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Starting To Doubt Myself - X posted in Lactivisim  

post #1 of 5
Thread Starter 
I've been following this forum for a long, long time. I'm a bfar mother, and never got very far with my first two. I'm determined to get at least 3 months this time, regardless of how I have to supplement. I have a long list of concerns, the least of which is how my family might contribute to my success or failure. But my biggest fear, and it IS a fear, is that I'll be unable to use the supplementer in public discreetly. Discretion is a very big deal for me, as my reduction is obvious, and the scarring is not delicate or minimal. My scars are visible from across the room, and I'm not interested in broadcasting them.

However, I DO want to nurse my child at all times. It's the only way I'll have any type of success for any amount of time. And the more I hear about how the public so innappropriately deals with their hangups about breasts and breastfeeding, the more intimidated I'm getting. For me it's not about self confidence or even standing my ground in the face of stupidity or ignorance. It's about the emotion that goes along with nursing. I know how over the edge emotional I'm going to be about nursing, and I have 2 older children who I cannot lock in the house with me all day while I figure it out. I can take a short haitus from the real world to get things started, but my toddler needs to go outside and play, and my 6 year old has swim lessons, library activities, etc.

I'm rambling. But really, I would love some advice from mamas who have nip'ed with supplementers. Do you attempt to be discreet, or do you just "whip it out", as they say? How did you adapt the supplementer use to your public nursing? I'm fairly sure I'll be using mine for the long run, so I really need to get my act together!
post #2 of 5
I have not used a SFS but have seen others who have.. They are not noticable when under the shirt.

My SIL would fill it up and hang it around her neck under her shirt with a shoelace when she knew dc would eat fairly soon. Then when dc would want to nurse she would just let him/her(they had twins) nurse like usual.. No one could tell anything was different even when they knew. I supplementing with donated milk if can stay a room temp for 24 hours (I think) I have no clue about formula but I think that if you were going out you could prep ahead of time and do it the same way..

If you are super modist about scars turn our back and "hang the bag" or do so in the hallway(at swim lessions) or other quiet place.

Good luck and remember it maybe tricky at first but my 3 year old twin nursling niece and nephew who are proof the SFS works and now their *adoptive* mama is able comfort them at the breast without the SFS.
post #3 of 5
I had to use an SNS for a while. I just hooked it up before I went out, and then I just opened it up for her while I was out. I just let my body heat keep it warm.

It's unusual that you're out long enough for it to sour! Yes, sure, I threw some EBM out sometimes because it had been in the SNS for a while, but really, it wasn't that often, you know?

Sure, it takes an extra few minutes to hook it up before leaving, but as long as you have a nursing bra and a nursing blouse, just hook it up and head out. It's no big deal, IMO.
post #4 of 5
Thread Starter 
For me, throwing out ANY ebm would make me sob!! I have such low supply that even on a before/after weigh in with the LC, my baby only took in 1/3-3/4 oz directly from me.

But, it's good to know I could just wear it around my neck like that - I doubt we'd be out of the house longer than a few hours at a time for a loooong while anyway!

Nursing bras. Can you believe I hadn't even remember that I need nursing bras??
post #5 of 5
Well, the times I threw it out were because it was there for many hours, and I had taken it out of the fridge. Once refrigerated and heated artificially (with hot water), it only lasts a short time.

Normally, I'd just let it heat with my body heat, not the hot water, but if I expected her to eat soon, I didn't want to give her fridge temp milk.

If you know you'll be going out, it's better to just use a recent pumping that you left out, or to warm it to room temp over time and wear it for a bit before she needs it to bring it up a tad more even.

I had severe over supply (that's why I had to use the SNS- I was literally so engorged that SHE couldn't get the milk out, I had to use a pump. It was an odd situation) so I didn't worry about throwing some out, so I was a little "reckless" with it.
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