I've been back at work since January 5th. She was doing a little better with it and then came down with her first cold. She seems to be feeling better now but refuses more then an ounce at each bottle feeding. Hopefully she figures it out soon, mama is tired!!
I think we may have figured out part of her issue with bottles. I tasted her milk today and it tasted like vomit. Dr Google suggests it's an extra lipase issue. Is anyone else dealing with this? How did you know for sure? Any tips on scalding milk? I feel horrible thinking we've been trying to force this nasty tasting milk on her. No wonder she hates bottles!
I just found the same issue! I'm hoping that it's a one off. This is so frustrating!
I think we may have figured out part of her issue with bottles. I tasted her milk today and it tasted like vomit. Dr Google suggests it's an extra lipase issue. Is anyone else dealing with this? How did you know for sure? Any tips on scalding milk? I feel horrible thinking we've been trying to force this nasty tasting milk on her. No wonder she hates bottles!
I just found the same issue! I'm hoping that it's a one off. This is so frustrating!
What's your plan for figuring it out? I haven't found that there is a "test" per say that will tell you if it's truly excess lipase or not. Right now I have a few bottles in the fridge pumped at various times and I keep checking them to see at what point the milk starts to go bad. I'm hoping that it lasts more than 24 hours so I can just give fresh milk pumped the day before during the work day. Then maybe scald Friday's milk and freeze it. I have not had time to look into my freezer stash to see if it has the same issue. I really hope I don't have to toss all the milk I've built up!!!
I just found the same issue! I'm hoping that it's a one off. This is so frustrating!
What's your plan for figuring it out? I haven't found that there is a "test" per say that will tell you if it's truly excess lipase or not. Right now I have a few bottles in the fridge pumped at various times and I keep checking them to see at what point the milk starts to go bad. I'm hoping that it lasts more than 24 hours so I can just give fresh milk pumped the day before during the work day. Then maybe scald Friday's milk and freeze it. I have not had time to look into my freezer stash to see if it has the same issue. I really hope I don't have to toss all the milk I've built up!!!
Everything that I've read says that the milk is safe. I think that I've also read that you can mix the milk to get a more tolerable taste. On my end, unless LO stops taking the bottle, I'm not sure that I will be able to scald every bottle of pumped milk.
BTW- you should be able to donate the frozen milk instead of throwing it out
Post by sweetsurprise on Feb 16, 2015 15:31:25 GMT -5
I got a pretty bad stomach virus and since then it seems like my supply diminished (I'm an EPer so I can tell I'm producing fewer ounces). I'm not sure if it's just because I wasn't eating very much or if it's normal to take a dip when sick. Any advice?
olive if it was in a cooler with ice, it should be ok (especially if it smells and tastes ok). If not, toss it. I know the feeling! I don't pump that regularly so my stash is tiny. If I had to throw out a whole day it would wipe me out. Could you do formula today if have to toss it? I know it's not ideal, but we keep some on hand at my house for emergencies and if you pumped it shouldn't affect your supply.
Baby has been taking both sides at most feedings over the past couple of days and nursing for 20+ minutes when she usually on only takes one and is done in less than 10 minutes. I'm pumping at work right now and NOTHING is coming out. I can usually get 6 ounces in the morning. Growth spurt or something else? Should I just keep pumping if nothing is coming out? I have plenty in the freezer, but if it's a supply issue, it might explain why she's been taking both sides?
Baby has been taking both sides at most feedings over the past couple of days and nursing for 20+ minutes when she usually on only takes one and is done in less than 10 minutes. I'm pumping at work right now and NOTHING is coming out. I can usually get 6 ounces in the morning. Growth spurt or something else? Should I just keep pumping if nothing is coming out? I have plenty in the freezer, but if it's a supply issue, it might explain why she's been taking both sides?
The one time that nothing came out I had clogged ducts. This was a week or so after a growth spurt that kicked my supply into gear. I had to work those clogs out before things flowed again.
Baby has been taking both sides at most feedings over the past couple of days and nursing for 20+ minutes when she usually on only takes one and is done in less than 10 minutes. I'm pumping at work right now and NOTHING is coming out. I can usually get 6 ounces in the morning. Growth spurt or something else? Should I just keep pumping if nothing is coming out? I have plenty in the freezer, but if it's a supply issue, it might explain why she's been taking both sides?
Change your pump membranes? Do you still feel full after pumping?
Baby has been taking both sides at most feedings over the past couple of days and nursing for 20+ minutes when she usually on only takes one and is done in less than 10 minutes. I'm pumping at work right now and NOTHING is coming out. I can usually get 6 ounces in the morning. Growth spurt or something else? Should I just keep pumping if nothing is coming out? I have plenty in the freezer, but if it's a supply issue, it might explain why she's been taking both sides?
Change your pump membranes? Do you still feel full after pumping?
I felt pretty empty. I got about 6oz at my next pump and am pumping now and have about 3oz so far. I'll order some new membranes, but they're only about a month old. It looks like I'm still going to end up pumping less than LO takes today, which is really unusual. I typically get 16oz or so when I pump 3 times and it's looking like I'll only get 10 or so today. LO takes 12. Boo!
I think Emerald used to say that pumped amounts aren't a good indication of supply, so if LO has a good diaper output and isn't acting like he/she is starving at home, your supply is probably fine.
I think membranes are supposed to change our monthly anyway. Especially since you use them a bunch.
I've had bad pump days here and there. Drink more water and look at photos or videos of LO while you pump. Or bring one of his blankets to work.
Well, I ended up pumping 11oz and LO only drank 9. Tonight, she nursed for 40 minutes and I had to keep switching sides because it seemed like she wasn't getting much milk. So weird (and hello again, sore nips).
Pedi was concerned about DS's weight today (no that he's underweight, but he will be if he doesn't bulk up some with the increase in activity). She recommended block feeding/trying to get him more hind milk. Also, more feedings. I'm a little confused on how best to do this. Suggestions? Also, I'm disappointed because it's been a rough week anyway, and DS's weight has always been the one thing I don't really have to worry about. I understand now feeling like a failure when LO isn't gaining with EBF like he should. I know it's not really my fault, but I should be able to meet his needs, and I'm struggling.
Pedi was concerned about DS's weight today (no that he's underweight, but he will be if he doesn't bulk up some with the increase in activity). She recommended block feeding/trying to get him more hind milk. Also, more feedings. I'm a little confused on how best to do this. Suggestions? Also, I'm disappointed because it's been a rough week anyway, and DS's weight has always been the one thing I don't really have to worry about. I understand now feeling like a failure when LO isn't gaining with EBF like he should. I know it's not really my fault, but I should be able to meet his needs, and I'm struggling.
Welcome to my world. I find out today if my efforts (and being over fed at daycare) have helped her gain. She feels a lot heavier and is slowly growing out of those 3 month clothes.
Re: block feeding - this was suggested to me by an LC when I was still on maternity leave. But I also was instructed to offer both breasts, which made it more confusing. In theory, block feeding is where you offer the same boob to LO in a 2-4 hour period to make sure the breast is being emptied. However, it could leave your other boob full for quite some time and ding your supply. But, if you have an oversupply, this might regulate it.
What I did is I figured LO would eat every two hours. So if I started feeding her and had her eat off both breasts, and then she was hungry 2 hours later, I'd offer the same breast I finished with last time. (And then offered the other after she was done.)
I also did a lot of breast compressions during nursing and if I found myself really full while she was napping, I'd pump for comfort and she would eat from that side as soon as she woke up. That way she didn't get this huge swollen boob in her face and got less milk that had been sitting around a while.
It definitely worked the week I tried it. She gained like 8 oz in a week. But then she went to daycare and started getting bottles and her weight slowed again. So we are trying more via supplementation, since I have the supply for it.
Post by applegrape on Feb 27, 2015 10:31:53 GMT -5
I pumped for 20 minutes and got only droplets. I changed membranes and messed around with the suction, but there was no improvement. I even hand-express beforehand to get things started. I know that there is milk there because I am full and can produce a lot when hand-expressing. My supply has decreased over the last three weeks and I feel like it is related to changing the times when I pump, but 4 drops is ridiculous.
Anything else I can do to get my pump to actually pump the milk?
I pumped for 20 minutes and got only droplets. I changed membranes and messed around with the suction, but there was no improvement. I even hand-express beforehand to get things started. I know that there is milk there because I am full and can produce a lot when hand-expressing. My supply has decreased over the last three weeks and I feel like it is related to changing the times when I pump, but 4 drops is ridiculous.
Anything else I can do to get my pump to actually pump the milk?
Are you massaging while pumping? Looking at pix or video of baby? Those things work for me. Also reading the randoms thread...not sure what it is, but almost always get another let down while reading that hha
Had 2 pumping moments that made me feel awesome today. First, I had to take my students to the courthouse today for the Mock trial competition and needed a place to pump. I felt so proud of myself for asking a security guard for a private room. Then on the way home I was stuck in traffic and pumped while driving. This probably isn't a big deal but those things made me feel like super mom today
I pumped for 20 minutes and got only droplets. I changed membranes and messed around with the suction, but there was no improvement. I even hand-express beforehand to get things started. I know that there is milk there because I am full and can produce a lot when hand-expressing. My supply has decreased over the last three weeks and I feel like it is related to changing the times when I pump, but 4 drops is ridiculous.
Anything else I can do to get my pump to actually pump the milk?
I've started using my manual pump more than the electric pump. It seems to be more efficient for me.
I went to pump at work and discovered mold in one of my connectors! I used the other connector, flange, and membrane and pumped one breast at a time. The parts that I used were mold free but they were in the same baggie as the part with mold on it. Should I throw out the milk I pump today, to be on the safe side? I should add that I have a large freezer stash so I don't necessarily need the milk I pump today (although it would still suck to throw it out!)
I've been EP since my supply dipped because we are supplementing. Is there a better way to do this? How will I know how much to supplement with? I'm pumping about 15 ounces/day. DD takes about 25/day combined BM and formula.
I've been EP since my supply dipped because we are supplementing. Is there a better way to do this? How will I know how much to supplement with? I'm pumping about 15 ounces/day. DD takes about 25/day combined BM and formula.
I'm in a similar situation, and trying to increase my supply back up. The LC I've been speaking with has told me to ensure when baby gets a bottle I am pumping, or just putting her to the breast as much as possible when we are together. She also said that for 4mo baby should be getting 32 oz during the day.
I've been EP since my supply dipped because we are supplementing. Is there a better way to do this? How will I know how much to supplement with? I'm pumping about 15 ounces/day. DD takes about 25/day combined BM and formula.
cantisa Are you asking about increasing supply or the best way to supplement?
I've been EP since my supply dipped because we are supplementing. Is there a better way to do this? How will I know how much to supplement with? I'm pumping about 15 ounces/day. DD takes about 25/day combined BM and formula.
cantisa Are you asking about increasing supply or the best way to supplement?
I wasn't clear Im more asking can I get back to breastfeeding instead of EP?
Post by bsquaredmsquared on Mar 7, 2015 10:11:04 GMT -5
cantisa I think that the advice that you will get is nurse as frequently as you can and then pump when the baby is finished or getting a bottle to stimulate supply. I can't see any reason not to nurse if you are able to - pumping is a second option to help you but not to replace nursing if it's working out.
32 oz sounds really high!
(I'm just working through this like everyone else so definitely listen to what the experts on the board say
Yeah I think you're right I guess I just worry how I will know how much to make her bottles if she is still hungry after BF which I assume she will be if she only gets 2oz from the breast
Yeah I think you're right I guess I just worry how I will know how much to make her bottles if she is still hungry after BF which I assume she will be if she only gets 2oz from the breast
Good question. I have a pretty hungry guy so he let us know when he was still hungry when we were supplementing. We took our cues from him since he is very vocal when he is hungry although some may disagree with this approach because of the risk of over feeding. Our pediatrician told us to keep doing what we were doing since he gained weight when he needed to and then followed a favorable trend.
Good luck! My supply didn't keep up until the 3 month growth spurt. Now I wake up MOTN to pump and get ahead of DS.
Post by theresat858 on Mar 7, 2015 17:43:13 GMT -5
My thoughts: 1. 32 ounces is really on the high side if you are talking breastmilk only. Normal range is 19-30 ounces/day with an average of 25 ounces, and that amount shouldn't change much from 1 month (increases from birth to 1 month) to close to a year (dropping feeds in favor of solids in the 9-14 month range).
Was that advice from an IBCLC? Was baby not gaining on less?
2. Pumping is NOT a good indicator of supply, and EPing can certainly cause your supply to dip even more. So I would not choose to EP. I would offer a bottle of formula (1-2 ounces) after baby nurses and pump while supplementing to encourage a supply increase. If baby now needs 10 ounces of formula a day, start with that amount of supplement spread through the day, and don't stress if baby doesn't need it all (bc most moms respond better to baby than the pump). I would plan to offer 2 ounces after 5 feedings, and then assume baby will want to eat sooner after breast only feedings.
3. If you are able to pump milk after feedings, either replace some of the formula with it or start supplementing fewer feedings.
Yeah I think you're right I guess I just worry how I will know how much to make her bottles if she is still hungry after BF which I assume she will be if she only gets 2oz from the breast
Good question. I have a pretty hungry guy so he let us know when he was still hungry when we were supplementing. We took our cues from him since he is very vocal when he is hungry although some may disagree with this approach because of the risk of over feeding. Our pediatrician told us to keep doing what we were doing since he gained weight when he needed to and then followed a favorable trend.
Good luck! My supply didn't keep up until the 3 month growth spurt. Now I wake up MOTN to pump and get ahead of DS.
DS hasn't been gaining on track just in the last 2 weeks, so I've tried to offer pumped milk, and he's just not hungry. He eats 2-2.5 oz. per feeding (I do weighed feedings almost every week at the BF clinic) and usually eats every 2 hours (more like 90 minutes lately) during the day, and once around 3:30 am, for 8 total feedings per day. Our pedi said something about how he should be getting 5 oz. per feeding, but I wasn't sure what she meant. She didn't ask how often he feeds so I'm not sure if she assumed he eats less often. The LC at the clinic doesn't seem worried, and actually told me not to stress, so I'm not.
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