What @jhysmath said. I had to pump after delivering my son and got a bunch of Medela parts and it also came with the manual pump which I wasn’t expecting at all. Definitely something worth asking about.
Just popping on to say buying (or registering for) a manual hand pump is a great idea (in addition to the electric pumps). Any time I got a blocked duct, I took the manual pump into a hot shower and it really helped with getting the block out.
I read about it and the Elvie Stride. The Elvie is tempting but I think I want reliability over portability. The Elvie’s reviews say it does not produce consistently.
Spectra S1 Plus - HANDS DOWN. I breastfed and pumped for 13 months and this is the best pump I ever had. I used Medela Symphony and Elvies and they don’t hold a candle to it. I pumped 2 to 3 times while I was at work and in the car driving to and home from work and would sometimes have to pump before bed and middle of the night and I still only had to charge it once a week. GET THIS PUMP!!
If anyone else got the free Kiinde starter pack (pay for shipping only), have you gotten an update? I didn't even find a confirmation email but I'm sure I ordered it. It's on my PayPal from May 10th.
I’m in the same boat @pangolindrome. No shipping updates, but I did get a confirmation email that I had signed up. Early this week sent me a 20% coupon for my next order as a follow up.
@pangolindrome and @maple1422 You can login on kiinde and check order status. Where it says shipped, there’s an option to track your package.
I think I ordered the same day or close to it. Mine says it is where I live and is being handed off to local delivery company. So, I’m guessing I will get it by Friday.
Anyone willing to PM me or even write something up on here to literally walk me through what I need to breast feed? I'm considering it this time around. I exclusively FF last baby so I have no idea where to even begin. It all seems very overwhelming, but of the course the formula shortage is scaring me. I work outside of the home and will be away from baby for about 10.5 - 11 hours each day, so I'll definitely have to pump while I'm at work if that plays into any advice you may have!
@whitta1015 I would also like this. I'll tell you what I've learned so far and others can fill in what I'm missing. 1. I know I've seen advice to still have a pump, like I got the Spectra 2 through insurance on Aeroflow. I like it because of good reviews and it's supposed to be super reliable, and you can buy portable battery banks which it can plug into and which will allow it to be mobile 2. a hand pump for when you're just really full 3. nipple packs you can heat or cool 4. Also, while you feed or pump (if you pump one side at a time), you will want a Ladybug for the other side as it will produce some letdown out of reflex.
I don't know what you needed for FF to keep yourself from getting uncomfortable or so, and I'm a FTM so this is just based on what I have read on here and in articles, but I am apparently approaching this from a Type A, learn-all-I-can point of view, so it should give you a start.
@whitta1015 I would say Ina may Gaskin breastfeeding book taught me almost everything I needed to know. The most important thing is latching and getting the milk out. For most people it's a supply and demand issue with how much they'll produce, so the more you remove the more you make.
For the first few weeks post partum you pretty much just need your boobs out and baby constantly on them. Nice to have things would be a nursing bra to put up when your in laws and nosy neighbors feel the need to come over to see the baby. Nipple butter (I love earth mama brand) to give your nipples some love. nursing pads if you're not comfortable free leaking everywhere and a haakaa if you have a let down in both at the same time.
Going back to work you'll want a good pump, and something to store your milk in. I would suggest the spectra s1 or s2 and the motif Luna for best pumps. I stored in Mason jars I already had or in freezer bags.
I'm going to tag @wiseh to alert her to give you more ideas when she's awake because she's our resident lactation consultant if I remember correctly.
Also, I've heard the shortage will be straightened out once our babies are around so you don't have to worry too much if that's the route you choose.
Current pregnancy - First BFP on 1/4/22. Due date 9/13/22.
Four prior losses, no living children - 1 first trimester miscarriage, 1 blighted ovum, 1 chemical, and one extreme premature live birth daughter who died at 15 days old.
@jhysmath covers pretty much everything I would have said. Nipple balm (I just used the lanolin the hospital gave me) was critical because I'm so sensitive in every single way and my nipples hurt so much those first couple months. A hand pump was my favorite thing once I gave up on true pumping because it was easy to transport and use wherever I needed it (it also helped me immensely). My Haakaa was relatively useless after about 4 months, but I'm telling you, it was a godsend early on! It got so much extra milk off the other side while my daughter nursed, but still left enough for her to top off.
It's pretty straightforward, but I won't pretend like it's the easiest thing in the world. For me I struggled for about two months before it got easier, but it was absolutely worth it. I didn't read many books - shocking because I read everything I can get my hands on - but the breastfeeding class at my hospital definitely helped prepare me and answer my questions. They also provided additional reading material and free group support classes once a week.
@pangolindrome Thank you! Last time, I just let my milk dry up when it came in....which was extremely uncomfortable for a few days, but it didn't last long.
@jhysmath Writing all of this down, thank you! And yes, I do hope that the shortage has been straightened out by then. Crazy they let it get this way. I feel so bad for all those mamas out there that can't breastfeed.
@trapperkeeper87 Thank you! I'm definitely going to look into a class at our hospital this time around.
@whitta1015 Great advice from @jhysmath and @trapperkeeper87! Nipple cream was truly a godsend. I bought the earth mama one and it irritated my nipples even more which was awful 🥴 could’ve just been me though. The lansinoh lanolin cream worked wonders though. Despite having a low supply, I would still leak from the other side while breastfeeding so I also liked the lansinoh breast pads.
Oh my goodness there is soooo much to go through! If anybody has any specific questions please ask and I can point you in the right direction.
There is only one reason why you could never make enough milk and that is if you have insufficient glandular tissue. This could occur genetically or if you've had a breast reduction. The reason I'm saying this is because lots of people think "I never made enough milk" but truly that's because breastfeeding education is not considered important enough to be made a priority by our governments (not just in the US and Aus, but in most countries in the world). Breastfeeding is a skill that you need to learn and every baby is different - so even mums that have breastfed successfully before will still take 6-12 weeks to learn with their baby.
Now, to start out you don't need anything. You don't need a pump, you don't need to express colostrum, you just need yourself. You can express some colostrum if you want, but it's not necessary. Also, if you want to and you can't, please note that it's not any indication on your projected milk production. Your placenta produces hormones that inhibit milk production and is why it takes several days for your milk to "come in". This is something to keep in mind later down the track if you are having issues with supply and everything else seems to be going well after a consultation with an IBCLC - it's possible you could have retained products which would continue to release these hormones.
When baby is born they have natural instincts to seek out the breast. Your nipples turn darker when pregnant so it is easier to see too! If you want to, you can lay them lengthways along you (so their feet are pointing towards your feet) around your tummy and allow them to find their own way to you. This process is known as the "breast crawl" and can take 1-2 hours. An older video but with heaps of information in the caption is here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9WtH4dq-cw. The caption talks about what can inhibit this process. A newer video is here - https://globalhealthmedia.org/videos/early-initiation-of-breastfeeding/ . While beneficial, this isn't necessary, so if you don't get to do this don't fret. Don't fret if you don't breastfeed at all in the first 24hrs if something happens to you or bub, with the right support it is definitely possible to breastfeed successfully!
Something to keep in mind is that babies have primary reflexes - the startle reflex is one of them. Another that's not commonly known is the suck reflex. Stick anything in their mouth and they will suck on it. This is important because if you do need to bottle feed for any reason, don't fall into the trap of thinking "oh my gosh they guzzled all of that up, I really mustn't make enough breast milk if they drank that amount after feeding" - because often it's just their reflexes.
Before your milk transitions to mature milk it will be in really small volumes. This milk is really nutrient dense and is all your baby needs. We've actually evolved to grow quite fatty in the womb to allow for this transition period which is why babies can lose weight. Babies shouldn't lose more than 10% but if they do it could potentially be because you received fluids while in labour. I would book in to see an IBCLC anyway just to make sure there was nothing else going on.
The most important thing when beginning breastfeeding is positioning. Baby should have its tummy pressed against your tummy so they are looking at your breast - have you ever tried to drink a glass of water with your head to the side? It's really hard! You shouldn't be able to see the lips, so don't worry about what they're doing (somewhere along the lines it became a recommendation to "flip the lip", but it is now known that this has no benefit). The head should be tilted slightly back so the nose is kept clear. Holding your baby so they feel secure and don't have to worry about whether or not they're going to fall backwards is also really important. Often mums find the best position to be slightly reclined so baby falls into you and it's not so much effort to hold them. This article has some really good information, videos and pictures on attachment - https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/attachment-breast. Another great video to watch is this - https://globalhealthmedia.org/videos/breastfeeding-attachment/
Things to note that raise red flags and should be addressed:
Breastfeeding should NOT hurt, not even from the very first time or in the first few weeks. There is some mild discomfort that can be felt when the breast is first taken into the mouth as it can graze the top of the pallet but this should pass in a few seconds. If it hurts beyond the first few seconds please take your baby off (slip a finger in the corner of their mouth to break the suction) and try again. Keep doing this until you get a good attachment. Try adjusting the way you hold baby or the way you're positioned yourself to see if you can get better attachment. If it's still not working then book in to see an IBCLC ASAP! You don't want to get to a point where you damage your nipples and breastfeeding becomes impossible because of it.
If your nipples are coming out looking anything other than the way they went in (squashed, lipstick shaped, white/purple) then you also need to work on your positioning and I would recommend booking in to see an IBCLC.
If your nipples become painful and bright pink then you most likely have thrush and should also book in to see an IBCLC for diagnosis and to receive treatment advice.
If your baby is sleeping for long periods of time (>4hrs) in the first few days this is not normal and indicates they may not be getting enough breastmilk and you should book in to see an IBCLC for support.
If your baby feeds for long periods of time (>45 mins) this is also not normal and can cause your baby to fatigue. There is a distinct suck-swallow pattern that they have when actively feeding and it's possible that if feeding for so long they are passively feeding - remember back to the suck reflex. Take the baby off and if they don't fuss, that's great. If they do, that could be an indication of something not right and you should book into see an IBCLC for support
When you're returning to work, have a conversation around expectations with breastfeeding. If you're working close to your baby it may be possible to leave and direct feed or have someone bring your baby to you, rather than having to express. If you need to express then ask your work for somewhere suitable that is NOT a toilet (eew) and has access to a power point (if you need it) and a bench. If you are breastfeeding and have a healthy, term baby, you do not need to steralise your pumping equipment, including bottles, ever. You can also go up to 24hrs without washing them as long as they are kept in a sealed container in the fridge between pumping sessions. This is particularly handy if you are pumping frequently! was exclusively pumping while we traveled through Europe and all I took were 2 bottles, my pumping gear and a heap of disposable breastmilk bags. I would pump into the bottles and immediately after pumping transfer straight into the breastmilk bags and label them. Took up much less space this way.However, this does not apply if you did not have a healthy, term baby, and you need to discuss this with your health care providers. I was exclusively pumping while we traveled through Europe and all I took were 2 bottles, my pumping gear and a heap of disposable breastmilk bags. I would pump into the bottles and immediately after pumping transfer straight into the breastmilk bags and label them. Took up much less space this way.
Sorry there's so much info and it doesn't even really touch the surface of what there is to know about breastfeeding!!
@pangolindrome mine came in yesterday too! I also ordered the qty. 40 bags for free (with $5) shipping of course. I bet those will come in quickly too.
@wiseh I am copying ALL OF THAT to a Google Doc for future reference! My work is seven minutes away from home, so I especially like the possibility of maybe having June brought to me for feeding. Not sure how it'd work since I am a teacher - I might have to settle for pumping. We'll also see what our girl prefers.
@pangolindrome I didn't have to select a rebuy frequency, and it wasn't for qty. 160. I clicked the link in the email from Kiinde titled 5 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Starter Pack:
1. Take advantage of our coupons
We know that once you experience the ease of the Kiinde system, you won’t want to feed your baby with anything else. Your Starter Pack comes with two valuable coupons:
Receive 40 FREE 6 oz. Twist Pouches (a $15.99 value) for even more transfer-free feeding! (Valid for 30 days)
@laj0217 I was given some from a friend and wanted to save them for when I desperately needed them. I never felt like I needed them and didn't use them. My friend claimed they are the only way her nipples survived
@jhysmath I’m glad you never got to a point you felt like you needed them! The dr recommended those over any cream. They’re cheap enough I may buy a box to have on hand.
Re: Product Spotlight: Breast Pumps and Accessories
$30 with insurance
I read about it and the Elvie Stride. The Elvie is tempting but I think I want reliability over portability. The Elvie’s reviews say it does not produce consistently.
Quite a few questions and reviews on there say it just plugs right in!
1. I know I've seen advice to still have a pump, like I got the Spectra 2 through insurance on Aeroflow. I like it because of good reviews and it's supposed to be super reliable, and you can buy portable battery banks which it can plug into and which will allow it to be mobile
2. a hand pump for when you're just really full
3. nipple packs you can heat or cool
4. Also, while you feed or pump (if you pump one side at a time), you will want a Ladybug for the other side as it will produce some letdown out of reflex.
I don't know what you needed for FF to keep yourself from getting uncomfortable or so, and I'm a FTM so this is just based on what I have read on here and in articles, but I am apparently approaching this from a Type A, learn-all-I-can point of view, so it should give you a start.
For the first few weeks post partum you pretty much just need your boobs out and baby constantly on them. Nice to have things would be a nursing bra to put up when your in laws and nosy neighbors feel the need to come over to see the baby. Nipple butter (I love earth mama brand) to give your nipples some love. nursing pads if you're not comfortable free leaking everywhere and a haakaa if you have a let down in both at the same time.
Going back to work you'll want a good pump, and something to store your milk in. I would suggest the spectra s1 or s2 and the motif Luna for best pumps. I stored in Mason jars I already had or in freezer bags.
I'm going to tag @wiseh to alert her to give you more ideas when she's awake because she's our resident lactation consultant if I remember correctly.
Also, I've heard the shortage will be straightened out once our babies are around so you don't have to worry too much if that's the route you choose.
mine came in the mail on Monday.
First BFP on 1/4/22. Due date 9/13/22.
It's pretty straightforward, but I won't pretend like it's the easiest thing in the world. For me I struggled for about two months before it got easier, but it was absolutely worth it. I didn't read many books - shocking because I read everything I can get my hands on - but the breastfeeding class at my hospital definitely helped prepare me and answer my questions. They also provided additional reading material and free group support classes once a week.
@jhysmath Writing all of this down, thank you! And yes, I do hope that the shortage has been straightened out by then. Crazy they let it get this way. I feel so bad for all those mamas out there that can't breastfeed.
@trapperkeeper87 Thank you! I'm definitely going to look into a class at our hospital this time around.
Oh my goodness there is soooo much to go through! If anybody has any specific questions please ask and I can point you in the right direction.
There is only one reason why you could never make enough milk and that is if you have insufficient glandular tissue. This could occur genetically or if you've had a breast reduction. The reason I'm saying this is because lots of people think "I never made enough milk" but truly that's because breastfeeding education is not considered important enough to be made a priority by our governments (not just in the US and Aus, but in most countries in the world). Breastfeeding is a skill that you need to learn and every baby is different - so even mums that have breastfed successfully before will still take 6-12 weeks to learn with their baby.
Now, to start out you don't need anything. You don't need a pump, you don't need to express colostrum, you just need yourself. You can express some colostrum if you want, but it's not necessary. Also, if you want to and you can't, please note that it's not any indication on your projected milk production. Your placenta produces hormones that inhibit milk production and is why it takes several days for your milk to "come in". This is something to keep in mind later down the track if you are having issues with supply and everything else seems to be going well after a consultation with an IBCLC - it's possible you could have retained products which would continue to release these hormones.
When baby is born they have natural instincts to seek out the breast. Your nipples turn darker when pregnant so it is easier to see too! If you want to, you can lay them lengthways along you (so their feet are pointing towards your feet) around your tummy and allow them to find their own way to you. This process is known as the "breast crawl" and can take 1-2 hours. An older video but with heaps of information in the caption is here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9WtH4dq-cw. The caption talks about what can inhibit this process. A newer video is here - https://globalhealthmedia.org/videos/early-initiation-of-breastfeeding/ . While beneficial, this isn't necessary, so if you don't get to do this don't fret. Don't fret if you don't breastfeed at all in the first 24hrs if something happens to you or bub, with the right support it is definitely possible to breastfeed successfully!
Something to keep in mind is that babies have primary reflexes - the startle reflex is one of them. Another that's not commonly known is the suck reflex. Stick anything in their mouth and they will suck on it. This is important because if you do need to bottle feed for any reason, don't fall into the trap of thinking "oh my gosh they guzzled all of that up, I really mustn't make enough breast milk if they drank that amount after feeding" - because often it's just their reflexes.
Before your milk transitions to mature milk it will be in really small volumes. This milk is really nutrient dense and is all your baby needs. We've actually evolved to grow quite fatty in the womb to allow for this transition period which is why babies can lose weight. Babies shouldn't lose more than 10% but if they do it could potentially be because you received fluids while in labour. I would book in to see an IBCLC anyway just to make sure there was nothing else going on.
The most important thing when beginning breastfeeding is positioning. Baby should have its tummy pressed against your tummy so they are looking at your breast - have you ever tried to drink a glass of water with your head to the side? It's really hard! You shouldn't be able to see the lips, so don't worry about what they're doing (somewhere along the lines it became a recommendation to "flip the lip", but it is now known that this has no benefit). The head should be tilted slightly back so the nose is kept clear. Holding your baby so they feel secure and don't have to worry about whether or not they're going to fall backwards is also really important. Often mums find the best position to be slightly reclined so baby falls into you and it's not so much effort to hold them. This article has some really good information, videos and pictures on attachment - https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bfinfo/attachment-breast. Another great video to watch is this - https://globalhealthmedia.org/videos/breastfeeding-attachment/
Things to note that raise red flags and should be addressed:
- Breastfeeding should NOT hurt, not even from the very first time or in the first few weeks. There is some mild discomfort that can be felt when the breast is first taken into the mouth as it can graze the top of the pallet but this should pass in a few seconds. If it hurts beyond the first few seconds please take your baby off (slip a finger in the corner of their mouth to break the suction) and try again. Keep doing this until you get a good attachment. Try adjusting the way you hold baby or the way you're positioned yourself to see if you can get better attachment. If it's still not working then book in to see an IBCLC ASAP! You don't want to get to a point where you damage your nipples and breastfeeding becomes impossible because of it.
- If your nipples are coming out looking anything other than the way they went in (squashed, lipstick shaped, white/purple) then you also need to work on your positioning and I would recommend booking in to see an IBCLC.
- If your nipples become painful and bright pink then you most likely have thrush and should also book in to see an IBCLC for diagnosis and to receive treatment advice.
- If your baby is sleeping for long periods of time (>4hrs) in the first few days this is not normal and indicates they may not be getting enough breastmilk and you should book in to see an IBCLC for support.
- If your baby feeds for long periods of time (>45 mins) this is also not normal and can cause your baby to fatigue. There is a distinct suck-swallow pattern that they have when actively feeding and it's possible that if feeding for so long they are passively feeding - remember back to the suck reflex. Take the baby off and if they don't fuss, that's great. If they do, that could be an indication of something not right and you should book into see an IBCLC for support
When you're returning to work, have a conversation around expectations with breastfeeding. If you're working close to your baby it may be possible to leave and direct feed or have someone bring your baby to you, rather than having to express. If you need to express then ask your work for somewhere suitable that is NOT a toilet (eew) and has access to a power point (if you need it) and a bench. If you are breastfeeding and have a healthy, term baby, you do not need to steralise your pumping equipment, including bottles, ever. You can also go up to 24hrs without washing them as long as they are kept in a sealed container in the fridge between pumping sessions. This is particularly handy if you are pumping frequently! was exclusively pumping while we traveled through Europe and all I took were 2 bottles, my pumping gear and a heap of disposable breastmilk bags. I would pump into the bottles and immediately after pumping transfer straight into the breastmilk bags and label them. Took up much less space this way.However, this does not apply if you did not have a healthy, term baby, and you need to discuss this with your health care providers. I was exclusively pumping while we traveled through Europe and all I took were 2 bottles, my pumping gear and a heap of disposable breastmilk bags. I would pump into the bottles and immediately after pumping transfer straight into the breastmilk bags and label them. Took up much less space this way.Sorry there's so much info and it doesn't even really touch the surface of what there is to know about breastfeeding!!
Everyone has different storage capacities and believe it or not, the size of your breasts do NOT dictate this!
@maple1422 WHAT? I missed those!
/deleted bits/