Just a warning: some storage bags leak when defrosting, so you may want to let it defrost in a bowl. I would usually set whatever frozen bags I needed in a bowl in my fridge overnight just in case.
I store about 4 ounces in each bag (sometimes 3, never more than 5) and I lay them flat to freeze. Once they are frozen, I stand them and store about 10-12 in a gallon ziploc (I use Lansinoh bags and they fit perfectly), which makes it easy to grab the oldest bag first. I can post a pic if anyone wants to see.
During the early part of the evening my DH gives DS a bottle of formula (or two) so I can rest. I am trying to get my supply up and it was suggested that I get up in the night and just pump for ten minutes because I was going too long between BF sessions. I have a double electric pump. I was trying to pump tonight but I hardly got any milk out: about 0.5 Oz combined from both sides. I could tell my breasts had milk in them and it had been about 4 hours since I BF.
Does anyone have any tips on how to use the breast pump because this time I know there was still milk in there. Thanks!
@HeatherC527 sounds like your not having a let down. Try to relax and not stress about the pump, sometimes listening to music helps. Make sure the pump is in letdown mode first also. Can you elaborate on what your doing to get your supply up, I'm having issues as well
During the early part of the evening my DH gives DS a bottle of formula (or two) so I can rest. I am trying to get my supply up and it was suggested that I get up in the night and just pump for ten minutes because I was going too long between BF sessions. I have a double electric pump. I was trying to pump tonight but I hardly got any milk out: about 0.5 Oz combined from both sides. I could tell my breasts had milk in them and it had been about 4 hours since I BF.
Does anyone have any tips on how to use the breast pump because this time I know there was still milk in there. Thanks!
Are you pumping when your husband gives bottles? If not, you're triggering your body to decrease supply. Unfortunately, giving bottles to mom can "rest" is a supply booby trap if mom doesn't pump to make up those sessions.
i started having trouble with letdown on my left side last night, not sure if I was just tired or what but it took forever even with massage and wasn't great today either. He's nursing fine on that side so it was weird
Just tried to pump about 2 hours after nursing and got a few drops each side. Breasts still feel full I just couldn't get let down even with massage. Hope this isn't a new thing
Just tried to pump about 2 hours after nursing and got a few drops each side. Breasts still feel full I just couldn't get let down even with massage. Hope this isn't a new thing
I don't know how long you've been using your pump or what kind of pump you have, but have you changed out the membranes recently? They always needed replacement when I had the issue you're describing.
Just tried to pump about 2 hours after nursing and got a few drops each side. Breasts still feel full I just couldn't get let down even with massage. Hope this isn't a new thing
I don't know how long you've been using your pump or what kind of pump you have, but have you changed out the membranes recently? They always needed replacement when I had the issue you're describing.
I actually think it is me not the pump. I do have new ones in there from a previous suction issue. Pump seemed to be sucking like usual
My little guy has been sick the last couple of days.. congested with a cough. Not eating as much or for as long and sleeping more. I feel like it's messing up my supply but every time I go to pump he starts crying so I just keep trying to feed him and then he eats for like a minute then falls back asleep.
My little guy has been sick the last couple of days.. congested with a cough. Not eating as much or for as long and sleeping more. I feel like it's messing up my supply but every time I go to pump he starts crying so I just keep trying to feed him and then he eats for like a minute then falls back asleep.
If you're worried about supply, I'd consider pumping. But we were told by our pediatrician that if LO was eating less and sleeping more, we needed to check his temp and see them immediately - this advice was a result of our older one contracting roseola last week.
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
A bunch of mommas on FB group, Working Moms Who Make Breastfeeding Work, talked about this and most said shaking was okay. Some had commented that the only way you could start to really do damage to it was if you shook it with the strength of an industrial paint mixer.
Does anyone have any tips on getting off of using a shield? My little one used to latch every now and then without it and now he doesn't at all. At least he is latching with the shield but it's such a hassle to use.
@anne11716 when I was using mine I would let him latch with it. Give him a few minutes to get milk flowing but keep him hungry. Take him off and have him latch again without it and finish the feed that way. It helped draw my nipple out more and he just wanted to finish eating regardless of shield or not!
DD was just diagnosed with a milk allergy after a week of non stop fussing and gas. I'm eliminating all dairy from my diet for at least a week or so. This includes anything with butter in it and chocolate... just in time for the holidays. I'm happy to do it if it means more sleep for us all. Avoiding chocolate is going to be downright painful though.
@jsmai hey sorry you are dealing with this but at least you know and hopefully things will get better soon. My Dr thinks it's possible we have a milk allergy too based on a couple days of blood streaks in the diaper. I have been researching it and it's pretty intimidating everything that has dairy in it. On the plus side sounds like a great diet and way to loose weight ha ha. I'm not 100% sure it's what we are dealing with though. DS is pretty gassy but I'm still not convinced it's not because he gulps air when he nurses due to oversupply. I also think the blood streaked diapers might be related to a fore milk hind milk imbalance. Right now I'm trying out block feeding to see if it helps him get more hind milk and for the last 24 hours things have been much better. If he does not continue to improve I'll try cutting out dairy too however.
@jsmai What stinky timing! I've actually been considering voluntarily cutting out dairy because the LO is so gassy. There's no blood in his stools and he only screams some of the time, but like @rspalding001, I think he's gulping air during feedings.
Pre-baby I followed Whole30 all the time which eliminates grains, dairy, legumes, and any added sugars. I felt great and want to return to it but am concerned about what that might do to LO in that if he is not exposed to those things he might find them very challenging when he moves to solids.
Pre-baby I followed Whole30 all the time which eliminates grains, dairy, legumes, and any added sugars. I felt great and want to return to it but am concerned about what that might do to LO in that if he is not exposed to those things he might find them very challenging when he moves to solids.
We're doing Whole30 starting Jan 2nd and im hoping to see a happier baby in general. SHes been so much more content in then last 2 weeks, but i think everyone benefits from a clean diet and hopefully that will be true for BF babies too.
I'm not breastfeeding (I didn't ever produce more than a couple milliliters) but chiming in on the Whole30! I have done several and I think it is great. I would imagine it would be just fine for breastfeeding and I'm sure your baby will benefit. If you are worried maybe just keep in mind the whole30 ideals with your meals but add in healthy grains and such or do like an 80% whole30.
I could not be more frustrated. My in-laws are here from out of town which is great… But I feel like the only time I get my baby is when he screaming because he's hungry. We have been feeding him more bottles than we normally do with breast milk just because it has been easier the past two days they have been here to socialize and the grandparents also want to feed him (and then I pump). But now I'm finding he does not want to latch at all and is screaming when I try. I'm so frustrated!! I don't know if my supply is down because I'm so stressed or what it is. I'm hoping is passes soon. My worry is that I have completely ruined breast-feeding. Sometimes he will est for 10 minutes on one side and that's when the screaming starts and sometimes he won't watch it all. Anyone else have anything like this happen?
@anne11716 I don't have experience with this, but I know of girls who have in my breastfeeding support meetings I go to weekly. Make sure the nipples u r using r really slow slow, so that baby has to work just as hard at the bottle as he does the boob. Recommended ones r the dr Browns with the premie nipple, playtex Nurser or ventaire is what I can think of off the top of my head. Also Google paced feeding. You'll have the same issue if u r planning on returning back to work so it's good your finding out now
Agreeing with @erniebernie1 here quite a bit but also if I were you I'd take back my BF role with LO around the in laws. Screw their desire to feed him and take those one on one feeding/burp times to relax yourself and LO. I've been in that position and those quiet times can be a real lifesaver.
I also say take back the feedings. Who cares what the in laws want. Explain to them what's going on and how important continuing to BF successfully is to you.
I could not be more frustrated. My in-laws are here from out of town which is great… But I feel like the only time I get my baby is when he screaming because he's hungry. We have been feeding him more bottles than we normally do with breast milk just because it has been easier the past two days they have been here to socialize and the grandparents also want to feed him (and then I pump). But now I'm finding he does not want to latch at all and is screaming when I try. I'm so frustrated!! I don't know if my supply is down because I'm so stressed or what it is. I'm hoping is passes soon. My worry is that I have completely ruined breast-feeding. Sometimes he will est for 10 minutes on one side and that's when the screaming starts and sometimes he won't watch it all. Anyone else have anything like this happen?
I doubt you've ruined BF but it def sounds like you and LO are stressed with the current set up. I'd definitely take back your feedings - it'll relax both of you and ensure your supply stays on par. Your in-laws will just have to understand. My in-laws are here as well - I'm using BF as an excuse to escape to our room every few hours!
Me: 31; DH: 31 NTNP: May 2015 TTC #1: late August 2015 PCOS Dx: January 2016, starting Femara Feb 2016 BFP: 2/29/16 - Happy Leap Day!
How many hours and or feedings are you doing in an average 24 hours? And how old is your LO?
I need to know if this kid is eating too much unnecessarily. He's 4 weeks and if I let him, he eats 4+ hours which is translating to 16-20 feedings a day.
@sandnstarsnj I don't really track it but there are definitely times it feel like DS is hungry every hour, and then there are days where I feel like he sleeps all day and never eats. If it's unusual I'd say it's a growth spurt and not worry too much.
Thanks. It's just that the last two weeks he has eaten almost a total of four hours every day and it's starting to turn into an every hour all night thing when he was doing 3 to 4 hours stretches two weeks ago. And everything says that babies eat 8 to 12 times a day but he seems to be eating much more than 12 times per day. So I was just wondering if that's a realistic average or most people are feeding more than that. I think I need to stop track it.
Mine is eating 6 times a day sometime 7 (this is with the schedule we are trying although my pediatrician rec says 5-7 times for over 1 month old). Usually feeds 15 min unless I keep him on a little longer to make sure he is full. So maybe 2 hours total (2 of his feedings are usually a bottle which can take about the same time if he's sleepy)
Was talking to a friend and I knew his wife was producing a lot, I remember him saying she was making 3x what he needed to eat. Baby is almost 7 months old and they have a stash to last until he is 14 months already. SHeesh. I have enough for about 4 bottles and that is it
Was talking to a friend and I knew his wife was producing a lot, I remember him saying she was making 3x what he needed to eat. Baby is almost 7 months old and they have a stash to last until he is 14 months already. SHeesh. I have enough for about 4 bottles and that is it
I'm the same, I badly want a stash but I can't produce enough at the moment I had 6 frozen bags but used 4 over Christmas and it takes me basically two days to make one feed because I pump after she is done and I only get an ounce or so. I find that if I pump closer to her next feed she is not satisfied and is cranky.
I actually had to use frozen BM yesterday because my supply dropped mid day and she was starving and I had nothing. after nursing and pumping for a couple hours I just unthawed and gave her a bottle...
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
My LC said in the beginning there should be a one suck to one swallow ratio. As he feeds you'll notice that the ratio steadily gets bigger, five sucks to a swallow for example. Eventually my LO will suck like crazy, swing his hands around and then cry. That's how I know he's not getting anything. If I try to express after I take him off might get a little but not much.
We're averaging about 13 feeds a day. It has varied, though, from 10-14. We're doing about 35% directly from breast, 55% bottle. She'll be 5 weeks tomorrow.
@rspalding001@jsmai I'm leaving the doctor and was told to elimanate dairy for a suspected intolerance (DD has blood streaks in her stool and she's super gassy). Just wondering if this helped your LOs and if you reintroduced dairy to your diet. My pediatrician said to wait until she's 9 months to reintroduce dairy!
@hjmommaplus1 we were having blood streaks in the stool but only when it was greenish. I find that when it's orange/yellow there is no blood which makes me think it's a foremilk hindmilk imbalance. I have not eliminated any foods but did start trying to block feed and not switch sides so quickly so he gets more of the fatty hindmilk and I think it's helping. When his poop is green meaning he's getting a lot of foremilk he will still sometimes have streaks of blood however. But it's not all the time.
@hjmommaplus1 we were having blood streaks in the stool but only when it was greenish. I find that when it's orange/yellow there is no blood which makes me think it's a foremilk hindmilk imbalance. I have not eliminated any foods but did start trying to block feed and not switch sides so quickly so he gets more of the fatty hindmilk and I think it's helping. When his poop is green meaning he's getting a lot of foremilk he will still sometimes have streaks of blood however. But it's not all the time.
Ok, gotcha. My issue is with the yellow stool. Thanks for the info!
Re: All Things Breastfeeding
I store about 4 ounces in each bag (sometimes 3, never more than 5) and I lay them flat to freeze. Once they are frozen, I stand them and store about 10-12 in a gallon ziploc (I use Lansinoh bags and they fit perfectly), which makes it easy to grab the oldest bag first. I can post a pic if anyone wants to see.
Does anyone have any tips on how to use the breast pump because this time I know there was still milk in there. Thanks!
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
Anyone else dealing with this? Tips?
Good luck!
Pre-baby I followed Whole30 all the time which eliminates grains, dairy, legumes, and any added sugars. I felt great and want to return to it but am concerned about what that might do to LO in that if he is not exposed to those things he might find them very challenging when he moves to solids.
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
- BFP: 3/10/16 — Baby Girl born 11/20/16
TTC#2 April 2019Either way, good luck!
Welcomed baby girl: 06.10.14
Second pregnancy EDD: 06.16.16 MC: 10.29.15
Welcomed baby boy: 11.25.16
NTNP: May 2015
TTC #1: late August 2015
PCOS Dx: January 2016, starting Femara Feb 2016
BFP: 2/29/16 - Happy Leap Day!
I need to know if this kid is eating too much unnecessarily. He's 4 weeks and if I let him, he eats 4+ hours which is translating to 16-20 feedings a day.
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
I actually had to use frozen BM yesterday because my supply dropped mid day and she was starving and I had nothing. after nursing and pumping for a couple hours I just unthawed and gave her a bottle...
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
Welcomed baby girl: 06.10.14
Second pregnancy EDD: 06.16.16 MC: 10.29.15
Welcomed baby boy: 11.25.16
I'm leaving the doctor and was told to elimanate dairy for a suspected intolerance (DD has blood streaks in her stool and she's super gassy). Just wondering if this helped your LOs and if you reintroduced dairy to your diet. My pediatrician said to wait until she's 9 months to reintroduce dairy!
Welcomed baby girl: 06.10.14
Second pregnancy EDD: 06.16.16 MC: 10.29.15
Welcomed baby boy: 11.25.16