SQS 9/20

[stinybean]

Happy Sunday ladies!

What questions do you have this week?

[stinybean]

How long can you go without pumping? So far I've only gone 6 hours during sleep. I don't want to mess with my supply but it would be nice to actually sleep (I don't sleep the whole 6).

[Widget123]

Sept 20, 2015 11:16:44 GMT -5 stinybean said:

How long can you go without pumping? So far I've only gone 6 hours during sleep. I don't want to mess with my supply but it would be nice to actually sleep (I don't sleep the whole 6).

I can go 12 hours overnight as well. The key is working your body up to it, by stretching yourself out more a few hours at a time.

[mrsmonogrammed]

Sept 20, 2015 11:22:50 GMT -5 budders said:

I just posted my question in the other thread because I didn't see that this one was up.

I would assume that would be milk ducts...can you feel a mass or anything?

[Deleted]

Sept 20, 2015 11:16:44 GMT -5 stinybean said:

How long can you go without pumping? So far I've only gone 6 hours during sleep. I don't want to mess with my supply but it would be nice to actually sleep (I don't sleep the whole 6).

Babies at this age can sleep 7-4. So I think you can stretch your pumping to 9 hours. It would be less common for a 3 month old to do a 12 hour stretch.

[billyhorrible]

Sept 20, 2015 11:16:44 GMT -5 stinybean said:

How long can you go without pumping? So far I've only gone 6 hours during sleep. I don't want to mess with my supply but it would be nice to actually sleep (I don't sleep the whole 6).

Are you waking to pump?  There's no reason to do that.  It just conditions your body that you need milk in the middle of the night.  You can go as long as your child sleeps without pumping.  (So I feed BH around 6:30pm, and then go 8-10 hours before he wakes again)

[stinybean]

Sept 20, 2015 14:20:23 GMT -5 billyhorrible said:

Sept 20, 2015 11:16:44 GMT -5 stinybean said:

How long can you go without pumping? So far I've only gone 6 hours during sleep. I don't want to mess with my supply but it would be nice to actually sleep (I don't sleep the whole 6).

Are you waking to pump?  There's no reason to do that.  It just conditions your body that you need milk in the middle of the night.  You can go as long as your child sleeps without pumping.  (So I feed BH around 6:30pm, and then go 8-10 hours before he wakes again)

I have been pumping at 430 am because I feel it necessary to pump before work, then I pump again at 730 when I get to work. Then I pump at 1050 during lunch, next around 230 after dismissal, then 530/6, then depending on when LO goes to sleep sometime after 930. But I'm wondering if I pump at 1030pm can I wait until 730am to pump again? I very rarely nurse because it takes a very long time and I end up giving her a bottle after anyway because I have a low supply. (Sorry this ended up very long)

[Widget123]

Sept 20, 2015 15:46:40 GMT -5 budders said:

Sept 20, 2015 15:08:54 GMT -5 stinybean said:

I have been pumping at 430 am because I feel it necessary to pump before work, then I pump again at 730 when I get to work. Then I pump at 1050 during lunch, next around 230 after dismissal, then 530/6, then depending on when LO goes to sleep sometime after 930. But I'm wondering if I pump at 1030pm can I wait until 730am to pump again? I very rarely nurse because it takes a very long time and I end up giving her a bottle after anyway because I have a low supply. (Sorry this ended up very long)

If you have low supply and need your body to produce milk at 4:30 AM in order to sufficiently feed your baby throughout the day, then I would keep that pumping session. If you don't need it in order to give enough ounces, then I would get rid of it.

I agree with this. If you have supply issues, ditching your 4:30am pump could be a real problem. But you could move your last evening pump earlier and go to bed earlier if that would help since your evening pumps are probably on the lower side.

[alayne926]

Does anyone else's lower back and hips all the time? I feel like every time I stand up, my back and/or my hips pop. Not sure if this is something I should start seeing a chiropractor for or see if it continues.

[erbear]

budders, I had pain in that area (it actually circled my entire body right where you're describing) and it was my gallbladder. Keep an eye on it!

[stinybean]

Thanks budders and Widget123 I guess it is staying as is.

[carolyngrace]

stinybean, I recently (like last week) dropped my 9pm(ish) pumping session so I can go to sleep earlier. That was the session where I made up the extra milk DB needs during the day, since when I pump at work I don't get quite enough to replace what he eats. In still not sure how I'm going to make that up, or if I'll have to give formula once in a while. But I have enough stash to make it a month or so before I worry about that.

All that to say, I decided sleep was more important to me. I'm just a mess when I'm tired and I've been tired for 4 months now.

[Bluedaisy]

This is for the cloth diaper mammas...how often are you washing diapers?

[kemdupuis]

Sept 20, 2015 16:35:07 GMT -5 alayne926 said:

Does anyone else's lower back and hips all the time? I feel like every time I stand up, my back and/or my hips pop. Not sure if this is something I should start seeing a chiropractor for or see if it continues.

I've always had back issues, but since B has been here, my mid back (new spot for me) has really been bothering me. I think it's from carrying him/his car seat around, lowering him into the pack and play, nursing, etc. I've been seeing a chiropractor (disclaimer: I have been going to the chiropractor for years) and I think it definitely helps me. IMO, it's worth a shot! Either that or PT

[alayne926]

kemdupuis, I've seen a chiropractor before for other issues, but I almost feel like my pelvis is not in alignment, and that's what is making my hips and lower back pop.

[billyhorrible]

Sept 20, 2015 15:08:54 GMT -5 stinybean said:

I have been pumping at 430 am because I feel it necessary to pump before work, then I pump again at 730 when I get to work. Then I pump at 1050 during lunch, next around 230 after dismissal, then 530/6, then depending on when LO goes to sleep sometime after 930. But I'm wondering if I pump at 1030pm can I wait until 730am to pump again? I very rarely nurse because it takes a very long time and I end up giving her a bottle after anyway because I have a low supply. (Sorry this ended up very long)

Got it. FWIW, I'm not sold that you have low supply. Your schedule sounds a lot like mine with my first. My supply was fine, but I couldn't keep up with the overfeeding him at daycare (one of the reasons I'm such a zealot about the overfeeding issue). So I'd pump at 2:30 after his MOTN feed, on the way to work, twice at work, and then before I went to bed at night - just to have enough for the next day.

If you only need one extra session, then the 10:30 might work well for you. I'm consistently an ounce short this time around, and if I add in a pump session it will probably be before bed. But I'm trying galactagogues first. A company just sent me their lactation cookie mix to try and review, so we'll see how this week goes.

[dogmama22]

Since we're talking about pumping, I learned some interesting things last night that I thought I'd share. I took a returning to work class at our local breastfeeding store. Here is the surprising information:
1. Newer Medela PISAs aren't functioning as well as older models and it's somewhat common for them to result in a decreased supply
2. We were taught to pump until milk stops flowing and to keep it on for two minutes past that point. At that point, remove the flanges and then hand express for a few minutes.
3. Many moms are given the wrong flange size at the hospital due to swelling from fluids. Once home, many need to go down a size or two. There should be 1/8" or less of your areola in the cylinder section.
I've learned a lot about pumping on here and this was new information so I thought I'd share with all of you so you can keep your BF relationship strong.

[kemdupuis]

Sept 20, 2015 20:16:55 GMT -5 alayne926 said:

kemdupuis, I've seen a chiropractor before for other issues, but I almost feel like my pelvis is not in alignment, and that's what is making my hips and lower back pop.

I don't think it would hurt to get it checked out. When I was PG, my hips were hurting me and to the chiropractor. He was able to help get me re-aligned and feel a bit better. Good luck! It sucks to be in pain- I hope you get some relief soon!

[Girlymama79]

Sept 20, 2015 19:42:38 GMT -5 Bluedaisy said:

This is for the cloth diaper mammas...how often are you washing diapers?

Every 2-3 days

[Deleted]

dogmama22
Thank you for sharing!

[carolyngrace]

Sept 20, 2015 21:53:02 GMT -5 Girlymama79 said:

Sept 20, 2015 19:42:38 GMT -5 Bluedaisy said:

This is for the cloth diaper mammas...how often are you washing diapers?

Every 2-3 days

About this. I try not to go longer than 3 days.

[erbear]

Sept 20, 2015 20:24:28 GMT -5 budders said:

Sept 20, 2015 17:16:43 GMT -5 erbear said:

budders, I had pain in that area (it actually circled my entire body right where you're describing) and it was my gallbladder. Keep an eye on it!

Would it still be gallbladder even though it's on my left?

It was a radiating pain for me. Has it gone away or eased?

[erbear]

When do you know it's time to switch nipples on a bottle? I don't see her drink a bottle, but h has told me it can take her 45 minutes to finish one. Is that a sign or her mimicking how she nurses (lazily)?

Same question with pacifiers - she uses soothies, which say 0-3 months. Should I be throwing them all away and only giving her the 3 months + super soothies?

[Widget123]

Sept 21, 2015 2:13:32 GMT -5 erbear said:

When do you know it's time to switch nipples on a bottle? I don't see her drink a bottle, but h has told me it can take her 45 minutes to finish one. Is that a sign or her mimicking how she nurses (lazily)?

Same question with pacifiers - she uses soothies, which say 0-3 months. Should I be throwing them all away and only giving her the 3 months + super soothies?

If the baby appears to be frustrated while eating a bottle, that could be a sign. We moved up to level 2 already. Some breastfeeding moms prefer to stay at level one to better mimic the flow of breastfeeding. If it takes her 45 minutes to nurse, this bottle feeding time sounds normal for her.

With my daughter we never moved up a level on soothies. This LO isnt taking them at all any more.

But for both bottle nipples and pacifiers you should generally replace them before they get too worn from heavy use, so if your LO has been using them frequently for 3 months it might be time to replace them anyway

[stinybean]

carolyngrace I can't go to bed any sooner because I put LO to sleep since I don't get to see her during the day. We already supplement due to my low supply. Maybe I'll just move my last pump up to right before I give LO her last feeding. That way I can go to bed as soon as she's asleep instead of after I pump. That would make it 8 hours between pumps, that's not too bad.

[erbear]

She has ten soothies that we rotate out and I check them for wear daily. She doesn't use the bottles enough to warrant new nipples (she has 8 bottles and she'll use 3-4 once or twice a week depending on how much I work). We can get new soothies easily, though; maybe I'll get a pack of super soothies to try. From what I've read, they're firmer?

[stinybean]

Sept 20, 2015 20:18:43 GMT -5 billyhorrible said:

Sept 20, 2015 15:08:54 GMT -5 stinybean said:

I have been pumping at 430 am because I feel it necessary to pump before work, then I pump again at 730 when I get to work. Then I pump at 1050 during lunch, next around 230 after dismissal, then 530/6, then depending on when LO goes to sleep sometime after 930. But I'm wondering if I pump at 1030pm can I wait until 730am to pump again? I very rarely nurse because it takes a very long time and I end up giving her a bottle after anyway because I have a low supply. (Sorry this ended up very long)

Got it. FWIW, I'm not sold that you have low supply. Your schedule sounds a lot like mine with my first. My supply was fine, but I couldn't keep up with the overfeeding him at daycare (one of the reasons I'm such a zealot about the overfeeding issue). So I'd pump at 2:30 after his MOTN feed, on the way to work, twice at work, and then before I went to bed at night - just to have enough for the next day.

If you only need one extra session, then the 10:30 might work well for you. I'm consistently an ounce short this time around, and if I add in a pump session it will probably be before bed. But I'm trying galactagogues first. A company just sent me their lactation cookie mix to try and review, so we'll see how this week goes.

I'm definitely low supply- I only get at most 13 Oz a day. That's after using lots of different supplements as guided by an LC. I wish you luck on building up your supply. I've just accepted that this is what I'm going to get. It stinks but I blame it on PCOS. Thank you for your guidance.

[billyhorrible]

Sept 21, 2015 2:13:32 GMT -5 erbear said:

When do you know it's time to switch nipples on a bottle? I don't see her drink a bottle, but h has told me it can take her 45 minutes to finish one. Is that a sign or her mimicking how she nurses (lazily)?

Same question with pacifiers - she uses soothies, which say 0-3 months. Should I be throwing them all away and only giving her the 3 months + super soothies?

45 minutes sounds like your husband is doing a great job. Honestly, Lucyv is the only time I've ever heard of a breastfeeding mother switching nipple sizes. I thought the larger sizes were primarily for formula fed babies. Because your nipple doesn't change as they grow, so the bottle nipple doesn't need to. But we had the opposite experience as she did. I've never switched nipple sizes, but I do switch pacifier sizes based on age.

[silv3rlining]

Sept 20, 2015 22:12:57 GMT -5 carolyngrace said:

Sept 20, 2015 21:53:02 GMT -5 Girlymama79 said:

Every 2-3 days

About this. I try not to go longer than 3 days.

This. But now that I have 2 in cloth I'm consistently doing every other day (even though I have enough to go longer). Tu, Th, Sa are my diaper wash nights. (They're in sposies on Sundays for children's church).

[Bluedaisy]

Sept 21, 2015 7:34:48 GMT -5 silv3rlining said:

Sept 20, 2015 22:12:57 GMT -5 carolyngrace said:

About this. I try not to go longer than 3 days.

This. But now that I have 2 in cloth I'm consistently doing every other day (even though I have enough to go longer). Tu, Th, Sa are my diaper wash nights. (They're in sposies on Sundays for children's church).

Thanks ladies, since we wanted to try cloth diapering before completely investing I've been doing laundry almost every day.  Now the we love it I ordered more diapers but then I was wondering if it would damage the diapers to wait longer.