No advice, but I am so sorry. Are there any online support groups for this? I feel like moms that have been through this could offer very valuable advice.
@sassypants2010 - I had the same thing with my middle son. At one point I was dairy, soy, gluten, oat, nut, and all types of berry free while I cleared my system. It was horrible for the beginning - but it got better over time and once I could add things back in over time. Eventually it was just dairy and oats. Some of my favorite dairy free items were Matt’s Chocolate chip cookies, Smarties, and using Sweet Baby Rays BBQ sauce on chicken thighs and ribs became staple meals.
My little guy guy is still jaundice. Now it’s considered breast milk jaundice and we had to supplement formula for a few feedings for three days to try and clear it because there’s a protein in formula that can break down the bilirubin that apparently my milk cannot. He’s still yellow so I’m not sure how soon to see an improvement. I’m concerned because they said it could be a problem with his liver. Anyone ever deal with this?
Like @vflux33 and @DDRRT1982 said, my LC suggested hand expressing either at the end of the pump session or after- but don’t neglect the underside of your boob. There’s still plenty of ducts under there. My supply has increased about 33% since I started the hand expressing all around the boobs.
@mmom3 your baby is about four weeks, right? I feel like your concern is valid and the jaundice might need to be more aggressively addressed. What does your pedi say?
@DDRRT1982 - we saw the ped for it last Wednesday and they tested his blood again. He’s high but the numbers revealed what’s called breast milk jaundice not a liver issue. He’s gaining great weight (almost 3 pounds in the first month) but my milk lacks something to break down the jaundice properly which is why she had me add some formula to break it down. I guess it’s rare and did not happen to my two older children. We see the ped again for his 1 month check up on Thursday which I will ask for another test and see where we go from here. However, I’m not sure how quickly the yellow should be dissipating at this point because he’s been jaundice since almost right birth. We did the lights and blanket 2x in the hopsital having to stay an extra day/night. I’ve never heard of anyone with this issue.
Piggybacking off of what @vflux33 was saying about massaging, but right before I am done pumping I take the pumps off, aggressively massage both breasts like I am loosening up something and pump again for a few minutes. I usually get another half an ounce by doing this or even another let down.
Edit
Torally late on this and typing w one hand while bouncing LO, but my doula told me to massage from behind any lumps and roll over them toward the nipple. total game changer! I have no clogs as of yesterday!
We are 3.5 weeks out and someone has decided to try to bf. I offer it to him and before last night he didn’t do much, last night he latched for a good 5 minutes. DH and I were shocked. I am going to keep trying. I had every intention of formula feeding, then I was pumping more than I have with my first two, and now he does this.
I used a shield for 2 weeks. It saved me from pain and allowed for very easy latching! It was really really great. After 2 weeks of using it though, my breasts felt deflated and small...and he always wanted to eat. I was concerned of low milk supply and that he wasn't getting enough. My lactation specialist said I was fine and that my breasts just regulated for the supply he needs. I know she is a specialist but I was feeling frustrated from the constant eating and non-full breasts. I stopped using the shield and pumped, now I'm more full two weeks later and we got very good at latching. This was my experience.
@nancysimp and @bravoandprosecco yeah we're getting a latch with the shield, which is great. I'm not sure what could change to get us away from it, but I'm also not sure I care if we do. As long as she's eating! I am still pumping most of her meals, but we are working on the direct breast feeding.
Samantha had a terrible latch at first. Still does sometimes. I just kept relatching her forcing a wider mouth. It just took time and for her to get bigger and more aware. Good luck! It sounds like the shield is a good tool for you.
I wasn't pumping when I used the shield. Maybe if I did that...the supply would have been more full. If it weren't for the feeling of less milk, that shield was a life saver. It healed my cracked n's...baby made me bleed after week 1!
Pumping mamas - I am trying to start pumping to build a supply. I have a spectra 2. I try to pump after morning feeding (she feeds on both sides usually) and I only ever get like 1/2 oz. Baby is 2 weeks old. Is this normal? How do I get more? How long do i leave the pump on if i stop producing milk after 3 minutes? How often should i pump? Pretty lost on the pumping front! Help!
Also, when did you intro a bottle to get LO used to it?
@GG620 I'm EP, but if I were you I'd try pumping after every feeding instead of just in the morning--that will probably make it go up a lot. I've heard continuing to pump after the flow stops helps to increase supply, but 3 minutes might be sufficient. OR, you could stop right after the flow stops and then pump again like an hour later between feedings. I'd experiment/do trial and error with those 2 things and see if that helps.
As for whether 1/2 ounce is a little or a lot, it really depends how much she is eating which you can't know for sure unless you weigh her before and after feedings.
Right now we’re EP due to poor weight gain- ped wanted us to know exactly how much she’s eating. I’m pumping every 2.5-4 hours (LC recommends 2-3 but realistically I’m busy with two children under age 3). I’m hydrating a lot. I usually pump about 10 minutes and hand express for the last 5 minutes or so. I played with the settings on my pump and realized my milk lets down better on each side with a specific intensity. It’s kinda trial and error unfortunately but I do recommend seeing a LC if one is available near you.
I would recommend the LC as well. The LC can make sure the pump parts fit right and do a weighted feed. I also think you should pump after every feed to stimulate demand for a week. I would think you should be getting a bit more than half an ounce at the morning pump session. That's usually my biggest take away bc baby sleep a bit longer. Also, make sure you are eating enough. Calories are crucial to your supply.
Thank you all! I made a pumping appointment with a LC for Monday. Today I was able to get about 2 oz after morning feed, then another 1oz later, so that definitely lifted my spirits a bit ☺
@maelily15, not sure if you already know this, but an alternative would be weighted feedings in order to find out exactly how much your LO is taking in while breastfeeding. You can rent a baby scale at a LC office. I did that with my first LO as it was taking awhile to get back to birth weight and I was having no luck with pumping (later found out not everyone responds the same to a pump even when their supply is fine). You just weight the baby, feed the baby, then weight them again. In my area it was about $10-15 a week to rent one.
Also just a side note, from what I've read, there have been some studies showing breastfed babies can sometimes take longer than two weeks to get back to birth weight (like maybe a couple more weeks). Of course some may have medical issues that need to be addressed, but just mentioning because some healthy babies just take longer to get back to that weight when breastfed and are fine. I know many doctors though just want them to be at that birth weight by two weeks and start to push formula when the baby just needs some time.
What is the most amount of milk to pump and freeze per feeding? I'm going to research this...I ended up with 3 ounces between both breasts in one pump session yesterday but isn't that too much?
What is the most amount of milk to pump and freeze per feeding? I'm going to research this...I ended up with 3 ounces between both breasts in one pump session yesterday but isn't that too much?
Do you mean too much like you're worried you're going to cause an oversupply? Was 3 ounces after you nursed or are you just pumping?
@nancysimp I completely forgot I posted on here so I'm sorry I haven't replied! He was definitely using me as a pacifier. I definitely take him off now if I realize he's no longer swallowing. I realized he's falling asleep and just suckling periodically
@ashleyf911 I pumped 1 hour after I fed him. My question is...I have 3 ounces of pumped milk in one bag. It is frozen - when I'm ready to use it, isn't a bottle of 3 ounces too much for one feeding? Can I store the defrosted milk in the fridge if it is too much, and if so when does it go bad in the fridge?
I'm trying to figure out what is the best amount of milk to store in one bag.
@mccurleya yup...my babe eats, nibbles, falls asleep and then wants more. He doesn't get enough so now I tickle his feet to try to keep him awake.
@nancysimp It depends on the age of your baby when you feed that. Mine is 5 weeks and 3oz is an acceptable meal. So if you want to just save it until baby is big enough that that’s a meal, that works.
Me: 34 DH: 38 Married: June 2011 TTC since Feb 2016 BFP#1: 7/7/16 MMC: 8/16/16 BFP#2: 5/8/17 - CP BFP#3: 6/27/17 EDD: 3/10/18
I save anywhere from 2-4 ounces per bag. To help a different issue right now at 5 weeks Charlie was taking 3-4 ounces in a bottle. However I do think when nursing directly from the breast I think he takes more.
OMG baby is biting my nipples whenever she breastfeeds. My doula suggested I call the leader of the local La Leche League, so I'll do that and talk to the LC also. I'm thrilled that she's nursing, but the biting is too much! back to pumping and bottle feeding, ugh. It takes up so much time!
@slr1229 my hospital has them, but they don't do home visits...so we googled for nearest lactation specialist and had one come to our home. It was a wise decision! She helped me with technique, gave me plenty of reading material, showed me how to use and wash my pump, helped me deal with sore nipples, weighed my babe, and gave me lots of great advice.
@slr1229 My hospital has the ones my insurance covers, and you can hire them outside your insurance. If you know any postpartum doulas, many of them are lactation consultants too.
@becausescience Weird. Our NICU gave us the same refrigeration/freezer requirements that non-NICU babies get. Maybe that's just for super preemies?
Hey ladies. Cora is just 3 days old today. My milk came in last night so she’s been chugging pretty well during feeds. The suggestion had been 15-30 minutes per side and then in a week or so, feedings could be 30 minutes total. Her last few feedings have been 15 minutes total with both sides combined since she’s been gulping. Is that long enough? She’s got very slight jaundice - tested at a 7 so no need to do treatment of any kind. Should I be concerned her feedings aren’t longer? She’s lost minimal weight and been peeing and pooping the right amount.
@StephBrim24 Mine was and still a fast eater and can be done in 15 minutes- she chugs and sometimes just eats on one side and is satisfied- she’s 98% in weight and is 5 weeks old. I’m sure if yours is not fussing she’s getting what she needs.
Re: Breastfeeding Megathread
My little guy guy is still jaundice. Now it’s considered breast milk jaundice and we had to supplement formula for a few feedings for three days to try and clear it because there’s a protein in formula that can break down the bilirubin that apparently my milk cannot. He’s still yellow so I’m not sure how soon to see an improvement. I’m concerned because they said it could be a problem with his liver. Anyone ever deal with this?
[spoiler]
Me: 28 Him: 30
Married: 11/15/14
TTC: 02/2016
IF DX: MFI (low count & morphology) & mild PCOS
June 2016 BFP - MC @8w2d
August 2016 BFP - MC @6w1d
June 2017 - 50 mg Clomid + Ovidrel + IUI = BFP 7/6/17!!
Beta #1 = 422 (14dpo), Beta #2 = 810, prog - 12.3 (16dpo), Beta #3 = 5023, prog - 18.9 (20dpo)
[/spoiler]
I used a shield for 2 weeks. It saved me from pain and allowed for very easy latching! It was really really great. After 2 weeks of using it though, my breasts felt deflated and small...and he always wanted to eat. I was concerned of low milk supply and that he wasn't getting enough. My lactation specialist said I was fine and that my breasts just regulated for the supply he needs. I know she is a specialist but I was feeling frustrated from the constant eating and non-full breasts. I stopped using the shield and pumped, now I'm more full two weeks later and we got very good at latching. This was my experience.
I wasn't pumping when I used the shield. Maybe if I did that...the supply would have been more full. If it weren't for the feeling of less milk, that shield was a life saver. It healed my cracked n's...baby made me bleed after week 1!
Also, when did you intro a bottle to get LO used to it?
[spoiler]
Me: 28 Him: 30
Married: 11/15/14
TTC: 02/2016
IF DX: MFI (low count & morphology) & mild PCOS
June 2016 BFP - MC @8w2d
August 2016 BFP - MC @6w1d
June 2017 - 50 mg Clomid + Ovidrel + IUI = BFP 7/6/17!!
Beta #1 = 422 (14dpo), Beta #2 = 810, prog - 12.3 (16dpo), Beta #3 = 5023, prog - 18.9 (20dpo)
[/spoiler]
As for whether 1/2 ounce is a little or a lot, it really depends how much she is eating which you can't know for sure unless you weigh her before and after feedings.
I'm in the same boat with pumping. Trying to figure out a routine but I keep forgetting, or in napping, or just busy.
Ps. There is a breast pumping thread if you want to look there for tips.
[spoiler]
Me: 28 Him: 30
Married: 11/15/14
TTC: 02/2016
IF DX: MFI (low count & morphology) & mild PCOS
June 2016 BFP - MC @8w2d
August 2016 BFP - MC @6w1d
June 2017 - 50 mg Clomid + Ovidrel + IUI = BFP 7/6/17!!
Beta #1 = 422 (14dpo), Beta #2 = 810, prog - 12.3 (16dpo), Beta #3 = 5023, prog - 18.9 (20dpo)
[/spoiler]
Also just a side note, from what I've read, there have been some studies showing breastfed babies can sometimes take longer than two weeks to get back to birth weight (like maybe a couple more weeks). Of course some may have medical issues that need to be addressed, but just mentioning because some healthy babies just take longer to get back to that weight when breastfed and are fine. I know many doctors though just want them to be at that birth weight by two weeks and start to push formula when the baby just needs some time.
I'm trying to figure out what is the best amount of milk to store in one bag.
@mccurleya yup...my babe eats, nibbles, falls asleep and then wants more. He doesn't get enough so now I tickle his feet to try to keep him awake.
Dx: PCOS
Married: June 2013
TTC#1: January 2015
BFP #1 8/24/15 | MC 9/3/15 at 6w2d
BFP #2: 12/12/15 | DD born 8/29/16
TTC#2: June 2017
BFP #3: 7/15/17 | DS born 3/20/18
Married: June 2011
TTC since Feb 2016
BFP#1: 7/7/16 MMC: 8/16/16
BFP#2: 5/8/17 - CP
BFP#3: 6/27/17 EDD: 3/10/18
@becausescience Weird. Our NICU gave us the same refrigeration/freezer requirements that non-NICU babies get. Maybe that's just for super preemies?