My sister is 34 weeks pregnant. Her breast have doubled in size from AA to to about a large A to small B cup. She is wanting to nurse for at least 6 months. No longer then a year.
A little of our family history
Grandma has 3 bio kids. All were preemies and were not able to nurse. Grandma did not become engorgged after the birth of any of the babies.
My mom nursed me for 3 month according to baby book. 7 or 8 months accroding or oral history. Nursed my sister for 13 months. Nursed brother for 6 months. She felt I was starving bc I was a low to gain baby and was always fussy( I think that is still me temperment and I am not hungry) With sister she was a small baby, and brother had to be weaned due to her working and no pump/resources.
I am currently nursing a 25 month old. My daughter had to be supplemented for the longest. I was giving her no more than 2 oz a feeding. I think the problem has resolved it self although I can still only pump a mere ounce or two at a time combined. I used an SNS and took fenugreek until I smelled like maple syrup. Took the motherlove tincture. Took alphala with good results. Blessed thistle. Teas. You name it. I tried it. Only nursing for hours at a time seemed to make sure my daughter gained weight. She spent all day at the breast with possible 20 or 30 minute breaks in 4 hour blocks.
So. Sister will have to go back to work about 2 weeks after the baby is born. Hardly enough time to get a good milk supply and work on any issue that might come up. What can she do now to increase her odds of having a good breastfeeding realtionship. Are there herb she can take to help make pumping more effective and maintain her milk when she is away. She works from 3 in the afternoon to 9:30 at night. It would not be possible to bring the baby in to feed during her work day as she works at a group home for behavorily chanlenged teenagers. Also her boss is less then receptive about breastfeeding, to the point she would not even give her grand baby bottle of EBM with out throwing up. She is not hostile about it but has made several comments about the baby not dying as the result of getting formula or else formula would be illegal.
Also what bottle/feeding system is most similar to nursing. I have offered to nurse the baby myself but my sister is not up for that yet. Perhaps at some point. I have bought an SNS system for her as well as being able to have the magic finger (thats what we called it for my daughter) I have bought a couple of the second nature 4 oz bottles and a avent.
Oh and to complicate things a little further the baby has Dandy Walker Syndrome. This may or may not affect the babies ability to be able to get the suck swallow breathe pattern down.
Any advice is welcome. TIA
Christina, Rachel and baby Issabella
xposted breastfeeding
A little of our family history
Grandma has 3 bio kids. All were preemies and were not able to nurse. Grandma did not become engorgged after the birth of any of the babies.
My mom nursed me for 3 month according to baby book. 7 or 8 months accroding or oral history. Nursed my sister for 13 months. Nursed brother for 6 months. She felt I was starving bc I was a low to gain baby and was always fussy( I think that is still me temperment and I am not hungry) With sister she was a small baby, and brother had to be weaned due to her working and no pump/resources.
I am currently nursing a 25 month old. My daughter had to be supplemented for the longest. I was giving her no more than 2 oz a feeding. I think the problem has resolved it self although I can still only pump a mere ounce or two at a time combined. I used an SNS and took fenugreek until I smelled like maple syrup. Took the motherlove tincture. Took alphala with good results. Blessed thistle. Teas. You name it. I tried it. Only nursing for hours at a time seemed to make sure my daughter gained weight. She spent all day at the breast with possible 20 or 30 minute breaks in 4 hour blocks.
So. Sister will have to go back to work about 2 weeks after the baby is born. Hardly enough time to get a good milk supply and work on any issue that might come up. What can she do now to increase her odds of having a good breastfeeding realtionship. Are there herb she can take to help make pumping more effective and maintain her milk when she is away. She works from 3 in the afternoon to 9:30 at night. It would not be possible to bring the baby in to feed during her work day as she works at a group home for behavorily chanlenged teenagers. Also her boss is less then receptive about breastfeeding, to the point she would not even give her grand baby bottle of EBM with out throwing up. She is not hostile about it but has made several comments about the baby not dying as the result of getting formula or else formula would be illegal.
Also what bottle/feeding system is most similar to nursing. I have offered to nurse the baby myself but my sister is not up for that yet. Perhaps at some point. I have bought an SNS system for her as well as being able to have the magic finger (thats what we called it for my daughter) I have bought a couple of the second nature 4 oz bottles and a avent.
Oh and to complicate things a little further the baby has Dandy Walker Syndrome. This may or may not affect the babies ability to be able to get the suck swallow breathe pattern down.
Any advice is welcome. TIA
Christina, Rachel and baby Issabella
xposted breastfeeding
However, she may need to address some issues with her boss right way (and back to work 2 weeks after birth? sheesh that seems awfully harsh). Please look up the laws in your state regarding discrimination in the work place, what accommodations employers have to provide, et cetera. Also your sister should start documenting these comments from her boss so if there is a problem she will have plenty of ammunition for legal recourse.
