March April Chat Thread - Page 2 « Back to Group Discussions

[Italiamom]

Tina, I don't know how I missed that you were getting time to be free of your pump! I am seriously in awe of the nursing moms who keep up with the pumping. I always wonder why so many moms don't BF, and then every time I use my pump I get a good reminder. You (and all the other pumping moms) are my hero, mama!

[Beckily]

Talked to a very experienced lactation lady yesterday. Giving up on nursing the left boob. I'd tried everything she could think of, he just doesn't want it. Feels good to let it go actually. I'll still offer, it's leaking right now, but I'll quit expecting to fix this.

[cat13]

Are you interested in pumping on that side if you can figure out a way to do it? I know you and pumps haven't really meshed will in the past... If so, maybe some of us could help you troubleshoot that. Many of the lactation counselors I know only have personal experience with direct breastfeeding or occasional pumping, and their knowledge of regular pumping is more "textbook", iykwim. Some of us more regular pumpers might be able to help, and there are also a ton of pumping mamas on Kellymom that have helped me a ton!

Then again, from reading your post, you might just be interested in moving on and just using your right side, and that's totally great too! If so, did she say how to make you comfortable during the "weaning" of leftie? I would be concerned about plugged ducts or being overfull and uncomfortable.

Last thought.... I can only imagine the stories that you will tell Charlie's future spouse like, "he has always been stubborn, for example, when he was a baby he decided he only wanted to nurse on the right side..."  This great fodder for funny/embarrassing stories!

[mareseatoats]

I don't know if it would be helpful, Becky, but when I weaned Clementine I used the old cabbage in the bra trick and it worked great. It was very strange indeed, though. And I know what you mean about finally having a decision on something. Sometimes even if it's not what you had hoped it just feels good to make the choice. I think Carrie said she bf Nora on one side for a while?

[Beckily]

i pumped it today as he hadn't nursed in now three says, maybe four. got my normal 1.25oz. i don't know that it'll dry up or what. i'll keep pumping when it's uncomfortable and maybe he'll take it sometimes.. or i'll rent a kid for it! 

i'm just done fighting. you can bring a baby to a boob, but you can't make him suck.

and yes, his future dates are in for it with me as his mother ;)

i'll read kellymom more about pumping, thank you! :)

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by mareseatoats 
 I think Carrie said she bf Nora on one side for a while?

I did!  Though, Nora was much older.  I think close to 20 months or so?  But yes, I retired rightie b/c the sensations were just too intense.  I did have mixed feelings about it, but at that point like Becky, I was done fighting it.  I had to admit it was better for our nursing relationship in the long run to nurse on the side that worked for both of us.  I think b/c by then she was down to nursing I think 2-3x a day only, so I didn't have any discomfort or leaking.  It did dry up pretty quick, at least by her 2nd bday.  And then she weaned completely shortly after that.  It was wonderful to let go of the guilt and emotions tied into nursing on the right side...like I should be ok with it, i should let her, I should should should...Blah.  No shoulds.  Just do what works and keeps everyone happy.  And guilt free.

Becky - You know you can make enough milk on that one side so I say go with it.  1.25 oz is n't somthing to scoff at.  I'm sure if you wanted to you could pump and freeze it for down the road?

I had a fantastic birthday yesterday!  Stroller walk, the park with family, came home and ordered sushi and had my homemade red velvet cupcakes!  Was fun!  I got cards from the kids, and Nora had written Finnley's name inside his card.  Oh, my heart just sang!  Love these children!!  They are getting so big and so smart!

Nm on the agenda for today.  Cleaning, laundry, maybe some food shopping while DD is in school.

In September when she goes to the Pre K 4 program, she will be going full days, 9-330 or so.  She's excited and wants to do it now!  Wah.  I don't want her to!  I want to shrink her back down baby size and keep her around forever!

[Beckily]

So glad you had a great birthday! :D

And having lots of mama/studboy time will help it slow down a bit for him, hopefully :) You're so busy, his babyhood must be just flying by!

And yes, I've been doing that. He's only 7 months old, I don't like the idea of anything "drying up." :(

[cat13]

Originally Posted by Beckily 

.....

i'm just done fighting. you can bring a baby to a boob, but you can't make him suck.

.....

Word.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baby_Cakes 

...

Becky - You know you can make enough milk on that one side so I say go with it.  1.25 oz is n't somthing to scoff at.  I'm sure if you wanted to you could pump and freeze it for down the road?

....

Seriously! I only get 1 - 1.5 oz from leftie every time I pump, and River nurses from both sides equally.

[Beckily]

oh. huh.

i usually get less than half an ounce but if i save it for a few days until it's bursting, i get the 1.25.

i call that my 'norm' because that's what all three in the freezer are.

cool :-)

[Tear78]

Becky, I also don't get from than 1-1.5 ounces from the left side at each pump. At work, I have to switch the leftie bottle to the right at the next pump to even things out. Then when I get home, it seems like she nurses longer and gets more milk from the left. My lactation consultant said that pumping is a very different beast than nursing and babies get what they need where the pump can't.

[Tear78]

btw - I got asked at a district-wide meeting if I was expecting #2 last week. THANKS, lady. Ok, I was wearing an empire cut baggy sweater, but..um...yeah, it hides my mama belly...about which I'm self conscious. GROWL!!! I've been doing sit-ups to try to pull those ab muscles back in since then. I swear, yeah, there's some extra padding, but it's mostly stretched out muscle. Anybody else feel this way?

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by Tear78 

btw - I got asked at a district-wide meeting if I was expecting #2 last week. THANKS, lady. Ok, I was wearing an empire cut baggy sweater, but..um...yeah, it hides my mama belly...about which I'm self conscious. GROWL!!! I've been doing sit-ups to try to pull those ab muscles back in since then. I swear, yeah, there's some extra padding, but it's mostly stretched out muscle. Anybody else feel this way?

  OMG.  How rude!

You know, our babies are so young.  I think it's ridiculous that anyone expects us busy, tired mothers to look any certain way less than a year (or WHENEVER) after we birthed our babies.  I'm so sorry this happened to you - I'd be mortified and feel so low.  I hope you know that it was rude of them to ask or presume any such thing!!!  Extra padding/loose muscles is EXACTLY how I'd describe my midsection, btw.

[Beckily]

My son, who went two weeks without nursing my left side, just easily nursed to sleep on my left side.

I could cry.

I got a nipple shield and he liked it! Easily nursed it. Then I would take it off and he's nursed for longer and longer all day until just now when he took it without the shield.

[Beckily]

i feel like i'm getting an award :-)  i'd like to thank dr. koep, the chiropractor and my friend debbie for doing bowen work on him - for free because he's a baby. and me, for thinking of nipple shields and never really giving up. and my kid for being awesome.

[Italiamom]

Yay, Becky!!!!  Cutie patootie photo, too.  Maybe you just needed to change it up a bit to break the association?  Regardless, I'm so happy for you that you are clever and crafty, and that Mr. Charlie has maybe come to terms with leftie.

[Baby_Cakes]

Becky!  I have such tears of happiness for you!!    You must feel on top of the world for helping him figure this out.  WtG, mama!

[Beckily]

i thonk so! it used to be uncomfortable and painful. i've been moving him while he sleeps on me to have him laying in the nursing position on that side and getting him used to the fact that it's okay now.. and then changing the nipple got hid interest and might've been more like my other larger nipple. he even nursed in bed!! 

thank you :-)  i'm over the moon  ut Dusty's allergic to being excited :P

[kylaskye]

Hey ladies, I've been catching up on the MDC forum since a couple of you brought it up on FB a while back. And I have a question with all this nursing talk. 

(BTW Way to go Becky, for figuring out your issue with lefty.)

Liam's only ever ate at naptimes. He's growing well, healthy and all that, but he nurses and wakes a lot at night. Should I try feeding him more often during the daytime? He nurses a good portion of the night. 

Second question. For the past few days or so, Liam has been fighting me for nursing/naps. I know he's tired, and it's the only way I can get him to sleep. He'll arch his back and scream like I'm hurting him. It makes me feel so bad. I'm wondering if this ties in with him only eating at nap times. If I feed him at other times, how should I get him to sleep? Rocking helps sometimes, but I can't stand up holding him too much or it'll hurt my back. Maybe if I do it in the sling.... I'm just rambling now, I have a few ideas and don't know which one to try first.

[Beckily]

First noting that I have a baby who never screams about nursing (unless it's the left boob being offered), he just turns away if he's not interested.

When he's really tired and he won't nurse down and I've already tried putting him down to play so he's more tired I just get stubborn. He nurses and then wants to get down, that's his thing. Then he cries when he's down because he's tired.

So I nurse him when he wants to nurse and then when he tries to get down, I pull him to my shoulder and pat his back and rock him (I'm in my rocking recliner for this). He gets bored and crawls down to nurse for a bit... repeat until he passes out on my shoulder or boob. It can take awhile, but it works! Usually! I have also had a time that it didn't and I let him play on the floor. He was SO tired. I let him sit and play and then I tipped him back so he was laying down and playing and I ignored him and read. Because I'm like that and if I pay attention, he stays awake. Within minutes, he fell asleep on the floor. It was adorable! And this was after hours of trying everything else.

I also cannot carry him for very long because of back issues, so that's never an option. I have found that I can bounce on the ball for awhile and that works in place of walking back when he wanted walking. I'd only do it until it hurt and then I'd switch to the rocking chair - going fast so it kind of matched the ball.

Does Liam have a signal for you to let you know he's wanting to nurse? With Charlie, if I pick him up and he's hungry, he roots in my shoulder and tries to slide down to a boob. Very subtle ;) And he fusses until I pick him up so that he can do this if I haven't just noticed it's time.

Is he eating solids? How often is he napping? Do you put him down for naps?

[cat13]

Kylaskye, I think if you try to start offering more often, he might get more full during the day. It can't hurt!

About going to sleep, I've recently had to change my whole method of getting River to sleep. Just nursing in bed doesn't cut it anymore. I have to make sure he is well fed, then I have to put him on my shoulder and sway in the kitchen with the stove fan on and all the lights off while I sing. After he's limp for a few minutes, I can transfer him to bed and he stays about half the time. The other half, I have to lay down with him and only THEN will he nurse to sleep. Anyway... my point is that he completely changed how he wanted to go to sleep and it took me forever to figure out a new system that worked.  And yes, I get the screaming and arching thing too, but I know he's overtired and needs a nap. If he's too much to wrangle, I'll just put him in the sling and try to ignore him. Sometimes he needs to be close but not interacting and to just zone out for a while until he's ready for sleep. I hear you about the back thing, mine is killing me. I'm trying to practice putting him to sleep in the sling, but I have to get better at the transfer.... not as simple. Good luck at finding something that works!