3/20 Newborn Check In

[lilyelayne]

Welcome!


How old is LO?

How's everything going?

Questions/concerns/cute stories to share?

What is something about your newborn(s) that surprised you?

GTKY: what's something that makes you think "okay, spring is finally here!"?

[mikaela20]

How old is LO? 4 weeks

How's everything going? It feels like we took a step back on the BFing. DS hasn't been taking the breast as much or as well as last week and started to latch and unlatch almost immediately and getting angry right away. I'm not sure what is wrong. I'm still not pumping enough milk for him and we at 50/50 milk/formula. I'm going to a different clinic next week that is run by doctors who are designated fellows in the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. I really hope they can help me with supply and his latching issues. We ruled out Thrush today at his doctors because google said it could be the culprit of his refusal to latch.

Questions/concerns/cute stories to share?

What is something about your newborn(s) that surprised you? How loud his cry gets when he is frustrated/angry.

GTKY: what's something that makes you think "okay, spring is finally here!"? Birds started singing in the morning.

[lilyelayne]

mikaela20 sorry things are rough. Could it be a bottle flow preference? You could try doing breast compressions immediately upon latching. Or pumping until letdown and then latching. Or trying a supplemental nursing system.

Hope the new clinic helps! And glad no thrush!

[sterl724]

How old is LO?
2.5 weeks

How's everything going?
In general, decent. We've got a point where he is awake a lot more/longer agree feedings. Sometimes it's hard to tell when he is just "talking" and self-sitting by putting his hands in his mouth, and if he's still truly hungry. (Fwiw, we haven't introduced a pacifier. We aren't sure if we want to use one, because it can be hard to break the habit later. But I think he would love it, and I'm debating trying one.)
Questions/concerns/cute stories to share?
I was given a nipple shield at the hospital. (Told I have flat nipples.) While it definitely helps with nursing, it is a little frustrating to have anther thing to juggle, and I think it's slowing down the process. (It regularly takes me an hour to nurse, and sometimes he's still hungry even after an hour.)
I don't know how successful I'll be without it...He is getting some formula (started supplementing at hospital because of complications with me.) I think since it is more similar to a bottle nipple, he prefers it.
I'm not exactly sure what I'm looking for...had anyone used one? How successfully? How long? Did you wean off it too just actual nipple?

What is something about your newborn(s) that surprised you?
How quickly he went from sleeping immediately after feeding to being awake after eating.

GTKY: what's something that makes you think "okay, spring is finally here"?
The days it's warm for sure. We've sat out on our deck once or twice.

[moutonrouge]

I'm late this week but wanted to jump in.

How old is LO? 2 weeks

How's everything going? I had an LC consult on Tuesday, and it feels like things are better now. Less coughing and spitting, and I'm trying to insist on a good latch.

Questions/concerns/cute stories to share? The LC helped me latch her for laid back nursing, and I've forgotten where she was holding her. It feels like I'm not doing it right, and it's hard to balance sandwiching my breast with one hand and holding her up with the other.

What is something about your newborn(s) that surprised you? She already looks so different from when she was born.

GTKY: what's something that makes you think "okay, spring is finally here!"? Cherry blossoms are at peak bloom this weekend, so spring is definitely here!

[lilyelayne]

sterl724 weaning off the shield can certainly be done; personal timelines vary. If it's what's enabling you to nurse, it's a good thing. If it's hindering milk transfer, better to go ahead and work on weaning. There have been threads on this if you want to search. And always welcome to make your own. :-)

And baby can learn to latch on flat nipples, though it is different from a bottle nipple.

I think meeting with an IBCLC and/or breastfeeding support group would be ideal to help you wean both from the nipple shield and from supplementing.

You can switch to supplementing through a supplemental nursing system at the breast, or a syringe or open cup if you want an extra barrier against bottle preference. If not, be certain every single bottle is pace fed so baby doesn't get fast flow bottle preference (more common the younger they are.) And always pump if baby takes formula bottle so your supply keeps up with his demand.

Common nipple shield weaning techniques: begin session with shield. When baby pauses to burp, remove shield and try latching without it.
Pick the easiest/his favorite feed and try going without for that one. Use shield if he gets too frustrated.

uslca.org/resources/find-an-ibclc

kellymom.com/ages/newborn/nb-challenges/wean-shield/

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

kellymom.com/ages/newborn/newborn-concerns/alternative-feeding/

kellymom.com/ages/newborn/nb-challenges/decrease-formula/

www.lowmilksupply.org/finishatthebreast.shtml

youtu.be/UH4T70OSzGs

[lilyelayne]

moutonrouge maybe this video will help

youtu.be/KYRg8DTbZCc

youtu.be/OGttPTx7iSs

You can try propping up your breast with a rolled up burp rag to see if that helps with the not-enough-hands scenario. Or propping baby with pillow, rolled blanket, etc. One goal of laid back is less props necessary but that doesn't mean you can't use them if they help.

[kartish]

How old is LO? 5 weeks

How's everything going? Ok, he seems to be getting more efficient while nursing

Questions/concerns/cute stories to share? I have to break out my pump today and see if it still works. Not looking forward to pumping again.

What is something about your newborn(s) that surprised you? How different genres is from his brother, and how different everyone, including me, this time around.

GTKY: what's something that makes you think "okay, spring is finally here!"?the willow trees start greening up!