Breastfeeding

Baby and breast are the perfect feeding team!

Comments: Breastfeeding

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Luv2Bamama - 325 days ago.
For you mommies trying to re-establish breastfeeding, or trying to slow down on bottle giving, I highly recommend using an SNS. You put the supplement (BM or formula) in a container that hangs around your neck, then a long skinny tube extends from the container to your nipple (you tape it). Then your nurse the baby normally, but they get the instant gratification like a bottle, but they are stimulating your breast through their sucking, which helps create more milk. Eventually you can get rid of the SNS. The younger they are when you introduce the SNS, the easier they will take to it. I know many moms (even adoptive moms trying to relactate) who have used these with great success…plus it reduces mom’s “I don’t have enough milk” fear since you know for sure they are getting food from the container.

Mummy22 - 325 days ago.
domonique, so glad to hear you say you got there! yeh my boy has only started on formula because he had hypoglycemia and yeh i had no milk, but might have been able to try harder if he didn't urgently need the sugar. i had milk thistle there and was prepared to stay up all night (and did anyway even tho he was a great baby) to ebf while in the hospital and of course i have my hubby home atm, he would have supported me... trub is, start down one path and hubs is a little reluctant to change him to ebf seeing how happy he is and how happy i am. he can't see the point of ruining a good thing! oh well, anyway, will try what you did i think :) just so glad to hear that over time it will work.

dominique23 - 325 days ago.
lunababy- What you are getting out of the pump and what your baby are getting are totally different you cant go off that, its a different suction. Some women cant ever get hardly any or any out of a pump. just put the baby to the boob, and let him nurse for as long as he wants, and as often, and if there are wet diapers, and baby is seeming satisfied you should be good to go. mummy22- When i first had my baby, I had to supplement with formula, it took 5 days for my milk to come in which is normal, but she was jaundiced had to do the lights was sooo sleepy, and losing weight fast, and wouldnt latch so i supplemented too, had too and just slowly stopped the bottles, went down to one in the middle of the night, one in the early morning, one at night, to just one before bed, then by the time she was 5 weeks none. now she wont take a bottle . theres nothing wrong with supplementing, you do what you have to do , and for me i was by myself my husband was out of town working, i had my mother in law helping and i slept for 4 hours at a time when she stopped by, i was to overwhelmed and exhausted to pump .and had a bit of ppd i think too. you do need to take care of yourself in order to take care of your children. you do the best you can. while providing the best that you can for your child. if it is your goal to ebf then you will do it just have to work your way to it. and if you have to do both formula and breastmilk so be it. Atleast they are getting breastmilk, formula isnt going to harm them, its just not as good as breast milk.

Mummy22 - 325 days ago.
lunababy - the only tips I can offer and I started this around 4 weeks with my first (now earlier with my second) is to have milk thistle and fenugreek. I believe milk thistle is otw known as mothers milk? Also, there are brands that combine the two together! I would go for that if I had have known, because fenugreek is truly disgusting to take and repeats on you. Now, downsides are namely with fenugreek - it can cause contractions in the tummy, so maybe some pain - some people can't take it, I thought it was ok 4 weeks pp. With fenugreek you only need to take it for a few days and your supply will be going NUTS - some people say an increase of 900%!! So, highly recommend it. With the milk thistle, you need to keep taking it for it to work properly. My supply last time went up substantially - but not to a qty where I could ebf and bubs didn't like the flavour for me to continue to take fenugreek lol. So, anyways, I had near on no milk such as you have described by 4 weeks and low and behold, after taking the above, I was able to continue to bf for 5 months!!!! AND that was going back to work after 3 months - I couldn't express, just didn't work for me, had very sore boobs and lost my supply 2 months in. Wishing you the luck - also, have a look into the fermented oats such as Shiz suggests, I will be looking into that as well today.

Mummy22 - 325 days ago.
I guess you could say I'm looking to go ebf sure, but I need to build the confidence that it will work for us. I have a very easy going baby this time, so I can see when he is happy. Also, he doesn't tend to over eat - he has about 10-20 mls less than the chart says to give and he we offer him alot more than that because that's the way the bottles make up (we offer 110mls and he has like 70mls of that). If we continue to offer more after he's had 70mls, he does not drink it. Fenugreek may be all I need now to bring the rest of my supply up :) I will let you know how I go :)

Mummy22 - 325 days ago.
aw, Shiz... it's so easy to say that... with my first I was up 8-10 hours a night with a screaming baby and I didn't know why. Finally some stranger at the supermarket came up to me when my baby had been screaming the whole way around and said as kindly as she could, if baby cries for more than about 5-10 minutes, there is something wrong. Oh yes, there was something wrong. There was no milk...only I didn't know this until my milk actually 'came in' at 10days pp and was miniscule. This was confirmed by the nurses, but only after the event (ie, oh yes, that looks like milk and what you should have been having the last 10 days, but hey more complications, here's some radiation and you can't feed your baby for 24 hours). Once we visited formula, omg, my whole life changed. But unfortunately by then, it was too late, I hadn't bonded with my baby (very difficult pregnancy and difficult birth and difficult recovery with a screaming baby not getting enough milk and to add to that - I had glandular fever. Could the situation really be any worse?). Ok, look, I know what you're saying, but with my daughter I had the time to spend a day doing what you've described - stay at home and offer breast permanently. Only trouble was, I had no time for anything else - namely, looking after me. Now? Well, I have my daughter to look after too and if I can get a normal supply up, then I really would like to do it. Back on subject, I've continued to take the milk thistle and now that my milk seems to have come in (yay!), bubs is taking less formula. I actually managed to express some today as well! And it was the full creamy milk :) Hooray! So, now looks like baby is happy with bf and top ups of formula of about 4omls, 4 hours between feeds including at night :D So, today - since everything is getting on track - I'm sending hubs out for some fenugreek and breast pads (washable ones I have just don't last long enuf). I think I might be able to handle the fenugreek now - 2moro will be 1 week pp and tummy feeling alot more normal. Shiz, I really do appreciate your input..... I just cannot under any circumstances end up back where I was 3 yrs ago. It went very wrong. I've only described to you the events leading up to more. I'm very very lucky to be here today with a loving husband, daughter, family and I in no way take any of them for granted. But I know I need to look after my physical and psychological as well and torturing myself with ebf now and no supplement I know would be a bad move for me.

shiz - 326 days ago.
Mummy & Lunababy-please don't take this wrong but your breasts are milk factories....not milk storage units. Your making more as your LO is feeding. They have to work harder but it is still making more. BUT that being said maybe you should look into fermented oats or the MMT. Also if you can spend a day in bed with lo...you shirt off and lo in diaper...hang out and watch movies. The nakedness helps get the milk makers going. Nurse baby as much as you can. And remember this tip on the bottles.....the baby is 99% of the time going to finish a bottle. Its a constant drip in their mouth and if all they are looking for is to suckle...it will bring milk in the mouth...therefore they swallow...Now with the breast the mouth movement is different as they can suckle getting little to no milk in the mouth. So thats why I say they finish 99% of anything in a bottle. A lil one that age should not have a 4 oz bottle...this may lead to stomach stretching and you will never beable to meet this childs demands. My advice is to cut the bottles to littler bottles and nurse baby as much as you can...for as long as baby wants to . This all of course if you want to get back to EBF. I hope i don't come off rude,,,just want to get the info out there without sugar coating anything! Message me if you need...i will help the best i know how! Good luck mama!!

lunababy - 326 days ago.
So I am very dissapointed in myself. I have a 10 week old baby and I have only been able to breastfeed for two weeks and that was at the beginning, I have been pumping and nothing comes out but a few drops. I hand express and I get about 1/4 ounce. My lo is now drinking 4oz and i am no where near that. Im not sure what else to do. Im very stressed now and dont know if i will be able to build up my supply. Congrats to all the ladies that are able to ebf their los :) its truly harder than i expected.

Mummy22 - 327 days ago.
Shiz, it's a natural supplement that helps the liver to function better and doubles as a helper to bring the milk supply in. I had Cholestasis of Pregnancy, so it helped my liver with that condition too. Totally safe during pregnancy. I believe it might be known as mother's milk as well? Well, I can now tell you, it helped my milk supply come in earlier... but not enough of it, so as bubs had low blood sugar when he was born, I had no choice (since I seriously had nothing to give) but to give him a bottle. Now he's happy with not having to work for his milk... the first feed was awesome..... I was so happy to breastfeed him .... but it went down hill from there. At least he got colostrum right? Well, I've just tried to bf again (4 days old now) and he fed 20mins on both sides and began to have a paddy - demanding... gave him a normal bottle (he's emptied my boobs) and he finished his whole bottle as well!!! I was having trouble with him finishing a bottle before. Thoughts?

kez.seb.and.reuben - 329 days ago.
my son is nearly 72hours old and he is feeding like a trooper. my milk has come in today and its not as half as painful as the first time round 2.5 years ago. im so happy and feel complete with my two boys. :-)

came25 - 332 days ago.
I lovw medela pump n style.. Use it everyday.. yeah it's totally worth it

Tunny904 - 332 days ago.
npreg2: I agree, I have the Medela Pump-n-Style and I love it! This is the 2nd baby I've used it with and it's great. Highly recommend it, totally worth the $280!!

Tunny904 - 332 days ago.
My5Babies: I've had mastitis 3 times, but never had an issue with supply. I did drink more water b/c of the prescription meds. Did you keep nursing or pumping throughout the mastitis? If you didn't, then that may be why it seems less, but just keep on nursing as much as you can, eat and drink a little extra and I'm sure your supply will jump back up.

shiz - 332 days ago.
npreg2-i use a Medela Pump In Style and love it. I rented the Symphony from the hospital for a month to give my pumping output a boost and get my nips ready for daily pumping. Some love manual pumps...but it all depends on what your gonna use it for. If your going back to work..look into electric dual pumps...if its one to keep around house or use once in awhile a manual will do you just fine.

shiz - 332 days ago.
My5babies-sorry hun..never had mastitis but have been sick many of times. I wish i could help you there. I have heard that taking antibiotics you need to up your water intake. Is it your pumping output that is less? or is baby's dipes less?

npreg2 - 332 days ago.
Hey!! I am sure someone has asked this but what pump do you guys recommend? Thanks,

My5Babies:) - 332 days ago.
I am having issues with my milk supply. My son is 6 months old. i am on day 4 of antibiotics for mastitis. I had a fever for 2 days. Now I feel like I am not producing enough milk. It is literally about half of what it was. Is this normal/common from mastitis or being sick? any advice?? thanks

Luv2Bamama - 333 days ago.
Campimama—We had a very slow grower too. Babies grow when they are good and ready to, and unfotunatally, often times it is not right in line with the “curves”. Our daughter only put on about ½ lb a month and didn’t hit the 10 lb mark until she was 5 or 6 months old. Ours was in the 3-5th percentile until about 9 months when she started packing it on. Even now at a year she is only in the 20-25th. Sure, rice cereal will add empty calories and help “fatten” her up, but most experts will agree that the longer you can wait to introduce any substance other than BM is better for them later in life. Be sure to read the studies on early introduction of solids before you decide what is best for you guys. In fact, some people delay introducing solids until 12 months and have perfectly happy/healthy children. As long as she is having wet/poopie diapers, you should be fine. It doesn’t help you worry less, but your child will grow when it is her time! Mine currently eats like a football player, but is still a petite princess…it is just the way she is. Hang in there; you’re doing a GREAT job!

dominique23 - 333 days ago.
caybaby-maybe your let down is to much? esp in the mornings found i was spraying my lo ddnt realize thats why she kept screaming and pulling off, i pumped or hand expressed some that helped and leaning back. also what wrks 4 us when let don isnt an issue is nursing in motion she likes to look at everything so i walk around and nurse her i think she started doing the crying pulling away about 10weeks thats when i started walking and nursing . try and relax they can tell when we are tense and frustrated it gets better promise!

campimama - 333 days ago.
Just needing some encouragement- We just went to Lia's 4 month checkup and she had only gained an ounce since her 2 month appointment. She's happy, hitting her milestones and acting satisfied after feedings. She grew 2.25' and her head grew too. I'm now all paranoid that she's not getting enough. The dr. was a little concerned but says as long as she grew in length and head and is hitting the milestones it isn't anything to be too concerned by. She suggested starting rice cereal and trying to feed more frequently to fatten her up a bit (she's 10 lbs 5 oz and 24' long). Grr, just feeling a little worried....life as a mommy I suppose :)

angela123 - 333 days ago.
charmed - I think he is teething, he is drooling a ton and been biting me recently as well. Shiz- yes it is the first time he's started the lazy latch! guess I'll just keep reminding him, thanks for all your comments, makes me feel better knowing that it isn't just us!

shiz - 333 days ago.
Mummy-did you talk to your doc about starting that before lo comes? I have never heard of it so i'm just asking. Also when lo comes...the more you nurse the faster it comes in...so keep that in mind!

shiz - 333 days ago.
Angela-this is the first time your lo has done this (lazy latch)? Trust me -it won't be the last. Unlatch and relatch...Look at it as tho your teaching LO each and everytime you latch that child on. I know..it sounds worse than it is but you will soon enough be back on track...and lo will have a bad latch for a couple sessions....your redirecting and relatching will come into play and you will be back on track again. Hang in there!!!

shiz - 333 days ago.
caybaby-Honestly...lose the bottle. A fussy baby is normal. A baby that hits, pushes, pinches..basically messes with breast is normal. You will be fine but its a fight you want to fight. Be more stubborn than baby.

caybaby - 333 days ago.
angela123 - interesting to read your comment. I came here for almost the same reason. My boy is almost 10 weeks old. He has been great with breastfeeding from the start. And suddenly he is having troubles. Initially (I think) he was getting frustrated that the milk is not coming fast enough. He kept scurming at my breast. I introduced a bottle in the last week, and it has just gone south from there. He is now swallowing so much air during breast feeding, crying, etc. I am ready to give up. I have more than enough milk, so not sure what the problem is. He has had maybe 3 bottles (one a day) and initially was ok with switching between bottle and breast. Anyone has any comments? I am ready to give up on breastfeeding. :( Not enjoyable for me nor for my baby anymore.