Nursing Mama- Week of 10/1- 10/8 - Page 3

[Galatea]

Clea - if it is overactive letdown, you can let her pop off and spray into a towel, then dry boob off and put her back on. I do that a lot. Stay on one boob for several feedings to get good hindmilk instead of gassy foremilk. Mylicon is great, too. She'll get the hang of how to slow it down herself. Try not to try too many things to calm her down - that can be even more agitating for her. Also, lots of babies just cry (in the evening, especially) for the first couple of months and there is nothing really wrong with them; you just have to stay calm.

[wenat]

Originally Posted by danaan

I am trying all sorts of things - cutting out wheat and dairy, Gripe Water, burping, different positions, Acidopholis, moving around and taking breaks, cycling her legs...... She is just such a fussy baby, which I admit I was NOT expecting. My dh and I trade off being patient and being at our wits end.

My first was just like that as well. I'm just so glad that DS2 is an easier baby.

Cutting out dairy is a good idea, but it will take 4-6 weeks to get the dairy completely out of your system, so give it some more time.

Are you wearing her in a sling? That also might help.

One of the things I did to save my nipples at that stage with DS1 was to pump and have DH feed DS1 when he got home from work. DS1's fussy period was worst from 5:30 to about 8 pm, when he'd be on and off the boob every few minutes, and I was just exhausted and touched out. Having the milk in a bottle was a lot easier on my peace of mind and my nipples.

[Shell_Ell]

danaan- hugs to you!

Holy cow you guys. I got 1 oz with just 8 minutes of pumping with the PIS just now. Riley is napping. That's a big deal for me considering that everytime we go to the LC I get .5 oz after a 20 min or so feeding. WOW! I couldn't get much last night... but this time I sat and relaxed, tried to get every thought out of my head, and actually started to cry out of the blue. I looked down and there was milk rolling into the bottles! So awesome! I get to give him his next supplement as my OWN milk!

[Autumn Breeze]

OMG MICHELLE ROCK ON MAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Great job!!! You can even put warm wash cloths on your breasts while pumping (and nursing) to encourage let down, and keep up that relaxing LOL! I am so happy for you!!!!!!!

I had a dream last night that I was pumping for you since dd will nurse off one side at a time, I dreamt that in the mornings I was pumping off the otherside and sending it to you!

8 minutes is great BTW!! Keep it up!

[curlyfry]

Good for you Michelle! I'm so glad that pump is working for you...

In related news, I tried pumping for the first time this morning, just for kicks since I would like to have some sort of supply in the freezer. Has anyone used the Medela manual pump? It was given to me. Well, I got a couple of squirts and that's it? Is that normal for the first time pumping? It was pretty uncomfortable too...maybe I wasn't relaxed enough? It's the kind where there's a cylinder that you have to pump in and out, with a spring inside. Anyone used this pump? Any tips? It was pretty frustrating.

[Autumn Breeze]

I've never used that pump, but the first time I pumped I was fresh outo f the shower and dripping everywhere! I think I got 1 oz the first time. That was with Jack.

And it's totally possible that you aren't relaxed enough, pumping isn't comfortable!!

Now I can get about 3 oz in 5 minutes when engorged. When not engorged I don't know, since engorgement is the only time I've pumped so far. And I thought I had thrush, so I ended up crying while pouring 6 oz of breastmlk down the drain!!!!!!!! WAH 9 oz in total. I really need to get some freezing bottles/bags!!

[curlyfry]

Amanda, are you using a manual pump or a battery op/electric one? Is it better to pump right after nursing or wait a bit?

[Autumn Breeze]

maunal, Avent Isis. I will occasionally pump after a feeding on the side she didn't eat from Only pumped 3 times with her, so once after a feeding, once after a shower during a 'long nap' when I got engorged during my shower.

With Jack, for a bit I was exclusivly pumping, and would pump ever 2-4 hours getting at least 2 oz in 15 minutes.

I think I have a better supply with Kate than I did with Jack.

[Autumn Breeze]

Is it better to pump right after nursing or wait a bit?

duh forgot to answer

Depends on why your pumping...at least that's how I see it. If your pumping to freeze, then pump after a feeding or between feedings..if your pumping to relieve engorgement, pump just enough off to be comfortable...and do it when nessary.

[mom2threenurslings]

Pumping...I'm a complete pumping failure. I can't do it. My breasts shut down! I can LEAK volumes, but as soon as a pump is attached to my breast - nothing happens! :LOL I think my breasts are pump-phobic. Luckily I don't have a need to pump! I can hand express much more than I could ever pump - and I haven't done this this time around, but I used to be able to hold a cup under my non-nursed breast (wait a minute - I barely ever have a non-nursed breast! ) and I'd leak an average of 4 oz per nursing session. When Alex was an infant I had quite the freezer stash - and he ONCE had a bottle and drank a whopping 1/2 oz!

GREAT NEWS, Michelle! I hope the pumping continues to improve! Woohoo!!!

One week without dairy - five to go before I know for sure if Coren has a problem with it. UGH! In the meantime we're trying other things - washing his sling and our sheets w/just baking soda and double rinsing to get EVERYTHING out of them (in case it's contact allergies), removing other things from my diet for just long enough to see if it makes a difference ... any other ideas? His pimply face looks just horrible - like Zack's did when he had wheat/dairy/nut problems.

[musicmaj]

Originally Posted by Galatea

Clea - if it is overactive letdown, you can let her pop off and spray into a towel, then dry boob off and put her back on. I do that a lot. Stay on one boob for several feedings to get good hindmilk instead of gassy foremilk. Mylicon is great, too. She'll get the hang of how to slow it down herself. Try not to try too many things to calm her down - that can be even more agitating for her. Also, lots of babies just cry (in the evening, especially) for the first couple of months and there is nothing really wrong with them; you just have to stay calm.

This is exactly what I did for my overactive letdown when my dd was a baby. It helped a lot.

[danaan]

Thanks, everyone! Things are MUCH better today. Seems it's a positioning thing. The Boppy, which I finally figured out how to use best, and side-lying both have helped. We've had many fuss-free feedings today!!

It is 10:00 and we are entering FUSSY TIME... But I am beginning to expect it, so it should be better.

Oh, she does this smooching noise -- not clicking -- while she nurses. Is that to manage flow? Seems like maybe it is.......

Shell Ell -- so glad the pumping is working!! Yay!

Screaming babe calls for boob...

[Autumn Breeze]

ok...wth? now shes clicking off and on during the feeding, and its not always w/ let down!!!!!!!!

[counterGOPI]

how do you know when the baby has the hindmilk? my girl is gaining lots of weight.. 1/2 pound in 4 days!! but i want to be sure she gets the 'good' milkhow do i know?
my girl seems to forget how to nurse some feedings too.i gues shes still just learnig

[The Milk Bag]

Originally Posted by counterGOPI

how do you know when the baby has the hindmilk? my girl is gaining lots of weight.. 1/2 pound in 4 days!! but i want to be sure she gets the 'good' milkhow do i know?
my girl seems to forget how to nurse some feedings too.i gues shes still just learnig

If she's gained 1/2 lb in 4 days, she is definitely getting the hindmilk!! You are doing great, so relax and enjoy her!

[Autumn Breeze]

counter- and if her poops are orange, but certianly that 1/2 lb in 4 days is AWESOME!

[Shell_Ell]

Amanda, could she be clicking while swallowing?

The pump is great. I got 2 oz this morning! He still doesn't seem satisfied when I nurse though. But he is definately in a growth spurt. I will nurse him and then he's been taking sometimes 2-3 oz supplement in addition! My little piggie! But anyway, I've decided to pump 3 times a day- during his morning and afternoon nap and then once at night while my husband is home. Anything more than that will be bonus. I don't think my supply has increased at all- but right now I'm okay with giving him half and half. Plus with pumping he gets that much less formula! I have a friend who is a nurse in a ped's office. She got us 3 cases of "samples" of formula for free. I think she ripped it off. LOL! But it will last a good 3-4 months at least. The one she got recently is a enfamil with lipids I believe, it's supposed to be better for babies who are getting both breastmilk and formula. But I think formula is formula, personally. Anyway. I have decided to give it a while to decide on the domperidone. I don't really like the idea of doing it and I want to see what happens with all the pumping, and his growth spurts and see if as the stress of his birth and rough start wears off if I get more milk. I want to make certain it isn't a natural thing going on here before I assume there is something wrong with me that needs to be medicated, ya know?

Oh, and I think alot of you read it already but I NIP last night! WOO!

Okay, I rambled. Sorry. :LOL

[curlyfry]

Anyone coming to the BF chat today? I think it's starting now...

[counterGOPI]

my concern with the hind milk is that her poo is pretty much orange but kinda has a green tint to it...do you think i should be worried?
<3,
nicole

[trijosie-mama]

my babes is greenish too, and more yellow/gold than orange. her dr. didn't seem to think there was anything wrong with it.