Post by mustloveerica on Mar 30, 2017 9:52:26 GMT -5
Since we're starting to see more babies around here I thought it'd be nice to have a permanent running feeding thread to discuss the rewards, challenges and questions that come with feeding our little ones. This is not a breastfeeding thread. Breastmilk, formula, pumping or combo feeding.....Fed is best!
Post by ThankfulSnail on Mar 30, 2017 10:55:04 GMT -5
I think that's a great idea, mustloveerica. If I end up having to supplement with formula I won't know the first thing about what to do. I BFed DD for 13 months and would be happy to answer any BFing questions I can.
Post by mustloveerica on Mar 30, 2017 11:33:09 GMT -5
We are combo feeding the twins. We only nurse for comfort now. Nursing is a huge frustration for me. The girls are tiny with terrible latches so nursing is so painful without a nipple shield. E will nurse in spurts but she's not very effective. H has a very lazy suck so I don't think she moves milk much at all. For my own sanity and because babies were still rapidly losing weight we switched to bottle feeding. I pump 8-10 times per day and still barely produce enough milk for one baby (about 2oz for every pumping session). So right now they get alternating bottles of breastmilk and formula. My short term goal is to continue pumping what I can for 3 months after that if I'm still not seeing an increase in supply we may just move to exclusively formula feeding. But I don't think we'll ever go back to nursing. I'm still working on convincing myself not to feel guilty about that.
Post by ThankfulSnail on Mar 30, 2017 12:45:03 GMT -5
Do not feel guilty, mustloveerica. You are giving your babies such an amazing gift in giving them any breast milk. It doesn't matter how they get it, there are always benefits.
I'm sure you've already gotten tons of advice on supply, but if you're looking for more I had success in increasing mine by taking a fenugreek supplement and eating steel cut oats for breakfast every day.
Do not feel guilty, mustloveerica. You are giving your babies such an amazing gift in giving them any breast milk. It doesn't matter how they get it, there are always benefits.
I'm sure you've already gotten tons of advice on supply, but if you're looking for more I had success in increasing mine by taking a fenugreek supplement and eating steel cut oats for breakfast every day.
Thanks for the tips! Oatmeal helped me increase from 1-2oz per session (at least I think it was the oatmeal). I'm trying to avoid fenugreek for now because I don't feel right taking supplements to increase. I started adding a power pumping session in yesterday and today so I'm hoping if few days of that and trying to really consciously up my water intake will help. If not fenugreek is my next stop! I doubt I'll ever pump enough for both babies but I need to be getting 3-4oz per session to even keep up with breastmilk every other feeding. My body doesn't seem to realize I had twins lol.
Power pumping helped me a ton, mustloveerica. I hope it works well for you too!
I'm less nervous about feeding the baby this time since I still have some semblance of supply and know how to pump. But I have no idea how tandem feeding a baby and toddler is going to go!
Power pumping helped me a ton, mustloveerica. I hope it works well for you too!
I'm less nervous about feeding the baby this time since I still have some semblance of supply and know how to pump. But I have no idea how tandem feeding a baby and toddler is going to go!
Tandem should be easy! I'm thinking because the toddler doesn't need much help like a newborn does. I would suggest switching sides they eat on each time since they'll have different demands va switching them every day like I do.
Post by mustloveerica on Mar 30, 2017 16:55:19 GMT -5
Ugh I actually think power pumping might be hurting my supply. I'm only producing like 1.5oz every session now. Before I started power pumping once a day I was pretty consistently getting 3oz every pump. What the heck! I did order some fenugreek to have on hand in case I decide to try that route.
Ugh I actually think power pumping might be hurting my supply. I'm only producing like 1.5oz every session now. Before I started power pumping once a day I was pretty consistently getting 3oz every pump. What the heck! I did order some fenugreek to have on hand in case I decide to try that route.
I'm sorry. I wouldn't be surprised if you had a lower output at the next pumping session, but if power pumping is leading to a lower total for the day that's weird. A few troubleshooting tips: is your flange size good? Are you possibly using too much suction (the suction shouldn't hurt, and more isn't always better)? Are you doing something relaxing, or at least focusing on babies rather than watching output while you pump? Is your appetite ok? Gatorade instead of just water helps some moms a lot.
I hope things get easier for you soon. Regardless of how you feed your babies you're doing great!
Power pumping helped me a ton, mustloveerica . I hope it works well for you too!
I'm less nervous about feeding the baby this time since I still have some semblance of supply and know how to pump. But I have no idea how tandem feeding a baby and toddler is going to go!
Tandem should be easy! I'm thinking because the toddler doesn't need much help like a newborn does. I would suggest switching sides they eat on each time since they'll have different demands va switching them every day like I do.
I'm sure it's easier than tandem feeding two newborns! Although at least newborns don't have hair pulling and eye poking hobbies :-)
Ugh I actually think power pumping might be hurting my supply. I'm only producing like 1.5oz every session now. Before I started power pumping once a day I was pretty consistently getting 3oz every pump. What the heck! I did order some fenugreek to have on hand in case I decide to try that route.
I'm sorry. I wouldn't be surprised if you had a lower output at the next pumping session, but if power pumping is leading to a lower total for the day that's weird. A few troubleshooting tips: is your flange size good? Are you possibly using too much suction (the suction shouldn't hurt, and more isn't always better)? Are you doing something relaxing, or at least focusing on babies rather than watching output while you pump? Is your appetite ok? Gatorade instead of just water helps some moms a lot.
I hope things get easier for you soon. Regardless of how you feed your babies you're doing great!
Not that I have any experience what's so ever but I have smart water next to my nursing station for the electrolytes. I don't like Gatorade.
Post by mustloveerica on Apr 2, 2017 13:21:29 GMT -5
TTMA clogged milk ducts.
I'm pretty sure that's what I have. Right boob has a hard sore red lump that I can't get rid of. Tried warm compress, massage and lots of nursing/pumping.
I'm pretty sure that's what I have. Right boob has a hard sore red lump that I can't get rid of. Tried warm compress, massage and lots of nursing/pumping.
Try using a vibrator or vibrating tooth brush. Also hot water in the shower.
Great advice already given. mustloveerica don't let guilt get to you. I can't imagine feeding two babes at once. You're doing great, hopefully power pumping will help.
I BF dd until 18 months and it was overall smooth. I'm hoping for the same this time.
I was worried we'd have troubles getting started with dd2 since she was born at 37 weeks, but so far she's doing well and has a great latch. The home nurse is stopping by today so I'm hoping to hear she's gaining weight.
Like a pp said; if I end up needing to supplement at all I'll need advice. And hopefully I can be of help with anyone hoping to BF their babes.
Post by ThankfulSnail on Apr 4, 2017 9:44:29 GMT -5
Huge hugs, jennykat. You are not doing anything wrong.
Do you have an LC in your area you can see? Sounds like it could be latch issues, or maybe even tongue tie. Regardless, milk from the boob, breastmilk from the bottle, or formula from the bottle, you're doing the best you can and making sure she's getting fed, that's all that matters.
Post by mustloveerica on Apr 4, 2017 10:29:50 GMT -5
Hugs jennykat my twins were 5lbs 5oz and 5lbs 3oz at birth and down to 4lbs 6oz each when they were discharged and lost another 3 oz each at home before I threw in the towel on BFing and started pumping and supplementing. I was devastated at first but they started immediately gaining weight being bottle fed. I felt so much better knowing exactly how much they were getting. If you need any advice on pumping, bottle feeding or combo feeding I'm here. We've done just about everything (from syringes and Foley cups, to straight bottles, preemie formula, etc).
ETA: one of my babies is an extremely lazy eater. She doesn't move milk at all when she nurses. I actually just moved her up to a higher flow bottle nipple because getting her to eat in a decent amount of time wasn't worth the fight to me.
Post by mustloveerica on Apr 4, 2017 10:35:03 GMT -5
3 days later I finally got that milk duct unclogged (FYI manual pumping in a really hot shower seemed to do the trick). My boob hurts so bad tho.
I also did 5 days of power pumping and saw no real change other than I'm sore all the time. So I gave up with that and now I'm on day 3 of fenugreek supplements and waiting to see if that makes any difference (starting at 1 capsule 3 times per day). Ugh. I'm still only pumping 2-3oz at a time. So babies are only getting 2 breastmilk bottles per day and 6/7 formula bottles. We are blowing thru formula tho. Thank goodness for Target and their spend $100 get $20 back baby sales all the time.
mustloveerica are you signed up for coupons? Also, join your local BST sites and ask. A lot of people will also be willing to trade if you have the coupons they need and they have the ones you need
mustloveerica are you signed up for coupons? Also, join your local BST sites and ask. A lot of people will also be willing to trade if you have the coupons they need and they have the ones you need
We are! And rewards and people have been giving us their sample cans which is awesome. Thankfully we've been cleared to move off of preemie formula. That stuff was expensive for a tiny can!!
mustloveerica are you signed up for coupons? Also, join your local BST sites and ask. A lot of people will also be willing to trade if you have the coupons they need and they have the ones you need
We are! And rewards and people have been giving us their sample cans which is awesome. Thankfully we've been cleared to move off of preemie formula. That stuff was expensive for a tiny can!!
What brand do you use?
Costco brand formula is identical to similiac (provided they haven't changed the formula- no pun intended- from 2015..)
I didn't have much luck with store brand formula with DS1, but others have. Also, if you have a Sam's and use enfamil, they accept one check per can, not per pack.
jennykat I'm sorry 😢 big hugs. Hopefully this is just a blip for you and with a few adjustments you'll be okay. I agree with mustloveerica about all the little tricks to wake her and get her angry to eat.
jennykat, I'm sorry bfing is off to a rough start. My 19 month old is an absolute nursing addict who took her last bottle at 3 weeks old and has never gone more than a handful of daytime hours without nursing, but she didn't catch on until she was almost 2 weeks old. We started supplementing with an sns with formula while still in the hospital. When we got home I caved and used *gasp* bottles during the night and felt like a failure about it, but trying and failing to nurse and then pumping and then feeding the pumped milk and then breaking out the syringes and tape and formula every three hours around the clock after already going 36 hours without any sleep at all was killing me.
I really loved the kellymom page that emphasized a) keeping your supply up but b) chilling out. Breastfeeding is a tough skill best learned when neither party is starving or stressed. It was a very different message than what I received at the hospital which was basically that if I couldn't get my kid to latch for 15 min on each side every 3 hours we were doomed.
I hope things get easier for you soon. However you feed your baby you're doing great!
iqeb and jennykat - I'm sorry that your hospitals acted that way. The hospital I delivered dd1 was somewhat similar and talked to me about supplementing the very first night, which I found odd.
I had a much better experience this time. They kept track of how often and how long dd2 nursed, but as long as she was swallowing and nursing every 2-3 hours they were happy. They never once brought up supplementing and I think it made it much less stressful for me.
BF should not be so stressful, and having the right support group is so necessary.
I tried out one of the single piece silicone milk savers (basically it suctions to the breast you aren't feeding from to collect what you would have leaked and a bit more) and I kind of love it! I got less than a teaspoon but a) my toddler had nursed that side less than an hour beforehand and b) my supply has been super low for a while because pregnant so I was kind of surprised I got anything since I don't leak while I nurse these days. And it was much more comfortable than actually pumping. I'm hoping this baby will take the occasional bottle so I can get a few consecutive hours of sleep, but managing to break out the electric pump while taking care of two seems like it will be unlikely.
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