Breastfeeding/Pumping Check-in 2/6

[bluefairy5]

Welcome to the breastfeeding and pumping check-in. Please tag bluefairy5 to join the check-in, change your info, and for general updates. If you don't update for 4 weeks in a row I'll assume you're done with the check-in and remove you, but you're always welcome to join in again.

If you're new or returning...
- Are you EBF, EPing, combo feeding?
- Birthday of your child(ren)?
- If this is your second, etc. go around, let us know!

And for everyone...
- Successes?
- Challenges?
- Any new goals? Tips? Questions?

QOTW: Before parenthood, what was your biggest misconception and/or naive idea about feeding a tiny person? (Whether about BF, EP, combo feeding, solids, whatever.)



lilyharper
Little Man born early October
BF 2-3 times/day
Goal: Start figuring out this weaning thing.

bostongirl617
Baby BostonBoy born 10/17
BFing several times a day.
Goal: KOKO

aves0708
DD born 10-20-15
BF
Goal: Make it to two.

bluefairy5
Wee Fairy born 10/26/15
NOD at home
Goal: KOKO through cold/flu season, then reevaluate

rainbowbridge14
M born 12/2/15
NOD
Goal: KOKO

kaf7
Ds2 born December 2015.
BF 3 times/day
Goal: Drop lunchtime feed

nikiswimr
Little E was born 1/26/16.
NOD at home, pumping at work.
Goal: Wean work pump, milk in sippy, two years if FET cooperates

meggo
N born February 20th
EPing for a few more weeks
Goal: KOKO pumping for less than a month, then wean pump and dom

megrae12
Superman was born at 35 weeks on Feb 24th
Goal: Drop a morning session and solids 3x/day.

daydreamsam
Baby born Mar 21
BF
Goal: KOKO

westiemom
Baby O born 4/20/16
BF, occasional pumped bottle
Goal: KOKO

Stringy
P born 6/13
BF, pumping at work
Goal: a year

mugster
Roar was born 6/30/16
NOD at home, pumping at work for DC, starting solids
Goal: KOKO

oceanhutt
LO born 7/4
Combo feeding with combo bottles and BF
Goal: Springtime, then a year
Welcome back and congrats on 6 months!!

tikoberry99
Baby boy was born July 11!
EBF, occasional pumping, starting BLW
Goal: a year

disneykate
Emma was born 7/19
NOD at home, pumping at work, just starting solids
Goal: a year, keep working on solids

bocaburger
Twins were born 8/10
EBF with pumped bottles for MOTN
Goal: 6 months.

remylove1011
DD born 8/25
BF, pumping at work
Goal: 6 months

karabear4409
DS2 born 9/12
NOD, bottle before bed
Goal: a year

mg0202
DS born 10/6
BF, pumping at work
Goal: KOKO - yay!

peaseblossom55
E born 10/25
Combo feeding, BF, pumping
Goal: KOKO

calindi
DD born 11/14
EBF, NOD
Goals: 6 months EBF, then combo
Welcome!

emilie
DD born 12/19
BF, pumping for supply, supplementing

dancerspose
Baby girl Z was born 1/20
EP for now while waiting for LC appointment
Welcome!!

[megrae12]

Thanks for the check-in!

We are KOKO! Superman is slowly getting back to normal with solids and bf. He has started wanting to bf constantly. I've had to tell him no and that has resulted in major meltdowns. Is this part of turning one? Am I missing a leap somewhere? I'm kinda over it, as if he had his way, he would nurse all day.

Goal is to continue to try to drop a feed.

QOTW: I think I expected bf to be easy. I mean it's natural, right? Babies have the reflex. Was I completely wrong!!!! It's literally the hardest thing I've ever done!!!

[wanderlust]

Hai everyone! Can you add me as a return bluefairy5? I dropped off for a LONG time but I'm gonna try to check in here!

I'm NOD at home, pumping at work for daycare bottles. We started solids (mostly purees) at 5 months, she's now 8 months.
DOB: 5/31/16

Successes: 8+ months EBF! I'm really proud and happy we made it this far.

Challenges: Supply up and down, especially with my cycle returning at 6 months PP. It always stresses me out and makes me worry that I won't make enough for her. So far we've been OK though.

Goal: KOKO for a year

QOTW: That starting solids was this complicated process that had to be learned and heavily researched. In reality I just gave her stuff and checked it off the list after consulting a few resources. I built it up to be this big thing in my mind.

[bluefairy5]

megrae12 So hard. *So* hard.

wanderlust Welcome back! I also got way too in my head about solids.


At first I was thinking I'd have to take away one of my successes from last week (that she avoided two of my colds in a row, thanks, boob magic) but then she got a cold. And then *I* got a cold (yes, another one) and I realized, "Ah, WF was the vector for this cold, not me. Boob magic still in effect." So that's all well and good, but I've had some cold or other more or less since Christmas. Neat.

QOTW: This is going to sound stupid, but until reading the acronym "EBF" all the way back on TB, I didn't realize people *did* EBF/EP. I mostly have family who combo fed or FF, so I assumed that combo feeding was ~what one does~. No, I have no idea how I thought this. Yes, it is as silly as it sounds, considering, you know, the millennia before formula was invented. It's even stupider when you learn that I was EBF (after some early supplementing).

I'm what they call "book smart."

[nikiswimr]

We're still doing our thing. I'm home this week so all NOD and it's so nice. We're going to Jamaica sans baby in a month and I guess I'm going to bring my pump... she's not ready to wean and neither am I.

QOTW: I'm with megrae12, I expected BF to be more natural. It is now, but wow did we struggle in the beginning. I wish I had been better prepared.

[lilyharper]

Thanks bluefairy5 !

Successes: more boobing bc of his rsv/ear infection.

Challenges: Left nipple feels like fire. send help.

Qotw: how much bfing could hurt. also how they eat constantly. even at 16 months.

[kaf7]

Hi gang
We are still at 2 feeds a day and he still cries overnight. Sometimes for an hour. Sometimes for 10min. But it is better than it was a week ago. I feel like I go so long between feeds now that it doesn't seem familiar anymore. Weird? I have no desire to drop another feed yet so I will just koko for now.

Qotw: With my first I didn't realize that i would spend literally all day feeding a newborn. I remember constantly googling when do newborns start spacing out feeds. I didn't know it would take me 40min to do a feed and then that feeds every 2-3h would be from the start of that time to the start of the next. And then I ended up with a kid who would then clusterfeed all evening.

[kaf7]

bluefairy5, I'm so sorry about all the colds. But your qotw answer made me laugh, which I really needed today.

lilyharper, what's up with lefty? How can we help?

[lilyharper]

kaf7, I have one small spot (blister?) on it that looks like there's milk under it, but it doesn't? It keeps on peeling and then gets better and doesn't hurt eventually. Then it does again. But sometimes it hurts when I'm not even feeding him?

tldr...my nipple is pissed.

[rainbowbridge14]

lilyharper That nipple situation sounds frustrating. Do you think it is caused by his latch?

bluefairy5 your "I'm book smart" answer made me snort.

We are good here. She has cut two more teeth so her latch has been weird but it is getting better. Tonight she screamed in the car to nurse and was very adamantly grabbing at my boobs while I sat in the backseat with her. At least boobs are a good toddler tantrum weapon when they aren't the cause of the tantrum itself.

QOTW: I remember that cover of Time with the mom nursing her preschooler. It didn't gross me out but I just didn't get how it could happen. Like, how does a kid still want to nurse at that age? Now I get it better seeing how M is very determined to nurse and I am sure won't wean easily.

[lilyharper]

rainbowbridge14, entirely possible. also could be caused by his billion teeth....

[kaf7]

lilyharper my best guess is latch too.

[bocaburger]

Hi everyone! Sorry I haven't managed to check in much recently.

Successes: 6 months this Friday! I'm so proud of myself for making it this far. This was always my main goal and there were times that I really wasn't sure I would make it.

Challenges: let's see where do I start?

1. Exhaustion. I desperately want to night wean (we got the green light from the pediatrician). They are down to 2 feedings/night but there are 2 babies so that still equals 4 feedings, + occasional other wakeups.

2. They have reached the stage where they know exactly who has the boobs. If they are hungry and they see me, they will throw a fit until they get what they want.

3. G is feeding every 1.5-2 hours. Growth spurt? Shouldn't she be able to go longer by now? M is starting to stretch out the feeds, which is great in theory but also means they are off-schedule from each other.

4. Supply. My freezer stash is officially gone (I cried) and I'm getting less when I pump.

Goals: KOKO!!! I never thought I would reach that stage.

QOTW: I thought if I broke any of the rules (introducing pacifiers or bottles too early, supplementing at all) I would ruin everything forever and would be doomed. LOL. We introduced bottles + formula out of necessity on Day 8, and pacifiers as soon as they would take them. We had basically no issues with latch or bottle preference and it literally saved my sanity.

[disneykate]

bocaburger, I'm sorry your freezer stash is gone. But you are amazing for making it this far with twins. Congrats on 6 months!

Successes: We are KOKO this week. For once she seems not stuffed up. She seems more interested in eating solids now. She especially likes her pears and will open her mouth wide for them.
She seemed a little constipated when we first started solids, but this week has been better with more consistent poopy diapers.

Challenges: I am dipping more into my freezer stash. I am glad I was able to build it up before going back to work.

QOTW: I thought it would be too difficult to make our own purees and we would just buy jars of baby food. But we already had a magic bullet blender and it has been pretty easy so far to make our own stuff.

[peaseblossom55]

Successes- none really just doing what I've been doing but I've been getting slightly more than an ounce lately.

Challenges- E has not latched in a few days not sure why. She just sucks or chews on my nipple.


QOTW: I just assumed supply for BM would not be a problem. Sigh.

[bluefairy5]

nikiswimr I know you're at home this week, but did you succeed in dropping the work pump as hoped? (I have been so consumed with work lately that I may have missed this last week.)

lilyharper How's he feeling? Also, is lefty the same one that had the blister a couple months ago? Is that what they call a milk bleb? I seem to recall that term somewhere.

kaf7 That's great that you successfully dropped the lunchtime feed! And I don't know that it's weird for it to seem unfamiliar with going so long between feeds. It's one of the reasons I haven't pushed her to day wean on weekends. I'm not quite sure what I'd *do*, if that makes sense?

rainbowbridge14 I also used to be not grossed out, but surprised by extended BF. And now I'm like you. "Oh. I see."

rainbowbridge14 kaf7 I live to serve. And also to have zero common sense.

bocaburger Ah! Congrats on 6 months!! There is definitely a 6-month GS, so that could definitely explain G's feeding schedule right now. The night weaning thing is a tough decision either way - GL!

disneykate Pears were also WF's first solids love.

peaseblossom55 Sending big hugs. What did you decide about the dom?

[bocaburger]

Feb 8, 2017 12:15:55 GMT -5 peaseblossom55 said:

Successes- none really just doing what I've been doing but I've been getting slightly more than an ounce lately.

Challenges- E has not latched in a few days not sure why. She just sucks or chews on my nipple.


QOTW: I just assumed supply for BM would not be a problem. Sigh.

I'm sorry you've been having so many struggles.

[peaseblossom55]

bluefairy5 I didn't decide anything yet. I may ask my on for a prescription this week or next. I feel like nothing is going to help at this point.

[rainbowbridge14]

Feb 8, 2017 12:15:55 GMT -5 peaseblossom55 said:

Successes- none really just doing what I've been doing but I've been getting slightly more than an ounce lately.

Challenges- E has not latched in a few days not sure why. She just sucks or chews on my nipple.


QOTW: I just assumed supply for BM would not be a problem. Sigh.

I know when I was pregnant I was terrified I would have low Supply because of PCOS. The LC who taught or breastfeeding class really helped me when I expressed my concerns to her. She told me that any amount of breast-milk I can give was a good thing and that in the end no matter what that was it still awesome to do it even if Supply is low. It helped me to hear someone say that because it can feel really defeating when you want to do something but you're not sure you can. I am sure it feels pretty demoralizing right now but I also want to remind you that you're doing an awesome job providing your daughter the breast milk that you can give her despite the challenges.

[nikiswimr]

bluefairy5 I've kind of dropped the work pump. I'm no longer pumping on my 8-9 hour days. On my 12-14 hour days I'm still needing to pump. Some progress.

megrae12 E goes through phases of nursing more/less. These days because she can ask for it, when I'm home, it's more. Are you trying to work towards weaning at one?

wanderlust hello on this side! Congrats on 8 months! And yeah, we just kind of winged solids. I had these grand ideas of making my own baby food and going gradually and she basically just wanted what we were eating.

lilyharper I was also shocked by the pain. I had heard from someone that "if it hurts, you're doing it wrong" and that's a flat out lie. It just hurts to all of the sudden have your nips sucked continuously. First two weeks were rough.

kaf7 I'm glad things are at a better place then a couple of weeks ago!

rainbowbridge14 I agree, boobs are such a good toddler tantrum weapon. Or any time she falls or has a shitty doctors appointment. Boobs for the win.

bocaburger congrats on 6 months! And with twins!!

disneykate that's great she eats your purées. I have a freezer full of homemade purées I need to toss...

@peaseblossom5 huge hugs. The problems with latching may be supply related? Did you decide about the dom? I know you know this, but whatever you decide is ok, you've done amazing to push it this far!

[megrae12]

nikiswimr No, I'm not trying to wean at one. He literally just nurses all the damn time. We had cut down tremendously before he for sick this lady time and I was happy with that, now he wants to nurse add much as he did when he was a newborn. I just can't even.

[peaseblossom55]

Feb 8, 2017 20:14:23 GMT -5 rainbowbridge14 said:

Feb 8, 2017 12:15:55 GMT -5 peaseblossom55 said:

Successes- none really just doing what I've been doing but I've been getting slightly more than an ounce lately.

Challenges- E has not latched in a few days not sure why. She just sucks or chews on my nipple.


QOTW: I just assumed supply for BM would not be a problem. Sigh.

I know when I was pregnant I was terrified I would have low Supply because of PCOS. The LC who taught or breastfeeding class really helped me when I expressed my concerns to her. She told me that any amount of breast-milk I can give was a good thing and that in the end no matter what that was it still awesome to do it even if Supply is low. It helped me to hear someone say that because it can feel really defeating when you want to do something but you're not sure you can. I am sure it feels pretty demoralizing right now but I also want to remind you that you're doing an awesome job providing your daughter the breast milk that you can give her despite the challenges.

Thank you so much. It helps to hear that. H says this too which really keeps me motivated and knowing anything she gets is good for her.

[dancerspose]

bluefairy5 thanks for the check-in. I hope you all feel better soon!

megrae12 good luck with dropping the feeds.

wanderlust congrats on reaching 8 months!

nikiswimr I'm so jealous of your upcoming trip!

lilyharper oh no! I hope your nipple gets some relief soon!

kaf7 sorry for the night crying.

rainbowbridge14 I'm sure it wasn't amusing to you, but that car story is a good one.

bocaburger you are a rock star for hitting 6 months, even more so with twins!

disneykate glad things are going well.

peaseblossom55 I'm so sorry for the supply issues. I agree with others, be kind to yourself and remember whatever you get is still nourishment!

AFM - Our appointment with the LC on Tuesday went really well. She was so reassuring and encouraging. It was really nice to have a professional tell you that you've done everything right in a difficult situation. Basically she wants us to keep doing what we're doing (pumping and bottle feeding) and add in 2-3 times a day trying her on the boob as I feel comfortable. We go back next week. The nipple shield isn't going to work for us; Z has a tendency to bite on it, and while Z does look to have a very mild tongue and lip tie she doesn't think they're impeding a good latch. Basically she thinks Z needs to get bigger and stronger and just learn. On Tuesday she was up to 6lbs 7oz (birth weight was 6lbs 2oz) so I'm hoping we'll hit 7lbs next week.

Successes - So far since the appointment we had one good latch yesterday and today. Both times she stayed on for about 10 minutes. She still took from the bottle after, but I also didn't push to keep getting her back on after she slipped off/screwed up the latch. I didn't want either of us to get too frustrated. But, she definitely took less from the bottle.

Challenges - keeping up with all the pumping. Also, lefty is a serious under-performer. On average I get half from lefty than righty each time I pump.

Goals - keep improving on the latch.

QOTW - For whatever reason, I just had a feeling BF would not come easy to me. I did, however, think that EP would be no big deal or even actually easier because it meant DH could help and I wouldn't have a baby attached to my boob all the time. I did not realize just how much pumping needed to be done, especially at the beginning.

[kaf7]

Feb 9, 2017 12:30:42 GMT -5 dancerspose said:

AFM - Our appointment with the LC on Tuesday went really well. She was so reassuring and encouraging. It was really nice to have a professional tell you that you've done everything right in a difficult situation. Basically she wants us to keep doing what we're doing (pumping and bottle feeding) and add in 2-3 times a day trying her on the boob as I feel comfortable. We go back next week. The nipple shield isn't going to work for us; Z has a tendency to bite on it, and while Z does look to have a very mild tongue and lip tie she doesn't think they're impeding a good latch. Basically she thinks Z needs to get bigger and stronger and just learn. On Tuesday she was up to 6lbs 7oz (birth weight was 6lbs 2oz) so I'm hoping we'll hit 7lbs next week.

Successes - So far since the appointment we had one good latch yesterday and today. Both times she stayed on for about 10 minutes. She still took from the bottle after, but I also didn't push to keep getting her back on after she slipped off/screwed up the latch. I didn't want either of us to get too frustrated. But, she definitely took less from the bottle.

Challenges - keeping up with all the pumping. Also, lefty is a serious under-performer. On average I get half from lefty than righty each time I pump.

Goals - keep improving on the latch.

QOTW - For whatever reason, I just had a feeling BF would not come easy to me. I did, however, think that EP would be no big deal or even actually easier because it meant DH could help and I wouldn't have a baby attached to my boob all the time. I did not realize just how much pumping needed to be done, especially at the beginning.

I'm glad the appointment was so positive for you. I had to use a shield both babies and every time I got a good latch without one was a step in the right direction so that's great news that you've already had a good latch twice!

[katelm]

dancerspose I disagree with the LC that a minor tongue & lip tie shouldn't impede a good latch. That was exactly our issue and why going forward with a second tongue tie revision (laser to get allll the way back) is what ultimately got us over our hump. Just something to keep in mind for future reference!

[katelm]

Since I'm not currently on the checkin, my daughters bday is 7/18/16. She is 6.5 months.

Just KOKO over here, using my extra pumped milk to mix into solids & beyond that extra is getting frozen abd donated. I feel very fortunate for having a good supply and feel very thankful for my spectra pump because it helps a ton.

Pumping at work 2x a day (for her 2 daycare bottles) is going well. I use the Sarah Wells bag and it helps a lot. Well worth the investment.I pump directly into the dr browns bottles. Anything I can do to make it more efficient, I do. I'm constantly reevaluating the daily routine & how to use less overall bottles.

She's still feeding about every 3 hours all night & day. She's a boobaholic at night and gets pissed if my H tries to give her a bottle motn. Fortunately now a days she nurses fast, I stay asleep for most of it while feeding her in bed and she goes right back to bed after chugging. Now that she's big & strong & can roll I've started bed sharing part of the night, it helps us both get more sleep. I don't think we will be night weaning anytime soon at this rate! It's ok, I know in a few years she won't even want to cuddle & would rather be with her friends than her boring old mom so I'm just trying to live in the moment and go to bed as early as possible to make it work . I think my mindset on sucking up all the night feedings is primarily coming from working mom guilt though. I hardly even see her by the time we get home and so I get all that extra snuggles from her throughout the night

[westiemom]

Feb 9, 2017 16:44:36 GMT -5 katelm said:

dancerspose I disagree with the LC that a minor tongue & lip tie shouldn't impede a good latch. That was exactly our issue and why going forward with a second tongue tie revision (laser to get allll the way back) is what ultimately got us over our hump. Just something to keep in mind for future reference!

This is exactly us as well, dancerspose.

[westiemom]

KOKO here! This has been a good week. She is all about the boob!

My own challenges aren't related to BFing this week!

[dancerspose]

katelm westiemom thank for the warning/tip. I don't think she was completely ruling out that it could be a problem, but her initial instinct was no but that we would keep an eye on it. I will be sure to ask again next week.

[bluefairy5]

peaseblossom55 FWIW, I know every person's body is different, but we've had SAIFers start dom relatively "late" (i.e. not like 6-8 weeks PP) and it did make a difference. And +1 to everything rainbowbridge14 said. Also, I'm really glad it sounds like YH is being supportive.

dancerspose That's great that you have another appointment already scheduled with the LC. WF has an upper lip tie and once she got bigger and stronger, it did not affect her latch or my comfort anymore. And it's pretty common to have one side produce more than the other, with the imbalance more pronounced with pumping than BFing, but it's not a problem in itself.

katelm Bed sharing was also a life-saver for us from about 6-12 months. I have your info in my template for next week, from when you put it into the 1/31 check-in thread (which I saw after I put this one up )

westiemom Yay for no nursing strikes after the move! That's really awesome.