My first check in, hope you don't mind me joining.
L is 4 1/2 weeks
I'm EBF but we give him a bottle of bm to get him used to bottles for when he goes to daycare.
My wife and I are both BF L. She's still BF our 19 month old son whom she carried.
Right now we're still dealing with L's shallow latch. His lower jaw is recessed so he can't open wide enough. We have taken him to a pedi chiropractor to help lossen the jaw muscles. It makes BF very painful which shouldn't be happening after all this time. I got a special nipple ointment on Friday which is magical. My boobs are happy. It's a special blend made by Jack Newman the BF guru. It treats cracked nipples, yeast, and one other thing I can't remember. It's safe for baby to eat too.
I've also been trying to BF my 19month old son but it's not happening. I will put my nipple in his mouth but won't latch. I think he thinks it's taboo to nurse off of me. He has been nursing like crazy off my wife. I was hoping if I could nurse him then I could do his bedtime and we could switch kids. I keep offering him my nipple and I jokingly said to my wife at what point am I being creepy, lol.
Successes: L has gained almost 5lbs in 4 weeks! The kid loves the boobs.
What has been the biggest struggle this last week? If you overcame it, what did you do? Latch regression again. It pissed him off but he wasn't getting a boob unless he opened up wide enough
Any triumphs you'd like to share? Nip. Embarrassed the crap out of my grandmother. It was fun.
Advice for others? Don't be afraid to nurse in public however you see fit. My kid hates a cover so if people don't like it oh well.
Questions? The leaking is going to stop soon, right? Because it's just annoying now.
This is my first check in too. We've been so busy I haven't had much time to get on here, but I'm going to try to make time from now on.
Age of LO: 7 weeks
Breastfeeding, EP or a combination of both: Breastfeeding
Supplementing with formula? No
How is it going? Great! The first few weeks were rough, there was a lot of crying from both of us. Thankfully he's caught on and things are great. Kid's an eater!
What has been the biggest struggle this last week? If you overcame it, what did you do? It's so hard waking up in the middle of the night. My oldest was sleeping longer stretches when he was this old. I'm just so tired.
Any triumphs you'd like to share?
Advice for others? I can't think of any general advice, but if anyone has a specific question I could give it a shot.
Post by runningmommy519 on Sept 28, 2015 9:06:26 GMT -5
Age of LO: 11 weeks on Wednesday
Breastfeeding, EP or a combination of both: EBF
Supplementing with formula? No
How is it going? It's going great!
What has been the biggest struggle this last week? If you overcame it, what did you do? No struggles. We might be on the home stretch of this no longer being hard.
Any triumphs you'd like to share? Ethan went from 7 lbs 10 oz to 9 lbs 7 oz in 3 weeks!
What has been the biggest struggle this last week? If you overcame it, what did you do? Making time to pump and especially power pump.
Any triumphs you'd like to share? I believe I slightly increased my supply again. I am producing 20-21 ounces a day now! We also are only giving Rose maybe 2 ounces of formula a day and sometimes none at all!
Advice for others?
Questions? I have the pump at practically the lowest setting but my nipples turn a deep dark red or purple while pumping, is that okay? Is there anything I need to change (flanges or something)?
How is it going?: the BFing is going great but I'm facing supply issues again because I had slowed way down on my pumping. Now I'm trying to be really good about it so I can pump enough while he is at daycare in a few weeks
What has been the biggest struggle this last week? If you overcame it, what did you do?: Again, supply. Pump while I nurse + at least 5 min after. Fenugreek, propel, lactation brownies, oatmeal, drink more liquids overall, power pump 2x a day
Questions?: when DS starts daycare I figure I'll need at least 4, 4oz bottles. I'd really like 5, 5oz bottles. I'm not currently pumping that much during my sessions and really that's a minimum. For btdt moms were you having to pump in addition to nursing when you got home?
karlamo that's really neat you both can breastfeed. I wonder if your wife's milk has changed because of this.
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It's wonderful having a second set of boobs around. I induced lactation when she was pregnant with R and we both BF him so we knew we wanted her to be able to BF L. L def prefers my nipples when he's super hungry but otherwise he latches and feeds off of her just fine. It's awesome in the MOTN especially since he's still eating every 2-3 hours, it's nice to get a break.
Biggest struggle at this point is probably OALD in the evenings. We recline to nurse, take breaks, and often after calming her down for 20 minutes and then returning to the boob things are better.
Any triumphs you'd like to share? I think both of my nipples are finally healed! After 6 weeks of being cracked!
QUESTIONS: How do you wear breast pads without looking lumpy through the bra?
Also, what's the difference between a sleeping bra and a regular nursing bra?
Up till now I've been sleeping topless for healing purposes, and wearing nipple shells during the day.
Breastfeeding, EP or a combination of both: BF-ing and pumping 3x during daylight hours only (per LC)
Supplementing with formula? Yes, but alternating with pumped breast milk every other feed
How is it going? Much better with the nipple shield! Sweet relief!
What has been the biggest struggle this last week? If you overcame it, what did you do? Finally going to the LC. I am so freaking proud and wanted to do things without help. Going was so helpful and having a plan makes me feel better. Also starting to use pumped milk as part of the supplementation made me feel better too.
Any triumphs you'd like to share? LO is one oz away from birth weight as of last Friday!
Advice for others? Don't wait to ask for help.
Questions? My boobs ache when I sleep on my side...even if I've just fed LO so it's not an engorgement thing I think. I wear a sleep nursing bra to bed but I went up a size to protect against mastitis, etc. would a tighter one help the achiness maybe?
Post by runningmommy519 on Sept 28, 2015 10:48:37 GMT -5
abvintage when I went back to work i pumped 3 times for 15 min at work and usually when we got home because he had just eaten. My supply took a hit after I was back to work a few months. This was partly because he was STTN. So I started setting an alarm to pump in the middle of the night and that helped.
This doesn't really answer your question does it? I recommend to pump in addition to nursing and try to nurse him as soon as you get him regardless of if he just ate so your breasts get that stimulation
Breastfeeding, pumping when I get a chance so I can feed her.
Supplementing: nope
It's going well. We breastfeed on demand, she is getting enough food, and sleeping well.
Struggles: we're feeding on demand every 2 hours...I think it's supposed to be closer to 3 at this point but it's not bad. I'd also like to keep building up my frozen stash over the next few weeks.
No real triumphs other than it's going pretty well.
karlamo that's really neat you both can breastfeed. I wonder if your wife's milk has changed because of this.
+1 this is really interesting! Do you pump when she feeds LO to help with supply? It would be really cool if your 19mo would start nursing from you also, then you could tag team MOTN feedings. What I wouldn't give for an extra set of boobs in my house lol Eta. Duh, I wasn't thinking. The 19mo old STTN for you guys I hope lol.
karlamo that's really neat you both can breastfeed. I wonder if your wife's milk has changed because of this.
+1 this is really interesting! Do you pump when she feeds LO to help with supply? It would be really cool if your 19mo would start nursing from you also, then you could tag team MOTN feedings. What I wouldn't give for an extra set of boobs in my house lol Eta. Duh, I wasn't thinking. The 19mo old STTN for you guys I hope lol.
Sometimes I pump if I'm feeling full. Otherwise L really eats so often that I've never gone more than 3 hours between feelings. That's why it's so nice having her feed him too. I'm hoping over the next few weeks he spaces out his feedings more. My poor wife is feeling engorged for the first time in over a year because L is feeding off of her. And my 19 month old JUST started STTN 3 weeks ago. Before that my wife was still nursing him about 2-3 times a night. Because of this kid #2, will be sleep trained lol. Lesson learned:)
bibliothecary, isn't side nursing glorious? L still will lose his latch on occasion but when he figures it out its so nice to not have to sit up and nurse. One bad thing about side nursing for us is it doesn't force us to change the poor kids diaper.
abvintage when I went back to work i pumped 3 times for 15 min at work and usually when we got home because he had just eaten. My supply took a hit after I was back to work a few months. This was partly because he was STTN. So I started setting an alarm to pump in the middle of the night and that helped.
This doesn't really answer your question does it? I recommend to pump in addition to nursing and try to nurse him as soon as you get him regardless of if he just ate so your breasts get that stimulation
It helps! I'm hoping to do 4, 30 minutes sessions at work. I'm on a computer all day so I won't have to stop working to pump thank goodness. I really don't want to have to pump in the middle of the night once I go back but it sounds like I'll need to. Bummer. Oh well though.
abvintage when I went back to work i pumped 3 times for 15 min at work and usually when we got home because he had just eaten. My supply took a hit after I was back to work a few months. This was partly because he was STTN. So I started setting an alarm to pump in the middle of the night and that helped.
This doesn't really answer your question does it? I recommend to pump in addition to nursing and try to nurse him as soon as you get him regardless of if he just ate so your breasts get that stimulation
+1 I had a hard time after going back to work with DS My supply eventually tanked and I ended up switching to formula. Then again, I didn't have the resources or support like I do now (thanks mostly to you gals and a much better LC service in my area)
abvintage when I went back to work i pumped 3 times for 15 min at work and usually when we got home because he had just eaten. My supply took a hit after I was back to work a few months. This was partly because he was STTN. So I started setting an alarm to pump in the middle of the night and that helped.
This doesn't really answer your question does it? I recommend to pump in addition to nursing and try to nurse him as soon as you get him regardless of if he just ate so your breasts get that stimulation
It helps! I'm hoping to do 4, 30 minutes sessions at work. I'm on a computer all day so I won't have to stop working to pump thank goodness. I really don't want to have to pump in the middle of the night once I go back but it sounds like I'll need to. Bummer. Oh well though.
Post by 2dumbdogs on Sept 28, 2015 13:18:53 GMT -5
Age of LO: 5 weeks Breastfeeding, EP or a combination of both:EBF for now, plan to as pumping when I'm through with my meds for thrush. Supplementing with formula? No How is it going? Fine. I even nursed our at restaurants this weekend, like a boss! What has been the biggest struggle this last week? If you overcame it, what did you do? Any triumphs you'd like to share? Advice for others? I got nothing, I'm definitely still figuring it out. Questions?
It's going good. His latch is still a bit painful sometime but he's eating more than enough so I'm too lazy to do anything about it.
The hardest thing recently is dealing with growth spurts. The constant eating for a few days is exhausting and I always question if my supply is dropping.
Going great! Trying to stretch daytime feedings to every 3 hours which works fine when she's napping well. Not so great when she takes 30 min naps like today.
Questions: those of you who nurse side lying, do you find that your LO spits up more? DD2 doesn't normally spit up much, but she almost always does after nursing side lying. We just got up from a nap after she nursed lying down and she had a massive spit up. I'm guessing this is bc I don't burp her, but sitting her up to burp would defeat the purpose of nursing lying down. She also seems to eat more in this position (like even if she just had a full feeding she wants more if we're lying down together) so i also feel like she overeats. Anyway to minimize the spitting up in this case?
bibliothecary, isn't side nursing glorious? L still will lose his latch on occasion but when he figures it out its so nice to not have to sit up and nurse. One bad thing about side nursing for us is it doesn't force us to change the poor kids diaper.
Side nursing is the best thing ever. It used to be that every feed there was a possibility that he just would not go back down. Now, he's usually out until 5 or 6.
Post by twinkbrite on Sept 28, 2015 14:15:22 GMT -5
Age: 5 weeks 3 days
BFing with pumping one bottle a day for H to feed her.
Going okay! We've been going through this thing where she starts nursing fine and partway through starts screaming and has gas and big burps. Either that or she will feed just fine but then wake up after a minute of being asleep and cries. I think the first problem may have been a reaction to me eating acidic things like with pizza sauce or ketchup. The other problem may just be her being over tired since she was fighting naps a lot lately. She was also cluster feeding recently so I think she may be going through a growth spurt.
I'm on mobile so it's hard to go back and tag but my nips turn purple too when I pump but I never even thought about it. I'm guessing it's normal with the extra blood flow?
Also I tried side nursing and I think LO are too much and then would spit up a TON. I think part of it is her esophageal sphincter is still too immature so unfortunately she needs to nurse in a more upright position.
How is it going? Pretty good. My freezer stash is over 1000 oz and I add to it every 2 days.
What has been the biggest struggle this last week? If you overcame it, what did you do? I'm noticing a dip in supply - which I can afford (see above) but I'm hoping to get it back up.
Advice for others? The best advice I got with DS1 with breastfeeding/pumping was to never quit on a bad day.
Supplementing with formula? I gave him one oz on friday night to try to get him to sleep longer. (it didn't work) MOTY
How is it going? Going well for the most part. We still deal with lazy eating and random latch regression though. Started pumping last week in order to get a freezer supply started.. I pump once a day and get 4 oz. I want to get more but at the same time I don't want to mess my supply up so I'm sticking with this. I head back to work in a month, so hopefully if I can continue getting 4oz a day, it'll be a good enough stash.
What has been the biggest struggle this last week? If you overcame it, what did you do? Growth spurt/first leap= cluster feeding and up every hour-2 hours. My boobs felt like they were going to fall off from so much use.
Post by girlonabike on Sept 28, 2015 15:37:22 GMT -5
Age of LO: 5.5 weeks
Breastfeeding, EP or a combination of both: Breastfeeding, pumping when I can.
Supplementing with formula? Yes. 1 oz of formula after some of the feedings.
How is it going? Rough. Liam wasn't gaining weight. First, he had reflux. Taking zantac has helped that a great deal. But apparently he's also a lazy nurser, and my supply is rubbish. I have to fight to get him to actually drink at the breast, and it becomes an ordeal of nurse for a minute or two, then burp, then nurse, fight, burp, nurse, fight, burp, give up. Formula.
What has been the biggest struggle this last week? If you overcame it, what did you do? I'm resenting having to pump to keep my supply up, and I'm beginning to resent breastfeeding altogether. I haven't overcome this. I have no idea what I'm going to do when I go back to work. I'll be back out on the street patrolling, and I can't keep up a regular pumping schedule.
Any triumphs you'd like to share? Liam gained weight this week, so I will take that as a win.
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