3-6 Month check-in for 2/23

[iloverunning]

Hello All, hope your week got off to a good start.

How old is LO?

Any breastfeeding issues?

What does your nursing schedule look like?

What is one thing that you enjoy about breastfeeding right now?

GTKY: what is your favorite cookie?

[saraml13]

How old is LO? Almost 5 months.

Any breastfeeding issues?  Breastfeeding itself is looking great.  DS hasn't been sleeping great.  I wish he would eat more than he does at daycare, but he doesn't love bottles and will only eat if he is pretty hungry.

What does your nursing schedule look like?  On workdays:
Nurse one side when DS wakes up between 5:30 and 6:00.  
Nurse the other side at 6:45 before heading out the door.
At daycare, DS usually has three 3 oz bottles.  Sometimes 4.
I pump at 9, 12, 3.
Pick up DS from daycare and nurse at 5:30.
Evenings are on demand, but often nurse around 6:30.
(Sometimes another quick nursing session in here)
Nurse DS to sleep around 8:00. 
There's a lot of variability to MOTN.  Sometimes he only wake up once around 2:00, other times he's up 2 or 3 times.

What is one thing that you enjoy about breastfeeding right now?  DS seems so happy when he is nursing.  His face lights up and then he lunges for the nipple.  I love that no matter how upset he is, I can instantly soothe him.

GTKY: what is your favorite cookie?  I would generally say chocolate chip, but I just ate the most amazing oatmeal raisin pecan cookie.

[rosalie12]

Hi!!

How old is LO? 4.5 months

Any breastfeeding issues? Ugh yes. We are struggling through a nursing strike in the evenings. She hates the speed of nursing in the evening hours. She fights for a let down and often pops off and on he breast throughout the feeding. I made a post about this a few days ago. I have been keeping the manual pump close by and have used it to help start a let down to try to encourage her to continues eating without flipping out.

What does your nursing schedule look like? I am back to work for about 2 months now, and I work shift work. That makes it hard because my schedule fluctuates between a morning and afternoon shift, random days of the week. Dd has been consistently sleeping through the night, so the morning feeding either gets me the most milk from pumping or let's me get a jump start by pumping the other side. She has been eating from both breasts more often than before. Either growth spurt or just frustration from getting through the bottles? While my schedule fluctuates, I pump every 2.5-3.5 hours at work and feed DD on demand at home. I have also been pumping an extra time or 2 per day to try to keep up with her on days I work.

What is one thing that you enjoy about breastfeeding right now? I love the snuggles! And I am really proud of myself for fighting through the obstacles of breastfeeding. Basically I just keep trying to think of the benefit I'm giving to my baby.

GTKY: what is your favorite cookie? Peanut butter for sure.

I look forward to participating more on this board!

[judyblume14]

How old is LO? 5.5 months

Any breastfeeding issues? Not really. She's starting to sleep longer stretches as night (poor me, I know), so my boobs are pretty full/uncomfortable in the morning

What does your nursing schedule look like?
-Nurse around 6am when I wake her up
-She has five 3.75-oz bottles at 8, 10, 12, 2 and 4 at day care (trying to pull these down to 3.5-oz bottles)
-I pump at about 9, 12 and 3
-Nurse around 6pm
-Few bites of fruit of veggie puree at 6:30 or 7
-Small snack / nurse to sleep at 7:30ish
-One MOTN feed. If that happens after about 3, she'll typically refuse her 6am feed.

editing to add that I only nurse from one side per feed. 


What is one thing that you enjoy about breastfeeding right now?
As annoying as it can be to wak up out of a deep sleep at 2am, to walk into her dark nursery and just barely be able to see her huge smile when she see me makes me less irritated. Also, I melt when she strokes my breast or tickles my armpit. It's so sweet.

GTKY: what is your favorite cookie?
I'm a sucker for Famous Amos chocolate chips out of the vending machine at work.
I'm honestly not a huge fan of homemade cookies. But I make really good chocolate peanut butter cookies.

[whitney4126]

How old is LO?
5.5 months

Any breastfeeding issues?

I've been having trouble with a slow let down while pumping at work. So far I've always managed to make it work or make it up with another pumping session. Thank goodness for a flexible office situation.

I also have resigned to co-sleeping and nursing through the night with LO since I've gone back to work. I sleep with her in a twin bed in the nursery. It's the only way I am able to get some sleep. I go back and forth between embracing this arrangement and feeling like a total failure because of it. I was starting to be more okay with it, and then I got the stomach flu over the weekend and needed DH to take the baby because I was vomiting and having stomach cramps all night. She slept with him for maybe 2 hours and then screamed the rest of the night. Situations like that make it tough for her to be so dependent on my nipple to be able to sleep.

What does your nursing schedule look like?

We usually have a nursing session at some point between 5:30-6:30. Regardless, I'm up for the day at 6. I get ready and take SD to school, then bring LO to my office and feed her at about 8:15 before I take her to day care (I commute to work and LO goes to daycare close to office). I usually pump 3 times between 9-4, and LO is fed on demand at daycare 3-4 ounces, 2-3 times. I get home anywhere between 3:30-5 (depending on when I leave work), I usually feed LO right away. If we are home early, she may have another smaller session around 5. I get her ready for bed and nurse her to sleep around 7:30. She usually gets up several times throughout the night to re-latch, and then goes right back to sleep.

What is one thing that you enjoy about breastfeeding right now?

I love lots of things about it, but right now it has been fun watching her personality emerge and begin to be silly. When she's being silly, sometimes she pull off the breast, smiles at me, then blow raspberries on my nipple, and then smiles again like she's so proud.

GTKY: what is your favorite cookie?

Peanut butter!

[doglover31]

Hello All, hope your week got off to a good start.

How old is LO? Will be 6 months on 3/4!

Any breastfeeding issues? Just pumping at work. DS eats a lot and I can just barely keep up with him.

What does your nursing schedule look like?
When we are together during the weekend I just feed on demand so no real schedule.
During the week I nurse DS before he leaves with DH around 6, then he is fed on demand at MILs house. I pump 3-4 times a day. About every 2 1/2-3 hours. DS wakes often at night so I just feed him when he acts hungry.

What is one thing that you enjoy about breastfeeding right now? I love that when he is so upset I can easily calm him. And I love that he knows mommy provides the food. I am so happy I decided to choose breastfeeding even though it was harder in the beginning.

GTKY: what is your favorite cookie? I love all cookies. My fave is white chocolate macadamia nut!

[doglover31]

whitney4126 I have been co sleeping with DS too. He is in bed with me a lot of the night. I go back and forth with this being right or not. I'm afraid he will never go back to his crib, but I need to sleep too. I know it's hard.

[whitney4126]

Feb 24, 2015 13:23:09 GMT -5 doglover31 said:

whitney4126 I have been co sleeping with DS too. He is in bed with me a lot of the night. I go back and forth with this being right or not. I'm afraid he will never go back to his crib, but I need to sleep too. I know it's hard.

I read the chapter in the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding about sleep, and it basically described my exact situation and encouraged it and made me feel better about it.  Honestly, I'm getting more sleep like this than I ever was before, even when she would sleep in her bassinet, but I would get all the way up to feed.  But then I'm embarrassed to tell anyone else how sleep is actually going (I know I shouldn't care), and I'm also afraid that she will never go in her crib, or that when she does, the transition will be traumatizing.  I never thought I would be a co-sleeper (mostly because I am such a light sleeper), but desperate times call for desperate measures.  Also, there is nothing like the early morning smiling and talking she does.  It is a great way to wake up.

[turtles7]

How old is LO? 16 weeks

Any breastfeeding issues? Supply has dropped since going to work 4 weeks ago. Need to remind myself to drink water.

What does your nursing schedule look like? Every two hours during the day, every 3-4 hours at night. LO gets a 3 oz bottle every two hours. She was getting 4 oz bottles but won't nurse much or sleep well when I was home.

What is one thing that you enjoy about breastfeeding right now? The little smile I get from my LO

GTKY: what is your favorite cookie? Oatmeal chocolate chip

[doglover31]

Feb 24, 2015 13:39:02 GMT -5 whitney4126 said:

Feb 24, 2015 13:23:09 GMT -5 doglover31 said:

whitney4126 I have been co sleeping with DS too. He is in bed with me a lot of the night. I go back and forth with this being right or not. I'm afraid he will never go back to his crib, but I need to sleep too. I know it's hard.

I read the chapter in the Womanly Art of Breastfeeding about sleep, and it basically described my exact situation and encouraged it and made me feel better about it.  Honestly, I'm getting more sleep like this than I ever was before, even when she would sleep in her bassinet, but I would get all the way up to feed.  But then I'm embarrassed to tell anyone else how sleep is actually going (I know I shouldn't care), and I'm also afraid that she will never go in her crib, or that when she does, the transition will be traumatizing.  I never thought I would be a co-sleeper (mostly because I am such a light sleeper), but desperate times call for desperate measures.  Also, there is nothing like the early morning smiling and talking she does.  It is a great way to wake up.

I feel the same way when people ask. And have been told so many times I'm creating bad habits. The other day I was told I should just wean him already so that he can have formula and STTN.

[judyblume14]

Feb 24, 2015 13:52:36 GMT -5 doglover31 said:

Feb 24, 2015 13:39:02 GMT -5 whitney4126 said:

snip

I feel the same way when people ask. And have been told so many times I'm creating bad habits. The other day I was told I should just wean him already so that he can have formula and STTN.

UGHHHHHHHHHHHh. STAHP IT PEOPLE.

Do people really think that ALL formula fed babies STTN? I'm pretty sure that'd be news to some of our FFing S14 buddies ;-)

[doglover31]

Feb 24, 2015 15:12:32 GMT -5 judyblume14 said:

Feb 24, 2015 13:52:36 GMT -5 doglover31 said:

I feel the same way when people ask. And have been told so many times I'm creating bad habits. The other day I was told I should just wean him already so that he can have formula and STTN.

UGHHHHHHHHHHHh. STAHP IT PEOPLE.

Do people really think that ALL formula fed babies STTN? I'm pretty sure that'd be news to some of our FFing S14 buddies ;-)

I know! I adamantly told her that I would not be weaning him just because he isn't sleeping through the night. If he's hungry I'm going to feed him. I just don't have a baby who will STTN.

[sweetpeabee]

How old is LO? 5 months 

Any breastfeeding issues? Not really, finding the time to pump at work is a continued challenge (I only got to pump once during my 11 hour day today, but most days it is not that bad)

What does your nursing schedule look like?
Well, it depends on if DD SSTN (that happens about 30%-40% of the time now). 
-0300 BF (occasional, maybe 30% of the time) 
-somewhere between 0600-0700 BF
-1000 Pump at work (typically get 9-14 oz total)
-1400-1500-ish Pump at work (typically get approx. 8 oz total, depending on how my fluid intake has been)
-1800-1930- if I get home before 1900 and DD hasn't had a bottle in the last hour, I BF. If it is after 1900 (LO's bedtime) or she just had a bottle, I pump (typically get approx 8 oz total) 
-2200 BF (occasional) 

What is one thing that you enjoy about breastfeeding right now?
The bonding I get with my LO.  DH is a SAHD and I work full time, so being able to BF her and have that special bonding is so important for me.  

GTKY: what is your favorite cookie?
My homemade Chocolate chip cookies! Or possibly my Mom's almond raspberry thumbprint cookies. I love homemade cookies. 

[mamahodge]

LO is 10 weeks old

No supply problems. But beginning last week my right nipple began to hurt when he was nursing and then is sore after but I have no idea why. Today he was pulling when he was feeding on that side. I hope it gets better soon

We wake and feed around 7am. We play for an hour-ish then he naps and wakes to eat again until he goes to bed by 8pm.

My favorite part of BF is seeing him be so healthy and gain weight.

Cookie: white chocolate macadamia nut... Mmm

[judyblume14]

Feb 24, 2015 22:09:53 GMT -5 mamahodge said:

LO is 10 weeks old

No supply problems. But beginning last week my right nipple began to hurt when he was nursing and then is sore after but I have no idea why. Today he was pulling when he was feeding on that side. I hope it gets better soon

We wake and feed around 7am. We play for an hour-ish then he naps and wakes to eat again until he goes to bed by 8pm.

My favorite part of BF is seeing him be so healthy and gain weight.

Cookie: white chocolate macadamia nut... Mmm

mamahodge - check your nipple for a milk bleb. I had one a few weeks ago.  I thought my LO was biting my nipple when she nursed on the left side. It was a searing pain, and over the course of a day or two, I developed a plugged duct that I could NOT relieve. After really close examination, I saw a teeny tiny white spot on my nip.  It was a milk bleb.  After scraping it off (which hurt for a minute), I almost immediately got relief as milk shot out, and I was able to work out the plugged duct.  

[jessa1228]

How old is LO? 3.5 months

Any breastfeeding issues? Not BF, but pumping. Daycare keeps trying to tell me that I need to send more milk. I send four 4oz bottles for the 9.5 hours DS is there. He usually eats all four but will occasionally only eat three. I have it written in his contract that they are to do paced bottle feeding. I'm lucky that I can pump the 16oz at work, but lately I've been struggling a bit. He's recently taking a liking to pacifiers and I think he just wants to suck when he's done eating, but daycare is interpreting it as he's still hungry. H usually does pickup and dropoff, but today I'm picking DS up so I'm going to talk to them about it.

What does your nursing schedule look like? Mon-Fri I nurse at 6:30, pump at 9, 12, and 3 while at work, then nurse on demand in the evenings. Weekends we nurse on demand.

What is one thing that you enjoy about breastfeeding right now? DS likes to stare at me while he nurses, so sometimes I'll make funny faces or a funny noise and he'll smile or start giggling. It melts my heart.

GTKY: what is your favorite cookie? Oreos!

[whitney4126]

Feb 25, 2015 11:33:53 GMT -5 jessa1228 said:

How old is LO? 3.5 months

Any breastfeeding issues? Not BF, but pumping. Daycare keeps trying to tell me that I need to send more milk. I send four 4oz bottles for the 9.5 hours DS is there. He usually eats all four but will occasionally only eat three. I have it written in his contract that they are to do paced bottle feeding. I'm lucky that I can pump the 16oz at work, but lately I've been struggling a bit. He's recently taking a liking to pacifiers and I think he just wants to suck when he's done eating, but daycare is interpreting it as he's still hungry. H usually does pickup and dropoff, but today I'm picking DS up so I'm going to talk to them about it.

What does your nursing schedule look like? Mon-Fri I nurse at 6:30, pump at 9, 12, and 3 while at work, then nurse on demand in the evenings. Weekends we nurse on demand.

What is one thing that you enjoy about breastfeeding right now? DS likes to stare at me while he nurses, so sometimes I'll make funny faces or a funny noise and he'll smile or start giggling. It melts my heart.

GTKY: what is your favorite cookie? Oreos!

I have had some of the same issues with daycare. Kellymom has a good pdf print out for daycare providers at this site kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/feeding-tools/bottle-feeding/. The thing that has helped the most is telling them exactly when she last ate in the morning, and asking that if she seems hungry before 2-3 hours have passed, to offer her a pacifier first to see if that satisfies her. I think they just automatically thinks she wants to eat every time she gets fussy. My daycare has done pretty well at respecting my wishes, but it's still so hard for them to understand that as baby gets older, she doesn't need more breastmilk, like she would if she were taking formula. Good luck!

[nursedesi]

Feb 23, 2015 18:28:05 GMT -5 iloverunning said:

Hello All, hope your week got off to a good start.

How old is LO?

Any breastfeeding issues?

What does your nursing schedule look like?

What is one thing that you enjoy about breastfeeding right now?

GTKY: what is your favorite cookie?

5 months old

No issues, just gets very handsy and wants to play with my face while nursing

Every 2 hours during the day. And we bedshare, I honestly am only half awake for those feeds and don't know how many times he nurses... one, two? Not for sure lol

When he looks at me and gets a huge grin on his face while hes still eating. It makes me melt!

I love homemade chocolate chip!

[bonnesetter27]

How old is LO? 5.5months

Any breastfeeding issues? Same as the rest of you sort of, pumping. I can pump the 15 oz she drinks at daycare but then I have no supply for the rest of the night. I was home all last week and had no supply issues in the afternoon so I think it is because I am pumping so much out during the day that there is none left over. Or it might be that nursing just makes me produce more than pumping.

What does your nursing schedule look like? DD is STTN most nights. So 6am nurse. Pump 8,12, 2. Nurse at 5, and 7. On the weekend we nurse on demand so it is more often (usually before naps etc).

What is one thing that you enjoy about breastfeeding right now? I love the smiles while she nurses.

GTKY: what is your favorite cookie? shortbread that I can dunk in my tea.

[bonnesetter27]

jessa1228,whitney4126, we need to start a support group for people whose dc overfeeds their lo's.

[theresat858]

Lo is almost 5 months (how did that happen??)

Current issue is overfeeding at daycare. We will be working closely on her bottle amounts and times next week.

Lol @ the idea of a schedule. My kid is all over the place. I nurse on demand and she naps on demand and she has yet to establish any kind of a pattern.

Samoas

[nursefrizz]

Oooh I'm late!
How old is LO? 4 months

Any breastfeeding issues? Not really. I had sore nipples the other day. I think I had my pump positioned weird.

What does your nursing schedule look like?
During the week: nurse between 6:30 & 7.
Pump at 10 & 1 (she takes 3-4 4 oz bottles while I'm away)
Nurse 4/5.
Nurse 6:30/7.
Nurse at night if she wakes up.

What is one thing that you enjoy about breastfeeding right now? It's free! Money's tight at the moment. And the cuddles are good too

GTKY: what is your favorite cookie? Double chocolate chip