Just got back from baby girl's first pedi appointment. She's lost a total of 6oz since birth which I think is great! She's down about 6% from birth - lots of babies lose up to 10%. Anyway... Pedi already told me she's too small and I need to supplement with formula. I looked her in the eye and said, "I hear your recommendation but I'm not supplementing." So proud of myself! 4 years ago I would've doubted my body and my judgement as a parent and done whatever I was told. So the compromise is to return Monday for another office weighing. No problem! Meantime I have a goal and I'll be pumping like a mad woman to supplement with BM!
@Cbeanz Honestly a pediatrician not supporting bfing is a deal breaker for me. I think you guys reached a great compromise though! As long as she's back to birth weight by 2 weeks and doesn't lose more than 10% of her body weight, everything is kosher. (plus it really should be the weight when you left the hospital, not the weight at birth, since any fluids you get in iv mess that measurement up). We'll done being confident in yourself!
@Cbeanz good for you! My little guy had lost 8 oz at his first peds visit but my dr was completely unconcerned saying he looked good. He said as long as he's having multiple wet and poopy diapers he's fine. It's interesting how drs have different opinions.
@Cbeanz Honestly a pediatrician not supporting bfing is a deal breaker for me.
ME TOO! We've been with this practice for years bc they're #1 rated in our city. But honestly the deal was broken before today. We're changing offices.
@Cbeanz - our little guy also had issues with weight gain. He's exclusively breastfed but unfortunately also all pumped breast milk. He doesn't latch (mouth too small and still to premature to get it - the lactation consultant said some premies never learn to latch especially after nicu time).
Essentially the lactation consultant told us to feed him only hindmilk. So I'd pump for 2-3 minutes and toss the foremilk and the rest would be food for him. It provided him with the extra calories he needed. They said if that didn't work they had to supplement him with a teaspoon of formula in the breastmilk (it was high calorie formula and it upped the cal content) - but it would be 45ml breastmilk and 15ml formula. I didn't like the idea but thankfully we never had to go to it as he started gaining the next day! Still not as awful as just giving up and not breastfeeding.
Anyone else exclusively pumping? How's it going? We're trying to be at breast every day several times a day and he just doesn't go for it. He's used to the instant gratification. Makes me sad some days - last one I breastfed but didn't make enough and had to supplement. This one I make enough so far but can't seem to get him to latch.
Breastfeeding the first couple of days was torture for my nipples. I cried and screamed. Then I googled latch techniques, iced my nipples, put some lanolin on them and somehow became a pro overnight. My baby also lost weight at first appt (9%) so I had to go back yesterday to check her weight gain and she pretty much gained it back so I'm doing much better now and actually enjoy breastfeeding. What a difference a day can make.
Apparently I have unusually small nipples? I had to buy 19 mm aftermarket flanges to fit my pump (Spectra) and also needed the aftermarket pieces to convert Spectra to Medela. If anyone has questions about the conversion, let me know!
My babies reacted to the brewers yeast I was taking to try to up my supply, so I had to cut that out. I'm glad that was the issue, I was starting to believe that they just hate breastmilk and was crying about it.
I'm only able to pump 2oz max, usually closer to 1oz (total, not per boob...) My twins are eating 2oz and 3oz per feeding...
Being 34 weekers they also have a hard time latching. I introduced a nipple shield midway through the week and have been able to get BOTH to breastfeed (@marshmallowfarts have you considered a nipple shield? I was hesitant, but it's been a game changer for us). I have been taking the edge off with a small bottle of breast milk or formula and then breastfeeding one twin, then I feed his brother a whole bottle and offer the breast for dessert. Then I pump. The next feed I switch babies. I have seen my pumping output stay mostly the same as when I was exclusively pumping, so I KNOW that my production has gone up (since I'm doing almost full feeds multiple times a day).
Im going to keep at it, and hopefully I can get my supply to increase so that I don't have to supplement so much. I'm at about 25% breastmilk now, I would love to get to 50 or 75% if I can't get to 100!
@direwolfmini we have tried the nipple shield. The lactation consultant even had me fitted for it and the size nipple shield I need is still too big for his premie mouth.
For supply I'm power pumping every day and drinking Gatorade. Since giving up the symphony my supply has slowly increased as opposed to greatly increasing like it was. Still eating lots of oatmeal too every day and drinking appx 3 liters a day of water. I pump every two hours for 20-25 minutes and then at night move to three hours. Tonight in one sitting I pumped 7oz during a power pumping session. Then every 2 hours I pump appx 4-5 oz in a sitting. Im worried about going back to work in April since my supply will decrease then no doubt. Maybe I'll find a new job by then.
@mcdonald-bailey Changing latch techniques helped with the pain? I was just coming here to get some ideas! When my lo fully latches and sucks, it is so painful! I'm hoping to change things up enough that she and I are both more successful. I think she gets lazy and has a shallow latch half the time.
@mcdonald-bailey Changing latch techniques helped with the pain? I was just coming here to get some ideas! When my lo fully latches and sucks, it is so painful! I'm hoping to change things up enough that she and I are both more successful. I think she gets lazy and has a shallow latch half the time.
My son had a painful match for a couple of weeks: once his mouth got bigger it got much better. Ideas to help: - have him checked for a tongue/lip tie - hold on a laid back nursing position - use your index finger to guide his lower has to stay open until nip is totally in his mouth (nipple should be back behind the gums, baby chomping/nursing on the areola
I'm not a mom yet but met with the lactation consultant as part of our birthing class @ the hospital; one thing she mentioned was pumping for a minute (maybe two) prior to breastfeeding to allivate the pain. I'm not sure I've read that suggestion yet, but she said it can make latching easier, as well as generally relieving pain from engorged breasts.
I'm not a mom yet but met with the lactation consultant as part of our birthing class @ the hospital; one thing she mentioned was pumping for a minute (maybe two) prior to breastfeeding to allivate the pain. I'm not sure I've read that suggestion yet, but she said it can make latching easier, as well as generally relieving pain from engorged breasts.
True...but I would only do it if baby is having a hard time latching because your breast is too hard or if your let down is outrageous and causes baby to cough and sputter at first. You can also just hand express into a towel or something.
Goodmorning12 I totally agree with @longliveregina. Gentle massage possibly with warm compress to soften up would be much better than pumping unless you start having actual issues.
The lactation consultant was offering this for people w/issues that couldn't be addressed by massage, it wasn't a first option at all - but I'm curious, why opposed? She had breasts w/various nipple shapes & when they were overengorged & hard it was easy to see why a LO could have so many problems latching.
The lactation consultant was offering this for people w/issues that couldn't be addressed by massage, it wasn't a first option at all - but I'm curious, why opposed? She had breasts w/various nipple shapes & when they were overengorged & hard it was easy to see why a LO could have so many problems latching.
I'm not necessarily opposed, just not really necessary. You don't want to trick your body into making MORE milk if you are already engorged.
@Goodmorning12 I have been breastfeeding for less than 2 weeks so what do I know, but busting out the pump when you're about to feed just because you're engorged just seems like a lot of work and overkill if there are any easier ways to deal with it (massage/warm compress, etc). If for no other reason, I'd hate to create more parts I have to wash if I'm not doing a full pumping session. There's enough cleaning of bottles/pump parts in my life now as it is....
Apparently having ended breastfeeding only about 6 months ago has given me an abundance of milk this go around. Sounds great however with her tummy being so small we are having a lot of gas and spit up issues. After feeding I've been holding her upright a good 20 min and we've only been feeding one side each time but she's still getting way too much for her to handle hopefully her belly grows fast and everything resolves itself so I can stop having flash backs to DS with reflux and me sleeping in a chair ... any other moms with young toddlers having this issue?
@Gators&BoSox I had oversupply with DD1--one side each feed, and when you can start to tell you're having a let down popping her off and letting out (either into something if you want to save it, or just into a burp cloth) were the two things that helped us the most last go around.
My milk supply is just ramping up, so not sure yet if I'll be in the same boat struggling with this again or not. So far baby seems to have just the "normal" tummy discomfort that comes with getting digestion going and having first poops.
Hope Scarlett adjusts fast and it becomes a "non-issue"!!
@gators&bosox Have you pumped or done a weighed feed so you know how much you get at one time?
Yeah I'm having flashbacks to DD2's reflux anytime this new babygirl spits up even a drop. Ugh reflux was no fun and I'd like to not deal with it again!
@Cbeanz i got to speak with a lactation consultant today and she really put my mind at ease.. said everything is going great she just needs to catch up a bit belly wise
Apparently having ended breastfeeding only about 6 months ago has given me an abundance of milk this go around. Sounds great however with her tummy being so small we are having a lot of gas and spit up issues. After feeding I've been holding her upright a good 20 min and we've only been feeding one side each time but she's still getting way too much for her to handle hopefully her belly grows fast and everything resolves itself so I can stop having flash backs to DS with reflux and me sleeping in a chair ... any other moms with young toddlers having this issue?
Is your let down really strong? Maybe try expressing into a towel until the first let down and then laying back with baby on top of you nursing?
I'm just feeling lazy... I know we are still getting a pretty shallow latch cuz I'm a bit pinched and in a little pain. But I get tired of trying for a great open mouth/good latch and just let her eat. Especially at night in the dark. Haha. Sooo... any pain or issue is entirely my own fault.
@disneybaby84 I bought some lactation cookies also. I was breastfeeding and pumping and getting a good supply. At least 4-10 oz per pumping session then all of a sudden it went all the way down and I have no idea why. I'm down to like 2 oz a pumping session.
Baby is 4 days old and still having issues with latching. She nursed at birth like a champ and ever since then she either won't latch at all or she has a weak latch where she is only on my nipple...or if she latches she does for a few minutes or so and then quits. She has been really stuffy lately so I think that isn't helping because sometimes she needs to take breaks with the bottle too....doing saline in the nose. So right now just exclusively pumping breast milk into bottles...planning to see a lactation consultant again this week who is coming to my house. I will get LO to my boob if it's the last thing I do!
Re: Breastfeeding rants raves and support
Essentially the lactation consultant told us to feed him only hindmilk. So I'd pump for 2-3 minutes and toss the foremilk and the rest would be food for him. It provided him with the extra calories he needed. They said if that didn't work they had to supplement him with a teaspoon of formula in the breastmilk (it was high calorie formula and it upped the cal content) - but it would be 45ml breastmilk and 15ml formula. I didn't like the idea but thankfully we never had to go to it as he started gaining the next day! Still not as awful as just giving up and not breastfeeding.
Anyone else exclusively pumping? How's it going? We're trying to be at breast every day several times a day and he just doesn't go for it. He's used to the instant gratification. Makes me sad some days - last one I breastfed but didn't make enough and had to supplement. This one I make enough so far but can't seem to get him to latch.
Baby #2 - March 2017
I have so many rants about breastfeeding.
Apparently I have unusually small nipples? I had to buy 19 mm aftermarket flanges to fit my pump (Spectra) and also needed the aftermarket pieces to convert Spectra to Medela. If anyone has questions about the conversion, let me know!
My babies reacted to the brewers yeast I was taking to try to up my supply, so I had to cut that out. I'm glad that was the issue, I was starting to believe that they just hate breastmilk and was crying about it.
I'm only able to pump 2oz max, usually closer to 1oz (total, not per boob...) My twins are eating 2oz and 3oz per feeding...
Being 34 weekers they also have a hard time latching. I introduced a nipple shield midway through the week and have been able to get BOTH to breastfeed (@marshmallowfarts have you considered a nipple shield? I was hesitant, but it's been a game changer for us). I have been taking the edge off with a small bottle of breast milk or formula and then breastfeeding one twin, then I feed his brother a whole bottle and offer the breast for dessert. Then I pump. The next feed I switch babies. I have seen my pumping output stay mostly the same as when I was exclusively pumping, so I KNOW that my production has gone up (since I'm doing almost full feeds multiple times a day).
Im going to keep at it, and hopefully I can get my supply to increase so that I don't have to supplement so much. I'm at about 25% breastmilk now, I would love to get to 50 or 75% if I can't get to 100!
For supply I'm power pumping every day and drinking Gatorade. Since giving up the symphony my supply has slowly increased as opposed to greatly increasing like it was. Still eating lots of oatmeal too every day and drinking appx 3 liters a day of water. I pump every two hours for 20-25 minutes and then at night move to three hours. Tonight in one sitting I pumped 7oz during a power pumping session. Then every 2 hours I pump appx 4-5 oz in a sitting. Im worried about going back to work in April since my supply will decrease then no doubt. Maybe I'll find a new job by then.
Baby #2 - March 2017
- have him checked for a tongue/lip tie
- hold on a laid back nursing position
- use your index finger to guide his lower has to stay open until nip is totally in his mouth (nipple should be back behind the gums, baby chomping/nursing on the areola
My milk supply is just ramping up, so not sure yet if I'll be in the same boat struggling with this again or not. So far baby seems to have just the "normal" tummy discomfort that comes with getting digestion going and having first poops.
Hope Scarlett adjusts fast and it becomes a "non-issue"!!
Yeah I'm having flashbacks to DD2's reflux anytime this new babygirl spits up even a drop. Ugh reflux was no fun and I'd like to not deal with it again!