New BF'ing mommies - (May and June Babies) - How's it going?

[Margerle]

Just curious how things are going for everyone.

Between 2-4 weeks things should start to feel more normal and regulated. Production should be going good, baby should be doing well latching, pain should be minimal and only for the first few minutes of feeding.

You should be able to start pumping a little (if you wish to) to build some just in case supply.

By four weeks, baby should be through the major early growth spurts, and should be exhibiting signs of fussiness/irritability with your milk if there are any dietary issues with you. (aka dairy aversion, gassy foods aversion, etc.)

Anyway, just curious how things are going. It's so hard to believe that a lot of women stop BF right about now (by 6 weeks or so) - just when things start to get going good! (I am not refering to working moms or other moms that wean for reasons other than personal preference).

Feel free to post any difficulties/successes no matter how small!

And for nursing mom's with older babies (I know you're out there ) any advice or words of wisdom you'd like to offer?

 

[Margerle]

Just thought I'd start this out.

Most women are regulated and on a good nursing structure at 2-3 weeks, I tend to be a late bloomer and am just starting to feel like everything is settling well. I've pumped 3-4 ounces (from both breasts together) on two occassions (for emergencies) and was really excited. I normally get only 1-2 ounces from both.

Sharlotte's doing great, she's regulated now for a feed every 4-5 hours or so, though she's still taking anywhere from 45 minutes to 1.5 hours to eat.

I've figured out she takes a lot of air in while feeding (probably has to do with my overactive letdown) and I need to burp her a lot during feeds and make sure she's all clear before I try to lay her down for a nap. Otherwise, she's cranky and wakes early because of her gas.

Evenings are the most fussy and she'll start cluster feeding and dozing around 7-8. This has been really frustrating, because it's hard to burp her good during this time with all the crying and dozing and feeding, and unless she's completely empty of air, she won't go down for sleep until midnight or one.

I've done some research, and dairy may be contributing to her fussiness. So I'm going to eliminate most obvious dairy and see where that goes. I should see a change within a week to 10 days or so. Nice benefit is that should help with the weight loss too



I've had to feed a couple of times in public, and it has gone very well. She doesn't mind something over her face now, and hopefuly will stay that way. I have a hard enough time remembering everything in the diaper bag let alone bottles for feeding when we're out!

 

[Samantha675]

Well my little man and I are doing very well with the feeding. He has gained about 2 lbs so far, and it getting a bit of chub on him. He is by no means on any kind of schedule and eats through out the day. Some nights are better than others, last night was pretty good, and he only snacked through the night.

I have developed a bit of mastitis in my left breast which left me feeling absolutly horrible yesterday. I still feel a bit rough, today but it is clearing up.

I just bought a pump, and even though I used it yesterday, I had not washed it out, and just needed to take the pressure off my right breast as I was trying to feed off the left side and do a bit of pumping off the left to try to clear the blockage. I think once I set out to pump, I may be able to do pretty well. I am looking forward to seeing.

 

[Deise]

At this point, Keira is 90% breastfed and 10% formula. I even stopped expressing and I must say, it made a huge difference in milk supply.

I am in a bit of a dilemma. I want to resume my ADD meds, but obviously breasteeding would have to stop. And I would feel offlee guilty if I stopped!

 

[B4byAnge1]

Its been going very well, she is gaining weight well and Im producing the milk well, but she is still getting fed around every 3 hours, at night she can go around 5 and a half, which is pretty good I would say.

She is similar to your LO Marge, her main problem is that she is awake for around 5 hours at night, usually starting about 8pm till 1am..and there is no settling her whatsoever, Im wondering now whether it could be dairy foods thats causing it. She seems fairly windy, she is now on infacol, cant really tell if its working yet, but I think ill cut out the dairy foods and see if it makes any difference, it cant hurt anyway and defiently wont hurt me!

Anyway, overall going very well, a lot better than I expected, really enjoying it and I certainly dont miss making up bottles!

 

[Linzi]

Well Im still managing to breastfeed Seth and I must be doing pretty good because he's put on 1lb 15.5oz since he was born nearly 4 wks ago.

He eats A LOT again at the moment, I guess thats another growth spurt?

Had no pain for ages, not even when he latches on. Everything is going really well and Im so proud of how well we're both doing!

xxx

 

[Margerle]

...I have developed a bit of mastitis in my left breast which left me feeling absolutly horrible yesterday. I still feel a bit rough, today but it is clearing up.

I just bought a pump, and even though I used it yesterday, I had not washed it out, and just needed to take the pressure off my right breast as I was trying to feed off the left side and do a bit of pumping off the left to try to clear the blockage. I think once I set out to pump, I may be able to do pretty well. I am looking forward to seeing.

GAH!, I've never had mastitis (knock on wood)... I've heard it's excruciating. Many many hugs to you, adn hope you're feeling better soon!

I hated to even think about pumping, it was such a bomb for me last time, and I just didn't really want to mess with it until I knew things were going properly for us. Well I've managed to sneak a couple of sessions in and have a little emergency stash. I'm surprised, but it's made me anxious to have a bit more in storage. I like the notion of having the extra around - though if I'm available I'll probably always just go with fresh squeezed booby juice

At this point, Keira is 90% breastfed and 10% formula. I even stopped expressing and I must say, it made a huge difference in milk supply.

I am in a bit of a dilemma. I want to resume my ADD meds, but obviously breasteeding would have to stop. And I would feel offlee guilty if I stopped!

congrats on your success! Whatever you decide about your meds, you needn't feel guilty! You'll do the best you can for both of you. You can feel proud for the accomplishment of BF'ing no matter how long you go for. It isn't easy and it can be quite a sacrifice - especially for women for whom it's painful, or like you do not take maintenance meds due to it.

Its been going very well, she is gaining weight well and Im producing the milk well, but she is still getting fed around every 3 hours, at night she can go around 5 and a half, which is pretty good I would say.

She is similar to your LO Marge, her main problem is that she is awake for around 5 hours at night, usually starting about 8pm till 1am..and there is no settling her whatsoever, Im wondering now whether it could be dairy foods thats causing it. She seems fairly windy, she is now on infacol, cant really tell if its working yet, but I think ill cut out the dairy foods and see if it makes any difference, it cant hurt anyway and defiently wont hurt me!

Anyway, overall going very well, a lot better than I expected, really enjoying it and I certainly dont miss making up bottles!

Wow 5 hours in the evening! Awesome!

Yah I hope the dairy thing works for us too...

Well Im still managing to breastfeed Seth and I must be doing pretty good because he's put on 1lb 15.5oz since he was born nearly 4 wks ago.

He eats A LOT again at the moment, I guess thats another growth spurt?

Had no pain for ages, not even when he latches on. Everything is going really well and Im so proud of how well we're both doing!

xxx

Yah, I'd guess it's another growth spurt. And it sounds like you're making great milk for your little man!

You should be proud!

 

[clairebear]

i have only just started BF this week and am finding it draining. it still hurts with the inital latch on but after that it doesnt. he is feeding roughly every 3 hours and last between 20- 30mins.

 

[Samantha675]

It does hurt Marg but more than that it just makes you feel like sh*t. Fever and aches all over, totally sucks. But my MW has some great natural remedies and I started them as soon as I noticed. This is actually the 2nd time it has cropped up, I had it once before I had Brennan.

 

[Tezzy]

Thanks for this thread Margerle, youve made me feel much better by saying that youve only been able to pump 1/2oz until recently, i pumped some yesterday and got 1oz from one breast and almost 2 from the other, i was really worried about it coz i was expecting more...

We are not doing so well with the breastfeeding, ive been so tired the past 2 days that Ffion has had 3 formula feeds plus one expressed feed. i know this is the wrong thing to do and its not helping my milk supply but ive vowed to not give her formula tonight and tomorrow and see how we go from there.

Had Ffion weighed yesterday and shes put on 8oz since last friday which is average for a breastfed baby (i read somewhere) also bought a nursing pillow yesterday which hopefully will encourage me to breastfeed more as its more comfy than just holding her.

 

[coccyx]

Fourth baby so breastfeeding going ok, likes to 'graze' in the evenings so quite time consuming. Slept from 11pm to 6am last night He is 8 weeks old, not sure how much he weighs, but at 6 weeks was 12lbs and birth weight was 7lb 12ozs, so doing ok . Keep going ladies

 

[Holldoll]

I haven't read the whole thread, I'll go back and do that.

What do you mean by "exhibiting signs of fussiness/irritability with your milk if there are any dietary issues with you. (aka dairy aversion, gassy foods aversion, etc.)?"

I'm really liking breast feeding we aren't on any kind of schedule and I have only been able to pump 2 oz. twice. I haven't tried any other times though. We are going to start with the bottle tomorrow to see if she will take it. By the end of July she is going to have to have a bottle on Tuesday mornings while I'm seeing clients.

I have not had any cracked/bleeding/sore nipples. She's always latched on really well. She's starting to get really good at latching on herself, so it makes it easier to bf laying down (in the middle of the night is VERY handy)!

 

[Rhi_Rhi1]

well, only on my third week now. But i think its going really well, stopped hurting when when he latches on. and i started expressing over the last weekend with my new electric pump, what a god send! i expressed 6 ozs on saturday. was really shocked when i realised i had filled the bottle and had to get another one. x