Sounds kind of silly to me. What's the difference between pumping and nursing?
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More OB insanity! I told her that I wanted to start pumping prior to birth ...
Mainly to help unflatten the nip's (huge problems with DS and latching) and hopefully save some clostrum. I've heard of other mamas here doing that.
I'm moving and won't have to deal with her much longer, but here is what she said: you need to let your body worry about birth and not go mucking up your hormones.
So is she right? In a weird way it makes sense, but I've heard of other mamas having no problems pumping for weeks beforehand, not to mention all the mamas that are nursing while pregnant. Should I ignore it, like all her other "advice"?
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I'm moving and won't have to deal with her much longer, but here is what she said: you need to let your body worry about birth and not go mucking up your hormones.
So is she right? In a weird way it makes sense, but I've heard of other mamas having no problems pumping for weeks beforehand, not to mention all the mamas that are nursing while pregnant. Should I ignore it, like all her other "advice"?
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my general rule of thumb on communications with care providers is to only talk about subjects that the care provider is educated in, i.e. with an OB, i would only talk about ob and gyn issues related to a woman's reproductive system or pregnancy or giving birth (keeping in mind that they are also trained as surgeons and work in a symptom-based model of medical care), and with a naturopath, i would talk about general well-being and nutrition and other modalities of treatment and acute symptom management if necessary, and with a lactation consultant, i would talk about breastfeeding issues and feeding baby issues, and with a pediatric MD, i would only talk about baby's wellness issues and general health but not sleep troubles or breastfeeding, and so on.
the one thing i will say is that if you are at risk of pre term labor, i would wait until you are close to 37 weeks to start the pumping. have you seen a lactation consultant and discussed your particular situation with her, i.e. your previous latching problems with your son because of inverted nipples, and was pumping what they recommended? i have heard of nipple shields that are used to "train" the nipples to stand out more (not sure if i am making this up...). that might be another option.
and another thing, you don't note if you yourself are still nursing your older child. if so, i would say go ahead with the pumping. if not, introducing the pumping now after not nursing during the whole pregnancy might cause a body shift. if the pumping feels okay, keep going. if not, reconsider and maybe wait another week before trying again.
wishing you a peaceful end of pregnancy and safe and beautiful VBAC birth!
~claudia
the one thing i will say is that if you are at risk of pre term labor, i would wait until you are close to 37 weeks to start the pumping. have you seen a lactation consultant and discussed your particular situation with her, i.e. your previous latching problems with your son because of inverted nipples, and was pumping what they recommended? i have heard of nipple shields that are used to "train" the nipples to stand out more (not sure if i am making this up...). that might be another option.
and another thing, you don't note if you yourself are still nursing your older child. if so, i would say go ahead with the pumping. if not, introducing the pumping now after not nursing during the whole pregnancy might cause a body shift. if the pumping feels okay, keep going. if not, reconsider and maybe wait another week before trying again.
wishing you a peaceful end of pregnancy and safe and beautiful VBAC birth!
~claudia
I agree, if you are prone to PTL, it would be a good idea to wait until you are far enough along that it wouldn't be a problem.
That being said nipple stim is like all other methods of induction. It only really works if you are ready to go into labor. Otherwise the most it's going to do is cause a ctx or two and then they will stop.
That being said nipple stim is like all other methods of induction. It only really works if you are ready to go into labor. Otherwise the most it's going to do is cause a ctx or two and then they will stop.
If your going to pump wait until you are least term at 37 weeks, because it can cause PTL. In the meantime, invest in some nipple SHELLS. You place them over your nips inside your bra and they have little air holes to help promote them to come out. You can also find a LC in your area to help you out this before you deliver. Sometimes we us syringes. You place it over your nip and pull back on the stopper to "suck" out your nipple. So its like pumping but MUCH more mild and less likely to cause uterine contractions. Good Luck!
Considering many women, including myself, breastfeed through the entire pregnancy I don't see what harm pumping could do.
Keri
Keri
Forgive me for butting in, but I don't get why you want to pump. Surely if you are successful, then you are either taking colostrum from the baby or planning on giving the newborn a bottle, neither of which sound good to me.
Okay, I get the nipple thing, but isn't that what the shields do?
Okay, I get the nipple thing, but isn't that what the shields do?
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That is what I was thinking also... or are you trying to avoid using a shield?
Originally Posted by Irishmommy Forgive me for butting in, but I don't get why you want to pump. Surely if you are successful, then you are either taking colostrum from the baby or planning on giving the newborn a bottle, neither of which sound good to me. Okay, I get the nipple thing, but isn't that what the shields do? |
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Of course I cannot answer for the OP but there will be plenty of colostrum to go around just like my toddler didn't take all the colostrum from her unborn sister
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She will produce plenty of colostrum after the baby is born. I think maybe she is trying to draw out her nipples now so that she doesn't have to use shields which are a pita if you have to use them every time you nurse.
Keri
Originally Posted by Irishmommy Forgive me for butting in, but I don't get why you want to pump. Surely if you are successful, then you are either taking colostrum from the baby or planning on giving the newborn a bottle, neither of which sound good to me. Okay, I get the nipple thing, but isn't that what the shields do? |
Keri
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And ITA that it is such a pain to use a nipple shield for nursing!!!! Baby is crying in hunger, so you put the shield on as quickly as you can, then as you're setting baby up to nurse, the baby's flailing arms knock the nipple shield off, so you have to put baby down again (crying even HARDER now that he/she was so close, yet so far away), put the shield back on, pray that baby doesn't knock it off again... Ugh. I used one for 5 weeks since I had a preemie who was started on a bottle (thankfully, I didn't have nipple problems). Once he came home, it took 2 weeks just to get him to take the breast without a nipple shield period. Then it was another 2 weeks before we finally got completely weaned off the shield. It was such a pain. And I was one of the lucky ones - some women are never able to wean their babies off it!!!
Originally Posted by kerikadi I think maybe she is trying to draw out her nipples now so that she doesn't have to use shields which are a pita if you have to use them every time you nurse. |
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I tried the shields with the first child, didn't seem to do ANYTHING for me. I thought colostrum was produced until a while after birth, I didn't think it could "run out". A cesarian is always a possibility, I still don't know where/how I am going to give birth and want to have everything ready for any eventuality. Plus I thought frozen colostrum was commonly used for illness among mamas here. I've read several stories about mamas saving some in the freezer for a booster for little sick babes, even freezing doesn't kill everything good in it.
Originally Posted by Irishmommy Forgive me for butting in, but I don't get why you want to pump. Surely if you are successful, then you are either taking colostrum from the baby or planning on giving the newborn a bottle, neither of which sound good to me. Okay, I get the nipple thing, but isn't that what the shields do? |
I tried the shields with the first child, didn't seem to do ANYTHING for me. I thought colostrum was produced until a while after birth, I didn't think it could "run out". A cesarian is always a possibility, I still don't know where/how I am going to give birth and want to have everything ready for any eventuality. Plus I thought frozen colostrum was commonly used for illness among mamas here. I've read several stories about mamas saving some in the freezer for a booster for little sick babes, even freezing doesn't kill everything good in it.
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if you are nursing through your pregnancy then your body is used to nipple stimulation. if you start nipple stimulation when your body is not used to it it can start PTL.
HTH
~S
Originally Posted by kerikadi Considering many women, including myself, breastfeed through the entire pregnancy I don't see what harm pumping could do. Keri |
if you are nursing through your pregnancy then your body is used to nipple stimulation. if you start nipple stimulation when your body is not used to it it can start PTL.
HTH
~S
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Well, I know lots of mamas freeze breastmilk to have on hand in case of illness - heck, I'm one of them. But I've never read anything specific about colostrum.
Originally Posted by pumpkinsmama Plus I thought frozen colostrum was commonly used for illness among mamas here. I've read several stories about mamas saving some in the freezer for a booster for little sick babes, even freezing doesn't kill everything good in it. |
I don't see what's wrong with doing it a few times a day after 36-37 weeks, but I wouldn't want to do it any sooner as previous posters have discussed PTL possibilities. I would like that some gentle pulling and stretching exercises on your nipples after 37 weeks would be sufficient, and if not, then you could try a nipple shield. I don't see why pumping quantities of colostrum would be helpful.
- krista
- krista
My cousin (who called to tell me of her smpathy morning sickness) also told me that she started pumping at 43 weeks with the intent of starting labor. Her OB was furious with her (probably for actually taking initiative in her care). She said back then they didn't induce as much and that they'd never let her go that far today. Anyway, it started her labor that evening. She pumped 10 minutes every hour all day. The lactation consultant ideas sound good.
I agree with some of the pps - if you're concerned about inverted nips, I would pick up a set of breast shells (not shields). I had flat nips with my first, and the hospital gave me a set of shells, they worked wonders.
I would avoid pumping until you are at least 38 wks... if you've been nursing all along, no biggie, but otherwise the hormonal shifts could cause PTL.
I would avoid pumping until you are at least 38 wks... if you've been nursing all along, no biggie, but otherwise the hormonal shifts could cause PTL.
If the goal is to help with flat or inverted nipples, the best device I've seen is specifically designed for that purpose - it's called the Evert-It and it's much easier and more efficient than a pump or breast shells. The website to read more & purchase is www.maternalconcepts.com and the link to their FAQs on the Evert-It is http://www.maternalconcepts.com/en-u...vertit_faq.htm
HTH!
HTH!
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