THe BF Thread - Page 6 « Back to Group Discussions

[sgsnyder]

Congtats Dakota! Huge win.

I wanted to share, too - in case more testimonies of success will inspire courage to those struggling -

I've been pretty gung-ho about public nursing. Never thought I would be, but I guess that mama bear thing kicks in when LO's hungry!

Our first experience occurred during our first real outing - brunch with the whole family at a busy city restaurant when she was 11 days old. (I know. My family convinced me to go out 'cause I was getting so restless!) I had her in the Moby, straps wide, and just lifted the panels to surround her head, my boob, and my hands completely. It was a little hard for me to see, but I kept calm through her fussing and fed her successfully. The trick was using both of my hands at first - one to direct her head, the other to "sandwich" my breast. No one in the restaurant seemed to.notice - heck, my husband didn't notice and he was at the same table!

Another proud public BF moment - two days ago at Babies R Us. 3.5 wks old; I'm wearing the Moby folded regularly and her legs are out but she's HIGH on my chest. I just loosened it a little, shifted her down and to the right, and popped her on. Spent the next ten minutes aimlessly wandering all aisles since they didn't have what we came for. No one noticed, or cared enough to say anything.

We've also BF while riding in the car (with me either leaning over with the "near" breast, or kneeling over with the "far" breast) and while walking around the apartment, using the bathroom, cooking, etc. Side-lying is no problem now.

Part of our ease with this probably has to do with my (originally) small breasts, and her great interest in eating and latching. I pretty much always squeeze my breast to fit her mouth, and usually let go after a moment, unless it's an awkward angle. She scoots closer to me, or I to her, but I generally don't touch her head unless she's in the Moby. Thinking of other things we do that make it easier...

Best of luck to those struggling! FWIW, I had my first encounter with plugged ducts (& fever, & disabling headache) these last few days (after a frigid night of no sleep and my foggy brain only thinking to offer one boob) and I am sooooo sorry to anyone ever dealing with breast pain. I was crying. I can't imagine mastitis!

[kellybeth]

 finally figured out how to nurse in the maya wrap. she loves being worn. still trying to figure out how to get it adjusted properly on my left boob. practice, practice. 

[sgsnyder]

Sweet, KellyBeth! What a beautiful, peaceful picture. Congrats on your achievement!

[Teles]

My little one has spots all over her face. At first I thought it was heat rash from sweating while sleeping directly on my skin, but we have been making a point to have a blanket between her face and my chest now and they're still there. I know it isn't dairy because I was dairy free for a while and if anything it got worse. Any thoughts?

[Jenny01]

Teles are they always in the same spot or do they move? My MW told us about a rash they can get that is circular and moves around. And it was nothing to worry about. Not sure if that is the same as what you have with her though.

Does everyone feed just one side at a time? Or both? I've been doing both which I'm not sure is best but she always seems hungry still after just one side. It also is taking forever still as she has more gas lately so between the burping and farting and diaper changing feeding is still taking an hour bc she tends to fall asleep

[Chloe'sMama]

Hey ladies-

Most babies get baby acne when they are about 2-3 weeks old and it can last for weeks.  All my kids get it and DS still has spots that come and go in severity.  Not much to do about it.  Nothing to worry about though.

[sgsnyder]

Teles, I've heard not to worry about anything that shows up on a newborn's skin. Not sure how much of that is horse poop, but I do know that tiny babies get all kinds of crazy skin things and it's generally recommended to wait them out rather than introduce something else to the skin. (Not that you would. That said...) Did you try smearing breastmilk on your LO's face? That's our go-to ointment around here. Hope it clears up soon!

Jenny, we usually do both. We're pretty much constantly BFing, though, so there wouldn't be much time between boobs anyway. Except at night. She often fills up and falls asleep after one, and wakes up a half hour later for the other.

The tiny stage isn't long. I keep reminding myself of that, during those rare days when I feel myself becoming sad over how much of my time is consumed by feeding, diapering, snuggling... I'll miss it when it's over!!

[kellybeth]

Originally Posted by Teles 

My little one has spots all over her face. At first I thought it was heat rash from sweating while sleeping directly on my skin, but we have been making a point to have a blanket between her face and my chest now and they're still there. I know it isn't dairy because I was dairy free for a while and if anything it got worse. Any thoughts?

teles i do the exact same thing. she gets tiny little red spots on the sides of her head from smooshing her face into my arm when she sleeps, so i wedge a blanket between us, although she tries to bury her head in it. it is heat rash in that spot, but she has baby acne in spots on her face too though.

[sgsnyder]

Anyone drink yerba mate while BFing? I stopped it during pregnancy (having swapped it for coffee in an effort to be more "healthy," so then I lost both) because I couldn't find evidence that it was safe (even though indigenous populations drink it through all life stages with great results). Now, I can't find anything to say it's okay for BFing, though I know people that do it... is this just one of those alarmist things? Guilty until proven innocent?

I miss it... I'll do decaf green tea and teechino in the meantime, but it'd be pretty awesome to have my mate back. What would you do?

[Jenny01]

So when you ladies feed at night lying down do you not worry about burping? If baby falls asleep nursing you just let them be?

I still need to work on lying down to feed. My right breast is bigger and it seems to cover her nose unless I hold it away with my hand. And I worry about falling asleep like that.

[sgsnyder]

I often "forget" to burp even during the day, and she's OK with it. I notice if we have a really great latch, she takes in less air and sort of eliminates the need. During nighttime feeding, she eats slower.

Could you try shifting higher or lower in bed, or scoot away a little once your LO's attached? I try to make sure I don't need to augment my breast at night (moreso because I worry about where my hand will fall when I doze off) ... I just try to get a decent latch; she pops off when she's full or falls asleep.

[kellybeth]

i also don't burp at night she seems pretty content and non-gassy.

[HouseofPeace]

Kellybeth- what an amazingly beautiful picture!  you two are so gorgeous and peaceful and it just made me tear up a bit.  

note on burping at night- i burp only when baby gets oversupply/let down and pulls of screaming.    which happens less often, but i'm pumping to keep that the case.  on days where i pump less, we have it more.  and at night it happens a LOT.  but at night,  burping is generally not a big deal.

spots on baby- my mw's on my first and dr told me that it is normal and often has something to do w/ mom's hormones shifting and baby gets hormones and baby acne of sorts.  all of my little ones go through phases of it.  i do think our sweaty contact makes it worse, but we've kept that mostly to a minimum (though our house is so cold at night that he's pressed up all against me from 3am til wake up).  he's a little restless every morning between 5-7am, but we're working on it.  it's not gas, sometimes he's hungry, usually i'm pretty engorged and 'sandwiching' doesn't work as well w/ GIANT heavy boobs that are shooting everywhere.....  but we usually fuss around each other and figure it out.  i'm pretty dedicated to not getting up, so is husband, and baby is catching on.  i was cold and wet last night as we had b-day party for my 2 oldest yesterday and houseguests and i didn't pump before bed so between soggy baby and leaky breasts, UGH.  

probably a reason why i'm also doing this again-

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgsnyder 

Anyone drink yerba mate while BFing? I stopped it during pregnancy (having swapped it for coffee in an effort to be more "healthy," so then I lost both) because I couldn't find evidence that it was safe (even though indigenous populations drink it through all life stages with great results). Now, I can't find anything to say it's okay for BFing, though I know people that do it... is this just one of those alarmist things? Guilty until proven innocent?

I miss it... I'll do decaf green tea and teechino in the meantime, but it'd be pretty awesome to have my mate back. What would you do?

i just started drinking it again- did not drink it during pregnancy, but kept eyeing it for two weeks and broke down and started having it in the morning 3 days or so ago.  i've done it in the past, and never had an issue w/ it.  so far, no issue either.  but i do love having that nice earthy pick-me-up to look forward to.  the herbal teas are sometimes good, but when i want mate, i usually want mate!  i don't do it all day w/ bombilla though.  i do a regular tea w/ it.  which makes me feel wasteful to not reuse it, but i don't think all day would be a good idea....

i do better on mate than coffee. and black tea gives me a tummy ache.  i like green tea, but don't have any on hand these days (bulk ordering truck is no longer an option for me, and i like loose leaf and fresh on my herbs and teas, which are the same thing!)

[typebug]

Originally Posted by kellybeth 

i also don't burp at night she seems pretty content and non-gassy.

Same, I felt a little guilty last night about it but he was totally fine.

[typebug]

Do your babies have funny little mannerisms before they latch? Austin hyperventilates, shakes his head with excitement and makes this growl sound just before he latches. It cracks me up every time. 

[kellybeth]

Originally Posted by typebug 

Do your babies have funny little mannerisms before they latch? Austin hyperventilates, shakes his head with excitement and makes this growl sound just before he latches. It cracks me up every time. 

Naomi does the same thing! Then when she latches she flares her nostrils and stares intently like she hasn't eaten in days. She has one heck of a suction that makes the strongest setting of my pump look wimpy.

[HouseofPeace]

Originally Posted by kellybeth 


Naomi does the same thing! Then when she latches she flares her nostrils and stares intently like she hasn't eaten in days. She has one heck of a suction that makes the strongest setting of my pump look wimpy.

So true!!!  the pumps just can't do nearly what these amazing little suckers can.  i loved tandem nursing b/c no one can get an engorged breast back to normal (or a backed up duct) like a hungry toddler!  but the newborn suckle is crazy intense!

Originally Posted by typebug 

Do your babies have funny little mannerisms before they latch? Austin hyperventilates, shakes his head with excitement and makes this growl sound just before he latches. It cracks me up every time. 

LOL!!!  this was brilliant!  my first was in the NICU, and he used to do this, especially at his 3am feeding (he'd never do the 1am feeding, so was ravenous by the 3am) and i was the only parent at Boston Children's NICU w/ a full-term baby who could nurse.  so i'd got in at 3am, the nurses would be bottle feeding the rest of the preemies and babies, i'd settle him in, and he'd do this CRAZY attack (ahahahahahah- animal snarl) and it would be totally silent except for this one very loud and very funny sound.  the nurses and i would just crack up.  and then he smacks and gulps and inhales the milk and usually would fall off with a loud sigh as if it were all just the best thing ever.  

i love nursing!

[loveandgarbage]

Has anyone here had a tongue-tied baby, and if so, did you decide to get it snipped? I'm waffling on it right now. We've been lucky to have an amazing OT/LC come to our house a few times to do work on Lou and she recommended that we get the tongue clipped if my nipples are still really raw in a week or so. His tongue has come a long way, and the frenulum is now visible so clipping would be an easier procedure. He just can't extend his tongue that well and physical therapy can't help with that. My right nipple especially is really feeling it! Since he's able to get milk out and is gaining like I champ, I'm wary of doing a procedure like that just for my own comfort. But then again, I really don't want our nursing relationship to be this painful for me!

ETA: DS1 had slight tongue-tie and our nursing relationship stayed painful. But I didn't realize it was painful because of his tongue issues until recently (at 6 they're cleared up and he has a "normal" tongue now). Oh hindsight!

[buko]

Jean, I suspected L had tongue tie, but I'm 99% sure now it is just a pretty forward frenulum and not a major issue (pain much less now-- mostly a new mom thing). That said, I was ready to clip it in an instant if I had it confirmed as a tongue tie, b/c though I'm generally very low-intervention, I didn't want to resent or end up shortening our BF relationship d/t something "fixable." I had to weigh that against the cons of the intervention itself.

I have a question-- how much spit up is normal? I didn't feel L spit up much in the beginning, but now she spits up more than half of all feedings.

It's not projectile or anything, nor is it copious (usually).

It generally doesn't seem to bother HER.

I don't seem to have oversupply or anything (poop looks normal, no gasping or sputtering).

She is gaining just fine.

I just didn't think BFing babies spat up this much? Anyone?

[rachieface]

Buko, my control group of just two kids says that they do spit up a lot. :) Both my son when he was little, and now Violet spit up a little at 2/3 of their feedings. And the occasional LOTS of spit up. That's rare. I would probably be more concerned if it seemed to bother her at all but I've known a number of "happy spitters" and have been blessed with several. Does L seem to get really upset when she spits up?

Violet is an absolute fatty, gaining like crazy and I love it. However, she usually nurses for like 4 minutes every two-ish hours (during the day...we're getting some lovely stretches at night!) and then gets MAD if I try to put her back on the boob (thinking that she's still hungry). She will not nurse for comfort or to sleep unless she's already half-asleep (i.e. night wakings). I think my firehose crazy letdown is the culprit here, and I am so grateful that she's really easy and will take a paci but there are times when I'd love a long, blissed out sleepy nursing session and she won't have it.