thing.
Have you nursed a baby before? How many?
How long did you nurse?
What made you want to nurse?
What do you consider "essentials" for nursing (products etc.)
What foods helped boost your supply?
Did you have an oversupply? How did you compensate?
What was your pumping schedule like?
How often did you feed baby? Did you do one side at a time or both?
How often did baby nurse initially?
Any tongue or lip ties that needed taken care of?
When did you introduce a bottle?
Did you use a nipple shield? When did you wean from that?
Did you have to adjust your diet because baby didn't tolerate something you ate, like dairy?
Best nursing clothes/bras?
When did you find that nursing became a really easy thing, like when did it feel natural?
What holds did you prefer for nursing?
Home remedies for clogged ducts/mastitis?
Any other advice you can give to mamas who want to nurse their baby (ies)?
Have you nursed a baby before? How many?
How long did you nurse?
What made you want to nurse?
What do you consider "essentials" for nursing (products etc.)
What foods helped boost your supply?
Did you have an oversupply? How did you compensate?
What was your pumping schedule like?
How often did you feed baby? Did you do one side at a time or both?
How often did baby nurse initially?
Any tongue or lip ties that needed taken care of?
When did you introduce a bottle?
Did you use a nipple shield? When did you wean from that?
Did you have to adjust your diet because baby didn't tolerate something you ate, like dairy?
Best nursing clothes/bras?
When did you find that nursing became a really easy thing, like when did it feel natural?
What holds did you prefer for nursing?
Home remedies for clogged ducts/mastitis?
Any other advice you can give to mamas who want to nurse their baby (ies)?
November D16 Siggy Challenge-Thanksgiving Fails
Re: Nursing 101
Have you nursed a baby before? How many? Yes, 1.
How long did you nurse? 7 months exclusively and then just at night.
What made you want to nurse? Lots of things....baby's health, cost savings, bonding, it's what boobs are made for, etc.
What do you consider "essentials" for nursing (products etc.) I pumped during the day when I went back to work, so a Medela pump was essential. I also used nipple shields, and those were very helpful with flat nipples (which were no longer flat after a while).
What foods helped boost your supply? Not sure if any foods did, but I did take fenugreek supplements to boost supply and that seemed to help.
Did you have an oversupply? How did you compensate? No.
What was your pumping schedule like? I was trying to breast feed after having had breast reduction surgery, so I started pumping from Day 1 to help increase my supply. Once we went home, I would pump probably 3 times a day to get a stash going and so DS's dad could give him a bottle at bedtime. Once I was back to work, I would pump 3 times per work day and once at night after DS had his last feeding.
How often did you feed baby? Did you do one side at a time or both? Constantly. I don't remember how often. I think I did one side at a time, but I can't recall.
How often did baby nurse initially? Whenever he wanted, ie. constantly.
Any tongue or lip ties that needed taken care of? Nope.
When did you introduce a bottle? Probably when he was about 3 weeks.
Did you use a nipple shield? When did you wean from that? Yes. I didn't wean from that for a long, long time. It never caused a problem.
Did you have to adjust your diet because baby didn't tolerate something you ate, like dairy? I thought he wasn't tolerating dairy, so I tried giving that up. It didn't help his colic, so I went back to dairy.
Best nursing clothes/bras? I loved nursing tanks. I would wear one under everything.
When did you find that nursing became a really easy thing, like when did it feel natural? Probably by 2 or 3 months.
What holds did you prefer for nursing? Cradle hold and lying on my side.
Home remedies for clogged ducts/mastitis? No, because I fortunately never had to deal with either.
Any other advice you can give to mamas who want to nurse their baby (ies)? If you've had breast surgery, that doesn't mean you can't nurse!!! This book was so helpful to me:
Me: 33 H: 36
Married: 12/14/13 DS: 1/29/09
BFP2: 10/9/15 MMC: 11/12/15
BFP3: 4/6/16 DD: 12/12/16
My niece was a bottle refuser and it was really stressful, but I know that's not totally typical.
Yep - 1
How long did you nurse?
12 months though after 10 months a very very slow ween began
What made you want to nurse?
Booby milk = baby food. That's what an infant is supposed to eat. I'm so grateful formula is a good option but it definitely takes 2nd place to breastmilk. I believe you can absolutely raise healthy strong humans on formula but breastmilk is easier to digest potentially making for a less fussy baby, and gives your baby really wonderful immune support while their getting it which will be especially comforting for our winter babies.
What do you consider "essentials" for nursing (products etc.)
nursing pads, a hand pump, an electric pump, lanolin for the nips.
What foods helped boost your supply?
I never really noticed an effect with this. But the types of fats you ingest effect the fat balance in your milk. So things like nuts, avocados, flax seeds - they give your baby awesome fats!
Did you have an oversupply? How did you compensate?
Yup! I pumped off the extra. I know that can encourage continued oversupply but I wanted a stash for going back to work (though I had to dump it due to an enzyme issue that I didn't know I had and so didn't store properly). Once we introduced solids my supply dipped. Then I had the stomach flu and my supply dipped. Then DS had the stomach flu and my supply dipped. Then I got my period back and my supply dipped... all in rapid succession. I was happy to be starting from a too-large volume so I didn't dry up completely. I ended up with an under supply which I got back by doing some pumping power hours (not as bad as they sound).
What was your pumping schedule like?
This varied through the nursing months depending on my supply. Generally 2-3 times/day at work. This time I will pump more to make up for supply dips - I just didn't believe that would work last time til I was in dire straights and realized the pumping power hours actually worked after all.
How often did you feed baby? Did you do one side at a time or both?
On demand always. I wasn't very regimented. I think I did one side at a time at first and then moved to both if he'd stay interested.
How often did baby nurse initially?
I feel like every 2 hours or so but I never paid much attention. If he was rooting, I was feeding.
Any tongue or lip ties that needed taken care of?
nope
When did you introduce a bottle?
early... like 4 weeks. He took it on occasion just fine until like 8 weeks and then he just refused it once he was more cognoscente of the world. He never took one well again until like 8 or 9 months which made work unbelievably difficult and excruciating.
Did you use a nipple shield? When did you wean from that?
nope
Did you have to adjust your diet because baby didn't tolerate something you ate, like dairy?
I actually had a dairy aversion during pregnancy and while nursing. Turns out DS couldn't handle dairy protein too (he will likely grow out of this). This made weening a nightmare as we were figuring this out...
Best nursing clothes/bras?
I pull down rather than tuck baby under so anything I can easily get down far enough. Button down shirts were key too. I like the nursing covers that tent out so that I can get a good view of the latch. As the baby gets older and things get less fumbley - I DGAF about a nursing cover usually.
When did you find that nursing became a really easy thing, like when did it feel natural?
Became easier after a couple days. Felt natural after a week or so. I felt DONE after a year.
What holds did you prefer for nursing?
Whatever works - this one wasn't a big thing for me... I don't even remember.
Home remedies for clogged ducts/mastitis?
hot showers and I just never let my boobs get too over full. Hand pump helped there if baby wasn't synced up.
Any other advice you can give to mamas who want to nurse their baby (ies)?
If you're having trouble - get help!!! Ask your midwife or OB for resources in your area.
Also, supply naturally dips and fluctuates and it is NOT a death sentence. So when supply naturally dips as you introduce solids or get your period back, it's not necessarily a problem. It's just natural. Don't feel it's your body quitting on you. It can increase again too. I was dead set toward the end that my supply was just drying up. Then with our digestive issue nightmare I felt it was becoming the difference between a "failure to thrive" diagnosis and a fed baby so I went after trying to get my supply back aggressively. I was so shocked and impressed that it worked!!! I had wished I had believed in it sooner.
How long did you nurse? 2 years and counting. I think I've dried up for the most part, but he's still comfort nursing before sleeping.
What made you want to nurse? Because I'm cheap? And it really is the best thing for baby. Do some research, breast milk is amazing.
What do you consider "essentials" for nursing (products etc.) Nipple butter, Super absorbent nursing pads for the first few weeks until you regulate. I'd go through three or four pairs a day. Reusable pads once your supply regulates. Some sort of prop pillow, a cover if you want one for public. Snacks and water. You will be ungodly thirsty and hungry- you actually need an extra 500 calories a day.
What foods helped boost your supply? Oatmeal (the old fashioned oats), chia seeds, flax seeds, and all the water
Did you have an oversupply? How did you compensate? Not really, but he nursed constantly so I have no idea.
What was your pumping schedule like? Only when needed if we were going on a date night or something. Once a day when I went back to work at 7 months.
How often did you feed baby? Did you do one side at a time or both? On demand. I didn't do schedules and wouldn't recommend anyone else doing one unless it's truly needed. Feed baby when hungry. There will be cluster feeding during growth spurts where you nurse for 45 min then baby wants back on in half an hour. That's normal. Babies tend to eat ever 90 min to two hours and that timing starts from when they first latch, not to when they finish.
How often did baby nurse initially? 20 minutes then he would be done. I just did one side at a time because you will produce two types of milk- Hindmilk and foremilk. The first milk they get is lighter and more watery and what they get after nursing awhile has all of the calories in it and is denser, so you need to nurse longer on one side to get to that point. If not, baby could have green poop ;-)
Any tongue or lip ties that needed taken care of? no
When did you introduce a bottle? after 6 weeks. He wasn't a fan and only tolerated the Tommee Tippee ones shaped like a boob. We tried bout 5 others.
Did you use a nipple shield? When did you wean from that? no, but I do recommend nipple shells for the beginning. They're dome shaped things that you put over your nips after nursing to let air circulate and keep your raw self from rubbing against your bra or tank.
Did you have to adjust your diet because baby didn't tolerate something you ate, like dairy? Nope
Best nursing clothes/bras? The ones that clip down, I had a ton from target and loved them. The sleep bras from there are great too. I can wear a regular bra or sports bra at this point just fine. When you need nicer bras for going back to work I really like the ones from Hotmilk.
When did you find that nursing became a really easy thing, like when did it feel natural? after 4-6 weeks it became a lot easier. Natural at 3 or 4 months I didn't have to think about it.
What holds did you prefer for nursing? At the beginning I liked football hold, then cradle. Side by side is nice when you're tired and want to lie down while nursing. Dangle feeding when you have clogged ducts.
Home remedies for clogged ducts/mastitis? Hot shower, heating pad, and massage the poop out of it. I had clogged ducts quite a few times, especially when he started sleeping the night. Take care of them early so they don't develop into mastitis, because at that point you need to go to the doctor and get a script for antibiotics.
Any other advice you can give to mamas who want to nurse their baby (ies)? Don't give up! It's so, so hard in the beginning and you will doubt yourself a lot. You will more than likely produce enough even when it doesn't seem that way. You make more milk in the morning than in the evening so baby may be fussier and nurse more at night, and that's normal. Keep yourself full and hydrated. If you need to supplement for whatever reason, don't be angry, it happens, but do not stop nursing. It's a supply and demand thing. Nursing babies will eat more often than formula fed ones because breast milk breaks down faster and is more easily digested. We are here for you if you have questions, because it is so overwhelming. Utilize your lactation consultant as much as you can. She will teach you ways to pinch your nip so baby can latch better and what to do to make sure baby is eating enough. You can do it!
TTC #1 January 2016
BFP April 18 2016 | EDD December 29, 2016
Welcome baby A! January 9, 2017
TTC#2 March 2018
BFP March 30, 2018 | EDD December 12, 2018
How long did you nurse? 14 months
What made you want to nurse? Honestly- I didn't. The whole idea of it "grossed me out" but I went to the breastfeeding class with DH and realized all the benefits for it so I thought we would give it a go. I'm SO glad I did and loved it (most of the time).
What do you consider "essentials" for nursing (products etc.) Breast pump, milk bags, bottles to pump in, bottle brush/cleaning supplies, nursing cover, boppy
What foods helped boost your supply? I ended up taking Fenugreek after I went back to work to keep up as I didn't respond to the bump like others. I took 4 every time I pumped/nursed.
Did you have an oversupply? How did you compensate? Lord, no. I struggled for every ounce I got.
What was your pumping schedule like? I went back to work when DS was 4 months full time. I nursed in the morning before daycare, once at 10, once at 12:30, once at 2:30, and then right when I got home from work (4:30-5). We also nursed at night before bed.
How often did you feed baby? Did you do one side at a time or both? both sides every time- DS loved to cluster feed the first few months so I feel like all I did was nurse from 5-7 nightly. I nursed on demand.
How often did baby nurse initially? Champ from day 1!
Any tongue or lip ties that needed taken care of? Thankfully no!
When did you introduce a bottle? Right away. I would throw in an extra pumping session during the day/night so that DH could feed DS once during the night to help me sleep more.
Did you use a nipple shield? When did you wean from that? Yes, for a long time. We eventually weaned from it about 4 months in. I did pull it out when DS started biting to help!
Did you have to adjust your diet because baby didn't tolerate something you ate, like dairy? DS would get extremely fussy if I ate onions so I tried to stay away from them.
Best nursing clothes/bras? I'm large chested so I lived in cotton sleep bras until I went back to work. After that, I just made due with what I was wearing.
When did you find that nursing became a really easy thing, like when did it feel natural? Probably 2-3 months into it.
What holds did you prefer for nursing? Football hold at first with the Boppy. Then cross cradle.
Home remedies for clogged ducts/mastitis? I got mastitis once and ended up needing antibiotics to take care of it. Call your doctor if you are concerned at all!
Any other advice you can give to mamas who want to nurse their baby (ies)? Dude. It's hard. Like, really hard. But it DOES get easier and DOES get better. Stick with it- find a LC or nursing group near you and attend. They are lifesavers.
@cgss11 I introduced a bottle right away and DS never had nipple confusion. I started pumping in the hospital to help my milk come quicker as DS was jaundice and needed more calories. It was also nice to have a bottle of milk ready to go for DH to help with nighttime nursing sessions.
Me: 33 H: 36
Married: 12/14/13 DS: 1/29/09
BFP2: 10/9/15 MMC: 11/12/15
BFP3: 4/6/16 DD: 12/12/16
Have you nursed a baby before? How many? Yes currently still nursing my almost 15 mo old son, but I'm pretty sure he's ready to wean. He's not really too interested as of last few days
How long did you nurse?
15 mo
What made you want to nurse?
Free and convenient
What do you consider "essentials" for nursing (products etc.)
In the beginning I use lanolin cream for the cracked nipples . Otherwise I hated all nursing bras and cami's. I just pulled up my bra and shirt and nursed or pumped, I had no patience for snaps or clips
What foods helped boost your supply?
Anytime I ate lots of carbs or fatty foods I noticed more milk. A whopper from burger King for example meant more milk!
Did you have an oversupply? How did you compensate?
Yes I pumped a few times a day even when I was home with him. I started donating to the milkbank.
What was your pumping schedule like?
I'd pump after he ate in am because I always had so much milk. Pump every 3 hours at work (or in car-I mastered that) then pumped again before bed
How often did you feed baby? Did you do one side at a time or both?
I fed on demand so every hour to 3 hours in newborn stage. After my milk came in one side was plenty of milk to fill him up.
How often did baby nurse initially?
Same as above
Any tongue or lip ties that needed taken care of?
No thankfully
When did you introduce a bottle?
At about a week- breast milk no formula ever needed.
Did you use a nipple shield? When did you wean from that?
Nope
Did you have to adjust your diet because baby didn't tolerate something you ate, like dairy?
Nope
Best nursing clothes/bras?
Like I said earlier I hated clips and snaps I just lifted my shirt and flipped or pushed m y bra up.
When did you find that nursing became a really easy thing, like when did it feel natural?
within 2-3 weeks. I could walk around house and nurse at same time
What holds did you prefer for nursing?
Football. Or if I'm in bed I just lay sideways next to him
Home remedies for clogged ducts/mastitis?
Ouch it hurts I got mastitis, but caught it early. Just use warm compresses and pump and nurse through pain.
Any other advice you can
I feel like this might be a stupid question but for STM nursing moms any suggestions on easy tops to wear for nursing? Button downs/tanks/ tunics/ etc?
TTC since June 2015
September Football Siggy
Me: 33 H: 36
Married: 12/14/13 DS: 1/29/09
BFP2: 10/9/15 MMC: 11/12/15
BFP3: 4/6/16 DD: 12/12/16
i have to admit, I had a total brain fart and was like, we can't learn how to be nurses online through a forum...
How long did you nurse? DS 4 months, DD 17 months
What made you want to nurse? Free, convenient, health benefits
What do you consider "essentials" for nursing (products etc.) Reuseable nursing pads I love the bamboobies. Lanolin, nursing tanks and bras, Milk bags, and pump
What foods helped boost your supply? I didn't notice any change with any food that I ate, and I didn't need anything to increase supply
Did you have an oversupply? How did you compensate? I think I did a little bit, I just pumped the extra and put it in the freezer
What was your pumping schedule like? I didn't start pumping right away, and I am a SAHM so I only pumped if I felt too full or after a feeding
How often did you feed baby? Did you do one side at a time or both? I started on 1 side then switched to the other, but for the next feeding I would start with the one I ended the last feeding with.
How often did baby nurse initially? constantly, then it for longer between feedings
Any tongue or lip ties that needed taken care of? Nope
When did you introduce a bottle? with DS I gave him a bottle around 4 months, and DD never took a bottle, I think she would have taken one if I introduced it later
Did you use a nipple shield? When did you wean from that? nope
Did you have to adjust your diet because baby didn't tolerate something you ate, like dairy? I never changed my diet, but DD does have a dairy allergy that we found out at a year but she didn't react at all to breastmilk, but I don't eat a lot of dairy to begin with.
Best nursing clothes/bras? I got a lot at target bras and tanks that I seem to really like
When did you find that nursing became a really easy thing, like when did it feel natural? I don't remember
What holds did you prefer for nursing? I liked the cross cradle. I never mastered nursing laying down, but I am big chested and I always felt like I would smother them haha
Home remedies for clogged ducts/mastitis? I did have a few clogged ducts. I used warm compresses and pumped and always fed on that side first even though it really hurt. Also warm showers.
Any other advice you can give to mamas who want to nurse their baby (ies)? don't give up, you will feel like giving up but it is so worth it. Also don't let anyone make you feel bad for nursing as long or as little as you want. Anything you can give your baby is good. And formula isn't evil. I don't know why some people mom sham new moms for giving formula. As long as you are feeding your baby you are doing a good job.
How long did you nurse? 10 months, 8 months, and 6 months
What made you want to nurse? It was a hard decision because it was never easy for me, but I felt it was the healthiest and least expensive choice for my family. I had to supplement with formula as well.
What do you consider "essentials" for nursing (products etc.) A good nursing bra, a hospital grade pump, and bra inserts.
What foods helped boost your supply? Sadly, none. I had to go on medication because my supply was always low
Did you have an oversupply? How did you compensate? N/A
What was your pumping schedule like? Ugh, it was tough. If I wasn't nursing, I was pumping because my supply was so low. My first also had really bad reflux so it was a constant battle to keep his tummy full.
How often did you feed baby? Did you do one side at a time or both? I was advised by lactation consultants to feed from both sides, whenever baby was hungry, but I think this varies from person to person and depends on supply.
How often did baby nurse initially? Every hour or two
Any tongue or lip ties that needed taken care of? No, but my DD was deemed "lazy" and just wouldn't nurse, so she was almost exclusively bottle fed breast milk.
When did you introduce a bottle? Pretty early for all three because I had to give them expressed milk and formula
Did you use a nipple shield? When did you wean from that? no
Did you have to adjust your diet because baby didn't tolerate something you ate, like dairy? No. DD had a milk allergy for her first two years but she wasn't affected by my breast milk if I ate dairy
Best nursing clothes/bras? One that fits and tank tops and hoodies with zippers. There's an awesome looking product called Naked Tank that i want to try...you can wear your own normal bra and clothes
When did you find that nursing became a really easy thing, like when did it feel natural? Sadly, never
What holds did you prefer for nursing? I have huge boobs, so it had to be a sitting down, two handed deal
Home remedies for clogged ducts/mastitis?
Any other advice you can give to mamas who want to nurse their baby (ies)? Nursing can be really hard, and don't be disappointed or think you've failed if you don't love it or decide not to continue. It's worth trying but don't let people tell you that it's the only "right" way to feed your baby. I used to have people comment that "breast is best" when I was feeding them breast milk in a bottle. People can be rude and judgy. Ignore them.
Have you nursed a baby before? How many?
Yes, 1
How long did you nurse?
I nursed about 3-4 weeks, then pumped & nursed, then just pumped
What made you want to nurse?
It made it possible to get back to work quickly after he was born. (teacher maternity leave is a joke, I had to be in all day orientation meetings at 10 days pp.)
What do you consider "essentials" for nursing (products etc.)
I used coconut oil in a roller thingy - like a really large chapstick - for my help with chapped nips.Other than that, I didn't have anything that I needed.
What foods helped boost your supply?
None that I found. I drank mothers milk tea every morning because it was supposed to help, and I can't drink coffee.
Did you have an oversupply? How did you compensate?
I tried to get one, so I could have a working stash for when he went to Daycare, but I couldn't ever get it up.
What was your pumping schedule like?
N&P I pumped at 6 am, my prep 10am and right after school. EP 3 am, 6am, 10am, 3pm, 6/7 pm and 9 pm. Each time was about 20 min before I was empty.
How often did you feed baby? Did you do one side at a time or both?
When I was nursing he ate whenever he was hungry which ended up being about 2:45-3:15 between feedings. I only ever did 1 side at a time, but would try and pump/collect whatever was in the not baby side.
How often did baby nurse initially?
about every 2 hrs for the first 2 weeks.
Any tongue or lip ties that needed taken care of?
He had a 'level 2'?? tongue tie. That was taken care of at about 48 hrs old. He was ok before that, though.
When did you introduce a bottle?
By 10 days old. I was sick of having him attached and trying to keep covered in meetings so I started to cycle through my meager freezer stash.
Did you use a nipple shield? When did you wean from that?
I did on the rec. of the 'hospital certified LC'. Worst thing possible for me, I found out from LLL later that I never needed it,and it was what seriously hindered my nursing ability. L got really lazy with his latch and we never weaned from it, until I went to just pumping.
Did you have to adjust your diet because baby didn't tolerate something you ate, like dairy?
I ended up cutting out raw onions because I no longer liked them. L didn't seem to mind either way.
Best nursing clothes/bras?
I didn't use any. I used regular maternity tops and regular tanks. Top would go up, tank go down and I was decently covered for myself.
When did you find that nursing became a really easy thing, like when did it feel natural?
In the hospital before I met the stupid consultant who made me use the shield. After that it was a major PITA.
What holds did you prefer for nursing?
Football - baby is on your side. Best hold I found for large breasts(I am a 38 K).
Home remedies for clogged ducts/mastitis?
Never had a problem. I ALWAYS take a boiling hot shower, so that may have helped stop anything from becoming a problem.
Any other advice you can give to mamas who want to nurse their baby (ies)?
If it is comfortable and working for you, don't let someone change it. Using a shield ended me being able to nurse. Pumping is hard, but you can do it if you establish a routine and respond to your pump.
Formerly known as Kate08young
August '18 Siggy April Showers:
Married: 7/22/14
Baby L: 8/4/2015 August 2015 Moms
Baby E: 11/18/2016 December 2016 Moms
TTC #3 08/2017 BFP 11/27/2017.
Twin B lost 11/22/2017, Twin A doing well.
(I tried comfort nursing our adopted baby but she thought I was nuts!)
How long did you nurse?
1- 18 mon
2- 11 mon
3- 18 mon
4- 20 mon
What made you want to nurse?
It is free and easy (no washing or buying things...) And it appeals to me.
What do you consider "essentials" for nursing (products etc.)
Your boobs. No, really get some soothies glycerin pads, lanisnoh nursing pads and a boppy.
What foods helped boost your supply?
Oatmeal. Nursing tea or supplement
Did you have an oversupply? How did you compensate? Not my problem
What was your pumping schedule like?
I don't pump. I hate it. Plus if I pump I have to scald the milk because I have a lapis enzyme issue that makes the milk disflavor.
How often did you feed baby? Did you do one side at a time or both?
I feed generally every 2-3 hours or when baby need it and I'm a double sider feeder. Switching starting breast every feed.
How often did baby nurse initially?
30 + minutes... Like to get them full!
Any tongue or lip ties that needed taken care of?
Not so far thankfully!
When did you introduce a bottle?
I don't really worry about it since we basically don't pump or supplement at all... Baby and I are a unit until about 6 months plus and by then a cup/sippy isn't a big deal.
Did you use a nipple shield? When did you wean from that?
Once, but it didn't really help with the issue so I just kept feeding and it resolved itself.
Did you have to adjust your diet because baby didn't tolerate something you ate, like dairy?
No caffeine and I limit gassy foods for my fussy baby.
Best nursing clothes/bras?
Bella maternal basic bra... The best!!!
Bravado nursing tank.
I wear normal but stretchy tanks under my clothes and I pull them down with my bra. They cover my middle, which I don't like exposed.
When did you find that nursing became a really easy thing, like when did it feel natural?
With my 1st it was normal at about 6-8 weeks pp. With my others most issues resolved in a weeks time and with my last it was normal from the first feed!
What holds did you prefer for nursing?
Basic cradle or football.
Home remedies for clogged
ducts/mastitis?
Well, I think it's helpful to know that it can be caused by over doing it, not drinking enough water and vitamin deficiency. The only time I've struggled with mastitis was after my third when I'd had blood loss, was totally overdoing it at not taking good care of myself. Prevention is helpful!
Any other advice you can give to mamas who want to nurse their baby (ies)?
Its helpful for me to remember early on to make sure and flip out their lips so that they are flared around my nipple. Even just pulling their chin down a bit after getting latched is helpful
Learn to nurse laying down!
Ask for help sooner rather than later.
Invest in understanding how early BF works... You don't need to supplement if your milk delays coming in... Just keep nursing!!! (There can be important reasons to supplement).
Check out Kellymom.com and theleakyboob.com
Due December 27th with baby #7
Have you nursed a baby before? How many? I nursed my DD.
How long did you nurse? 14 months
What made you want to nurse? Saving money!
What do you consider "essentials" for nursing (products etc.) Nursing bra or tank, boppy
What foods helped boost your supply? Nothing
Did you have an oversupply? How did you compensate? Nope. I struggled with supply.
What was your pumping schedule like? I pumped at least 4 times a day, plus nursed when I was with babe.
How often did you feed baby? Did you do one side at a time or both? Every 2 hours. This is not the normal after back at birth weight, but DD didn't gain weight well. I did both sides every time except first thing in the morning.
How often did baby nurse initially?
Every 2 hours
Any tongue or lip ties that needed taken care of? Nope.
When did you introduce a bottle? Hmmm.. 2 weeks maybe. I don't remember.
Did you use a nipple shield? When did you wean from that? No.
Did you have to adjust your diet because baby didn't tolerate something you ate, like dairy? No, she had severe reflux though.
Best nursing clothes/bras? Walmart tanks
When did you find that nursing became a really easy thing, like when did it feel natural?
4 months, but it was always hard due to weight issues
What holds did you prefer for nursing? Football and cross-body
Home remedies for clogged ducts/mastitis?
I had a clogged duct when weaning. Best thing was hot water and pushing the clog with a wash cloth
Any other advice you can give to mamas who want to nurse their baby (ies)? Don't stress about nursing. Id it doesn't work, it's okay! Fed is best!
Yes, one!
How long did you nurse?
16 months.
What made you want to nurse?
I'm not sure, I never even really considered not nursing. Not having to buy formula helped!
What do you consider "essentials" for nursing (products etc.)
Nursing pillow, nipple cream, good pumps (manual and power), support from partner (or family, whatever your situation is.
What foods helped boost your supply?
Dark Beer was the only thing I could really tell helped my supply.
Did you have an oversupply? How did you compensate?
I did have a slight oversupply problem a few weeks in (maybe too much beer?? JK!). I used blocked feeding to get it under control. I also nursed with my tush on the end of my couch leaning back so little guy didn't get too much milk at a time.
What was your pumping schedule like?
When I went back to work, I pumped twice at work.
How often did you feed baby? Did you do one side at a time or both?
This completely depends on how old they are? A million times a day in the beginning? Then twice at the end (morning and night). I also nursed both sides every time.
How often did baby nurse initially?
Every two hours for a few weeks.
Any tongue or lip ties that needed taken care of?
No
When did you introduce a bottle?
Around six weeks.
Did you use a nipple shield? When did you wean from that?
No.
Did you have to adjust your diet because baby didn't tolerate something you ate, like dairy?
No.
Best nursing clothes/bras?
Sleep nursing bras are the BEST in the beginning before you have to leave the house. Highly recommend, I still sleep in them.
When did you find that nursing became a really easy thing, like when did it feel natural?
I never had a difficult time so it was always a great experience for me.
What holds did you prefer for nursing?
We mostly just did in the front, I don't even know what that would be called?
Home remedies for clogged ducts/mastitis?
Not an issue for me. I did ALWAYS nurse both sides and pump until empty, that maybe helped?
Any other advice you can give to mamas who want to nurse their baby (ies)?
TAKE A CLASS! Ask to see the LC in the hospital as many times you want. Have them watch you, listen to them. Get the number of a hotline (I called like four times even though I didn't have any real issues). Be prepared for it to hurt, it does in the beginning, it will get better. Also, try to get over people watching you nurse; get an adorable nursing cover. If you get the point where you are comfortable nursing anywhere, it will be A LOT easier for you to nurse longer.
Have you nursed a baby before? How many?
Yes, 2 babies.
How long did you nurse?
What made you want to nurse?
What do you consider "essentials" for nursing (products etc.)
What foods helped boost your supply?
Did you have an oversupply? How did you compensate? Not at all.
What was your pumping schedule like?
I pumped after every single (long) feeding for weeks the first time around. I got literally nothing from pumping bc I only produced an ounce per feeding- I was just trying to stimulate more milk production which never worked. If I had to skip a nursing session for some reason I would pump in place of that but extra pumping in between nursing didn't produce anything so I didn't bother.
How often did you feed baby? Did you do one side at a time or both?
How often did baby nurse initially?
See above.
Any tongue or lip ties that needed taken care of?
No
When did you introduce a bottle?
Day 3 for DD bc she was clinically dehydrated. Day 5 for DS.
Did you use a nipple shield? When did you wean from that?
Did you have to adjust your diet because baby didn't tolerate something you ate, like dairy?
Best nursing clothes/bras?
When did you find that nursing became a really easy thing, like when did it feel natural?
What holds did you prefer for nursing?
I'm very small busted so cross cradle was the only hold I could make work.
Any other advice you can give to mamas who want to nurse their baby (ies)?
Take classes, read books, and be as prepared as possible to set yourself up for the best chance at success. I agree with others that you need to be flexible and realize that not everyone has an easy time. Don't give up right away if it's hard.
one-my son. not very successfully though.
How long did you nurse?
2-3 months. then pumped for 6 months after that.
What made you want to nurse?
benefit to baby & bonding experience.
What do you consider "essentials" for nursing (products etc.)
nipple shield, lanolin, manual & electric pump, nursing cover, breast pads.
What foods helped boost your supply?
i honestly can't remember any particular foods that helped boost my supply! drinking water was huge for me though! i never realized how much water i would have to drink to produce enough!
Did you have an oversupply? How did you compensate?
no.
What was your pumping schedule like?
once i was exclusively pumping (due to baby not latching, and him having reflux so BFing was just hard), i generally pumped every 4 hours.
How often did you feed baby? Did you do one side at a time or both?
both sides. fed on demand. it varied.
How often did baby nurse initially?
every 2 hours.
Any tongue or lip ties that needed taken care of?
He had a tongue tie, we never had it fixed, and he's doing fine now. (he's 2). the lactation consultant didn't seem concerned by it. even though nursing was a struggle for us, she thought it was more due to my nipple shape and the fact that he had reflux, and not the tongue tie.
When did you introduce a bottle?
3 months?
Did you use a nipple shield? When did you wean from that?
yes. 3 months. he would only nurse with it on
Did you have to adjust your diet because baby didn't tolerate something you ate, like dairy?
no.
Best nursing clothes/bras?
i just had a couple from motherhood maternity.
When did you find that nursing became a really easy thing, like when did it feel natural?
maybe i'm the wrong person to have filled this out because i don't want to sway anyone from BFing haha but it never became easy or natural for me. I have high hopes that this time will be better though!
What holds did you prefer for nursing?
laying on my side with baby laying facing me.
Home remedies for clogged ducts/mastitis?
cabbage, massage, hot shower, heating pads.
Any other advice you can give to mamas who want to nurse their baby (ies)?
nursing is amazing, but it can also be hard. don't give up if you're not ready to stop trying, but if you are done with it, that's okay too! i think too many mama's beat themselves up about not being able to nurse, or not wanting to nurse. Do what's best for you! your baby will be fine and loved either way
Have you nursed a baby before? How many? Yes, 2 babies.
How long did you nurse? DD1 about 14-15 months and DD2 a few months past her 2nd birthday.
What made you want to nurse? I don't really know, it was just something I was always going to do. After DD1's traumatic birth and my prolonged hospital stay, I was even more bound and determined to do it, since I had no control over anything else. Nursing was a decision that seemed entirely up to me at the time.
What do you consider "essentials" for nursing (products etc.) There isn't much "essential" for nursing except hygiene products (nursing pads so you don't leak, unless you like to change your shirt every 2 hours). BUT there are so many products I depended on for ease, convenience, and pumping/storage once I went back to work:
- Nursing bras and tanks and nursing clothing, depending on the clothes- if i pulled up my shirt i liked to have the tank to cover my belly in public, but i also liked the convenience of being able to still nurse and wear pretty dresses and blouses that made access easier. some nursing clothing was more trouble than it's worth, both babies were "messy" eaters and sometimes it was neater for me to pull my shirt up and let the tank take the overflow than to pull my boob out of a hole and expect to not have wet marks on my nursing shirt.
- burp cloths/blankets/cloth diapers to catch spit up. also, my boobs were so engourged early on that i rolled up a baby washcloth and stuck it in my cleavage to help wic away sweat and baby spit up. i was getting a heat rash in there.
- nipple cream. i did not like lansinoh for direct application but it was wonderful pump flange lubricant. i used medela tender care lanolin and earth mama baby angel for direct on nip. EMBA does have a grainy looking texture but it dissolves on the skin and is just from the separate ingredients not fully emulsified. i preferred medela.
- nursing pads. must have, and if you use nipple cream you need this to protect your bras from grease stains. i despised any pad that came individually wrapped and made noise. i tried every version out there. i liked J&J brand best. Bamboobies were not for me, i leaked waaaaaay too much even for their overnight version.
- a good, strong pump with all the extras (car charger, battery back up, hands free bra etc). Medela PISA hands down. i also used Ameda's and Lansinoh's regularly. Always got more milk with Medela. and the PISA was just as good as the Medela Symphony I used during the hospital stay.
- boppy or another nursing pillow for when they are little little.
- a big water bottle you can fill and drink during nursing sessions.
- simethicone gas drops for baby, use before every nursing session
What foods helped boost your supply? Oatmeal, anything high protein and high fat. Water. one night i went out drinking (beer) and the next morning pumped the most milk ever. Stay away from mint and decongestants. kills your supply.
Did you have an oversupply? How did you compensate? Yes. I am a high volume producer and thus had some issues with foremilk/hindmilk imbalance. I used gas drops for baby, adjusted my holds so baby was over my breast and milk could just run out of her mouth (my let down came with the force of a spigot, nursing was like a baby keg stand), didn't pump when we were EBF and i nursed on one side at a time only. when i went back to work i just froze the extra. i had to buy a deep freezer to contain it all, and i made several private milk donations over the course of the three years that i nursed.
What was your pumping schedule like? wake up, nurse baby/pump around 5am, pump at work at lunch, nurse/pump on arrival home, cluster feed all evening (baby led), nurse to sleep and pump if necessary. i had to buy the 8oz bottles for pumping and even though the neck treads are supposed to be the same, they didn't all fit the pump flanges. i also got very good at switching bottles mid pump, my morning session if baby didn't nurse before i left for work i could regularly get 13-15 ounces off one side. i would be very careful packaging my milk for freezing, lansinoh or honeysuckle bags are the best, i would fill and date, and freeze 6 bags flat on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. once i got 10 bags frozen i would stack them all in a gallon zip lock bag, date the front and the top of it, and line my deep freezer. when the deep freeze got full i set up a donation. i did have excess lipase, but my baby and all my donation babies took it fine so i didn't have to scald. thank god. nobody has time for that.
also, for pumping at work, i recommend using a nursing cover and putting a warning hang tag on the door, even if it locks. someone will walk in on you someday. also, the hands free bra helps but i found i could hold both flanges with one hand and still use my other hand (for lunch, or typing, etc).
How often did you feed baby? Did you do one side at a time or both? in the beginning when i was home it was about every 2 hours. i did one side at a time when my milk came in. i used a hair tie/clippie on my bra/tank so i could remember what side i last nursed from, if it wasn't obvious from boob tension. once i went back to work it was less consistent. both girls liked to cluster feed and comfort nurse.
Any tongue or lip ties that needed taken care of? no, both girls learned a good latch within a couple days.
When did you introduce a bottle? DD1 got a couple bottles of formula after birth because i was so weak and ill. we didn't introduce fully with her early enough and she had a hard time accepting a bottle. it took a lot of patience and many different types. DD2 we introduced after a few weeks, maybe a month, and she got the hang of it quicker.
Did you use a nipple shield? When did you wean from that? only once, i had a really torn up nip from one day of a bad latch and thought it would help. it did not, it was awful. i just pumped that side until my nip healed fully. lost a little supply but it came back, and i had enough to lose.
Did you have to adjust your diet because baby didn't tolerate something you ate, like dairy? no. i did find some foods made baby more gassy so i just tried to eat better.
Best nursing clothes/bras? bravado silk seamless for around the house. any generic wrap style bra for sleep (target ones work fine). hotmilk for something pretty. i had a couple Freya, anita, le mystere styles. but my favorites were my regular bras that i converted to nursing. super easy to do, takes less than an hour and costs less than a few dollars per bra. finding a great bra is hard enough without limiting yourself to a specialty style.
When did you find that nursing became a really easy thing, like when did it feel natural? with DD1 it took about 3 weeks (i was in the hospital for 2 weeks). DD2 felt natural right out the gate.
What holds did you prefer for nursing? after the c/s, the football hold was the only one that worked. laid-back, reclined cradle at home. saddle hold in public.
Home remedies for clogged ducts/mastitis? i have had mastitis 4 times (lucky enough to get it at 30 weeks pregnant with DD2, obviously not BF at that time and the nurse at my OB didn't believe me), had several clogged ducts and milk blisters. mastitis, you gotta get the antibiotics right away. i got mastitis 7-10 days post partum with both births. each time the rigors and fever preceeded any redness, but you just know. this birth i'm asking for an Rx up front. any time i got "run down" it seemed to hit. clogged ducts, warm washcloths in the bra help along with frequent expression and increased fluid intake, usually took a couple days to resolve. sometimes the clogged duct will be the byproduct of a milk blister on your nip, and as horrific as it sounds, lancing it will immediately resolve the issue (and it doesn't hurt, you just gotta make sure you sterilize and have a bowl to catch all that milk that's backed up).
Any other advice you can give to mamas who want to nurse their baby (ies)? don't get overwhelmed with everything there is to learn, you will learn as you go, baby is learning as he/she goes, and whatever way you figure out together is the correct way! be aware of D-MER, i had some mild dysphoria with let down when pumping with DD2. better nutrition helped me. speaking of nutrition, i also used an app to track my calories to ensure i was eating enough because i started to lose weight and get dizzy. every ounce produced burns about 20 calories. so when i was pumping 50-60 ounces a day, i was burning about 1000 calories. be mindful that the recommended 300-500 extra calorie intake recommendation while nursing can be very misleading if you are pumping extra. that is based on babies only drinking about 25 ounces per day.
My Wedding Bio!
Yes - 1
How long did you nurse?
14-15 months, though we were weaning since 12 months
What made you want to nurse?
Just to give it a shot - no pressure - at first, and then it worked well. So I kept it up.
What do you consider "essentials" for nursing (products etc.)
My double Medela pump, lots of ice packs to keep things cold at work, wipes to wipe down equipment between pumps, disposable nursing pads.
What foods helped boost your supply?
No clue. I ate what I wanted to eat.
Did you have an oversupply? How did you compensate?
Uh I guess at times I accidentally squirted my kid in the face. I'd nurse with a small towel at the read to dampen the flow until it tapered where DD could actually drink.
What was your pumping schedule like?
Unfortunately working in a clinic, I didn't have much opportunity for a real schedule. I tried to pump every three hours, so twice at work.
How often did you feed baby? Did you do one side at a time or both?
Ever 3-4 hours - which stretched out much further once we started introducing solids. Whenever she would insist on it. Early on she would only eat from one side at a time, but as her appetite grew, she started on both sides eventually.
How often did baby nurse initially?
Always ever 3-4 hours.
Any tongue or lip ties that needed taken care of?
No we were incredibly fortunate there.
When did you introduce a bottle?
I think she had a bottle of breast milk within the first couple of weeks. We also introduced the pacifier early. She was never picky in terms of mom-nipple vs bottle nipple. She just ate from whatever she was given.
Did you use a nipple shield? When did you wean from that?
No
Did you have to adjust your diet because baby didn't tolerate something you ate, like dairy?
No. Maybe I should have because she got gassy at times. But I had a hard time keeping on weight through breastfeeding and really didn't need to restrict my food intake in any way.
Best nursing clothes/bras?
I wore a lot of sports bras at first and would just pull them up. Button down shirts were easy to manipulate as well. You start looking at clothing in terms of how easily you can expose yourself
When did you find that nursing became a really easy thing, like when did it feel natural?
Maybe after the first three weeks to a month. The first two weeks, I was crying and in pain and bleeding a lot. But it got a lot easier.
What holds did you prefer for nursing?
Laying her across a boppy on my stomach. It gets easier once the baby can move her/himself and participate in the whole thing too.
Home remedies for clogged ducts/mastitis?
Ugh, antibiotics and massaging the duct to try to unclog it.
Any other advice you can give to mamas who want to nurse their baby (ies)?
Try to be patient because it's never totally straightforward. And if it doesn't work, please don't be hard on yourself. Just keep your baby fed one way or another, and you're doing your job as a mother.
Baby #1
Baby #2
~04/19/16 EDD 12/26/16~
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@zubenescamali Please tell me more about converting bras. I can't ever find any maternity/nursing in my size.
Formerly known as Kate08young
August '18 Siggy April Showers:
Married: 7/22/14
Baby L: 8/4/2015 August 2015 Moms
Baby E: 11/18/2016 December 2016 Moms
TTC #3 08/2017 BFP 11/27/2017.
Twin B lost 11/22/2017, Twin A doing well.
I couldn't find the clasps locally so I bought them online at the link within the blog.
there are also companies that will convert any bra to a nursing bra for $10. I bet local seamstresses or alteration companies would too I just thought it was easier to do it myself, gave me something to do on maternity leave.
My Wedding Bio!
How long did you nurse? Around three and a half years
What made you want to nurse? Nursing was the default, I would have needed a reason not to nurse.
What do you consider "essentials" for nursing (products etc.) nursing pads (I used washable bamboo because they were 10x more comfortable), nursing bra, nursing tank. Nipple cream (From an etsy shop: Clyde's Booty Balm)
What foods helped boost your supply? I didn't really have any supply problems.
Did you have an oversupply? How did you compensate? Not much, just a little bit in the beginning. I didn't really compensate for it but I did use frozen damp paper towels to soothe the pain.
What was your pumping schedule like? I pumped twice a week so I could attend a class I was taking at the time.
How often did you feed baby? Did you do one side at a time or both? This changed about a thousand times as she got older, but in the very beginning I nursed on demand (sometimes every 20 minutes, sometimes every two hours). When she was a little older we had more consistent feeding times, and by the end she was just nursing at bedtime. I did one side at a time and left myself notes to keep track of which side. I'm planning to use a nursing app this time.
How often did baby nurse initially? See above
Any tongue or lip ties that needed taken care of? None
When did you introduce a bottle? Around 3 or 4 months when my class started and I started pumping
Did you use a nipple shield? When did you wean from that? Yes, I used an nipple shield for an unusually long time if I'm remembering right. Maybe like 5 months? (She's 4.5 now, so it's hard to remember)
Did you have to adjust your diet because baby didn't tolerate something you ate, like dairy? No
Best nursing clothes/bras? Meh, I didn't hate or love the ones I had.
When did you find that nursing became a really easy thing, like when did it feel natural? Also hard to remember, but maybe around 6 weeks?
What holds did you prefer for nursing? When she was little I used the cradle hold almost exclusively, but when she was big enough we switched to side-lying.
Home remedies for clogged ducts/mastitis? Hot shower and massaging the area. I had mastitis twice and it was bad enough to put me in the hospital. I don't really know why it happened or why it stopped happening. (Not a very helpful answer)
Any other advice you can give to mamas who want to nurse their baby(ies)? My advice is a two-part contradiction. #1 Don't give up at the first issue. Nursing a newborn is hard but nursing an older baby is easy. It can be frustrating and incredibly emotionally tolling. Seek help, all babies are different and not all advice will work for you. BUT #2 while breastfeeding is great for baby it is not worth sacrificing your mental health. If you are miserable and you have found no solutions, don't punish yourself. If you will feel better about your parenting if you stop nursing, then stop nursing. The decision is yours.
How long did you nurse? 6 months exclusively for my first, then my supply disappeared when I switched birth control. 13 months with my second.
What made you want to nurse? The naturalness of it, it's the best for baby, and me, and free, and you don't have to go to the kitchen to make a bottle at 2 am while listening to your baby scream their head off. And you can just lay down give em the goods!
What do you consider "essentials" for nursing (products etc.) Earth Mama Nipple Butter, and disposable nursing pads (I liked lansinoh, because they don't show through your shirt).
What foods helped boost your supply? It seemed like meats and dairy increased my supply. But with my first, I had too much milk until switching birth control- I ate a lot of processed foods and not that healthy. With my second, we had changed our eating habits to whole grains, natural foods that are minimally processed, less meat, more fruit/veg, - my supply was spot on with our healthy eating. I did drink Mothers Milk Tea towards the one year mark, as my daughter are more food and drank less milk, my supply dropped a little more than I felt comfortable with.
Did you have an oversupply? How did you compensate? With my first, yes! I went through nursing pads like crazy, and leaked through them almost every night. I talked to my dr. about it and that was when I changed to regular birth control. It was supposed to decrease my supply a little, but it just dried me up
What was your pumping schedule like? I went to school 3 or 4 nights a week, and I pumped 2 bottles for each night. I had a cheap electric pump from my first DD (2006), and I would put the pump on one boob, while putting DD on the other boob, twice a day on school days.
How often did you feed baby? Did you do one side at a time or both? I always did one side at a time, because the 'hind' milk at the end is the fattiest and it is supposed to be really good for the babies to get. One boob always filled them up, but my boobs are milk machines when I have babies.
How often did baby nurse initially? Wh DD 1 was every 2hrs during the day, and every 3-4 hrs at night. DD 2 was every 2 hrs until 3 months.
Any tongue or lip ties that needed taken care of? Nope.
When did you introduce a bottle? Bothe of them around 8 weeks when I was ready for a date night, and school.
Did you use a nipple shield? When did you wean from that? Nope.
Did you have to adjust your diet because baby didn't tolerate something you ate, like dairy? DD 1 was lactose intolerant, but I didn't realize it until she was 1 and I started to give her cows milk. When I was nursing her, I ate a bowl of cereal- with cows milk- every morning. Then like clockwork, 4 hrs later she would scream her head off for 20 minutes, then have a completely explosive poop. I stopped eating cereal when she was 3 months old. Then at 1, she had diarrhea whenever we gave her a bottle of cows milk, and I put 2 and 2 together. I felt terrible. She is 9 now, and definitely still lactose intolerant. So is DD 2, as is DH- his happened when he was 26. Then I became lactose intolerant at 25. So we drink coconut milk, or almond. But we still eat cheese and yogurt (we just fart a lot when we do). But if we are going to eat ice cream, we have to take Lactaid.
Best nursing clothes/bras? Hm. Nursing shirts are great, but I have a really long waist, so it's hard to find ones that fit.
When did you find that nursing became a really easy thing, like when did it feel natural? 3 months with DD 1, then with DD 2 right away.
What holds did you prefer for nursing? Football hold for the first couple weeks because of c-sections. Then laying on side, and cradle, especially as they get older.
Home remedies for clogged ducts/mastitis? Yes, take a shot of apple cider vinegar twice a day if you feel one coming on. It only happened to me once.
Any other advice you can give to mamas who want to nurse their baby (ies)? It hurts, the letdown, and the nipples adjusting to nursing. But only for a couple of weeks. Don't give up!