11/21 Newborn Check In

[lilyelayne]

Welcome! Please join us!


How old is LO?

How's everything going?

Questions/concerns/cute stories to share?

What positions/props are working for you? What are you struggling with?

GTKY: what's your favorite holiday?

[penguin129]

How old is LO? 4 weeks. She'll be a month on Thanksgiving

How's everything going? ok other than a virus or allergies I have and some back pain.

Questions/concerns/cute stories to share? HL has poop-splosions. AG never had them. I think it is a BF baby thing. I think it is kind of cute. As far as concerns or questions just knowing what medicine is safe to take while BFing. I have bad back pain and possible allergies or virus. I'm lucky that the doctor I see is aware I'm breastfeeding and breastfed herself.

What positions/props are working for you? What are you struggling with? I'm just trying to sit straight up to nurse her. I really hate messing with pillows and props. I'm open to ideas though.

GTKY: what's your favorite holiday? Christmas

[lilyelayne]

penguin129 Infant Risk is the leader in Breastfeeding & drug research. Their website is www.infantrisk.com, they have a smartphone app MommyMeds, and/or you can call [phone] mon-fri 8-5central. Most OTC pain meds and cold meds are on their website / the app. You particularly want to avoid any antihistamines such as Sudafed or allergy meds with +D in the name. Unfortunately while they dry up your nose they also dry up your milk.

Have you tried laid back nursing? Not prop dependent. Especially great in a recliner or on the couch, but doable pretty much anywhere. youtu.be/KYRg8DTbZCc

[lilyelayne]

waitwhat re: alcohol, as long as you're safe to drive / hold baby, then you're safe to nurse. If you decide not to nurse, since your supply isn't fully established yet, you should pump any time baby gets a bottle. Alcohol goes into & out of your breastmilk the same as your blood, so there's no need to pump the "drunk" milk for your body to then make "sober" milk, but if you're currently drunk while pumping then that milk will have alcohol in it- but probably not very much. See links below for more info. The general thought is if you can safely handle your baby then your milk is safe for him.

www.slate.com/articles/double_x/the_kids/2014/12/breast_feeding_and_alcohol_it_s_fine_to_drink_while_nursing.html
biologybrain-simonsays.blogspot.com/2008/12/alcohol-content-of-breast-milk.html?m=1

General rule for bottles is 1-1.5oz per hour since last feed. So bottle size will vary depending on when baby displays hunger cues. Since most BF babies go 1-2 hours between feeds, the biggest bottle is usually 3oz. Very important to use a slow flow nipple and paced feeding techniques. I'll come back with links. :-)

[penguin129]

lilyelayne Thank you

[lilyelayne]

waitwhat you can certainly choose to bottle feed instead of nurse if it makes you more comfortable :-) bottle feeding isn't the enemy! I just didn't want you to feel like you couldn't nurse when you can. Holidays tend to be hectic so finding the time to pump / prep bottles / wash bottles / etc can be more of a hassle than usual.
As always, just trying to give the pertinent info for you to make the right choice for you and your family, whatever that choice is.

Paced feeding links follow. Remember paced feeding is about how you feed a bottle, not when, as babies should always be fed on demand.

kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/feeding-tools/bottle-feeding/

youtu.be/UH4T70OSzGs

[penguin129]

I really like being able to give bottles when I want. I need to pump some more as my stash is getting lower then I'd like.

[melody330]

Nov 23, 2016 15:44:17 GMT -5 waitwhat said:

Wow I really had no idea about paced feeding and what it entails. Is this something that you only need to do in the beginning while establishing a breastfeeding relationship? When do you usually stop paced feeding if giving a bottle? Thanks lilyelayne!!

ETA Honestly I'll probably just nurse. I am only talking a few drinks throughout the course of the day. Sounds like this might be the easiest on all fronts!

It's definitely important to do when they are young and just getting use to going back and forth between breast and bottle. Babies can get lazy if they get it from the bottle easier than the boob!

I think how long you do it is personal preference. Once they get the hang of switching it's probably okay to be a little more lax about it. Totally depends on baby. If they start to go on nursing strikes you can always reimplement paced feeding.

FWIW I made sure DS1 was pace fed until around 6/7 months old.

[lilyelayne]

waitwhat what melody said! Also paced feeding helps keep baby from overeating so for working moms who pump just enough to match baby's intake, paced feeding can be especially important.

[lilyelayne]

Nov 23, 2016 15:44:17 GMT -5 waitwhat said:

Wow I really had no idea about paced feeding and what it entails. Is this something that you only need to do in the beginning while establishing a breastfeeding relationship? When do you usually stop paced feeding if giving a bottle? Thanks lilyelayne!!

ETA Honestly I'll probably just nurse. I am only talking a few drinks throughout the course of the day. Sounds like this might be the easiest on all fronts!

When my son was little and I was nervous about drinking, I would have a drink while I nursed him because I figured it gave the longest window for the alcohol to be absorbed and filtered out of my blood before his next nursing session. And it's a great opportunity to educate friends and family about alcohol & breastmilk ;-)