I made my own out of the tons of thin, flannel blankets I had from DS1. I cut them in to rectangles or squares and sewed around the edges. Way more economical, especially because I go through 20+ a day.
You are an inspiration! If only I could sew.
It's just a basic stitch around the edge, nothing fancy. I'm not good at sewing; I can only do the basics.
What do you do during cluster feeding (or maybe just sadness that is cured by the boob) when the LO just takes one side? I never know if I should expect the next feeding to be sooner than normal when he takes both sides? It throws me off bc the boob will satisfy him during meltdowns and he is legit eating but doesn't eat a lot so i miss later hunger cues I think
I need suggestions for good, supportive, and comfortable but a little sexy, nursing bra for DD cups. Nothing is doing a fair job and I'm tired of wasting money.
I found one at motherhood maternity I like! I'm also a DD and have a hard time finding a normal bra to fit even ore pregnancy but I finally found one there I like!
@kvruns I've been getting 1 oz. I've only been using it for one side (the side I don't start nursing with, obvs)... I should see if anything comes from the "emptied" breast when I switch!
* Edit 12/15, this morning I got 2 oz on one side -- it was our morning feed though, bout 4.5 hours since the last empty.
@kvruns I've been getting 1 oz. I've only been using it for one side (the side I don't start nursing with, obvs)... I should see if anything comes from the "emptied" breast when I switch!
Do you wear them all the time or just when nursing?
Also re: milk savers, will there come a time where the other side stops leaking during nursing?? Or am I stuck wearing breast pads until I'm done nursing? This is messy business... I miss my nice bras
Me: 33 | DH: 34
TTC #1 Oct 2015
BFP Mar 26, 2016 - DD born Nov 2016 TTC #2 since Mar 2017 DX: MF June 2019, varicocele embolization Jan 2020, good improvement (14 mil, low motility) IUI#1 Aug 2020 - BFN IVF #1 Dec 2020 (ICSI) - ER, freeze-all - 15 retrieved, 15 mature, 15 fertilized. 4 embryos frozen, all day 5 blasts! FET #1 Feb 2021 - BFN FET #2 Apr 2021 - BFP 5DP5DT!! Beta #1 13DP5DT (17DPO) = HcG 1,238. Beta #2 17DP5DT (21DPO) = HcG 8,269
This morning my little one does not want to latch. He's eight weeks and we have been using a nipple shield the whole time which has been working fine. Now all of a sudden this morning he does not want to nurse at all and will only take a bottle. What the heck?!
Does anyone else feel like they never know when their LO is done eating? DD never really acts content when she's "done." If it's a MOTN feeding, she will usually fall asleep after a few minutes and any attempts to wake her are futile, so then I worry about her not getting enough, but she is sleeping pretty well so I guess she is. But during the day, she normally will just start crying and squirming after a few minutes. She constantly latches and unlatches and if I try to latch her back on she will just fuss and cry, so I assume she's done. However, then 5-15 minutes later she will start sucking on her hands, rooting around, and fussing like she wants to nurse again. If I try again, it usually ends the same way with her latching, unlatching, and crying. I'm starting to get really frustrated by it because our nursing sessions are hardly ever calm or peaceful, they just feel like a battle and I feel like I can't move on with my day with DS because I can never predict when she'll want to nurse or if she'll ever actually be content when I do nurse her. She is gaining weight steadily, has plenty of dirty diapers, so it seems like she's getting enough to eat, I just don't know what to do to make our nursing sessions a little more relaxed and predictable :-/
@mrsmoose5 that sounds like how my nursing sessions with my little girl have been going during the day. And then she does not nap well during the day. I don't have any answers but you are not alone.
Me: 32 DH: 31
Married since 2010
MC January 2016
BFP February 2016 Baby Girl born 11/2016
BFP 8/16/2018 EDD 4/29/2019 MMC 10/3/2018 BFP 12/16/2018 EDD 08/26/2019 MC/CP 12/20/2018 BFP 03/28/2019 EDD 12/07/2019 Hoping for our rainbow
So I've been noticing some of your pumping times and was wondering how you determine the length. Are you pumping for as long as your LO would roughly nurse at that point? A little longer? Or until you're pretty empty?
I haven't started pumping this time yet, but last time I was pumping for 30+ minutes quite often and am wondering if that was really necessary.
@SandNStarsNJ I pump(mostly) every morning usually right after he has fed. I typically pump for about 15 minutes and get anywhere from 1-3oz each side. I do 15 minutes because it seems to be just a bit longer than it takes to empty everything out. I haven't gotten a second let down while pumping so far but everyone is different. There really isn't a set amount of time you have to follow. If you feel like you've gotten all you're going to get out of a session then stop. I also found it helpful to know how long I would be pumping each time since DH is usually there too and he can take baby. If V starts having a meltdown I can say x minutes till I'm done.
Does anyone have one boob that pumps a lot better than the other?! I can pump for 15 minutes and get 3oz from one side and drops from the other. Seems so weird!
Also milk in the fridge: is it normal to separate?
@erniebernie1ohh! Why can't I shake?! And should I heat it separated and then swirl or swirl then heat? Gosh I feel so dumb.
I also didn't know this. And how exactly are you heating it up? Assuming microwave is a no no. I haven't started pumping yet mostly because there is so much I don't understand!
@MrsMaryK2016 I bought a heater! I know everyone says it's one unnecessary item but I went that route because it does bottles or bags. It also defrosts frozen milk! And has an auto shut off so you can turn it on and go change baby or do whatever. This just makes everything easier for daddy!
Edit: to clarify the warmer uses water that is slowly heated but does not get hot so it's similar to running warm water over it or placing bottle in warm water which is also an option
@erniebernie1 For me it's the right side! Why is that!?
@SandNStarsNJ The hospital LC told me to do 15 minutes, and I've just stuck with it. I'm not strict on it, though—sometimes I feel done after 10 minutes, sometimes I still have a steady flow at 15 and will keep going.
@anne11716 This was us the first day or two in the hospital, while we were both learning (dang flat nipples; thank goodness for shields). The LC introduced us to the Haberman bottle (Medela's version), which we're still using. Not that you solicited advice , but if you're not already, I'd do bottle feeding. I was getting so unnecessarily stressed those first couple of days about exclusively feeding her from the breast. We do about 50/50 breast, bottle. I'll usually nurse her through the night and early morning, and we do bottles during the day.
Re swirling/shaking: I read (i think on kellymom) that shaking can break down some of the important components of the milk. I don't remember if it's a certain thing, or if it's more of a theory—but better safe than sorry! @kristah2@MrsMaryK2016@leighry
@kristah2 I can't remember the exact reason for no shaking but I believe it has something to do with breaking up the milk. Also just a tip that was suggested to me with my first is to see if your lo will take the milk either at room temp or even slightly cool on ice, it will save you a lot of trouble if u decide to bring pumped milk when u r out and about
Re: uneven output- I usually pump almost immediately after nursing and V doesn't usually take both sides. I get a lot more out of the side he didn't nurse on. This morning, for example, I got about half an ounce out of the left(he nursed on the left) and 3.5oz out of the right. If for some reason I don't pump immediately after nursing though I usually get pretty even output.
Is anyone to a point of starting to build a freezer stash? I'm not sure when to start or how to go about everything. I've still got a little over a month before I go back to work so at this point I'm only pumping for the purpose of having emergency stash in case I need to be away from V.
I have a stupid question.. I have a double pump.. is it okay if I only use it on one side? Or will it hurt the pump or something? If so, should I leave the cover on or off?
I have a stupid question.. I have a double pump.. is it okay if I only use it on one side? Or will it hurt the pump or something? If so, should I leave the cover on or off?
It's totally okay. There should be a little plug to prevent the pumping mechanism from functioning on whatever side you aren't pumping.
Is anyone to a point of starting to build a freezer stash? I'm not sure when to start or how to go about everything. I've still got a little over a month before I go back to work so at this point I'm only pumping for the purpose of having emergency stash in case I need to be away from V.
In the beginning I just made sure I had enough for that day and when I pumped a little more than expected I popped it in the freezer. It eventually built up to the point that I never even used it all.
Is anyone to a point of starting to build a freezer stash? I'm not sure when to start or how to go about everything. I've still got a little over a month before I go back to work so at this point I'm only pumping for the purpose of having emergency stash in case I need to be away from V.
In the beginning I just made sure I had enough for that day and when I pumped a little more than expected I popped it in the freezer. It eventually built up to the point that I never even used it all.
What do you store it in? Do you use the bags? while I'm glad insurance provides bags I've come to realize they don't provide many at all so I hate to just have 1-2oz in a bag if that
Okay, here's a pumping question for you. What if you're not at home to warm up a bottle? How do you transport the bottle and how do you warm it up?
And another... I pumped 5oz this morning but since I haven't given LO a bottle yet I have no idea how much he'll actually take in a feeding. What if he only takes 3oz - can I still save the remaining 2oz for a future feeding? Or is it like formula and needs to be tossed?
Is anyone to a point of starting to build a freezer stash? I'm not sure when to start or how to go about everything. I've still got a little over a month before I go back to work so at this point I'm only pumping for the purpose of having emergency stash in case I need to be away from V.
In the beginning I just made sure I had enough for that day and when I pumped a little more than expected I popped it in the freezer. It eventually built up to the point that I never even used it all.
What do you store it in? Do you use the bags? while I'm glad insurance provides bags I've come to realize they don't provide many at all so I hate to just have 1-2oz in a bag if that
I kept the fridge supplies in bottles ready to go and the freezer stash in the 5oz Medela bags.
Is anyone to a point of starting to build a freezer stash? I'm not sure when to start or how to go about everything. I've still got a little over a month before I go back to work so at this point I'm only pumping for the purpose of having emergency stash in case I need to be away from V.
In the beginning I just made sure I had enough for that day and when I pumped a little more than expected I popped it in the freezer. It eventually built up to the point that I never even used it all.
What do you store it in? Do you use the bags? while I'm glad insurance provides bags I've come to realize they don't provide many at all so I hate to just have 1-2oz in a bag if that
I kept the fridge supplies in bottles ready to go and the freezer stash in the 5oz Medela bags.
Do you pump into multiple bags or bottles and then combine once cold? Or do you have a bunch of small bottles?
@MrsMaryK2016 I have a cooler I use when we go out with ice packs and I just ask the waitress if find hot water to put the bag in. It is a lot quicker than warming a bottle but I'm sure that would work too. They say that the milk should be finished in 2 hours and if it's not then it should be tossed. My son is 8 weeks and he usually finishes 3-4 oz per feeding. As in starting a stash I have been freeing 4-5oz bags being that he will or Probably drink that once I go back to work.
@kvruns I pump into bottles and then pour what isn't being kept in the fridge into bags - and always right down the ounces on the bag with the date so I know what I'm pulling from the freezer later on. My first baby drank 3 5oz bottles a day at daycare so I had 4 bottles in the fridge and then another four with me to pump into during the day. So I had 8 5oz bottles in total. I didn't need more because I breastfed outside of daycare.
Re: All Things Breastfeeding
Welcomed baby girl: 06.10.14
Second pregnancy EDD: 06.16.16 MC: 10.29.15
Welcomed baby boy: 11.25.16
https://www.amazon.com/Milkies-Milk-Saver-Breast-Collector-Storage/dp/B001SMBRWO
Welcomed baby girl: 06.10.14
Second pregnancy EDD: 06.16.16 MC: 10.29.15
Welcomed baby boy: 11.25.16
I've only been using it for one side (the side I don't start nursing with, obvs)... I should see if anything comes from the "emptied" breast when I switch!
* Edit 12/15, this morning I got 2 oz on one side
TTC #2 since Mar 2017
DX: MF June 2019, varicocele embolization Jan 2020, good improvement (14 mil, low motility)
IUI#1 Aug 2020 - BFN
IVF #1 Dec 2020 (ICSI) - ER, freeze-all - 15 retrieved, 15 mature, 15 fertilized. 4 embryos frozen, all day 5 blasts!
FET #1 Feb 2021 - BFN
FET #2 Apr 2021 - BFP 5DP5DT!! Beta #1 13DP5DT (17DPO) = HcG 1,238. Beta #2 17DP5DT (21DPO) = HcG 8,269
BFP February 2016 Baby Girl born 11/2016
BFP 8/16/2018 EDD 4/29/2019 MMC 10/3/2018
BFP 12/16/2018 EDD 08/26/2019 MC/CP 12/20/2018
BFP 03/28/2019 EDD 12/07/2019 Hoping for our rainbow
I haven't started pumping this time yet, but last time I was pumping for 30+ minutes quite often and am wondering if that was really necessary.
Welcomed baby girl: 06.10.14
Second pregnancy EDD: 06.16.16 MC: 10.29.15
Welcomed baby boy: 11.25.16
Also milk in the fridge: is it normal to separate?
Edit: to clarify the warmer uses water that is slowly heated but does not get hot so it's similar to running warm water over it or placing bottle in warm water which is also an option
@SandNStarsNJ The hospital LC told me to do 15 minutes, and I've just stuck with it.
@anne11716 This was us the first day or two in the hospital, while we were both learning (dang flat nipples; thank goodness for shields). The LC introduced us to the Haberman bottle (Medela's version), which we're still using. Not that you solicited advice
I was getting so unnecessarily stressed those first couple of days about exclusively feeding her from the breast. We do about 50/50 breast, bottle. I'll usually nurse her through the night and early morning, and we do bottles during the day.
@kristah2 @MrsMaryK2016 @leighry
Welcomed baby girl: 06.10.14
Second pregnancy EDD: 06.16.16 MC: 10.29.15
Welcomed baby boy: 11.25.16
Welcomed baby girl: 06.10.14
Second pregnancy EDD: 06.16.16 MC: 10.29.15
Welcomed baby boy: 11.25.16
And another... I pumped 5oz this morning but since I haven't given LO a bottle yet I have no idea how much he'll actually take in a feeding. What if he only takes 3oz - can I still save the remaining 2oz for a future feeding? Or is it like formula and needs to be tossed?
**Edited to add another question.
Welcomed baby girl: 06.10.14
Second pregnancy EDD: 06.16.16 MC: 10.29.15
Welcomed baby boy: 11.25.16
They say that the milk should be finished in 2 hours and if it's not then it should be tossed. My son is 8 weeks and he usually finishes 3-4 oz per feeding. As in starting a stash I have been freeing 4-5oz bags being that he will or Probably drink that once I go back to work.
Welcomed baby girl: 06.10.14
Second pregnancy EDD: 06.16.16 MC: 10.29.15
Welcomed baby boy: 11.25.16