@jennlynn777 Molly can be the same some days. She feeds and feeds and feeds. And some nights are brutal - she feeds and falls asleep so I put her to bed. She wakes within 5 minutes and I have to redo it all sometimes 4-5 times until she actually stays asleep. Last night was a miracle. For the first time ever she slept for about 5 hours straight! I couldn't believe it when I woke up. I had to check on her to make sure she was ok. It does get better!!
@jennlynn777 he has not had any issue with breastfeeding and has had a pacifier since the beginning. We just recently started offering the bottle as well and still no issue with breastfeeding. I do use a nipple shield because I have inverted nipples plus rather large breasts so hard for him to latch. Once he is bigger I think we won't have any problems with him latching onto just the nipple without the shield. We use the tommee tippee pacifiers and the Avent pacifier.
@jennlynn777 I breastfeed but also pump for bottles (Phillips avent bottles). We also give the Phillips Soothie pacifier. I haven't really noticed an issue switching between all three. We've been using all three since she was about a week old. She only gets one bottle per day, if that. I have other pacifiers but like the way the soothie nipple is comparable to a real nipple. I originally was not going to give a pacifier until later because I was worried about the switch but we had ended up in the ER the day we were discharged and they gave her one and everything was ok so I continued.
I also nurse, bottle feed, and use a pacifier. No issues but we've been doing this since day 2. The pacifier saves us, babies like to suckle! I read somewhere that pacifiers don't cause nipple confusion like bottles can. I don't know the research on it but in my experience we have not had issues. My first wouldn't take one and she cried a lot because I strictly bottle fed (breastfeeding didn't work for her) so couldn't just suckle after she was full. But definitely do what you feel is right for you. Every baby is different.
I was told the reason for not using the pacifier is that if the baby is hungry and is given the pacifier they may think they're full when they're not. Which is counterproductive to breastfeeding. (This is what my hospital told me...but they were super strict about not introducing pacifiers or bottles for at least one month)
Funny, my hospital said if the baby is hungry she'll refuse the pacifier. I have found if it's close to time she would want to eat, she will refuse the pacifier. I typically only give it to her after a feeding and to fall asleep, which they say helps prevent SIDS. Also, if I wasn't sure of my supply, I probably wouldn't give her a pacifier because I'd rather her suck on me to increase my supply. But again, every baby is different. We all do what we feel is best for ourselves and out babies. I'm just sharing my experience.
I have given my little guy a pacifier since he was about 3 days old, we were not going to at first because I have always heard you should wait if breastfeeding but they gave him one after he was circumsized and we have not had any problems with nipple confusion. ( we use a soothie pacifier) My pediatrician said he believes babies are going to suck on something whether it be a pacifier, mom, or his hand, so he had no problem with us using a pacifier. DH has also started feeding him from a bottle every couple of days and I'm actually glad we started that early becaus he doesn't seem to like the bottle very much so it's going to take some practice.
I went and bought a soothie pacifier and he turns his nose at it and spits it right out. On the plus side the newborn hold in the Moby Wrap gave me some freedom to do some cleaning today. I think I will keep trying the pacifier though. Thanks so much guys.
With my first two kids, I didn't do a pacifier and they definitely used me as one. It's exhausting. So I gave one right away this time for LO, it definitely helps. We use the MAM brand. She's tried a bottle once, wouldn't say it went well...
@jennlynn777 you might want to try other pacifiers too. My first wouldn't take any kind but I tried! DD2 on the other hand will take anything. So far they have given me total different experiences. Complete opposites!
It was the breastfeeding class I took at my hospital prior to giving birth. Sometimes I feel like people advocate maybe a bit too much for BFing. I mean, it's something I wanted to do 100%, but every piece of advice they gave was why BF was best and why you can't use bottles, pump, or a pacifier etc. due to nipple confusion and the thing about the pacifier tricking baby into thinking he/she is full. Not sure if it's just scare tactics or what. I only listened as I'm a FTM and don't know any better. Also, my LC said the same things (she's not from the hospital). I agree, however, every baby is different and you need to do what's right in your situation!
Yea none of my other children would take a pacifier but they aren't as needy as he is either. I'm just exhausted so I'll give anything a try once. Besides he is an excellent breastfeeder so I'm certain there would be zero confusion about what my nipple is at this point.
I feel like I've tried everything to keep this little girl happy and fed. Breastfeeding with and without shields, pumping, supplementing when necessary, and pacifiers for my sanity. Luckily she has seemed to adapt to it all very well. I did finally settle into pumping and bottle feeding probably 80% of the time. It just works better for us and my husband can feed her anytime as well. I still like to BF her and there doesn't seem to be any nipple confusion , although with inverted nipples BFing has always been slightly challenging. I have been using all the Avent products as well.
Okay, I've just had my FTM mind blown again--apparently I don't need to be warming bottles of pumped BM for feeding? Just like the sterilizer, I got a bottle warmer and have been warming everything to body temp as I thought I had to. I really thought it was necessary but as I have been reading it just seems to be all up to babies preference.
I will probably keep warming but it is good to know that in a pinch it is not absolutely necessary. The BM does separate and warming just melts it back together again nicely. Just curious what everyone else does?
If it is at room temperature we don't warm up but obviously if in fridge or freezer we warm up. We have been thinking about getting bottle warmer because he prefers warmer milk and takes forever to warm up with warm water from sink. Do you like the bottle warmer @jellybiehn?
I was just going to ask about warming breast milk. I run it under warm water from the fridge, but it takes a while and the baby is already hungry by this point. I noticed my little one will drink it still slightly cold, but I haven't tried straight from the fridge. Just wondering if anyone had any advice. Do you prepare in advance or let baby cry while you warm the bottles?
@jenkar01 yeah it has been great because it does heat up very fast. I always change her before a feed so I put the bottle in the warmer first then it is ready when we are done. But otherwise she does have to cry while we are waiting the 3 mins. Good to know if she is very fussy that it can be heated less and we don't have to wait.
@drabong88 I only pump every once in a while, but will start a routine soon of once/day before I go back to work. I just need a little stash in case I don't pump enough at work to send to daycare.
@drabong88 Good question. I was wondering the same thing. I have been pumping once a day. Usually about 30minutes after a feeding.
I would pump more but I'm scared that It will cause too much production or that my little guy will want to eat again and I won't have much left in there because I pumped.
I pump always after his morning feed because I am always so full even after he eats. Then I try to pump at least one more time usually before bed because I tend to be fuller at night.
This thread is so helpful. I want to exclusively BF DS, but he isn't gaining weight like he should. It is also very painful when he nurses without a nipple shield. (My nipples come out flat when he nurses. I already have 'flat nipples." But I mean they come out pinched.) I've been to s lactation consultant twice, the first time they recommended the nipple shield, the second time they recommended I wean from the shield because he wasn't gaining. But that's where the pain came in! So I am on this crazy schedule of pumping at least 8 times a day after each feeding to increase my milk, and then feeding at least every 3 hours. I feel like I am loosing my mind!
Anyone else having weight gain issues? Or painful nipples? It sounds like some of you pump and then give a bottle. How much do you give each feeding.
Thanks for reading/listening to my rant. It's been a tough week and I hope my baby can gain weight!
@guitarra1614 sorry to hear you're struggling to BF. It's so hard! I have flat nipples and am currently using a nipple shield myself. We seem to have success using it however. She gained almost one full pound in the week after her birth and continues doing well. I tried weening off of the shield and after about 3/4 of a day of no shield I started having a lot of pain in my right nipple so I went back to it. Haven't seen the LC since so I haven't been able to ask about that.
When you were using the shield did you have a feeding schedule? We were told to feed every 2 hours during the day and every 3 overnight. Aiming for 8-10-12 feedings per day. That worked well for us. Now I'm less on a schedule. I feed when I think I should and when she wants to be fed. At night I no longer wake her. I assume it's not due to schedule, but thought I'd ask? Your schedule of pumping and feeding does sound demanding. Yikes! When you pump are you getting a lot? Maybe baby has a lip or tongue tie? Something to check perhaps? I'm no pro, but thought I would mention those things. Good luck! I hope it gets easier for you!
@guitarra1614 do you mean after the baby is done nursing your nipples are a weird shape? That's a sign of tongue tie, as well as the painful nipples and poor weight gain. My son had tongue tie as well as this baby, it can be very difficult to BF unless you get the tongue clipped. Sometimes the upper lip tie needs to be clipped as well, both of my kids were. Id talk to an LC about it and get into a doc that will fix it. My LO had hers done on Fri and my nipples are already feeling a lot better and her latch is way better. A doc that specializes in it can diagnose it. I found my pediatrician was less than helpful, but the doc that fixed it said it was a classic tongue/lip tie.
@jellybiehn what kind of bottle warmer do you have and where did you get it from? We have found that Xavier is very particular about his milk being nice and warm. If it is cool at all he cries while eating.
@jenkar01 I use the Avent bottle warmer, we got it from babies r us. My husband was the one that first read about not needing to warm the milk so he tried just giving her cold milk as a quick option one time and she made I very clear that I was not acceptable! Lol, it was pretty cute, she made her angry face and spit it out promptly. I just get it to room temp most of the time now and warmer for night time feeds as I hope it makes her more sleepy!
@guitarra1614 I exclusively pump breastmilk and feed my son via bottle. I give him about 3-4oz per feed. You have to be exhausted if you are nursing that much and pumping 8 times per day. The pumping alone is exhausting. Good luck I hope you find an answer that works for you.
Okay I just kind of want to take a poll real quick about little ones and their eating habits. My question is how often is your little one eating during the day and at night? Xavier is going to be 6 weeks old here in a couple days and he recently has taken to eating every 2 hours during the day and anywhere from 2 to 5 hours at night. Anyone having similar situation? He was going every 3 hours during the day but the last few days he's deciding to go every two. I'm hoping it's just a growth spurt and not his new normal because I have no time to get anything done or to get a nap.
@jenkar01 my baby is nursing every couple hours and during the day and 2-3 hours at night. She is 4 weeks old. Are you formula feeding or breast feeding?
@jenkar01 My LO is almost 6 weeks now and has really been throwing me off with the feedings too. She used to be every 3hours with nice long naps in between, even through he night. Now she is really changing it up and eating 3.5-4 oz anywhere from every hour to every 3 hours, and has actually slept for 6 + hours the last 2 nights. Would be great at night if I didn't have to get up and pump anyway. It was thanksgiving this past weekend so there was lots of traveling and visits so I think that really through her off, plus maybe a growth spurt?
My LO is just over 2 weeks and nurses around every hour or 2 during the day. At night he sleeps for around 3 to 4 hours and then is up every hour and a half to 2 hours after that.
Molly is just over 3 weeks. She feeds every 2-3 hours through the day and depends at night. She usually cluster feeds before bed for a few hours. Then will sleep for five hours. Then she wakes again 3 hours later for the day.
It sounds like your LO is going through a growth spurt if it's reverted like that.
Omg I am never ever going to not pump before bed again. Didn't last night and paying for it now. Woke to the hardest largest breast ever. So uncomfortable.
Re: Feeding thread
Okay, I've just had my FTM mind blown again--apparently I don't need to be warming bottles of pumped BM for feeding? Just like the sterilizer, I got a bottle warmer and have been warming everything to body temp as I thought I had to. I really thought it was necessary but as I have been reading it just seems to be all up to babies preference.
I will probably keep warming but it is good to know that in a pinch it is not absolutely necessary. The BM does separate and warming just melts it back together again nicely. Just curious what everyone else does?
I would pump more but I'm scared that It will cause too much production or that my little guy will want to eat again and I won't have much left in there because I pumped.
Anyone else having weight gain issues? Or painful nipples? It sounds like some of you pump and then give a bottle. How much do you give each feeding.
Thanks for reading/listening to my rant. It's been a tough week and I hope my baby can gain weight!
When you were using the shield did you have a feeding schedule? We were told to feed every 2 hours during the day and every 3 overnight. Aiming for 8-10-12 feedings per day. That worked well for us. Now I'm less on a schedule. I feed when I think I should and when she wants to be fed. At night I no longer wake her. I assume it's not due to schedule, but thought I'd ask? Your schedule of pumping and feeding does sound demanding. Yikes! When you pump are you getting a lot? Maybe baby has a lip or tongue tie? Something to check perhaps? I'm no pro, but thought I would mention those things. Good luck! I hope it gets easier for you!
@jenkar01 I use the Avent bottle warmer, we got it from babies r us. My husband was the one that first read about not needing to warm the milk so he tried just giving her cold milk as a quick option one time and she made I very clear that I was not acceptable! Lol, it was pretty cute, she made her angry face and spit it out promptly. I just get it to room temp most of the time now and warmer for night time feeds as I hope it makes her more sleepy!
@jellybiehn oh 6+ hours would be nice. I don't pump during the night just during the day so that would be some nice sleep.
It sounds like your LO is going through a growth spurt if it's reverted like that.