SQS 7/25 edition

[kemdupuis]

Ok ladies- I BF my LO but have been pumping on the side in order to stock up so I can go to a wedding, etc. last week, I pumped during the days and BF at night because my parents were in town and everyone wanted to feed the baby. It also gave me a chance to not have him attached to my boob which was nice. Anyway, one day I went about 5 hours without pumping/feeding. I know this is a no no, but I honestly lost track of time. I pumped as so as I got home, and produced a ton of milk. My parents left, and now I am back to BFing all the time. I have tried to pump each day after one of my morning feedings, but I am seriously getting nothing out. LO still wets and poops normally, so I know his nutritional needs are being met, but I am freaking out. I do feel like the suction feels like it is less on my pump, so maybe that is the issue? I can usually hand express milk from each breast even after LO eats, so I don't think that's the problem. Thoughts?

[billyhorrible]

1- how long have your parents been gone/have you been doing the morning pump?

2- what time are you pumping? It should be basically the same time every morning. And by morning, I use to pump at 2:30am, not 7 or 8, because that was his first morning feed, when my levels were highest.

3) Everyone's definition of "nothing" is different. How much are you actually pumping?

[kemdupuis]

billyhorrible parents left on Tuesday, and we've been back to EBFing since Tuesday night. I have been doing our morning pump around 8am when we get up for the day, but I wil try doing it after our MOTN 2am feed instead. I definitely feel like I have more milk at that time, so I will make that switch. By literally nothing, j mean literally nothing but a few drops from one breast and barely enough milk to cover the bottom of the bottle from the other

[billyhorrible]

I should have asked before, but what pump are you using?

[kemdupuis]

Medela Pump in Style Advanced

[Widget123]

kemdupuis,I agree with billyhorrible that you should try after your 2am feeding when prolactin levels are higher. Some people's bodies respond better to the pump than others but following a consistent schedule with when you pump and pumping early am should help.

ETA you are using a good model pump, just make sure you have it on the highest suction setting you are comfortable with.  I usually start on a lower setting and gradually increase it.

[holliberry28]

Jul 25, 2015 12:21:00 GMT -5 kemdupuis said:

Medela Pump in Style Advanced

I also had an issue with the suction of the pump. It helped once I started pumping every 2-3 hours or so to increase the supply during pumping. Don't know if that'll help, good luck!

[jessila]

So I'm on antibiotics and have been worried about thrush. Tomorrow is my last day of a 10 day cycle. One nipple is now super sore when BFing but if I pump on that side it doesn't hurt. The sore nipple really just has one sore spot that if we change positions to the natural position (him lying on me) it still hurts at latch but just hurts randomly throughout the feed.
Am I reading too much into this? I'm planning to just pump the sore side today and BF the not sore side to see if that gives me some relief.

[bendherova]

We've been treated for thrush for 10 days. (oral fluconazole for DS and nystatin for me. today is day 11). DS2's tongue was almost cleared up by day 5-6-7, but now is whiter again. I called the pediatrician and they said just wait it out unless it's totally covered/spreading to sides of mouth, he's extra fussy, we're having feeding probs or I'm in pain. I still have nystatin cream that I'm continuing to use.

I wouldn't have thought that something that was actively being treated could worsen. Booo.

[holliberry28]

Ok so this is a stupid question, but can someone explain what thrush is and how to tell If LO has it? His
Tongue is white but I assumed it's from switching exclusively to formula a few days ago.

[billyhorrible]

kemdupuis- sorry we had company or I would have responded sooner. I was hoping you had a PISA. If you feel like suction isn't as good as a couple weeks ago, make sure all the tubes are pushed all the way in, the flanges are pushed all the way in, the membranes are clean and well attached (I'm assuming they were new when you started pumping, otherwise replace them). And make sure the little plug-y thing between the tubes on the pump is plugged in

[dmoney]

Jul 25, 2015 14:15:00 GMT -5 jessila said:

So I'm on antibiotics and have been worried about thrush. Tomorrow is my last day of a 10 day cycle. One nipple is now super sore when BFing but if I pump on that side it doesn't hurt. The sore nipple really just has one sore spot that if we change positions to the natural position (him lying on me) it still hurts at latch but just hurts randomly throughout the feed.
Am I reading too much into this? I'm planning to just pump the sore side today and BF the not sore side to see if that gives me some relief.

So,not that it will happen to you,  but after I was finished with my antibiotics from having mastitis I realized that my DD had a bad diaper rash. A week after the rash didn't go away we went to her ped.  Turned out that from me bfing and being on the meds j had given her a yeast rash. After days of a topical antibiotics it went away.  Just make sure you keep your LO'S bottom super dry. It didn't bother my lo, just gave her a really red tooshie for a week.


As for the sore nipples,make sure you are using a nipple cream and try a warm compress that has seemed to help me as well.

[dmoney]

Jul 25, 2015 10:59:31 GMT -5 kemdupuis said:

Ok ladies- I BF my LO but have been pumping on the side in order to stock up so I can go to a wedding, etc. last week, I pumped during the days and BF at night because my parents were in town and everyone wanted to feed the baby. It also gave me a chance to not have him attached to my boob which was nice. Anyway, one day I went about 5 hours without pumping/feeding. I know this is a no no, but I honestly lost track of time. I pumped as so as I got home, and produced a ton of milk. My parents left, and now I am back to BFing all the time. I have tried to pump each day after one of my morning feedings, but I am seriously getting nothing out. LO still wets and poops normally, so I know his nutritional needs are being met, but I am freaking out. I do feel like the suction feels like it is less on my pump, so maybe that is the issue? I can usually hand express milk from each breast even after LO eats, so I don't think that's the problem. Thoughts?

Whe I do pump I try and do it first thing in the am, before DD wakes up. Mine DD is sleeping g through the night so my breast are usually prettyfull. I will then take a hot shower because that helps with production . Then I will nurse dd. I have a supply issue so if I get a full ounce and a half total I consider it a successful pumping session.   Maybe try that and see if you get a good amount.

[baileybaileybne]

bendherova I was assured a white tongue without spots on gums or cheeks is just LO not swallowing well yet and milk remains.
jessila I was so worried about that too when I was on antibiotics and my nipples were sensitive in places at times but it settled down so it's not necessarily thrush. I hope you're through it without extra suffering!
I've been taking probiotics to attempt to avoid issues from the antibiotics: not sure if they helped but I feel like it's something I can try to help.

[holliberry28]

Has anyone tried Gerber Good Start in lieu of Similac/Enfamil for gassiness/colic/reflux? Is colic = stomach pains because that is what seems to be the cause of LO's crying.

[erbear]

So, the yellow part is stuck on my PISA. Any suggestions for getting it off?

[stinybean]

kemdupuis definitely don't base your amount of pumping on that large amount you got after 5 hours. That's kind of like a backup that's why you got so much. It doesn't happen often.

You have to teach your body that you want more milk at a certain time. It usually take no less than three days to get this. I agree that you should to the earlier feeding time. You might even want to pump more than once a day.


Eta: don't forget to use the letdown button on your pump in style (the water droplet).

[stinybean]

kemdupuis adding more... make sure the tubes of the pump are clear of condensation. You are supposed to let the pump run for two minutes after the pumping session without the flanges attached to push the condensation out.

[billyhorrible]

Jul 25, 2015 19:04:15 GMT -5 stinybean said:

kemdupuis adding more... make sure the tubes of the pump are clear of condensation. You are supposed to let the pump run for two minutes after the pumping session without the flanges attached to push the condensation out.

Holy crap, I had completely forgotten this! Thank you! For the past 2 weeks I've been trying to figure out why I remember disconnecting the tubes and not just turning the thing off.

[ladysif]

kemdupuis one thing that might help is focusing on LO while pumping - I know some people record LO's cry and listen to it while pumping to help get a letdown. Sometimes pictures/videos are enough.

[txngrl31]

holliberry28, what bottles are you using? My DD is not colicky but she did suffer from gas pains. We switched to Dr. Browns and wow, what a difference! There are a few more parts to wash but it's totally worth it. Dr. Brown bottles are designed to help with gas/ colic/ spit up.

I use Enfamil infant, but my doctor said all of the brands are good.

[Flick]

holliberry28 I use gerber and love it. I've tried similac and it seemed too foamy once mixed which upset LO tummy. With Gerber I haven't had any problems at all.

[shahoi]

@holliberry We are on our 3rd formula because of O's tummy problems. Nutramigen is the one we are on now. It's for babies who are allergic to cows milk protein. It's like we have a new baby. She doesn't scream and cry in pain when she passes gas, she's been pooping everyday, and she's happy all the time. We are going to go broke in the process, because it's more than double what we were paying for the Gentlease... but it's worth it for her to not be in pain all the time! GL to you and your LO!

[txngrl31]

Probably a question for my pedi ( which I will ask when we go to our 2 month check up this week), but when do you stop sterilizing bottles?

[holliberry28]

Thanks guys! @tnxgrl31, we did start using Dr.
Browns and we are loving it much more than the medela bottles. Now feedings last longer.

shahoi, I'll look into that. Well try gerber first and see if he tolerates it better than the gentleease he's on now. The gerber colic drops have really helped too with the crying. It does only seem gas/tummy related but he'll be 6 weeks next friday so hopefully the end of colic is in sight!

[Widget123]

Jul 26, 2015 10:31:49 GMT -5 txngrl31 said:

Probably a question for my pedi ( which I will ask when we go to our 2 month check up this week), but when do you stop sterilizing bottles?

I either do a skimpy cleaning job and sterilize OR do a thorough cleaning job by hand or dishwasher and don't sterilize.  This is how I've always done it regardless of age.

[carolyngrace]

Jul 26, 2015 12:51:03 GMT -5 Widget123 said:

Jul 26, 2015 10:31:49 GMT -5 txngrl31 said:

Probably a question for my pedi ( which I will ask when we go to our 2 month check up this week), but when do you stop sterilizing bottles?

I either do a skimpy cleaning job and sterilize OR do a thorough cleaning job by hand or dishwasher and don't sterilize.  This is how I've always done it regardless of age.

I'm realizing I'm either a super casual or somewhat negligent parent on stuff like this. I've never even thought to sterilize bottles. I just wash them with super hot water and soap... Is that really bad? And also, how do you sterilize them?

[Widget123]

Jul 26, 2015 12:58:45 GMT -5 carolyngrace said:

Jul 26, 2015 12:51:03 GMT -5 Widget123 said:

I either do a skimpy cleaning job and sterilize OR do a thorough cleaning job by hand or dishwasher and don't sterilize.  This is how I've always done it regardless of age.

I'm realizing I'm either a super casual or somewhat negligent parent on stuff like this. I've never even thought to sterilize bottles. I just wash them with super hot water and soap... Is that really bad? And also, how do you sterilize them?

Sterilizing means you use water that is literally boiling hot to kill germs via a sterilization container (bag, microwave sterilizer, etc.). Hot water and soap is perfectly fine.

[billyhorrible]

Jul 26, 2015 10:31:49 GMT -5 txngrl31 said:

Probably a question for my pedi ( which I will ask when we go to our 2 month check up this week), but when do you stop sterilizing bottles?

I only sterilize before first use. After that, just daily washes.

[txngrl31]

carolyngrace, I have a microwave sterilizer that i use.

I have been hand washing with hot water and soap, and then sterilizing them in the microwave sterilizer. Sounds like I'm doing a bit of over kill on that one.