2/23 1-3 month check in

[pooky08]

For moms with babies one month to about three months.

Keeping the same questions as last week. I figure we will have some new people and the questions will be fresh for them!

How's it going?

Anything that's still a problem?

Are you getting thru growth spurts ok?

If you are returning to work when? And have you started pumping yet?

[firelizard8367]

How's it going?
Doing ok. Finally finished the 3 wk growth spurt and got some excellent sleep last night!
Anything that's still a problem?
Having some issues with latching. Trying to correct it is hard as I feel like I'm just fighting him since he now has better control of his neck. Still making improvement though and I'm sure he's swallowing less air.
Are you getting thru growth spurts ok?
just finished 3 wk, and it was a little rough, glad to have a break for now.
If you are returning to work when? And have you started pumping yet?
Not sure when I will be back to work, as I have a physical job and need clearance from my Dr (had cesarean). Probably around mid-late March. Just starting to pump this week.

[milagros315]

Hi! I hope it's okay if I join you - we're struggling quite a bit.

How's it going? The past four or five days have been bad. Something just seems off. LO does have mild thrush so maybe it's bothering him. My nipples are destroyed (cracked and blistered) so I've been EPing since last night.

Anything that's still a problem? The cracked and blistered nips are a big problem. I can't get them to heal.

Are you getting thru growth spurts ok? I think so. Between 4 and 5.5 weeks, he gained one pound!

If you are returning to work when? No.

And have you started pumping yet? I've been pumping since week one or two because we struggled with a bad latch in the beginning.

[mmheartspb]

Olivia is 6 weeks old.

How's it going? Tough going through a growth spurt.

Anything that's still a problem? I went to a IBCLC and I guess I have vasospasms. Just in pain constantly. The dry heat, motrin, and apno which makes it manageable but never goes away. Today I just want to quit but I won't bc I know in doing what is best for Olivia. I'm just really struggling emotionally right now.

Are you getting thru growth spurts ok? I hope this one is almost done.

[mmheartspb]

milagros315 have you gone to an IBCLC to have your latch checked? It might be something to look into. I am using apno and it helps my nipples immensely but you have to get a script for it.

[milagros315]

Feb 23, 2015 11:54:41 GMT -5 mmheartspb said:

milagros315 have you gone to an IBCLC to have your latch checked? It might be something to look into. I am using apno and it helps my nipples immensely but you have to get a script for it.

Yes, we did see an LC when LO was two weeks old and she was able to help us get on the right track. Everything was great for about three weeks until now. I'm hoping the cracking is from the thrush.

[calimomof1]

pooky08 Thank you for starting this!

LO is 12 weeks told tomorrow!

How's it going?
Much, much better. So glad that I sought the help of an IBCLC to help me figure out my daughter's latching issues. Also, my milk production is up, thanks to the improved latch. I was really concerned and emotional for awhile because I had to start supplementing with formula. I'm thankful that formula exists and that it helped us get back on track, but I'd like to not have to rely on it!

Anything that's still a problem?
Finding time to pump during a 3 month growth spurt! That's pretty hard. But short-lived.

Are you getting thru growth spurts ok?
I think I'm in the 3 month one now. LO is pretty cranky unless she's on the boob.

If you are returning to work when? And have you started pumping yet?
I go back next Monday (full time...Eeks!) I try to pump every day, either in the morning after the first feed or at night after LO is in bed. Since she's going through this growth spurt it's harder to find time to pump, especially when my husband is at work and I'm home alone with her. I'm happy to report that I've got a very small freezer stash going (less than 3 ounces) and I have about 3 ounces in the fridge that I'm going to freeze later today. I want to make sure I have enough for my LO that first day of work! I'll be pumping at work and already have my schedule blocked off...curious as to how much I'll pump during those work sessions.

I bought a Medela Harmony manual pump. I need to sterilize everything and then I'll at least be able to pump one side while LO is grazing on the other.

[jesster88]

How's it going? DS is 10 weeks old today. I feel like we are in our groove with breastfeeding.

Anything that's still a problem? He randomly refused a bottle two days in a row after taking one the day before. He has 1-2 bottles a day so the sudden refusal freaked me out a bit since I go back to work next Monday. DH is the bottle master and managed to work it out with ds and he has been fine with bottles since then. The refusal was the day after his 2 month immunizations so we are thinking he was feeling off from those.

Are you getting thru growth spurts ok? Bracing myself for the 12 week growth spurt coming up..

If you are returning to work when? And have you started pumping yet? I go back to work next week I get plenty of milk when I pump so hoping my supply stays strong. I know we will get into a grove with sending bottles to daycare but I am a bit nervous about it.

[boxerrrmama85]

LO is 1 month old! Crazy how FAST it goes by.

Anything that's still a problem?
LO latches on funny to my left nipple about 70% of the time and leaves my nipple hurting but it heals up very quickly.
I have 2 more weeks of ML and think it may be a good idea to at least make an appt with the LC to talk about latch as well as checking out what flanges work best for me. I have a medela PIS and so far so good but when I use the smaller flanges I feel I get more milk but I feel that it pulls a bit. Any tips on selecting the best size flange?

Growth spurts? We got through the 3 week growth spurt but am nervous about the 6 week growth spurt especially since I will be returning to work that week don't even get me started on ML laws because I think 12 weeks should be mandatory!

Returning to work: yes, see above. Right now I definitely have a good little stash going for when she starts daycare. I am concerned because if she is going through a growth spurt I don't want to send too little milk but also don't want to send too much and then they overfeed her. Any tips?

[apsalartoll]

How's it going?

It's going really well. 


Anything that's still a problem?

We have no problems at all with feeding. LO had her 2 month checkup on Friday, and she had gained 34 ounces in the past 31 days.
I'm really pleased that this is working the way it's supposed to, according to all the BF literature.


Are you getting thru growth spurts ok?
 
LO is 9 weeks so we're between the significant ones.


If you are returning to work when? And have you started pumping yet?
Still 2 months away. @amyg, I saw your advice about not letting DH do the last feed of the day from a bottle, but it seems to work for us. I don't really have trouble staying ahead of how much she's having. We can look at alternatives, though.

On Saturday, I defrosted a bag of milk just to make sure LO would eat it, and to practice pumping a few times in a row. She took it fine, no problems at all there, but after 2 pumps I ended up about an ounce under what she was fed. I think I'll have to keep practicing pumping and finding out when is the best time of day, and what's the best interval, for getting maximum output.

[pooky08]

How's it going? Really good. LO will be 9 weeks tomorrow.

Anything that's still a problem? I think his reflux may be getting to the point that it's an actual issue (as opposed to a laundry problem). I'll keep an eye on it and, if needed, contact my pediatrician prior to our 10 week appointment next week.

Are you getting thru growth spurts ok? There was one day this past week that felt like a growth spurt day!

If you are returning to work when? And have you started pumping yet? I have 6 more weeks until I go back. It's hard for me to find time to pump. I know we need to start practicing more with bottles (he's had three his whole life so far). I just ordered a manual pump hoping that I can try pumping one side while he feeds off the other. Hopefully I'll have more to report back on about this next week.

[ccam]

How's it going? Still going well. DD is 3 months tomorrow.

Anything that's still a problem? No real problem but I do have a question - does the fact that I have to switch breasts during every feeding a sign of a low supply?

Are you getting thru growth spurts ok? I think she went through / going through a growth spurt. She gets really pissed off while nursing, like it's not coming fast enough. Not every feeding but it seems to happen more during the middle of the day.

If you are returning to work when? And have you started pumping yet? Returning to work in May and I haven't been regularly pumping, just when I will be away from her and she'll need a bottle, which isn't often.

[pippiann]

How's it going? It's going good, lo is 12 weeks today!

Anything that's still a problem? No , I think I finally got my reoccurring clogged ducts under control !

Are you getting thru growth spurts ok? We getting thru them. I think lo is going thru his 3 month growth spurt now.... Hopefully, he's been up every 45 mins tonight... Momma is tired! This will past... Please just give momma a 2 hour stretch, plz plz! Lol as I put lo down in his rnp!

If you are returning to work when? And have you started pumping yet?
SAHM... Pumping on occasion. Got a little stash in the freezer!

[birch113]

I've been EPing, but getting LO back to the boob within the last week or two. Mind if I join you?

How's it going? I rented a Medela scale to do weighted feeds at home (long history or latch and milk transfer issues) and it came in on Friday. So far, Miles is getting more milk each day. This morning he got 2oz from one boob in less than 10 min! I'm struggling with getting him to finish a feeding on the boob. He's become more efficient on the first side, but seems to lose stamina.

Anything that's still a problem? When it's time to change sides, he won't relatch and screams, but will take right to the bottle. This morning I broke out the nipple shield, and it got him to relatch! I don't love using it since he physically can latch without it, but if it can get us over the hump....He only got .6 from the ther side before giving up, but it's better than refusing entirely! Also, he seems to be spitting up more since changing to the Dr. Brown's bottles and getting back on the boob. Hopefully it's just a pacing/tongue coordination thing and not worsening reflux. The pedi said his coughing and sneezing were due to silent reflux, so I worry about that.

I am still pumping after each feeding, since he doesn't finish a feeding at the boob. I worked so hard to get my supply up, and I worry about it tanking again if I don't fully empty. Though I'm not quite as full for his next feeding which is probably contributing to some of his frustration. My supply seems to just meet his needs now, though I worry he's not getting enough (~25 oz a day - he's 10 weeks and 12.6 lbs as of Friday).

Are you getting thru growth spurts ok? I was EPing through his previous growth spurts, so we will see what comes of the 12 week one! I'm nervous that he will get frustrated and regress to only wanting the bottle.

If you are returning to work when? And have you started pumping yet? Ugh, I go back on Monday. :-( I've been pumping since the day he was born, so no worries there. I managed to build up a teeny freezer stash after his 8 week shots, so that should get us through the first day of day care and give maybe a little more as back up.

ETA: looks like the shield was a fluke. He's getting frustrated and starts screaming when it's time to latch on the other side until I give him a bottle. :-(

[sgio7485]

How's it going? Pretty good. DS is 5 weeks old today. He is a fast and furious nurser. I have some oversupply issues and OALD, and he's been spitting up some/extra gassy- but we have a pedi appt tomorrow for his 1 month appt.

Anything that's still a problem? He has had a great latch from the beginning and would stay latched the whole time until done. Lately he's been popping off way more and making a slurping sound while nursing sometimes- wondering if it's because of OS and OALD? When he is latched on it looks good to me, and isn't painful.

Are you getting thru growth spurts ok?
Yes, we had the three week one and it was rough but we powered through.

If you are returning to work when? And have you started pumping yet? April 29. I started pumping after the 3 week growth spurt and started having DH/my mom intro a bottle and that went really well. I am trying to get into a pumping groove because LO is so unpredictable about when he's up to nurse. He's not much of a napper in the am when Id like to pump and im tired when I could pump in the evenings so I'm just working on fitting that in. DH and I have a date Thursday night so I'll pump some for that.

[irish14]

Hoping I can jump in, hi all!

How's it going?
Okay. Seems like he usually loves to nurse, but I don't make enough. Peds has us supplementing every other feed because he was gaining too slow, though he's still on the charts he dropped percentiles. I think he had latch issues early on (I was super sore for a while) but that has improved tons and it looks good to me now that he's a little bigger.

Anything that's still a problem?
Trying to boost my supply. Been on Fenugreek for a week or two, nursing as much as we can, and trying to eat better. Thinking I may try a power pump session soon, since it's still not enough - I get empty sometimes and he freaks out, which is why we're supplementing - he's obviously still hungry and gets happy after a couple more oz.

Are you getting thru growth spurts ok?
He's 11 weeks so coming up on one. He's nursing tons in the morning so I'm hoping that's why. Still sleeping ok though, so I doubt we've hit it yet.

If you are returning to work when? And have you started pumping yet?
End of next week. Been pumping at each bottle supplement. I only get 1 oz at a time from a double pump, sometimes 1/2 oz, so I'm concerned about supply and pumping both. I guess we'll see.

[pooky08]

limabeanmom do what's best for you and your family., Whatever that may be. Getting nine weeks is a huge accomplishment.

[pooky08]

* double post fail *

[boxerrrmama85]

So much for bragging that LO slept 6 hours last night. I think I have a plugged duct in my right breast. (Combo of wearing a tight bra and tank yesterday andplusalso LO sleeping so sweetly). I have massaged in the shower, applied a heat pack, had LO nurse on right side (she got very fussy because I was not producing), I pumped (and I was barely able to get 20 drops of milk this is making me super stressed and I'm just hoping it resolves soon. Do any of you have additional tips/tricks? @amyg

[dp21]

Sorry I'm late!

No changes this week.  We have been EBF for 8 weeks now!  Woohoo.  As mentioned last week, we had issues for first 5 weeks and worked with a LC weekly and graduated.  We haven't had a weight check in or anything in 3 weeks, I'm starting to get nervous for her 2 month check up in less than 2 weeks to make sure she on track for weight gain.  So I think it is going well, but won't be confident until our appointment. 

I had to meet my study group (in grad school) yesterday and I pumped a bottle for hubby to give her.  She flat out refused it and waited for me to get home to breastfeed.  This is going to be an issue for returning to work (not returning till mid April).  So we decided I'm going to pump one feed everyday in the evenings so hubby can practice giving her bottles/and so she can practice and start to get use to going back and worth.  I think it'll be good bonding her and daddy. 

Also wanted to add, my LO is 8 weeks today.  She only feeds for 6-8 minutes on a side.  Is that normal for this age?  She use to eat 25+ as newborn, then went down to 15 minutes on one side, now it like 6-8 minutes per side.  Just hope she is getting enough!