Has anyone had to do supplementation feedings with the baby after birth with either donor milk or formula? Because my LO will be late pre-term, the nurses are talking to me about supplementation before my milk comes in, and I'm curious if anyone else has dealt with this first hand?
My milk didn't fully come in for a week or so due to severe hemorrhaging, so we supplemented with donor milk. With my colostrum, we did a little syringe. But when he was doing normal feedings for the first five days, we did the supplemental nursing system like @BeachMommy2B mentioned (but ours was into my nipple shield from a tube connected to a larger syringe where my husband pushed down while DS was trying to latch).
We had lots of different latch issues that all of the lactation specialists (10+ different specialists) thought were unrelated to the supplementing system (and more related to the nipple shield and position problems), so we ended up switching to a bottle on day six. And then I EP'd for 10 months, but I never tried to have him latch again as he got a bit bigger (which I've had friends who were successful at that but I was OVER it), so if that were to happen to you, it doesn't necessarily have to be the end of BFing!
Question for those of you who purchased the witch hazel with aloe in it...if you're making the padcicles, do you still need to add extra aloe or since its together that's all you'd need? I think it was @sweaterboots and @nda_roxybabe but I could be wrong!
"A day without laughter is a day wasted." ~Charlie Chaplin
@BabyMC517 I still added the aloe because the viscosity Is thicker and so it feels like it would sit closer to the surface of the pad rather than soaking all the way into the absorbent core. Is that true? Who knows! But I liked the idea of cold gel making skin contact.
@sweaterboots Okay, I have another question(s) about these padsicles...how many did you make? Is that all you'll use or will you use the pads without the witch hazel and aloe? Can you tell I'm new to this?
"A day without laughter is a day wasted." ~Charlie Chaplin
@BabyMC517 I'm going to be a FTM so I am totally guessing too! I bought a pack of 20 and decided that would either be enough or too many. 20 of the big Heavy Duty pads filled up two 1- gallon freezer bags and I felt like any more than that might be overdoing it :P We need some of that freezer space for meals!!
I never made any padsicles, just used the ones in the hospital. I definitely didn't feel like I needed them when I got home from the hospital, even with my 2nd degree tear. So I personally wouldn't recommend spending a ton of time making a lot!
Married 03.09.09 Sweet Baby H 12.21.11 Sassy Baby P 03.26.14 Little Brother Due 05.22.17
Agree w/ @hp_momma. I just used the ice packs at the hospital and the various sprays, etc. they sent me home with. I didn't need it beyond that. Also, aren't you supposed to only ice for the first 48hrs or so? I might be thinking about other injuries.
Ditto to @hp_momma and @NotAPlaya-JustCrushAlot, I bought stuff to make them but didn't need any extra icing after leaving the hospital. And the baby diaper full of ice they did there seemed to work just fine for me! Disclaimer though, I didn't have any tearing so I may not have needed as much special care in that region as some do.
@BabyMC517 I made about a dozen. I think @NotAPlaya-JustCrushAlot is on to something that you shouldn't be icing forever. In the nursing world, I tell people to not ice 24/7 or else the effects are not as great. (My PT also says ice only after exertion/with pain.) Ice for a bit, then wait a few hours. So I figure a dozen will last plenty. And, yes, I need the freezer space for food too!
I made about 15 padsicles last night. I made a ton last time around but didn't use most of them. I really only used them the 2 or so days after coming home from the hospital, and probably could've done without them. I still had the ingredients lying around, so I figure having a few handy couldn't hurt. At the very least, the smell great haha
Fur daughter: 02/2011 Human sons: 11/2015 & 05/2017 *formerly kayemjay*
My friend had a terrible childbirth last December that was so bad they decided no more kids ever (this was her first). We went to visit her a few weeks after and she still couldn't sit comfortably. She was really traumatized and I think it spooked me into at least being prepared. I won't be upset if they go unused, but I would be upset if I needed them and didn't have them.
I made a bunch the first go round - maybe 15-20. I used one, and it was really not my favorite experience because as it defrosts it feels kind of slimy and messy (on top of the mess that is already down there!), so I didnt use anymore. I'm going to ask for a couple extra of the hospital ones just in case, but beyond that, the giant pads with the all the healing crap on them is all I'm really planning on using.
@sweaterboots Oh don't get me wrong, it's highly uncomfortable to sit for awhile after birth! Everything is swollen and stitches are uncomfortable if you sit a certain way. I just don't think an ice pack would have made a difference after a few days. This is not at all to say don't make them (because you should always do what you think is going to work for you!) just my advice as someone who's been through childbirth twice! And like @NotAPlaya-JustCrushAlot said, I've also heard the not icing for longer than 48 hours!
Married 03.09.09 Sweet Baby H 12.21.11 Sassy Baby P 03.26.14 Little Brother Due 05.22.17
Get rid of the "padsicles" they're useless after a few minutes when they become a gross squishy mess. get a pack of un-lubricated condoms, fill them with water and freeze them. Cover with a clean/new sock and use those as an ice pack, they're the right shape to actually be helpful and dont become a gross mess.
Me - 22 | DH - 32 | Married - 24 May 2014 DS - January 2014
TTC#2 - December 2015
BFP - 6 March 2016 | MC Confirmed - 21 March 2016 TTCAL | April 2016 CP | June 2016 CP | July 2016
Get rid of the "padsicles" they're useless after a few minutes when they become a gross squishy mess. get a pack of un-lubricated condoms, fill them with water and freeze them. Cover with a clean/new sock and use those as an ice pack, they're the right shape to actually be helpful and dont become a gross mess.
Sure. It's all fun and games until my toddler discovers the condom water balloons. JK.
@PartiallyDomesticated@hp_momma I will always look to STM & TTM's as the wise sages who know what the f*ck they're talking about. Thank you for the insight!
I'll probably still try one since they're already made & frozen, but if they are gross and un-helpful I have no qualms tossing out and knowing for next time that there's no point!
@NotAPlaya-JustCrushAlot haha touché, but that's why you use the sock then it's just a sock lol. I am now imagining having a frozen condom thrown at me and I may try and think of something else that works
Me - 22 | DH - 32 | Married - 24 May 2014 DS - January 2014
TTC#2 - December 2015
BFP - 6 March 2016 | MC Confirmed - 21 March 2016 TTCAL | April 2016 CP | June 2016 CP | July 2016
I've never used a padsicle, not at the hospital or at home so I don't even know what they would feel like. I've torn and had an episiotomy both times and I find that the sprays, witch hazel pads, and peri-bottle are enough for my needs.
Me: 38 DH: 36 Married 8/27/2011 BFP #1 9/28/2011 DS born 5/22/2012 BFP #2 4/24/2013 m/c 4/25/2013 at 4w BFP #3 1/31/2014 DD born 10/14/2014 BFP #4 1/20/2016 m/c 2/12/2014 at 7w2d BFP #5 8/19/2016 DS2 born 4/29/2017 BFP #6 3/7/2018 EDD 11/18/2018
I bought stuff today to make a few padsicles, I figure they are worth a try and if I don't like them I'll toss them, no big deal. I had a almost 4th degree tear with DS and used ice packs the first 3 or so days home even though the doctor told me not to after leaving the hospital, it was one of the only ways I could get any relief so I didn't care. I also loved the Dermoplast spray and shallow baths with epsom salt.
I'm on the no padscicle train. I only used ice packs in the hospital for about 48 hours after birth. By the time I got home dermoplast and the tucks with a giant pad worked best. My advice is SITZ IT UP it will help you heal faster and when your mind is going crazy from hormones it's good to have a little quiet time where you have to sit still.
Do hospitals provide dermoplast to take home, or do you have to get that yourself? I bought some tucks, cause I keep hearing good things, but I forgot about dermoplast.
I'm glad @hp_momma said something because I didn't buy any extra stuff last time or made padisicles. The hospital sent me home with like small circle pads that had witch hazel I put two on top of a pad and that was it.
I second/third @Bailey8809 & @Hansolosparka on the sitz bath. I got sent home with the shallow little pan and used just super-warm water as a soak for my lady bits (though I should've done it much much more). The nurses said I didn't need any adjuncts like epsom salts but some people really do like them. My goal this time around is to make the time to do it at least 3x/day. It feels so nice!
Don't buy a peri bottle. Just take the one that give you. I actually have two and keep them full at all times. I also prefer cold water to squirt down there! You can also go to the dollar store and buy the mustard and ketchup plastic bottles and those work just as well:)
@jayandaplus: The peri bottles saved my life. Not even joking. **TMI** I had one in each bathroom and it was great those first days when I couldn't bear the thought of TP touching me, it was the only way to keep clean. I had all the normal general swelling and also stitches. I would have relied on the bottles no matter my level of condition. **More TMI** Using the bottle for that constant stream of hot water was the only way I could take a poo for weeks. That was probably the hardest part of my recovery. I'd pay a mint to have those little bottles again. Small blessings.
P.S. Make sure to look for the ability of the bottle to squeeze/squirt upside down.
Thanks ladies for the advice on the padsicles! I have some witch hazel and aloe already and just need to get some of the pads. Maybe I'll just make 1 to see if I like it or not. But after reading how they get squishy, which I was thinking would happen, I don't think I'll like them! I don't even like to wear pads but obviously have to use them. I got one of the samples from depends though in case I want to go that route! So you just put the tucks wipes on the pads and spray some dermoplast and you should be good to go?
"A day without laughter is a day wasted." ~Charlie Chaplin
@jayandaplus - I had a small tear that didn't heal correctly and after about a month had to get cauterized, so I used the peri bottle for probably a lot longer than most. I actually bought a second one, just because I felt like I needed a new one after a little while. Complete and total lifesaver - worth the $5 or whatever it costs to have one just to keep the TP away while you're healing.
Super good advice. I think I'm going to hold off making padcicles because that moist/gooey feeing might be too much for me. I am thinking I need to add an extra peri bottle to the list of items I want to "acquire" from work before this baby comes. I already got some good little pads for the changing table and some super absorbent pads for in case my water breaks outside the hospital and then to use to protect furniture from leaks while nursing etc.
Re: After Baby Care
We had lots of different latch issues that all of the lactation specialists (10+ different specialists) thought were unrelated to the supplementing system (and more related to the nipple shield and position problems), so we ended up switching to a bottle on day six. And then I EP'd for 10 months, but I never tried to have him latch again as he got a bit bigger (which I've had friends who were successful at that but I was OVER it), so if that were to happen to you, it doesn't necessarily have to be the end of BFing!
"A day without laughter is a day wasted." ~Charlie Chaplin
"A day without laughter is a day wasted." ~Charlie Chaplin
"A day without laughter is a day wasted." ~Charlie Chaplin
Sweet Baby H 12.21.11
Sassy Baby P 03.26.14
Little Brother Due 05.22.17
May17 Siggy Challenge
Labor
Human sons: 11/2015 & 05/2017
*formerly kayemjay*
Married:09/14/13
Baby 2 - Due: 5/4/17
Sweet Baby H 12.21.11
Sassy Baby P 03.26.14
Little Brother Due 05.22.17
get a pack of un-lubricated condoms, fill them with water and freeze them. Cover with a clean/new sock and use those as an ice pack, they're the right shape to actually be helpful and dont become a gross mess.
DS - January 2014
TTCAL | April 2016
CP | June 2016
CP | July 2016
May17 Siggy Challenge
Labor
I'll probably still try one since they're already made & frozen, but if they are gross and un-helpful I have no qualms tossing out and knowing for next time that there's no point!
I am now imagining having a frozen condom thrown at me and I may try and think of something else that works
DS - January 2014
TTCAL | April 2016
CP | June 2016
CP | July 2016
Married 8/27/2011
BFP #1 9/28/2011 DS born 5/22/2012
BFP #2 4/24/2013 m/c 4/25/2013 at 4w
BFP #3 1/31/2014 DD born 10/14/2014
BFP #4 1/20/2016 m/c 2/12/2014 at 7w2d
BFP #5 8/19/2016 DS2 born 4/29/2017
BFP #6 3/7/2018 EDD 11/18/2018
DS2 5/17
#3 Due 9/20
DS2 5/17
#3 Due 9/20
P.S. Make sure to look for the ability of the bottle to squeeze/squirt upside down.
DS - January 2014
TTCAL | April 2016
CP | June 2016
CP | July 2016
There was no way TP was going anywhere near the lady bits for a good week. Peri bottle is a MUST.
Sweet Baby H 12.21.11
Sassy Baby P 03.26.14
Little Brother Due 05.22.17
"A day without laughter is a day wasted." ~Charlie Chaplin
Sweet Baby H 12.21.11
Sassy Baby P 03.26.14
Little Brother Due 05.22.17
DS - January 2014
TTCAL | April 2016
CP | June 2016
CP | July 2016
Married:09/14/13
Baby 2 - Due: 5/4/17
I am thinking I need to add an extra peri bottle to the list of items I want to "acquire" from work before this baby comes. I already got some good little pads for the changing table and some super absorbent pads for in case my water breaks outside the hospital and then to use to protect furniture from leaks while nursing etc.