Post by cupcakecutiern on Sept 21, 2015 8:22:39 GMT -5
Age of LO: 3 weeks and some change
Breastfeeding, EP or a combination of both: mostly breastfeeding, usually a bottle or two of pbm, haven't needed formula in a couple days.
Supplementing with formula? Not really
How is it going? It's going ok-- still using the shield bc I honestly think she feeds better with them on.
What has been the biggest struggle this last week? If you overcame it, what did you do? Life has been much better since I stopped pumping after each feed.
How is it going? His latch seems to get better every day. He opens wide on his own most of the time.
What has been the biggest struggle this last week? If you overcame it, what did you do? Cracked nipples and him eating every 2 hours (from start to start).
Questions? How do you stretch the time between feedings? I'd like him to go back to at least 3 hours like he was before we HAD to feed him every 2 hours. Also, if I want to pump a bottle for him and not increase or decrease supply is it best if I pump after a feeding or at a seperate time?
Age of LO: 4 weeks Breastfeeding, EP or a combination of both: EBF Supplementing with formula? No. How is it going? Pretty great.
What has been the biggest struggle this last week? If you overcame it, what did you do? Thrush! Yay? My doc gave me fluconazole which started working in 2 doses. She gets her mouth swabbed with nystatin several times a day. I think we caught it early and Will be fine, but I will bee so paranoid about recurrence. Also, Texas, so a nice breeding ground for yeast. Cannot go anywhere without becoming a sweaty sticky mess. Advice for others? I know nothing. Questions? What is the trick to paced bottle feeding? We tried feeding her yesterday, husband just drowns her face in milk and it dribbles all over her. He of course refuses to let me coach him and refuses to watch a 2 min video on how to do it. Sorry, no question, apparently I'm just venting now....
What has been the biggest struggle this last week? If you overcame it, what did you do?
Advice for others?
Questions?
Age of LO: 4 months 1 week chrono, 1 month 1 week adjusted
I'm EPing.
Fortifying breastmilk with enfamil AR and protein.
How's it going/biggest struggle: BF attempts this weekend were a train wreck. The looks she gave me...Wtf is this? Where's my bottle? That's not where food comes from! She would suck a little, then flip out and refuse it. I think it's too soon to officially give up, but I was so miserable this weekend that I think this will end up making me incredibly resentful if I keep at it. Taking a break until next weekend. I'll keep pumping because I like free things plus she needs antibodies. Also, the amount of time involved in breast vs bottle is insane. I don't know how you EBF do it!
Advice for others (and myself): if it works for you, great. If not, dump it.
Questions? What is the trick to paced bottle feeding? We tried feeding her yesterday, husband just drowns her face in milk and it dribbles all over her. He of course refuses to let me coach him and refuses to watch a 2 min video on how to do it. Sorry, no question, apparently I'm just venting now....
This is how A has taken bottles since her first one. It sounds like you might have too big of a nipple on the bottle, if it's dribbling. My tips: sit baby upright, like they are sitting at a table. Hold the bottle as horizontal as possible and still have milk filling the nipple. Baby leads the feeding. A will almost always stop herself when she's full. When we've tried to give her more after she's stopped herself (refuses to open her mouth), she's spit up.
How is it going? Pretty good, I got my insurance breast pump this weekend and have started using that instead of the hospital rental. It expresses very differently but I thankfully have not seen a loss in output.
What has been the biggest struggle this last week? If you overcame it, what did you do?
LO is 5 weeks 4 days. Breastfeeding and pumping. No formula in the past few days but we were using it for a couple of weeks. Things are going MUCH better. I was able to increase supply last week with power pumping and fenugreek.
Biggest struggle: last Tuesday was when I worked with an LC and she identified my crappy milk supply. I followed her recommendations and we are doing much better. I am amazed at how quickly the fenugreek and pumping helped. I did get tired of the pump and took a complete break from it yesterday.
Advice: talk to other moms. Nearly every woman I have talked to struggled to BF her first child. Get the support you need, reach out for help.
I'm sure I have questions but can't think of them right now.
Post by twinkbrite on Sept 21, 2015 11:08:08 GMT -5
LO is one month today.
BFing with one pump a day so DH can give her a bottle.
It's going pretty well! I have OALD and oversupply but I think LO is getting better at controlling the flow for herself. Still some coughing and popping off to cry because she swallowed too much air, but at least now I know that's why she's crying.
Advice is to stick with it, if you can! I said I was quitting and couldn't handle it anymore but I'm so glad I am still BFing her. Also don't take baby's crying personally. I always felt terrible for choking her with my milk and making her gassy and uncomfortable but now I know it's not my fault and if she is crying, she probably just needs to be burped or needs to poop; it's not because she isn't getting what she needs.
Breastfeeding, pumping when I can to make some bottles, using the funny milk catchers and banking at least .5 oz per feed. That adds up to about one bottle per day. It does need to be mixed with pumped milk because it's primarily foremilk.
BF continues to go well. H was giving her at least one bottle a day this weekend which enables me to pump. Unfortunately, he has work and school during the week and can't give her many bottles.
I can't endorse the milk savers enough. It really adds up.
Breastfeeding, EP or a combination of both: Breastfeeding, with a bottle or 2 of EBM on the weekend.
Supplementing with formula? Not yet
How is it going? Okay, we still have some bad sessions - usually when I am exhausted or frustrated.
What has been the biggest struggle this last week? If you overcame it, what did you do? Spit up/gas. Trying different positions (her sitting more upright while feeding) but am not convinced it is helping. Blaming OALD though.
Advice for others? Just keep swimming, err, feeding! Do what is best for you and LO.
Questions? When will my OALD regulate or when will she get used to it? Thought we would have figured it out by now, but she is still unlatching and trying to catch her breath at almost every feed.
Post by girlonabike on Sept 21, 2015 11:59:19 GMT -5
Just over one month, Breastfeeding and pumping (1 bottle at night so dad can feed as well). No supplementing (yet)
Liam's 1 month well-check was today. He's lost weight. He's barely above birth weight. I feel horrible.
The doc thinks its reflux. When I feed Liam, after a few minute he's starts crying and pushing away. We have a prescription for Zantac, so we'll see if that improved things. We have a weight-check appointment in one week. Any tips & recommendations on dealing with reflux?
I just feel so awful. Poor guy has been starving and in pain. This is what I've been struggling with, and hearing the doc say he's losing weight just reinforced it. I hate this.
Post by RandomName on Sept 21, 2015 12:42:27 GMT -5
Age of LO: 6 weeks +
Breastfeeding, EP or a combination of both: EBF
Supplementing with formula? No
How is it going? Great. We are in our groove now.
What has been the biggest struggle this last week? If you overcame it, what did you do?
I finish my last treatments for thrush tomorrow. DS is all done being treated. I *think* it's gone. I'm completely paranoid it will come back tho. Also, DS cluster fed Thurs-Fri and then ate less Sat and Sun. My boobs were full all weekend. I think they have regulated now tho.
Advice for others? We made it one + month. Little goals helped me when I first started with DD!
Questions? Nope
Eta: my last edit created a new post so I'll attempt this again... Can I'll a question? To add a heartwarming spin What is one triumph from the past week? DS popped off the boob yesterday, looked at me and smiled and the went back to eating. It was overwhelmingly amazing!
Just over one month, Breastfeeding and pumping (1 bottle at night so dad can feed as well). No supplementing (yet)
Liam's 1 month well-check was today. He's lost weight. He's barely above birth weight. I feel horrible.
The doc thinks its reflux. When I feed Liam, after a few minute he's starts crying and pushing away. We have a prescription for Zantac, so we'll see if that improved things. We have a weight-check appointment in one week. Any tips & recommendations on dealing with reflux?
I just feel so awful. Poor guy has been starving and in pain. This is what I've been struggling with, and hearing the doc say he's losing weight just reinforced it. I hate this.
Reflux sucks. We've been dealing with that for the past few weeks. Sounds like you have silent reflux? Im watching my girl squirm and arch after a feed right now.
we were told to always hold her upright at least 30 minutes after eating. something that helped me is realizing that when she spits up a lot, she usually is still actually hungry!
girlonabike how does he do with the bottle when dad feeds? How much are you pumping?
I'm sorry to here things aren't going smoothly right now. You'll get it figured out! ((Hugs))
He does fine with the bottle. He chugs that down (we slow him down by only feeding a bit at a time), and dad is pretty good about burping him right away. He's fed upright, so I don't think it bothers him as much (when he's on his back is when he gets upset, but I find it next to impossible to BF him upright).
I pump about 2 oz. Sometimes 3 if I manage to pump early in the morning.
Post by bcmomsaysso on Sept 21, 2015 13:02:36 GMT -5
Age of LO: 8 weeks Breastfeeding, EP, or combination: EBF except occasional pumping if dad needs a bottle while I'm out or grandma is sitting Supplementing? Nope How's it going? Great! Besides comfort nursing during witching hours, she used to take a pacifier but now all she wants is the boob :/ My supply is finally starting to even out, although I still get a little engorged at night (I think due to the comfort nursing mentioned above) but by the second morning feeding it's better. NIP comfortably now, latch is much easier and quicker. I don't even need a cover anymore, I just make sure I'm layered. Struggles: oversupply and OALD. I stopped pumping all together (we have a decent stash now) and she has only been feeding on one side at a time which I think helped. Other than that, just nursing frequently and waiting for my body to get it together. Questions: nursing bras?? I like a Demi, and am small chested. I might be pushing a "b" now, usually an "a". Any suggestions on good nursing bras for smaller busts? I need to invest in some now that I know we are in it for the long haul.
Just over one month, Breastfeeding and pumping (1 bottle at night so dad can feed as well). No supplementing (yet)
Liam's 1 month well-check was today. He's lost weight. He's barely above birth weight. I feel horrible.
The doc thinks its reflux. When I feed Liam, after a few minute he's starts crying and pushing away. We have a prescription for Zantac, so we'll see if that improved things. We have a weight-check appointment in one week. Any tips & recommendations on dealing with reflux?
I just feel so awful. Poor guy has been starving and in pain. This is what I've been struggling with, and hearing the doc say he's losing weight just reinforced it. I hate this.
Reflux sucks. We've been dealing with that for the past few weeks. Sounds like you have silent reflux? Im watching my girl squirm and arch after a feed right now.
we were told to always hold her upright at least 30 minutes after eating. something that helped me is realizing that when she spits up a lot, she usually is still actually hungry!
Yup, I try to make sure Liam's head is elevated after eating. He doesn't actually spit up much, but you can tell he's spitting up a little and then swallowing it.
girlonabike how does he do with the bottle when dad feeds? How much are you pumping?
I'm sorry to here things aren't going smoothly right now. You'll get it figured out! ((Hugs))
He does fine with the bottle. He chugs that down (we slow him down by only feeding a bit at a time), and dad is pretty good about burping him right away. He's fed upright, so I don't think it bothers him as much (when he's on his back is when he gets upset, but I find it next to impossible to BF him upright).
I pump about 2 oz. Sometimes 3 if I manage to pump early in the morning.
One way you could try is sitting back with him tummy to tummy with you. I do this to slow down my flow a little if my boobs are going crazy. That would keep him more upright, it's a little awkward at first though.
Do you feel your letdown when you start nursing? Maybe he's getting mad because it's not coming fast enough in the beginning? Or it's too fast (that was our issue)
Post by runningmommy519 on Sept 21, 2015 13:37:10 GMT -5
girlonabike I'm disappointed the pedi didn't do more to support you than offer the meds. Is there anyway you can meet with a lactation consultant? They can watch you feed him, they can offer tips and perhaps do a weighted feeding?
bcmomsaysso - what positions do you find easiest for nursing? I'm small chested too and a lot of the positions I was shown in the hospital just physically don't work for Auri/me. The Lc's were very anti-cradle but that's been the easiest along with reclining. Thanks!
bcmomsaysso - what positions do you find easiest for nursing? I'm small chested too and a lot of the positions I was shown in the hospital just physically don't work for Auri/me. The Lc's were very anti-cradle but that's been the easiest along with reclining. Thanks!
I usually cradle or side-nurse. Or tummy-to-tummy while reclining. The whole football hold thing is uncomfortable for me.
How is it going? Ok. Night are hard. The day gets progressively better and then night hits again.
What has been the biggest struggle this last week? If you overcame it, what did you do? Sore/damaged nipples still. Interested in seeing what the LC says Thursday.
NIP comfortably now, latch is much easier and quicker. I don't even need a cover anymore, I just make sure I'm layered.
Any suggestions for layering?
I don't have any nursing tops or bras yet. I just wear I nice stretchy cami under a looser fitting top. Then I just slide the straps down off my shoulder and pull down one side of my cami/bra. After I get her positioned I just lift my outer shirt and pop her on lol
5 weeks EBF Going well We did have some issues with OALD and choking, but that seems to have resolved. I figured it was a good idea to hold off on the lactation cookies I froze while pregnant until my boobs calmed down a bit. Cautiously enjoying them now.
Eta my question. Those of you who are not returning to work but would like LO to occasionally take a bottle, how often do you give them one to make sure they'll take it? With DD1 our plan was once a week until I returned to work (she didn't take one at all until about a week before I went back but whatever), but since I'm likely not going back I haven't been as diligent. I'd like to be able to give her one occasionally if I need to leave her, but also don't want to do more than I need to because I hate pumping.
5 weeks EBF Going well We did have some issues with OALD and choking, but that seems to have resolved. I figured it was a good idea to hold off on the lactation cookies I froze while pregnant until my boobs calmed down a bit. Cautiously enjoying them now.
Eta my question. Those of you who are not returning to work but would like LO to occasionally take a bottle, how often do you give them one to make sure they'll take it? With DD1 our plan was once a week until I returned to work (she didn't take one at all until about a week before I went back but whatever), but since I'm likely not going back I haven't been as diligent. I'd like to be able to give her one occasionally if I need to leave her, but also don't want to do more than I need to because I hate pumping.
I'm not returning to work for 5 months (unless we hit the lotto and I can stay home haha) - I asked our ped and she said one bottle a day after 1 month of age. Not sure if other ladies agree/disagree but wanted to pass along!
5 weeks EBF Going well We did have some issues with OALD and choking, but that seems to have resolved. I figured it was a good idea to hold off on the lactation cookies I froze while pregnant until my boobs calmed down a bit. Cautiously enjoying them now.
Eta my question. Those of you who are not returning to work but would like LO to occasionally take a bottle, how often do you give them one to make sure they'll take it? With DD1 our plan was once a week until I returned to work (she didn't take one at all until about a week before I went back but whatever), but since I'm likely not going back I haven't been as diligent. I'd like to be able to give her one occasionally if I need to leave her, but also don't want to do more than I need to because I hate pumping.
I'm not returning to work for 5 months (unless we hit the lotto and I can stay home haha) - I asked our ped and she said one bottle a day after 1 month of age. Not sure if other ladies agree/disagree but wanted to pass along!
Eek once a day! I was thinking (hoping) once every one to two weeks.
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