Do I have to offer both boobs each time? It seems like DD spits up when she eats on both. Internet gives varied responses.
She will not stop sucking, even after 40 minute on one side, so I have to break her off.
My milk isn't officially here but she's eating a lot of something. Tons of poops!
Second time around it's a lot less stressful. I don't know how much she's getting but she's not acting hungry or lethargic, so we're good. I'm a Type B personality though.
I leaked a lot but had great supply with my first, so milk savers wouldn't be worth it to me.
Post by kristhegirl on Feb 26, 2017 14:38:09 GMT -5
britab I only offer one side. I'd rather he drain my boob and get the hind milk. I did the same with my daughter with no issues for her or me - she gained weight steadily, I did not have supply issues.
This is of course just an anecdote, but it works for me.
britab, I think if you are watching cues like you are and you usually have good supply, one at a time is fine. Like kristhegirl said, it will make sure baby is getting a good balance of milk (and you will always have the other side if baby still seems hungry). I always nursed on both (always had just enough milk) and DW always nursed on one and both seemed to work fine (another anecdote for you)
Post by daisylola11 on Feb 27, 2017 0:02:14 GMT -5
britab I agree w the pp you can do either, I think at first I just did one and eventually he needed two. If he drained one and still fussed a bit after I'd offer the other one just in case. Once your milk fully comes in you can see where she's at too.
Engorged and Jack has a shallow latch... any ancedotes for me please?
I can't remember exactly what it's called, something like "reverse pressure" hand expression - basically you push straight back from your nipple into your boob to help alleviate the pressure so he can latch.
Barring that, maybe just some good old fashioned regular hand expression would help, too, depending on how engorged you are.
I can't remember exactly what it's called, something like "reverse pressure" hand expression - basically you push straight back from your nipple into your boob to help alleviate the pressure so he can latch.
Barring that, maybe just some good old fashioned regular hand expression would help, too, depending on how engorged you are.
+1 to this @justinslovo. Another thing that could potentially help is changing nursing position to one of the more "laid back" ones to encourage him to take the breast more deeply. (I've never had much success with that positioning due to the awkwardness of big boob problems, so YMMV.)
Seriously. Laid-back = drowning my poor baby in my boob flesh.
Can someone talk to me about pumping to comfort? I feel like I'm constantly engourged and so uncomfortable but I nervous to actually pump and create an oversupply issue. My LC mentioned just using a manual pump or hand expressing just until I don't feel so full but I'm not really sure how this would work
I pumped for five minutes (with a double electric) once or twice a day when I was trying to come down from the NICU pumping schedule. It worked well for me but I literally made it up on my own on a whim.
I highly recommend taking lecithin while you sort it out to help avoid clogged ducts. It helps the milk fat not be quite so sticky.
I had major engorgement with DD. I found ice packs right after nursing were really helpful. I also primarily nursed on one side a feeding, and maybe a minute or two on the other. Just to relieve pressure.
The ice packs are very helpful to comfort the engorgement. Can't say enough good things about using them.
Can someone talk to me about pumping to comfort? I feel like I'm constantly engourged and so uncomfortable but I nervous to actually pump and create an oversupply issue. My LC mentioned just using a manual pump or hand expressing just until I don't feel so full but I'm not really sure how this would work
I did this a few times with DD1 and everything was fine. Just don't do it on a regular basis.
With DD2, it seems like my body figured it out much more easily. My issue was when DD1 started sleeping longer stretches and I couldn't from boob engorgement.
Currently still pumping every 2 hours, supplementing with formula and brining him to breast. Its exhausting and feels like we are constantly feeding. We use a nipple shield which had significantly improved his latch and saved my nipples from more bruising.
But mysupply is still low. Sometimes i pump 2 Oz in 15 min, sometimes half an Oz.
I'm having fenugreek tea a few times a day as recommended by my doctor but I can't tell if it's doing anything.
I'm going back to see the LC on Tuesday.
But any tried and tested tips on getting your supply up?
mikaela20 the thread about lactation cookies on the Pregnancy board has some anecdotal evidence about oatmeal and brewers yeast. Maybe some oatmeal for breakfast and a beer after dinner if you have them in the house? Just to see how that goes. Although the cookie recipe over there sounds delicious.
Post by erinshelley21 on Mar 6, 2017 7:22:52 GMT -5
mikaela20 did your LC tell you to pump for only 15? I was told to pump for 20 every session. As for supply increase tips, I did actual fenugreek pills, mothers milk tea, oatmeal and so much water you think you can't possibly drink anymore. I had to eat oatmeal for breakfast 4 days a week with ds and it does work.
I'll see if I can find the fenugreek dosage I did. I was taking 15 pills a day at one point.
moutonrouge thanks I will check out that thread. I will try beer and oatmeal today!
erinshelley21 the LC is the one who told me to do 15 mins. I will switch it to 20 today until I see her again tomorrow and see if that works. Ok wow, I don't smell like maple syrup yet. Is it your milk that would smell or your skin/body, pee? I just got it in tea form so I probably need to up my cups of it too by the sounds of it.
mikaela20 keep in mind that babies are much more efficient than pumps at getting milk out of boobs. Have you done any weighted feeds?
While you're pumping, look at pictures of your baby. It sounds silly, but it really does help your milk flow.
Before you pump, massage your boobs "like dough," as the LC at my hospital put it - push gently but firmly towards your chest wall, starting on the outside edge of your boob and work towards the nipple.
Are you eating enough and drinking water? That'll help, too.
These are all the non-additive things I can think of, PP have covered the additives!
moutonrouge thanks I will check out that thread. I will try beer and oatmeal today!
erinshelley21 the LC is the one who told me to do 15 mins. I will switch it to 20 today until I see her again tomorrow and see if that works. Ok wow, I don't smell like maple syrup yet. Is it your milk that would smell or your skin/body, pee? I just got it in tea form so I probably need to up my cups of it too by the sounds of it.
My pee smelled like it. Definitely up the cups of tea if you don't want to get the pills. Does your pump have a letdown button? I always hit that once during my 20 minutes. Usually around the 11-12 minute mark I think and then went to the 20 minute mark. If milk was still coming I would keep going a couple more minutes. Not if it was just drops but if it was flowing. Keep doing skin to skin too.
My baby never swallowed when i nursed in front of the LC. He also doesn't stay on long, maybe 3min then falls asleep on the breast . So they have me pumping and suplimenting with formula to help his weight - he is still loosing. The LC wants me to start at the breast, then the pumped milk, then formula while his doctor wants me to end with the breast because of his weight. I just try to catch him between feedings so he isn't too frustrated at the breast.
moutonrouge thanks I will check out that thread. I will try beer and oatmeal today!
erinshelley21 the LC is the one who told me to do 15 mins. I will switch it to 20 today until I see her again tomorrow and see if that works. Ok wow, I don't smell like maple syrup yet. Is it your milk that would smell or your skin/body, pee? I just got it in tea form so I probably need to up my cups of it too by the sounds of it.
My pee smelled like it. Definitely up the cups of tea if you don't want to get the pills. Does your pump have a letdown button? I always hit that once during my 20 minutes. Usually around the 11-12 minute mark I think and then went to the 20 minute mark. If milk was still coming I would keep going a couple more minutes. Not if it was just drops but if it was flowing. Keep doing skin to skin too.
Ok thanks - I definitely need more tea then.
I rented a hospital grade pump that goes to the let down setting after 2 mins. Sometimes I have to do the first setting twice until I see milk.
My pee smelled like it. Definitely up the cups of tea if you don't want to get the pills. Does your pump have a letdown button? I always hit that once during my 20 minutes. Usually around the 11-12 minute mark I think and then went to the 20 minute mark. If milk was still coming I would keep going a couple more minutes. Not if it was just drops but if it was flowing. Keep doing skin to skin too.
Ok thanks - I definitely need more tea then.
I rented a hospital grade pump that goes to the let down setting after 2 mins. Sometimes I have to do the first setting twice until I see milk.
But I never get a flow. Just drops.
Try hitting it after 11 minutes or so. Have you messed with the settings at all, like the speed? I naturally thought cranking that thing up would be the right thing to do, but I only needed it at the 2nd or 3rd notch to get things going. Are the shields(the cone things) the right size for your boobs? I needed a bigger size than what came with the pump. If your H or someone is there to help, you could try pumping one boob while nursing on the other since the baby might be able to signal a letdown better than the pump.
Pumping is so much trial and error, which is a bummer since supply is so delicate in the beginning.
mikaela20 you are doing great! You are feeding your baby. I know it can be frustrating and tiring.
Some "baby awake" tips, since newborns are jerks who want to sleep instead of eat (you may already be doing these, but just in case) - - change diaper before feeding - strip baby down to just diaper - don't use a pillow, just hold baby in arms/hands (less cuddly) - stroke neck, or cheek, or back, etc to keep baby awake - make sure no bright light is in baby's face, it makes them close their eyes - use a baby wipe or damp rag on baby's head, back, leg, etc
mikaela20 plus one to what kristhegirl said- you are doing great! In the NICU, the nurses gave me warm compresses to use before I pumped. It seemed to encourage flow.
Just some tea advice - you can try letting it steep longer (10 min) to have a stronger cup of tea. You can also double down on the tea bags or amount of loose-leaf tea you're adding. Just in case you're finding it hard to drink more tea.
mikaela20 you are doing great! You are feeding your baby. I know it can be frustrating and tiring.
Some "baby awake" tips, since newborns are jerks who want to sleep instead of eat (you may already be doing these, but just in case) - - change diaper before feeding - strip baby down to just diaper - don't use a pillow, just hold baby in arms/hands (less cuddly) - stroke neck, or cheek, or back, etc to keep baby awake - make sure no bright light is in baby's face, it makes them close their eyes - use a baby wipe or damp rag on baby's head, back, leg, etc
mikaela20, I second all of this. My supply sucked at first largely because DS would fall asleep too quickly at feedings. I would add moving your breast while baby is nursing if they seem to be falling asleep, it seemed to wake DS up and remind him to keep going. It can be so hard and you are doing great.
I'm assuming your LC/doctor have checked for tongue/lip tie issues? DS had a slight tongue tie at first so sucking made him sleepy too fast since he was burning more calories feeding than he was taking in. It loosened enough and we learned to compensate enough not to need it clipped. Just something to rule out if it hasn't been already.
Oh yeah, another pumping tip: in addition to making sure your breast shields are the right fit, lube them up with some lanolin (or coconut or olive oil) before putting them on. This will help reduce chaffing and irriatation, making for a more comfortable and productive pumping session.
Oh yeah, another pumping tip: in addition to making sure your breast shields are the right fit, lube them up with some lanolin (or coconut or olive oil) before putting them on. This will help reduce chaffing and irriatation, making for a more comfortable and productive pumping session.
Yes to this!
I used the Earth Mama Angel Baby nipple butter on my nipples after every nursing session for comfort. I also used it to lube the shields. So much more comfortable pumping that way!
mikaela20, I just wanted to echo what others have said and say you are doing a great job, and baby is being fed which is great. I hope you are not getting too stressed out with everything. I did notice that you said when pumping you don't get a flow, just drops. I induced lactation without being pregnant so my milk "came in" very slowly (weeks) and it started out as just drops for awhile. I found that just blind pumping wasn't actually the best way to empty my breasts at that stage. Even though I read so much about just pumping more to make more, I found that the more I emptied, the more I would make and hand expression helped empty more. Doing lots of message/shaking down/hand expression really seemed to help stimulate at first and get more out (I still pumped all the time, but I would stop a few minutes after milk stopped coming out and switch to other methods). This is just an anecdote of course, and your experience will be unique to you but I wanted to throw out other ideas just in case.
Then Comes Family, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising
program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.