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May 2017 Moms
Yiggle09
member
STM who EP'ed with first- plan for after this birth?
Yiggle09
member
Hey Ladies
I have been thinking alot about this. With my first I went 100 percent EP by 6 weeks and we went till 7 m. We knew he had feeding issues at the hospital, they said he was a lazy feeder, big mouth but wouldn't open wide, tongue movement wasn't what they like to see and he couldn't keep a paci in. LCs tried sns, nipple shields, syringe of pumped milk through feeding tube into the nipple shield to entice him to keep sucking at the breast it was like bf boot camp. I did about 60 percent pumped milk 40 bf from around day 3 till I eventually went to just EP. This "journey" was heartbreaking. Sometimes he would scream anytime I tried to put him to breast or he'd push away. LC help was not helping. I could get him to latch on the right boob not the left and then he would suck for 3 hours and then down a 3 oz bottle I had waiting. I started to dread him waking up because then we would have to try to bf again and I honestly feel like if this next baby is the same I will be devastated.
I preface this with I know every baby is different and my son's feeding issues may very well just be his and not my new daughters but I cannot get my hopes up. I am wondering how you previous EP moms are feeling, what is your plan for the hospital? Will you ask for the pump immediately without attempting to bf? Will you bf then pump and feed? How do you think the nurses will react with certain requests like do you expect any push back if you go straight EP? I honestly am so nervous about going down the dark mental trip I did with my son I am leaning towards bf in beginning to appease the nurses but still ask for the pump. I just don't want my nervousness to overshadow or cloud my observation if my daughter is actually able to transfer milk well. I'm very conflicted and looking to see how you all feel. I'd also like to thank you for listening to one of my biggest concerns with this new baby.
I have been thinking alot about this. With my first I went 100 percent EP by 6 weeks and we went till 7 m. We knew he had feeding issues at the hospital, they said he was a lazy feeder, big mouth but wouldn't open wide, tongue movement wasn't what they like to see and he couldn't keep a paci in. LCs tried sns, nipple shields, syringe of pumped milk through feeding tube into the nipple shield to entice him to keep sucking at the breast it was like bf boot camp. I did about 60 percent pumped milk 40 bf from around day 3 till I eventually went to just EP. This "journey" was heartbreaking. Sometimes he would scream anytime I tried to put him to breast or he'd push away. LC help was not helping. I could get him to latch on the right boob not the left and then he would suck for 3 hours and then down a 3 oz bottle I had waiting. I started to dread him waking up because then we would have to try to bf again and I honestly feel like if this next baby is the same I will be devastated.
I preface this with I know every baby is different and my son's feeding issues may very well just be his and not my new daughters but I cannot get my hopes up. I am wondering how you previous EP moms are feeling, what is your plan for the hospital? Will you ask for the pump immediately without attempting to bf? Will you bf then pump and feed? How do you think the nurses will react with certain requests like do you expect any push back if you go straight EP? I honestly am so nervous about going down the dark mental trip I did with my son I am leaning towards bf in beginning to appease the nurses but still ask for the pump. I just don't want my nervousness to overshadow or cloud my observation if my daughter is actually able to transfer milk well. I'm very conflicted and looking to see how you all feel. I'd also like to thank you for listening to one of my biggest concerns with this new baby.
Re: STM who EP'ed with first- plan for after this birth?
All I can say is to use your resources. It sounds like you did, and your son just wasn't going to breastfeed well. We can't control everything, unfortunately. I hope this little one is different, but if not, rest assure there's nothing you can do in the long run except try.
As for the nurses, personally I think you should say screw them. You do what you need to do for your own mental health, and baby will be fine in the end with whatever she gets, so long as she's getting enough. Don't do anything just to appease your nurses. Do it for you and baby, or do what you need for you and baby to succeed, bond well, and be healthy (both of you!)
I saw packing a hospital bag talk mentioned in randoms and that made me think if I should also pack my pumping bra, parts, etc.. Will the hospital let me pump if they are "Baby Friendly" and this kiddo doesn't require NICU? Should I bring a manual pump just in case? I remember how little I pumped at first and I'm really nervous it won't be enough if I'm just nursing.
1/7/2015 Twins born @ 34 weeks
I don't have a related experience to commiserate with you, but, the breastfeeding holds the nurses showed me in that elevated hospital bed completely didn't work at home, so I had to start over again. I'd do what makes the most sense, right from the get-go. Not worth appeasing anybody when you're gonna change it up.
And fingers crossed for a different scenario with your new one!
@chickyclg My hospital the first time brought in the pump by the end of the first day after my husband had asked several nurses. One finally "allowed" us to have the pump. They gave us the pump parts and the small new born cups to screw onto the pump and showed us how to use it and Im pretty sure every hospital will have the set up for new moms. I will def. bring my pumping bra as I will not pump at the hospital every two hours again without it!
@SKZW I agree the holds from the hospital were great till I got home. I have a long torso so I needed the boppy plus extra pillows and still was having issues. I do get locked into things and mindsets so I experimented a bit but possibly could have tried more instead of getting frustrated.
I pretty much EPed for 3 months, while supplementing with formula since I was only producing about 3 oz per day at my peak. I'm hoping my supply will be better this time around, but if it's not, I won't beat myself up over supplementing like I did the first go round.
Human sons: 11/2015 & 05/2017
*formerly kayemjay*
@chickyclg even if the hospital is "baby friendly'' they are still required to provide you with a pump and all of the accessories. I wouldn't worry about bringing your own. You can contact them to ask, just for peace of mind if you want. Personally I found that hand expression worked best for me last time in the hospital. I had expressed onto a spoon and then sucked it up with a syringe (my baby was in the special care nursery for awhile). I tried to use a pump but nothing really came out and if it did I felt that some got wasted.
Nurses/Doctors in the hospital will probably encourage you to try to BF and try to give you all the tips/resources they can to help make this possible/if its possible. I think there is a better long term success rate if you BF vs. EP?
I went back and forth between BF and EP'ing...If can BF I would much prefer that over EP'ing. I thought EP'ing was wayyy more work. If BF'ing is something your interested in trying again I would go for it @yiggle09
May17 Siggy Challenge
Labor
I would try to go into it with an open mind but if it doesn't work and it freaks you out then just pump. My biggest lesson from last time is that a stressed out mom afraid of her baby waking because it will be feeding time is not healthy for anyone. It makes you feel awful and all that stress doesn't help you be the parent your baby needs.
Also baby friendly shouldn't mean a damn thing. If you don't want to breastfeed you can feed your child with a bottle. They have these huge pushes to try to get everyone out he door with a baby on their boob but nothing is stopping you from doing what you need to do. Have your husband help advocate for you too.
May '17 labor memes
I wound up supplementing with formula from the first week, I'd say he was fed 1/3 by breast, 1/3 from pump, 1/3 formula for the first 10 weeks or so and then we made the switch to primarily formula in anticipation of my return to work. I'm planning to get all of the pump stuff ready for action (and buy some formula), but keep a more realistic and level headed frame of mind. A happy mommy is best.
Breastfeeding is definitely hard the first 6 weeks. I'm not looking forward to the toe-curling pain of sore nipples again.
Sweet Baby H 12.21.11
Sassy Baby P 03.26.14
Little Brother Due 05.22.17
I'm going to give BFing a shot this time, but I'm keeping an open mind. I'm not bringing a pump because I know whatever they have will be better than my Medela PISA, should I need one there. But I'm also planning on standing up for myself. The hospital where I'm delivering is "baby friendly," but I do not want to fall down the shame spiral I did last time for not being able to breastfeed my kid. Fed baby = happy baby = happy mama.
I have hope hope for this time around because I'm having a girl as well. The LC last time told me that Caucasian boys were her main clients- they just didn't match well or had tongue ties or other issues. She said girls "get down to business". I don't know what's going to happen but knowing it was a common problem with boys made me feel better at the time and gives me an open mind with this baby.
I also feel feel like I won't let the nurses push me around as much this time and if latching isn't happening I'll ask for formula earlier and be patient with myself and baby. Also if it's a total struggle I have no problem going to formula- having a newborn is hard enough!!
I EP'd last time for a year, then survived on my stash until it was gone. I will always attempt to BF just for convenience sake, but I'll never feel guilty if it isn't working for one of us. After the first few BF sessions with my last, I realized it wasn't working, LO had a high palette, I had inverted nipples, my first LC was very aggressive, it was a nightmare.
I will say my hospital was pretty good about supporting me. They had a Medela Symphony for us to use and encouraged it. I'm so sorry yours was so resistant to letting you pump. How frustrating.
At the end of the day, I'm just a huge advocate for feeding your baby however you want that allows you and LO to be happy. Post partum is difficult enough without having to deal with guilt from feeding your baby. You never know, this LO may be a BFing champ, but if EPing is easier for you, then by all means just pump. If you don't want to BF or EP, then use formula.
Looking back, I should have made the switch so much earlier because I was so much less stressed and could therefor be a much better mom. With this LO, I'm going to try BFing again, but if it doesn't work out, I'm not going to have the anxiety that I did with DS. As long as LO is fed and healthy, I'll be happy.
I was happy to make it work last time, but when I looked back at the total hours attached to the machine instead of cuddling (or napping - haha), I just don't want to do it again, especially having our toddler.