mommy milk monday?

[Rarity]

I saw a formula Friday check in and didn't see a bf/pumping check in. Maybe we can start one for anyone interested in doing so. It could be open to those doing both formula with breast milk, and those exclusive breast-feeding/pumping.

What do you all think?

[Rarity]

We can do it check in style, as well as Q&As about breastfeeding/pumping.

[xoxolicia]

I'm in!

[mands1125]

Sounds good!

[lilyelayne]

Sure thing

ETA: there are age range check ins on the breastfeeding board too, but I'd love to check in with you ladies every week. Reading this board's BF questions thread was wonderful for me when I finally had LO last week.

[FlutterOfYoshis]

I like it! I'm also a fan of alliteration. :-P

[boxerrrmama85]

I'm in

[babycfeb2015]

Im in too!

[Deleted]

Sounds good to me!

[wimcgrath]

Sounds good to me !

[aggiebug]

To bad we can make it so the acronym is MOO

[mishka29]

First issue for discussion...

DH complains that he never gets to feed LO and wants to give her a bottle. I really dislike pumping also it's hard to do without cutting into my sleep time bc I need to do it early enough before LO wakes up to feed. We bought some formula however now I'm weary about using it at this time bc I don't want to create gas or tummy issues as LO learns how to digest something new when her guts are still developing.

Recommendations? Advice?

[boxerrrmama85]

mishka29 yes and yes. My husband has offered to take LO overnight so I can sleep, but I would still have to pump and it's just easier to nurse.

How have people handled this?

Also for STMs: how did you streamline pumping at work? I'm currently lugging a ton of stuff (pump, medela cooler + extra cooler for additional bottles and flanges (in between sessions)?

[mamabisme]

Also in!

[aggiebug]

boxerrrmama85, mishka29, What I have done is feed at 9-9:30 and then pump directly after. I do the same thing at the 6am feeding (you will get more milk in the morning) H feeds her a bottle at about 3am. I am leaky by the time morning comes around, but this lets H feed her and lets me get more sleep. Now I admit I have never had issues with supply and I don't work so I can and do feed throughout the day.

The other thing you could do it have H feed a bottle either just before bed or in the morning while you pump. Obviously you will have to find a time to put to get this routine started. I would have a hard time justifying paying for formula just so H could feed her, that stuff is expensive!

[kcrosem]

boxerrrmama85, mishka29, I pump either if I get a chance when he is doing a longer nap during the day or in the early evening. He is not always doing both sides now so pumping the other side after he eats sometimes too. Then DH gives a bottle in the 9pm to midnight window so I can get a jump start on sleep. I hated pumping last time but this is easing me into it for when I return to work.

Eta: didn't understand work question at 6 am. I think I would get gallon ziplocks and divide up extra part sets and leave all but one set in my desk...

[flyster]

I pump after LO is done eating. Right now he is using most of my supply so I can get about an ounce or so post feeding, and generally he is happy to lay in his pack and play and kick his legs while I do that. So throughout the day I get about 4 oz. Sometimes DH uses that to let me sleep, or my mom will use it if I need to run errands or go to the dr. I'm going to try and start building a store though so I don't feel as much pressure to pump after the daytime feeds.

[flyster]

My current issue: My mom convinced me to give up dairy and caffeine (i was only having one cup of coffee in the morning) and i'm sad to say, but I think both things have made LO happier. He is sleeping better at night/in the afternoon and I think the dairy was hurting his tummy. He had a couple of green poos before I stopped, and then when I accidentally ate blue cheese on a salad (totally forgot!) the green poo returned. I'm pretty bummed because I LOVE cheese. Also really liked that one dose of caffeine. I was hoping neither thing would make a change and I could just go back. Boo.

[boxerrrmama85]

FML! Looks like I didn't wash one of my valves properly. When I started pumping it became all frothy and bubbly!!! Ooooops! Yeah for spare parts!

[mrszee]

flyster, I am right there with ya, I noticed LO is more fussy on days after I have had cheese so see ya dairy! of course I started craving pizza after we discovered this. I had vegan cheese last night so I can update if this seems to bother her-hopefully it doesn't!!

[misshart00]

Mar 12, 2015 9:07:16 GMT -5 @holachica said:

How exactly are people freezing milk and in what amounts?

I'm going to start pumping this weekend- first so H can introduce bottles, so we can have date nights and then to get a freezer supply going since we will be going out of town for weddings in May/June/July.

I just freeze whatever I pump in the freezer bags. I don't divide it out into specific amounts. When I use it, I just pour however much I need into the bottle and save the rest for the next bottle.

[aggiebug]

Mar 12, 2015 8:29:15 GMT -5 flyster said:

My current issue: My mom convinced me to give up dairy and caffeine (i was only having one cup of coffee in the morning) and i'm sad to say, but I think both things have made LO happier. He is sleeping better at night/in the afternoon and I think the dairy was hurting his tummy. He had a couple of green poos before I stopped, and then when I accidentally ate blue cheese on a salad (totally forgot!) the green poo returned. I'm pretty bummed because I LOVE cheese. Also really liked that one dose of caffeine. I was hoping neither thing would make a change and I could just go back. Boo.

That is a bummer about dairy. I don't think I could handle no dairy very well. I use it in my latte and usually have a glass of milk with dinner, not to mention cheese.

Have you tested the caffeine theory? I possibly was just the dairy, now that you have that eliminated you might try the caffeine one day to prove it. Obviously it's up to you.

[mands1125]

I also noticed DD is less fussy and gassy when I have less dairy. Sucks.. I love cheese!

[mishka29]

Thanks ladies! I should have mentioned that I don't think DHs plan is to do the feeding at night to give me a break. It's more about random bottles for bonding time lol. Since he's sleeping on my the couch and I'm bed sharing, I don't expect the help at night unless things get hairy.

I guess I should suck it up and pump more when possible in the morning bc DD1 never took a bottle which meant she was only weamed off day feeds at daycare when she was a year old. It became frustrating for me to never get a break. So hopefully DD2 will do better with a bottle when needed.

[sccurrier]

Mar 12, 2015 9:07:16 GMT -5 @holachica said:

How exactly are people freezing milk and in what amounts?

I'm going to start pumping this weekend- first so H can introduce bottles, so we can have date nights and then to get a freezer supply going since we will be going out of town for weddings in May/June/July.

I don't have bags that attach to the pump so I pump into a bottle then pour all of it into a bag and just write the date/amount on the bag.

[sccurrier]

mishka29 my FI is the same about wanting to give a random bottle here and there. I got a free tub of similac for supplementing so that's what I've used here and there. I'm barely getting over supply issues so supplementing for me was out of necessity for a while. I would try and pump while FI gave DS the bottle and pumped virtually nothing.

Which brings me to question, how are you ladies pumping so much after a feed? I can barely get anything after the times that I've tried, like not even an ounce.

[aggiebug]

Mar 12, 2015 9:52:36 GMT -5 sccurrier said:

mishka29 my FI is the same about wanting to give a random bottle here and there. I got a free tub of similac for supplementing so that's what I've used here and there. I'm barely getting over supply issues so supplementing for me was out of necessity for a while. I would try and pump while FI gave DS the bottle and pumped virtually nothing.

Which brings me to question, how are you ladies pumping so much after a feed? I can barely get anything after the times that I've tried, like not even an ounce.

I think it is just a difference in supply

Drink lots of water and possibly try lactation cookies to see if they help your supply. That and pump a lot.

[mands1125]

I don't pump a lot either. I usually get like 2 ounces per boob if that. I'm only pumping like 4 times a week though. I need to pump more though for next Friday night since it will be a long night in Philly without DD.

[mamabisme]

I'm also wondering how much people are giving in bottle feedings. I've been pumping and freezing in 4 oz portions but I'm thinking that may be too much for one feeding, at first (maybe I'm wrong?). We are hoping to introduce a bottle soon. Also, how old was your LO when you introduced the bottle and how often are you giving them?

With DD1, I gave bottles too early and relied on them too heavily due to nipple damage from the first few days after her birth. All of this led to her refusal to nurse at all pretty early on and I ended up EPing. That was a huge PITA that I wanted to avoid with DD2 so with her we waited 6 weeks to introduce the bottle and were never successful in getting her to take one. That was also a PITA because we never got a date night or time away until she was 1.

I'd really like to find a good balance with DS. I am a SAHM so I'll be mostly nursing but would love to have regular date nights and be able to go to the gym and leave him home with DH sometimes.

[flyster]

Mar 12, 2015 9:25:06 GMT -5 aggiebug said:

Mar 12, 2015 8:29:15 GMT -5 flyster said:

My current issue: My mom convinced me to give up dairy and caffeine (i was only having one cup of coffee in the morning) and i'm sad to say, but I think both things have made LO happier. He is sleeping better at night/in the afternoon and I think the dairy was hurting his tummy. He had a couple of green poos before I stopped, and then when I accidentally ate blue cheese on a salad (totally forgot!) the green poo returned. I'm pretty bummed because I LOVE cheese. Also really liked that one dose of caffeine. I was hoping neither thing would make a change and I could just go back. Boo.

That is a bummer about dairy. I don't think I could handle no dairy very well. I use it in my latte and usually have a glass of milk with dinner, not to mention cheese.

Have you tested the caffeine theory? I possibly was just the dairy, now that you have that eliminated you might try the caffeine one day to prove it. Obviously it's up to you.

I'm giving it a few more days then I'll try with the caffeine again. It's also hard to tell if it's really helping or if LO is just in a different growth pattern right now. With dairy too next week I'll probably try one day and see to make sure it wasn't something like fore/hind milk imbalance.