Post by kristhegirl on Feb 22, 2017 18:24:37 GMT -5
Need some help or reassurance? Ask away!
Have a tip or trick? Post!
While breastfeeding often has more room for confusion, please use this thread to ask any questions about feeding babies - all boob, all bottle, and anything in between.
I'm sure I will be creeping on this thread because breastfeeding didn't work for me round one, and I am hoping hard for it to work this time! And I have no idea how anything goes with BF, basically lol. I'll be reading everything posted here!!
Can we make this a feeding thread? I feel like even those of us planning to breastfeed may supplement sometimes and I really like the idea of being inclusive of everyone (explicitly)
I personally need to introduce a bottle before 6 weeks because that's all the time I have off from work. So keep that in mind if you have to go back to work. Two weeks of EBF if going back to work I think is ok. We supplemented in the hospital for a bit too though. I also read that mom shouldn't give the first bottle and we did that when I stopped BF and it worked well.
Can we make this a feeding thread? I feel like even those of us planning to breastfeed may supplement sometimes and I really like the idea of being inclusive of everyone (explicitly)
Edited to be more explicity inclusive, is the first post better? I definitely want anyone who needs help with feeding to ask questions!
Post by daisylola11 on Feb 22, 2017 21:48:10 GMT -5
It was so good to see this chart, I was never super concerned if I was making enough but wondered if it was normal to feed baby soooo often. It was! They can only take in so much at a time so be patient.
Can we make this a feeding thread? I feel like even those of us planning to breastfeed may supplement sometimes and I really like the idea of being inclusive of everyone (explicitly)
Edited to be more explicity inclusive, is the first post better? I definitely want anyone who needs help with feeding to ask questions!
Can the title just be "help me feed this baby?" Postpartum hormones are a bitch and if you can't BF sometimes the last thing you will need is another reminder
Edited to be more explicity inclusive, is the first post better? I definitely want anyone who needs help with feeding to ask questions!
Can the title just be "help me feed this baby?" Postpartum hormones are a bitch and if you can't BF sometimes the last thing you will need is another reminder
Post by erinshelley21 on Feb 22, 2017 22:22:34 GMT -5
We had to give DS a bottle at 2 weeks due to health issues of my own. If definitely made things difficult, but we were also able to undo the confusion eventually. It wasn't until he was 4 months old but the bottle love was broken eventually. He also wasn't nursing well when we had to give him the bottle so if it only takes a couple weeks to get the hang of nursing then I wouldn't be worried about introducing a bottle at that point.
Can the title just be "help me feed this baby?" Postpartum hormones are a bitch and if you can't BF sometimes the last thing you will need is another reminder
I was not able to BF DD1 at all. My milk never came in and I stressed about it for the first 5 weeks. I hated pumping. With the twins I decided we would FF from the start so I could keep my sanity. It takes about an hour to feed both babies back to back.
I was not able to BF DD1 at all. My milk never came in and I stressed about it for the first 5 weeks. I hated pumping. With the twins I decided we would FF from the start so I could keep my sanity. It takes about an hour to feed both babies back to back.
I'm FF again too. I went back and forth for a while but, I think it's best for us of I don't breastfeed.
Post by ladytiffany24 on Feb 23, 2017 8:12:45 GMT -5
I successfully BF'd DD for 13 months and am hoping to the do the same with DS.
Agree with others that not introducing bottle too soon is a good idea. However, the timing of the introduction can vary. I feel like if the baby has a good latch and is feeding well from the breast, you can go ahead and introduce the bottle and hope there isn't any confusion. Also agree with someone other than mom with the good smelling boobies giving the first few bottles.
For me, I typically ended up doing all the feeding while at home with my boobs, especially overnight but I ended up really resenting H for that. It was this weird thing in my head though where I secretly enjoyed the middle of the night snuggly feedings but I also wanted to sleep. So I'd get mad at H for being able to sleep so much. It can kind of be a mind fuck.
At the same time, you do what feels right in your situation. This time around, I would definitely like to get H ready and prepared to do at least one night feeding once bottle is introduced.
Post by ladytiffany24 on Feb 23, 2017 8:13:39 GMT -5
Oh, and I'm sure this has been said before but for both BF and FF mamas, don't get your mind too set on one particular kind of bottle. Some babies go through several types before finding the right one. Don't overbuy just one kind. Get a couple, try them out and then go from there!
I did a little bit of everything with DS. I EBF for about 3 months, combo fed until 10 months, then FF until 12 months. I'm planning on BF this time but am definitely open to combo-feeding again, which I actually loved because the pump didn't work well for me.
As far as introducing the bottle, I think it kind of depends on the situation. I think the recommendation is like 6 weeks but we introduced it at about 2 weeks without issue. DS was really easy when it came to feeding and could switch between bottles and breast without issue. I think, like so many things when it comes to babies, it will depend on your baby and you. I think going into it with a plan to be flexible is a good idea.
I did a little bit of everything with DS. I EBF for about 3 months, combo fed until 10 months, then FF until 12 months. I'm planning on BF this time but am definitely open to combo-feeding again, which I actually loved because the pump didn't work well for me.
As far as introducing the bottle, I think it kind of depends on the situation. I think the recommendation is like 6 weeks but we introduced it at about 2 weeks without issue. DS was really easy when it came to feeding and could switch between bottles and breast without issue. I think, like so many things when it comes to babies, it will depend on your baby and you. I think going into it with a plan to be flexible is a good idea.
I did a little bit of everything with DS. I EBF for about 3 months, combo fed until 10 months, then FF until 12 months. I'm planning on BF this time but am definitely open to combo-feeding again, which I actually loved because the pump didn't work well for me.
As far as introducing the bottle, I think it kind of depends on the situation. I think the recommendation is like 6 weeks but we introduced it at about 2 weeks without issue. DS was really easy when it came to feeding and could switch between bottles and breast without issue. I think, like so many things when it comes to babies, it will depend on your baby and you. I think going into it with a plan to be flexible is a good idea.
A big fat yes to the bolded!
If I learned anything the first time around, it's that I won't say "I'll never" again!
I never thought it was worth it to pump just so DH could do one night feeding. Too much cleaning, storing, heating it up.
I mostly just pumped at work or at the beginning when I needed some relief.
Introduced bottle at about a month. She decided to only take bottles from daycare lady. Would not from anyone else. I put bm in cereal, etc. because I would not waste it.
Post by moutonrouge on Feb 23, 2017 13:54:19 GMT -5
I think DH is feeling sad/bad that he won't get to take much a of turn with night feedings early on. If BF works out, I think that would motivate me to pump extra to have a night stash early on.
I know we have some Kiinde folks on here, so I thought I'd share what I'm going to try to do. So Kiinde has their nipples, and then you can use the pump adapters to put the nipple (and bottle top) of another brand on the Kiinde bottle/pouch setup. I got a free Avent bottle from Amazon, and then I bought Tommee Tippee and The First Years nipples (well, the whole bottle to get the cap). So, if baby isn't a fan of Kiinde nipples, I've got some options that don't involve moving milk from the storage pouch to a bottle every time.
There are more brands than just those 3 - I picked them only because I already had the one, and then the other 2 people had good things to say about the nipple shape encourage latch/jaw movement like breastfeeding. If I strike out with those, I'll re-evaluate my idea
Check your freezer stash to make sure it doesn't taste like soap. Pumping was always a struggle for me (fortunately I only did it occasionally since I SAH) and it really sucked to learn that my hard earned stash was all useless due to high lipase. In hindsight, maybe that's why DS refused the bottle when we tried. I didn't realize the problem until I tasted his cereal that he normally loves and was refusing when I put in BM instead of water. High lipase can be worked around by scalding milk if pumping is necessary for you.
I honestly don't think I'm going to bother pumping to build a stash this time around since it was a lot of work for something we didn't need often anyway. We didn't go out often in the first 6 months since he needed to eat so often and after that he could have solids if needed. I'll probably just pump a day ahead as needed for nights out so it can just stay in the fridge and I won't need to scald it.
I am pumping and FF at the moment. My supply from pumping isn't great, so I'm not sure how long I'll keep up with it.
With DD, I pumped until I went back to work, but had to supplement with formula. She was exclusively FF when I went back.
I had a lot of feelings about needing to pump and provide something for DD. Knowing that she turned out just fine being FF, I'm hoping I won't feel the same internal guilt this time. I am rational most of the time, but when it came to breastfeeding, rational thinking was not occurring.
Post by kristhegirl on Feb 23, 2017 15:12:43 GMT -5
I had to pump for Max while he was in the NICU. I just weaned my toddler a little over 3 months ago so let's just say body was ready, and now I have a great pump with tons of extra parts, and no plans to continue pumping AT ALL because thankfully Max is a great nurser and pumping is a gigantic PITA.
I have all this milk, now, too, that I don't know what to do with. Anyone know anything about donating breast milk?
I had to pump for Max while he was in the NICU. I just weaned my toddler a little over 3 months ago so let's just say body was ready, and now I have a great pump with tons of extra parts, and no plans to continue pumping AT ALL because thankfully Max is a great nurser and pumping is a gigantic PITA.
I have all this milk, now, too, that I don't know what to do with. Anyone know anything about donating breast milk?
I think the hospital would be the best place to go about that. My mom donated breast milk and did that. But...that was 25+ years ago.
I had to pump for Max while he was in the NICU. I just weaned my toddler a little over 3 months ago so let's just say body was ready, and now I have a great pump with tons of extra parts, and no plans to continue pumping AT ALL because thankfully Max is a great nurser and pumping is a gigantic PITA.
I have all this milk, now, too, that I don't know what to do with. Anyone know anything about donating breast milk?
Another vote for Human Milk 4 Human Babies. I travel once or twice a year for work and last year DD was about 5 months so I pumped while I was away. I didn't feel like flying cross country with 3 days worth of milk when I had a full freezer at home, and I was very easily able to find a mom who was more than happy to meet me at my hotel and take what I had! I plan on doing that this year when the time comes again. (Dd also never loved bottles so I had a decent freezer supply going to waste and was able to donate to several local moms).
I don't know how I won't introduce a bottle early on with having to return to work after 6-7 weeks. :/ I want to breastfeed but I feel that this shit ass maternity leave is going to screw up my plans. I mean we will see if I even can do it in the first place (since I couldn't with #1) but I feel like the odds are not in my favor with this.
Post by daisylola11 on Feb 23, 2017 19:54:55 GMT -5
Don't be afraid of nipple shields. I used one on righty for about 3 days until it got its shit together. It wasn't flat it just wouldn't "perk up" like the other. It was provided at the hospital and I went home w it, taking it with me just in case righty decides to be a special snowflake again.
Experimenting with different holds can help if baby isn't latching well for various reasons. My DS only wanted to nurse on the left side, not sure why. I was able to "trick" him by using different holds (cross cradle to nurse on the left, football to nurse on the right) so he was always lying the same way. After a couple weeks he would do both sides cross cradle (I found it most comfortable) but it took a while.
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