@MLRocha I take Zyrtec and Flonase daily year round and haven't noticed any issues with supply. Almost 8 weeks in and I still have crazy oversupply even though I keep dialing back my pumping sessions little by little.
Sorry I got behind but wanted to comment back to @Patience7150 on EPing and the freezer stash. I was nursing and pumping, but have moved to strictly pumping now. But anyway, my freezer stash is awesome (not trying to show off on the Internet @PerraSucia ). For me, with my DD my supply seemed to have maxed out, so as she got older she would end up eating everything I pumped out in a day. Basically when she was eating every few hours she would eat what i pumped in a session, then once she got bigger and spaced out her milk between baby food, she would eat fewer times but larger amounts so she still ate everything i pumped. Soooo right now while little man is not eating anywhere close to how much I pump daily, I am freezing everything I can. Also, pumping sucks! So for me, watching my freezer stash grow sort of gives me a boost of excitement to want to keep doing it. I mean I want him breastfed, but my nips are like permanently bruised at this point, so looking in my freezer gets me all giddy. Also I know it was mentioned by someone that the milk now isn't the same as later on, but we never had an issue with DD. (Im not even sure how i feel about that info). The only thing is that I made sure I didn't freeze any milk from the very beginning because I wanted to make sure I only froze milk and not any colostrum. I think we accidently froze 1 bag that had colostrum in it but at the time I thought it was already milk. I like having as big a stash as possible because I can use it however suits me in the future. We might need it in a pinch for a feeding for some reason. If there was a problem and we had to leave the baby with someone for a few days, they have all the breast milk they will ever need, so no formula will be needed. I could stop pumping and have that much milk to feed LO. (I had a couple months worth for DD). If I wait until 1 year is up, I could use my freezer stash to help wean him into cows milk slowly. I could thaw the baggies out and use them for his cereal as he gets old enough instead of using freshly pumped milk. There's just a lot of things. It's a pain sometimes but I think it's worth it to keep pumping as often as you are to make sure the supply will be high enough once the baby is demanding more food. also I'm sending you a pm.
I was not at all prepared for clusterfeeding... though I'm sort of getting used to being a complete zombie with bruised nipples. DH has a close friend (she doesn't have kids) and he was describing how stressful and intense it could be and she asked "Oh so the baby feeds a lot, like every 3-4 hours?" HA!
I'm impressed though that my boobs can keep up, BFing amazes me. Now excuse me while I ice my poor nipples listening to DD squawk like a baby velociraptor before it's go time again
@MLRocha, I take zrytec year round and have no issues with it affecting supply. Just stay away from a decongestant like sudefed Ana you shouldn't have supply concerns.
Is anyone wearing underwire nursing bras? I have some I was wearing during maternity (not 100% sure they'd fit, now that I think of it) and really liked them. I have tried a bunch of support tanks and sports and sleeping bras and haven't found anything that's comfortable. I'm used to a lot more help for the girls... I don't want to temp clogged ducts, but I am so uncomfortable with my current options (especially when I have to go flopping around in public).
Second part: does everyone wear something up top 24 hours a day? If I'm willing to sleep on a towel, can I go w/o at night?
@MLRocha I have underwire ones for public/work and ones with much less support for bed. Wearing underwire right now! I also prefer more support. As for bed: I don't see why not. Try it and see if you're comfortable.
@MLRocha Yes, I wear something up top 24/7. At night, I'll wear a nursing tank that's up a size (my fav are the target ones) so it's a little more loose fitting and comfortable. I'm not leaking right now, but while nursing in the past I did so I'm sure it's coming. I have to wear nursing pads at night, and a nursing tank is just my most comfortable option.
@MLRocha I bought 2 nightgowns that are nursing friendly but I've been leaking a LOT at night so I usually put a towl down on the bed or down the front of my pjs.
with my first son (aged 3.5 now) I BF him until 13 months (pumped while working FT when I went back at 4 months) and it was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. truly. we had so many problems, especially at the start. so I am happy to share any BF or pumping tips, I am not an expert, it would just be my opinions.
I am happy to report I have had a much easier time this time.
in regard to LC, I actually think I got a lot of bad advice from LCs last time, some was good but some was bad. so take their advice if you want but they are often just giving opinions. use your head, listen to your gut.
I would wake the baby every 2 or 3 hours until the baby is back to birth weight then let the baby sleep. though I wouldn't expect a lot of long stretches. my kids still woke up all the time (2 hours usually). the initial period of getting them back to birth weight is important for them and to establish your supply.
I found the website kellymom to be the very best resource. that and my mom friends who were BFing.
keep two complete sets of pump parts, one you are currently using in a plastic zip lock in the fridge, one clean. then switch them out once a day. I have a steam/sanitize setting on my dishwasher and would run them each night.
I found the best bottles were Dr brown with the premie nipple. they can also go through the dishwasher on sanitize. get the little baskets that hold the parts for the wash. look up "paced feeding" on kelly mom.
JMO but I wouldn't worry about pumping early on unless you/pedi is worried about weight gain, supply or you are going back to work really soon. I plan to SAHM and will get a little stash going but only after we have a routine. it's common to add a pump after baby has gone to bed or after the first morning feed, but my kiddo doesn't have a schedule yet and I don't see a reason to add more to my plate.
I am not an expert, these are jmo but if there is anything I can help answer, I would be happy to try.
When you've been married this long, you need a ticker to remind you.
@MLRocha I wear something on my boobs 24/7. I went braless at night until LO was born. My nipples are super sensitive and sore if anything brushes against them so my bra at night is more for protection from any friction. I also don't like how heavy they feel all the time. I am normally a B cup, but currently it looks like I have big ol' porn star boobs, and it feels weird without support. I feel like gravity really takes its toll lol.
I probably won't wear an underwire bra for a year but sleep in the soft bras. To be honest I just wear the soft sleep bras constantly right now because lazy.
Questions for over supply moms-- We just got back from Betty's 2 wk visit. In the past 10 days she has gained 1lb 7oz and is 1lb 1oz over her birth weight. They want me to start spacing out her feedings more and not offer her a boob everytime she cries.
We are already only offering 1 side at a time but she gets fussy and acts like she needs more. How do you cut them off?
Has anyone had to wean baby to fewer feedings? How do you keep them calm?
I'm no expert on BF but I'm actually surprised that's what you were told babies don't really know to be greedy eaters at this point. They eat when they're hungry is all. Has Betty been spitting up/vomiting a lot after feeding? That's definitely an indication she could be overeating. If it's because the pedi thinks she's gaining too much, too fast, I would maybe get a second opinion before you actively lower the amounts of times/day you feed her.... and does she use the paci to soothe herself if it's also a comfort thing?
I too have an overactive supply and LO also gained over 1lb in 2 weeks. My pedi said she was thriving and to keep doing what I was doing. As long as she wasn't making herself sick, it was all good. I also did some research on the internet concerning oversupply and haven't really seen anything on spacing out feedings.
************* First BFP: 12/16/13 EDD: 08/23/14 Baby BOY born: 08/29/14
I'm no expert on BF but I'm actually surprised that's what you were told babies don't really know to be greedy eaters at this point. They eat when they're hungry is all. Has Betty been spitting up/vomiting a lot after feeding? That's definitely an indication she could be overeating. If it's because the pedi thinks she's gaining too much, too fast, I would maybe get a second opinion before you actively lower the amounts of times/day you feed her.... and does she use the paci to soothe herself if it's also a comfort thing?
I too have an overactive supply and LO also gained over 1lb in 2 weeks. My pedi said she was thriving and to keep doing what I was doing. As long as she wasn't making herself sick, it was all good. I also did some research on the internet concerning oversupply and haven't really seen anything on spacing out feedings.
Betty is spitting up constantly. The dr wasn't worried abt weight, more worried abt the gas/ spitting up. She spit up 10x in the hour we were at the drs.
She just ate and here is what happened: she ate off my L boob and got really fussy after just a few minutes. I had to burp her for several minutes bc she kept spitting up. Then I let her suck on my finger for a while but she wanted to eat so I put her back on L and she ate very calmly for abt 15 min. Then she settled down and wanted to rest.
I am only calling it an oversupply issue bc I think I'm gagging her w my letdown
ok, all the spitting up is definitely an indication that she could be overeating or simply eating too fast? The pedi told me it could worsen the reflux and cause them to be more gassy. My LO has both those issues because I do have a heavy letdown and even if I try and hand express a bit before latching her on, I still hear her gulping away in the first few minutes.
I was recommended to clamp near the nipple to slow down the flow a little. It seems to help!
************* First BFP: 12/16/13 EDD: 08/23/14 Baby BOY born: 08/29/14
Went to the pediatrician today, and little man has gained 12 ounces in 8 days since his last appointment, and surpassed his birth weight already by 5 of those ounces!! I guess his all night cluster feeding has been to good purpose.
@Gretchypoo Little man is spitting up some too, all she told us today was not to lay him flat right after feeding, and to try to let him sleep at a 45* angle. He is not spitting up nearly as much as Betty, but thought I'd pass it along regardless.
We had our 1 month appointment with the pedi today and she gained 22 oz in 2 1/2 weeks after gaining really slowly at first. She's now over 7lbs!
I actually quit tracking her feeds a couple days ago and it's been so nice. Now I can tell her cues better and I'm not stressing over timing if she's sitting there crying. I don't know why but when I was timing feeds it would stress me out if it wasn't "time" for her to eat.
I just discovered Hey Mama brand nursing pads... so soft compared to the Lansinoh ones I had. I wish I had these a couple of weeks ago when I was so sore!
Who's drinking coffee? How much a day are you drinking?
Me me me! 1-2 cups. A LC told me up to three was fine.
Welllll that's interesting! I was drinking my one cup/day like I was doing during pregnancy. This is something I had completely forgotten to ask my LC. I don't see myself drinking that much but 3 cups a day sounds magical. Thanks!
************* First BFP: 12/16/13 EDD: 08/23/14 Baby BOY born: 08/29/14
@Spicyweiner I feel you. Is your older DD at home with you all day as well or does she still go to daycare part time?
DS is going to be home for the next 2 weeks. It's going to be an exhausting time in this household. He's a little on the hyperactive side which is why I was inquiring about coffee intake.
************* First BFP: 12/16/13 EDD: 08/23/14 Baby BOY born: 08/29/14
I am jealous of all your coffee drinking... I'm a tea drinker usually, but LO has decided he hates caffeinated milk. I had half a cup of tea and he had the worst afternoon; fussed the whole time. I'm going to give it another week before I try again... although DH is back to work Monday, so I may break down then and have some more.
I limit myself to two cups a day, which is significantly below my sleep deprived ideal intake of 16 cups per day. Sometimes I switch to decaf after because I find it soothing to have a hot drink.
I went without coffee the first two weeks...and then DD decided the only way to console her is to dance with her. I've danced literally 2-4 hours a day the last four days. It's either that or she's screaming, soooo bring on all the coffee to keep me moving.
@Spicyweiner I feel you. Is your older DD at home with you all day as well or does she still go to daycare part time?
DS is going to be home for the next 2 weeks. It's going to be an exhausting time in this household. He's a little on the hyperactive side which is why I was inquiring about coffee intake.
She's still going to preschool. And H is home. ::I'll take my throat punch::
Re: The Boob Thread
I'm impressed though that my boobs can keep up, BFing amazes me. Now excuse me while I ice my poor nipples listening to DD squawk like a baby velociraptor before it's go time again
Second part: does everyone wear something up top 24 hours a day? If I'm willing to sleep on a towel, can I go w/o at night?
I can't stand wearing a bra at night.
I am happy to report I have had a much easier time this time.
in regard to LC, I actually think I got a lot of bad advice from LCs last time, some was good but some was bad. so take their advice if you want but they are often just giving opinions. use your head, listen to your gut.
I would wake the baby every 2 or 3 hours until the baby is back to birth weight then let the baby sleep. though I wouldn't expect a lot of long stretches. my kids still woke up all the time (2 hours usually). the initial period of getting them back to birth weight is important for them and to establish your supply.
I found the website kellymom to be the very best resource. that and my mom friends who were BFing.
keep two complete sets of pump parts, one you are currently using in a plastic zip lock in the fridge, one clean. then switch them out once a day. I have a steam/sanitize setting on my dishwasher and would run them each night.
I found the best bottles were Dr brown with the premie nipple. they can also go through the dishwasher on sanitize. get the little baskets that hold the parts for the wash. look up "paced feeding" on kelly mom.
JMO but I wouldn't worry about pumping early on unless you/pedi is worried about weight gain, supply or you are going back to work really soon. I plan to SAHM and will get a little stash going but only after we have a routine. it's common to add a pump after baby has gone to bed or after the first morning feed, but my kiddo doesn't have a schedule yet and I don't see a reason to add more to my plate.
I am not an expert, these are jmo but if there is anything I can help answer, I would be happy to try.
When you've been married this long, you need a ticker to remind you.
Baby Boy M - 08/01/2013
Expecting Baby Bean February 2017
We are already only offering 1 side at a time but she gets fussy and acts like she needs more. How do you cut them off?
Has anyone had to wean baby to fewer feedings? How do you keep them calm?
I'm no expert on BF but I'm actually surprised that's what you were told
Has Betty been spitting up/vomiting a lot after feeding? That's definitely an indication she could be overeating. If it's because the pedi thinks she's gaining too much, too fast, I would maybe get a second opinion before you actively lower the amounts of times/day you feed her.... and does she use the paci to soothe herself if it's also a comfort thing?
I too have an overactive supply and LO also gained over 1lb in 2 weeks. My pedi said she was thriving and to keep doing what I was doing. As long as she wasn't making herself sick, it was all good.
I also did some research on the internet concerning oversupply and haven't really seen anything on spacing out feedings.
First BFP: 12/16/13
EDD: 08/23/14
Baby BOY born: 08/29/14
She just ate and here is what happened: she ate off my L boob and got really fussy after just a few minutes. I had to burp her for several minutes bc she kept spitting up. Then I let her suck on my finger for a while but she wanted to eat so I put her back on L and she ate very calmly for abt 15 min. Then she settled down and wanted to rest.
I am only calling it an oversupply issue bc I think I'm gagging her w my letdown
ok, all the spitting up is definitely an indication that she could be overeating or simply eating too fast? The pedi told me it could worsen the reflux and cause them to be more gassy. My LO has both those issues because I do have a heavy letdown and even if I try and hand express a bit before latching her on, I still hear her gulping away in the first few minutes.
I was recommended to clamp near the nipple to slow down the flow a little. It seems to help!
First BFP: 12/16/13
EDD: 08/23/14
Baby BOY born: 08/29/14
@Gretchypoo Little man is spitting up some too, all she told us today was not to lay him flat right after feeding, and to try to let him sleep at a 45* angle. He is not spitting up nearly as much as Betty, but thought I'd pass it along regardless.
I actually quit tracking her feeds a couple days ago and it's been so nice. Now I can tell her cues better and I'm not stressing over timing if she's sitting there crying. I don't know why but when I was timing feeds it would stress me out if it wasn't "time" for her to eat.
Married: 9/2013
Love my LEO!!
TTC #1: 9/2015
BFP: 2/1/16 MC 2/8/16 @ 5wks
BFP: 5/22/16 RAINBOW BABY
EDD: 1/30/2017 *IT'S A GIRL!!!!*
Kirsten Grace 1/20/17
Congrats to little man for adding those oz!! Yay! Boobs are magic :-)
@becbec28 I stopped timing feeds too. I'm so glad she's gaining weight!!
First BFP: 12/16/13
EDD: 08/23/14
Baby BOY born: 08/29/14
+1 on zombie baby shenanigans.
...not to mention all the zombie mom antics.
First BFP: 12/16/13
EDD: 08/23/14
Baby BOY born: 08/29/14
First BFP: 12/16/13
EDD: 08/23/14
Baby BOY born: 08/29/14
DS is going to be home for the next 2 weeks. It's going to be an exhausting time in this household. He's a little on the hyperactive side which is why I was inquiring about coffee intake.
First BFP: 12/16/13
EDD: 08/23/14
Baby BOY born: 08/29/14
And H is home.
::I'll take my throat punch::
Married: 9/2013
Love my LEO!!
TTC #1: 9/2015
BFP: 2/1/16 MC 2/8/16 @ 5wks
BFP: 5/22/16 RAINBOW BABY
EDD: 1/30/2017 *IT'S A GIRL!!!!*
Kirsten Grace 1/20/17