Feeding Thread w/o 11/20

[dashook]

Hi ladies! I hope it's okay if I get this started. If I recall, we were going to do a weekly thread. Copying and pasting from tjanca22 's thread last week.

BF? Check in here! FF? Check in here? Combination of both? Great, check in here!

What's working well for you this week?

What are you struggling with this week?

Questions/concerns?

Have you set any feeding goals?

[requiressnacks]

Do you guys mind a question from a Dec'16 lurker? Hope not!

I'm pumping and supplementing with formula. I was just wondering how many minutes you all pump for? I have decent output (I think) and I try to pump 3-4 times per day. I can pump for 20 minutes and still not empty my breast. I'm starting to resent how much time I spend pumping and wanted to cut it down to like 15 minutes per session. Just curious what works for you guys.

Thanks!

[requiressnacks]

Nov 20, 2016 12:06:24 GMT -5 waitwhat said:

Nov 20, 2016 11:47:13 GMT -5 requiressnacks said:

Do you guys mind a question from a Dec'16 lurker? Hope not!

I'm pumping and supplementing with formula. I was just wondering how many minutes you all pump for? I have decent output (I think) and I try to pump 3-4 times per day. I can pump for 20 minutes and still not empty my breast. I'm starting to resent how much time I spend pumping and wanted to cut it down to like 15 minutes per session. Just curious what works for you guys.

Thanks!

I only pump once a day to build a stash and I pump for like 5 minutes. I get a let down fairly quickly and then I usually pump until the milk stops flowing which is about 5 minutes total. I'm not sure if this is right or wrong but it's what works for me!

5 minutes total?! That's awesome.

[ClassyMrsA]

What's working well for you this week?
She's latching more quickly and letting go less frequently. I've also been able to mostly get her to nurse both sides before falling asleep.

What are you struggling with this week?
Still working on getting longer stretches at night. I think she's not keeping up well towards the end of a feed because she chokes sometimes when she gets too much. It only happens on the right which was my overachiever last time too. Not sure what to do about that.

Questions/concerns? This is kind of an odd question, but Lillian's poop was very wet and thin. We had frequent (like every day) blowouts. Lilah's is thicker and almost exactly like dijon mustard. Normal or is it being thicker and slimier/creamier something I should talk to the pediatrician about? I'm not seeing strings of mucus or anything. Just the texture is not what I remember.

Have you set any feeding goals? Lillian nursed for 19 months and probably weaned because I was pregnant more than because she was ready to stop. I definitely want to make it to 1 year, but ultimately I'll let her nurse until she's 2 if she wants. We'll see if she's as into it as her sister was.

[requiressnacks]

Nov 20, 2016 12:17:55 GMT -5 danib said:

Nov 20, 2016 11:47:13 GMT -5 requiressnacks said:

Do you guys mind a question from a Dec'16 lurker? Hope not!

I'm pumping and supplementing with formula. I was just wondering how many minutes you all pump for? I have decent output (I think) and I try to pump 3-4 times per day. I can pump for 20 minutes and still not empty my breast. I'm starting to resent how much time I spend pumping and wanted to cut it down to like 15 minutes per session. Just curious what works for you guys.

Tha nks!

In my 2 years of pumping, I never exceeded 20 minutes. I have a lot of milk as well and generally don't empty my breast from pumping (you never really empty it anyway because you will continuously stimulate more milk to be produced). Today I pumped for 10 minutes because little man woke up and I had a full 5 oz bottle by that time anyway.
If you feel good about how much milk you are getting in 15minutes, then it is perfectly fine to stop pumping at that point.

Thanks! I have no idea why I thought I was supposed to be pumping until empty.

[goldenlove3]

ClassyMrsA I think the yellowish, seedy looking, "Dijon mustard" is C has. I think our ped said that's normal breast milk poop.

[ClassyMrsA]

Nov 20, 2016 15:26:35 GMT -5 goldenlove3 said:

ClassyMrsA I think the yellowish, seedy looking, "Dijon mustard" is C has. I think our ped said that's normal breast milk poop.

That's what I've read. I was just taken aback by it not being super thin and watery. The yellow, seedy part I was expecting.

[dashook]

What's working well for you this week?
So at 2 days old, my girl is impressing the hell out of me with how good she is at nursing. This is already 100 x's easier than it was with DS (even recognizing that my own lack of experience contributed last time). She only lost 3% of her birth weight in the hospital and is so efficient at the breast that I am confident she'll be back to her birth weight by the time she sees the pedi on Tuesday.

What are you struggling with this week?
The only issue she seems to have is opening her mouth wide enough to get a proper latch at first. She also likes to block her mouth with her hands. So I am still working at getting her on for like 5 minutes at each feeding before she even starts to feed. I anticipate this getting easier as she grows and her mouth gets bigger.

Questions/concerns?
Anyone have any tried and true tricks for getting them to open wide? I often have to wait for a yawn ir a cry to get it.

Have you set any feeding goals?
I'm aiming high this time after successfully nursing DS to 16 months (using a nipple shield for the duration). I was willing to go longer with him, but we ended up stopping around the end of first tri because he was kinda over it and it had started to hurt me. So given that I hope to wait a bit longer before getting pregnant again this time, I'd love to continue nursing her until she wants to wean (2 years+ if she wants).

[goldenlove3]

What's working well for you this week? Well my goal this week is just weight gain so I've been bad about breast feeding. We've been adding in a couple bottles of formula too.

What are you struggling with this week? I still don't know what to do about his awful latch. Even when milk is flowing out, he won't stay on longer than a few seconds before he gets frustrated and cries or falls asleep. I might set up a meeting with the LC at my ped but I feel like I've heard all the tricks and advice already. I did buy a breast shield off Amazon so I might try that. I just hate the idea of yet another thing to deal with.

Questions/concerns?

Have you set any feeding goals? I can't imagine anything long term right now.

[cookswithwine9]

What's working well for you this week? We are nursing at least the 8-12 recommended times a day and he is having the appropriate amount of soiled diapers. So I would say it's a success so far. He was still down weight at his first ped appt but that was only 3 days after birth so I'm not concerned.

What are you struggling with this week? He has no problem latching but staying latched sometimes. He will push his head away and spit my nipples out. We have to work at if a couple times before he hold on. I wonder if this is related to his tongue tie

Questions/concerns? I heard its good to let your nipples air dry before putting pads back on. How is this possible? I leak all over!

Have you set any feeding goals? My short term goal is 12 weeks which is my maternity leave. My long term goal is 6 months. We will have to see how pumping at work goes.

[kleigh]

cookswithwine9 LC at the hospital also recommended letting nips air dry before anything else- she alikened it to sugar that's melted and then re-coagulating, best to let it coagulate to itself and act as a protectant - something like this, I was delirious.

goldenlove3 I just want to give you all the hugs because obv I'm also having major feeding issues here and I totally totally totally get it. It's super emotional for me so I'm guessing it might be for you too. I don't want to give up BFing, I actually like it, I like the bonding and the comfort they bring me, I like knowing I'm doing everything I can to give my babies the best - but I am struggling with it. Pumping sucks. I'm here for you!

[hangry]

goldenlove3 Do you have a guess why he won't stay on? Have you already seen an LC? What tips have they given you? (Also, if you don't want input, just tell me F off No offense will be taken)

[goldenlove3]

Nov 21, 2016 10:47:17 GMT -5 hangry said:

goldenlove3 Do you have a guess why he won't stay on? Have you already seen an LC? What tips have they given you? (Also, if you don't want input, just tell me F off No offense will be taken)

I'm not sure. Maybe because it's not a bottle? But he's been bad with latching since he was born. None of the nurses or LCs at the hospital could get him to fully latch. We checked him for tongue tie and they said he was fine. We were expressing into a spoon just to get him some food. Then when the jaundice happened, we had to pump and supplement to make sure he was actually eating enough so the set us back a bit.

The LC showed us ways to use a bottle that won't spoil him from the breast like paced feeding and using a little syringe while suckling on my finger. But honestly, when this kid is hungry and screaming, the last thing I'm going to do is use my finger. I try to do the paced feeding but it doesn't always work.

It's frustrating because he knows what to do. He's done it a few times and stays on for a good 20 minutes. But most of the time he will constantly pull off and scream OR he will just lay on my nipple and pass out. I've tried skin to skin, different holding positions, compressions. I can't figure out what makes him actually do it correctly.

[dashook]

goldenlove3, I'm sorry I don't have any advice but just wanted to acknowledge your post because I really feel for you and can only imagine how frustrating and emotional this is. Sending hugs!

[dashook]

Question--my milk is coming in hard today and I'm pretty uncomfortable. From a supply perspective, it's okay if I pump a little after she eats, right? She's definitely draining the breast pretty well but there's just so much right now that I'm engorged and sore again shortly after feeding. Thoughts?

[dashook]

Nov 21, 2016 13:09:26 GMT -5 danib said:

Nov 21, 2016 13:00:09 GMT -5 dashook said:

Question--my milk is coming in hard today and I'm pretty uncomfortable. From a supply perspective, it's okay if I pump a little after she eats, right? She's definitely draining the breast pretty well but there's just so much right now that I'm engorged and sore again shortly after feeding. Thoughts?

you can. But be careful with it as it will just stimulate your breasts to continue producing that extra amount milk, so you may find yourself engorged long-term. If you do need to do it, try to express just enough for comfort.

Thanks!! This is kind of what I was thinking but I'm kinda rusty on the "rules" for establishing supply.

[hangry]

Sorry goldenlove3, this all sounds very frustrating. I had a hard time the first 6 weeks with O, so I understand somewhat.
Is it possible you are waiting too long to feed him? Like, what if you fed him before you thought he was hungry, even every hour if you need to. Change his diaper first so he's awake too. That way he might be able to have more patience to learn how to latch better.
As you said, it sounds like you've had lots of LC tips and you've done a lot to try to make this work. If you need to stop to save your sanity, then go for it. I admire you for all the effort you have put in thus far!

[sophiegrace]

Anyone following this thread have experience with a possible food allergy while BF?

I'm dealing with mucus in diaper, congestion, reflux, gas, and little sleep. Some days her mood is great, but I'd say 3 out of 4 days she's miserable if she's awake.

I have a call into the pedi, but as far as I know it'll be elimination for me in order to diagnose anything?

[hangry]

@ sophiegrace I don't personally have experience but my sister did with my nephew. He ended up being allergic to eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, and dairy. She BF him until he was 2 and eliminated it all herself. I can ask her about symptoms as I don't remember now what they were. The only thing I remember was him having exzema.

[hangry]

Also, to add, he saw an allergist and was tested. They didn't so an elimination diet to figure out what was wrong.

[sophiegrace]

Thank you hangry. It's really good to hear that she was able to keep BFing him. For someone who was completely not committed to BFing I've become really attached to it.

waitwhat I was thinking of you because I remember you saying B had food allergies and I wasn't sure if it was while he was BF or after. I'm sorry you're dealing with that now, it's scary. I haven't noticed any blood yet, but the mucus just started on Saturday. I wasn't 100% sure that's what I was seeing but it was obvious today. She is gassy, but that's gotten better with the mylicon drops. I wish she was just crying, she almost writhes around while whimpering the whole time. She'll only really cry if you put her down or try to lay her on her back.

[shedreamsincolor]

dashook - I'm having issues with engorgement/oversupply this time again (same as with DS). With DS I started pumping pretty much right away and ended up with a long term oversupply issue where I got super engorged anytime I was even a few minutes late for feeding or pumping. It was awful I'm 6 days PP right now and the last 72 hours have been pretty miserable but I'm starting to see improvement. I would talk to an LC to make sure they agree but I'm 1. Only feeding one side per feeding and 2. Block feeding for 3-4 hours at a stretch and 3. Hand expressing a very small amount from the opposite side just to comfort. Plus ice packs and ibuprofen. Having so much milk is in some ways a blessing but it can cause tons of issues as well. GL! Happy to commiserate anytime about oversupply/enforcement if it persists after your milk comes in!

ETA: Also taking lecithin supplements to help minimize chance of plugged ducts until this all regulates

[dashook]

shedreamsincolor, that's really helpful. I also had a slight oversupply with DS and totally understand how it is a blessing and a curse! Thanks for the advice. I've been mostly feeding from only one side at each feeding but the lecithin might be in the cards for me depending on how much things regulate themselves in the coming days.

[cookswithwine9]

danib that picture comparison is really cool! I have been pumping a little bit each day for comfort and dumping it. Today is the first day I decided to freeze it. Starting a stash! Which is exciting lol

How often do you all sanitize your pump parts by either boiling them (I will probably never do this...) or microwaving in the sanitizing bags?

[cookswithwine9]

Nov 21, 2016 18:35:16 GMT -5 danib said:

You've been dumping it cookswithwine9? I think I just cried a little!
When C was a baby I went overboard and steralised after every use. After a few months I relaxed on it and just washed with hot water after using it. This time I boiled everything before first use and I'm just washing with hot water now. (I may still boil bottles/nipples after each use though).

I only dumped it like 3x... I was still figuring everything out with the pumping.

[aggiebug]

goldenlove3 have you tried out the shield yet?

It was a huge lifesaver for me with DD. We had latch issues, and it helped so much. Also with you having to give a bottle it light help with that confusion since it's more similar to a bottle than your nipple if that makes sense. I know what you mean about another dang thing but we used it for maybe 3 months? So not too long.

[goldenlove3]

aggiebug danib It should be arriving at my house today so I'll give it a try tonight or tomorrow. Is there any major differences with the different brands? I just picked the "Amazon choice" one. And do you just place it over your nipple and put baby on?

[aggiebug]

Nov 22, 2016 16:24:59 GMT -5 goldenlove3 said:

aggiebug danib It should be arriving at my house today so I'll give it a try tonight or tomorrow. Is there any major differences with the different brands? I just picked the "Amazon choice" one. And do you just place it over your nipple and put baby on?

I only used a Medela one so I have no clue about differences.  It has a learning curve getting it on, but it had instructions on the packaging.  It has been almost 2 years since I used it so I can't recall the exact technique, but I know I licked it so it would stay stuck to me.  It suggested using breast milk but that became a huge mess so licking it worked better for me.  

Good luck and I hope it helps, I recall a few LCs gave me some flack about it but whatever it worked for us. 

[goldenlove3]

Nov 22, 2016 16:38:05 GMT -5 aggiebug said:

Nov 22, 2016 16:24:59 GMT -5 goldenlove3 said:

aggiebug danib It should be arriving at my house today so I'll give it a try tonight or tomorrow. Is there any major differences with the different brands? I just picked the "Amazon choice" one. And do you just place it over your nipple and put baby on?

I only used a Medela one so I have no clue about differences.  It has a learning curve getting it on, but it had instructions on the packaging.  It has been almost 2 years since I used it so I can't recall the exact technique, but I know I licked it so it would stay stuck to me.  It suggested using breast milk but that became a huge mess so licking it worked better for me.  

Good luck and I hope it helps, I recall a few LCs gave me some flack about it but whatever it worked for us. 

I just checked and I got the Medela one. Hopefully it's the right size.

[shedreamsincolor]

goldenlove3: +1 for using the nipple shield. We used it for about 6 weeks at the beginning when J was having trouble with his latch. There's a little bit of a learning curve but immediately my nipples were less sore after feeds so that was awesome. If I remember right my nipple didn't fill the whole area and the LC said that was fine. The rest of the nipple area would just fill with milk when I had a letdown and it was NBD. Just in case you get it and it's the same for you- I was confused about how it would work at first.