questions, questions, questions

[justkitty]

1) when baby is just born when you have colostrum only, is it ok to offer one breast per feed to help your niples or is it best to offer both?

2) How do you know when to swap breasts If ooffering both at one feed?

3) when your milk comes in does your baby act/feed differently?

4) how do you know wheyu baby has finished a feed or just finished with that breast? Do you automatically offer the other breast once baby pulls away or do you assume baby is full?

5) if you do one breast per feed how do you know your baby is satisfied?

6) my ds was ff almost straight away due to bad advice and also problems after birth. We always fed then swaddled and if baby was asleep he was in his moses basket. Very easy baby. Will I be able to adopt that same stance with a bf baby?

 

[justkitty]

7) what does let down feel like?

8) how do you know when your breast has been emptied?

 

[LDC]

Hiya;

1) I offered both for stimulation of milk (although it took two days for milk to come in so I gave formula as well)

2) I tend to offer one boob a feed and the next feed offer the other. Maybe change boob when you're less engorged or baby naturally comes off.

3) baby fed the same when my milk came in, she just settled for longer and went a wee bit longer between feeds

4) baby naturally detached from my boob when she'd had enough, I'd offer the same boob to see if she wanted more and ad accidentally come off, but she usually stopped feeding because she'd fell asleep...it's the same now!

5) I've always offered one boob, I knew she was satisfied when she didn't latch back on for more milk. You kinda learn your babies cues so don't worry.

6) don't worry, you can do exactly the same thing, you can saddle and use a Moses basket with a bf baby.

7) let down is tingly in my case. Was a little sore to begin with but this lasted a small amount of time and didn't affect anything. I got used to it!

8) you'll be able to tell as your boob feels like pre pregnancy...nice and squishy! One full of milk is hard, may leak or feels a little firm.

Good luck I love bfing and you'll have a local support group should you need advice (you can call for help). It's scary to begin with, wondering if you're doing it right, but you'll learn your babies cues and your body really quickly. Then it'll be automatic

X

 

[justkitty]

Thanks LDC

I am such a worrier. My son was so chilled and I panic if I can't settle after a feed the idea of a baby only wanting to sleep on me panics me esp with my toddler. I hope that doesn't sound cold because I did used to let my son and still do let him come in bed whenever he needs to but he has always settled so well. On occasion when he hasnt I have found it so stressful not knowing why etc and I worry I will easily be turned to formula so dh can help me.

My sister ff both her children and whilst she allegedly supports me bfing no2 the snide subtle comments have already started eg you won't be able to lose the baby weight while you bf and you have to eat so much more to keep up supply. Innocent enough to a bystander but I know she uses it as a deterrent. Or well if he is hungry and you have no milk why wouldn't you offee him formula? Even though babies don't need milk until day 3 or 4. So much I never knew first time round.

 

[CupcakeBaby]

I've always offered one side each feed. Even in hospital. The feeds were so frequent I just swapped each time.

When they're new they fall asleep when they're done so its easy to tell!

We swaddle DD can't stay asleep any other way.

My letdown didn't start having a "feeling" until a couple of weeks in. At first it was a strong, tingly burning sensation. Now it's just a little tingle.

My boobs start the day hard big after one feed feel pretty normal.

Remember even if your boobs feel "empty" they will make milk as your baby sucks so you never need to supplement.

 

[LDC]

Thanks LDC

I am such a worrier. My son was so chilled and I panic if I can't settle after a feed the idea of a baby only wanting to sleep on me panics me esp with my toddler. I hope that doesn't sound cold because I did used to let my son and still do let him come in bed whenever he needs to but he has always settled so well. On occasion when he hasnt I have found it so stressful not knowing why etc and I worry I will easily be turned to formula so dh can help me.

My sister ff both her children and whilst she allegedly supports me bfing no2 the snide subtle comments have already started eg you won't be able to lose the baby weight while you bf and you have to eat so much more to keep up supply. Innocent enough to a bystander but I know she uses it as a deterrent. Or well if he is hungry and you have no milk why wouldn't you offee him formula? Even though babies don't need milk until day 3 or 4. So much I never knew first time round.

You can definitely swaddle and let lo go to sleep on their own without falling asleep on you - tbh I got into this bad habit, but I've gotten out of it mostly now.

I would recommend expressing so your oh can help with the feeds, the Medela swing is a good pump, I got mine second hand off eBay. I just wish I stuck to it; lo became a bottle refuser at week 7 as we weren't consistent with it. If we have another ill definitely pump and oh can help feed, I've found it quite difficult at time as lo can be quite demanding, it would help a lot to have oh helping with feeds, plus I think it's nice for them!

I've had comments too off people, a lot of the time it was "your milks not enough, she needs more than that" blah blah blah...all utter rubbish!

You'll definitely lose your baby weight so ignore that! Yes you eat more but you're burning a hell of a lot of calories per feed! You'll have plenty of milk too, sure it's difficult the first few days when your supply builds up, but you'll have that much it will (literally) be seeping out of you!

Xxx

 

[CupcakeBaby]

LDC - Does your LO still refuse bottles?

DD does and I'd love to be able to pump and have other people feed her now and again.

 

[LDC]

LDC - Does your LO still refuse bottles?

DD does and I'd love to be able to pump and have other people feed her now and again.

Unfortunately yes! And dummies too (although not as fussed about that). I brought so many different bottles to try her on and nothing. I used a doidy cup for a while but it was real messy. I've brought a weaning sippy cup now but I've cut her down to morning and evening feed only, which is from me, and she has water/cereal with milk/yogurts/cheese etc during the day.

I wish I'd carried on giving her more bottles of expressed milk when she was younger, but I wasn't consistent with it and then boom at 7 weeks she was like "no blooming way, booby or nothing!".

I asked for help from my health visitor and she was useless, she said "why do you want her to have a bottle, is it so you can go out and leave her, she's too young". Erm no it's so I can have a break thank you very much!

I, personally, have found some days a bit of a struggle as it has made me feel smothered at times, but now I'm through the difficult times and her feeds are much more spaced out, I've learnt to enjoy it again. I'm glad I persisted, but boy it can be hard.

I wouldn't waste money on loads of different bottles though - I managed to sell some of mine on eBay as they were pretty much like new...the teat went in Los mouth and was pushed right out again.

Maybe try a doidy? I know others have had a lot of success with them and they're not very expensive off amazon

Xx

 

[DaisyAnne]

1) when baby is just born when you have colostrum only, is it ok to offer one breast per feed to help your niples or is it best to offer both?
I did! I've pretty much always done one boob per feed. But I ended up being advised to pump one side, so I suppose my boobs were being fed on/pumped more often than just that. Although I do NOT recommend pumping that early unless absolutely necessary!

2) How do you know when to swap breasts If ooffering both at one feed?
generally, you would feed on one side until it's soft/almost empty and then switch. This is so your boobs get empty as you can get them and they get more of the hindmilk.

3) when your milk comes in does your baby act/feed differently?
my baby had a harder time during the engorgement phase while the milk was coming in. He also had a tongue-tie then, so it was already difficult to get a good latch, so that just made it more challenging. I think a lot of babies do better than he did, though.

4) how do you know wheyu baby has finished a feed or just finished with that breast? Do you automatically offer the other breast once baby pulls away or do you assume baby is full?
Since we typically do only one boob per feed, he is usually just finished. Sometimes, however, he'll get fussy on one breast and pop on and off, so then I'll offer the other side (after maybe trying just to burp him to make sure it's not that) to see if he just wants more, and it seems to work.

5) if you do one breast per feed how do you know your baby is satisfied?
my baby is clear when he wants to eat more...fussy, trying to eat any skin available, etc. He acts satisfied and happy when he's finished (or falls asleep).

6) my ds was ff almost straight away due to bad advice and also problems after birth. We always fed then swaddled and if baby was asleep he was in his moses basket. Very easy baby. Will I be able to adopt that same stance with a bf baby?
Depends on your baby more than your method of feeding, I believe. I don't know if you mean at night? At night, he never slept with us (although I know lots of BF moms say it helps with the night feeds), except for a few horrible nights in the beginning when he wouldn't go to sleep otherwise.

7) what does let down feel like?
I believe this totally depends on the person. Others I know say it is uncomfortable in the beginning, but I never even noticed a let-down feeling until he was maybe 2 months. Now I'll sometimes notice just like a tickle/tingling feeling in my nipple just before it lets down.

8) how do you know when your breast has been emptied?
I don't think it ever *truly* is empty, but your boob will kind of be like a deflated balloon.

 

[DaisyAnne]

Thanks LDC

I am such a worrier. My son was so chilled and I panic if I can't settle after a feed the idea of a baby only wanting to sleep on me panics me esp with my toddler. I hope that doesn't sound cold because I did used to let my son and still do let him come in bed whenever he needs to but he has always settled so well. On occasion when he hasnt I have found it so stressful not knowing why etc and I worry I will easily be turned to formula so dh can help me.

My sister ff both her children and whilst she allegedly supports me bfing no2 the snide subtle comments have already started eg you won't be able to lose the baby weight while you bf and you have to eat so much more to keep up supply. Innocent enough to a bystander but I know she uses it as a deterrent. Or well if he is hungry and you have no milk why wouldn't you offee him formula? Even though babies don't need milk until day 3 or 4. So much I never knew first time round.

Just stick with it, and I recommend finding a good lactation consultant if things go anything less than perfect (which it's usually not *perfect*). We had lots of issues in the beginning, which led to me having to start pumping my right side on day 3, supplementing with formula for the first month, and continuing to supplement with expressed milk until 7 weeks. But we didn't give up, and after those first 7 weeks, it has been easy as pie! I would not be breastfeeding today if it weren't for my husband's wonderful support and for the lactation consultant we saw. It has been worth it 1,000% worth it! The most important thing, though, is to feed your baby, however we can feed them

I would recommend expressing so your oh can help with the feeds, the Medela swing is a good pump, I got mine second hand off eBay. I just wish I stuck to it; lo became a bottle refuser at week 7 as we weren't consistent with it. If we have another ill definitely pump and oh can help feed, I've found it quite difficult at time as lo can be quite demanding, it would help a lot to have oh helping with feeds, plus I think it's nice for them!
Xxx

I personally would recommend waiting those first 6 or 8 weeks before starting to pump if possible (I can't remember what the "official" recommendation is, though). I just say this because your supply is being established so it is a crucial time to start off with just feeding your baby what he or she wants so you won't be stuck having to pump more than you'd like to. I had to start pumping on my right side on day 3, and I honestly, truly feel like it's easier to just feed the baby myself than to spend the extra time pumping, cleaning the pumps suppies, storing the milk, sterilizing the bottles, etc. Also, my baby fed really often in those early days (like every 1.5 hours), so adding in the pumping just made me feel like a milk cow, lol! My right side also *still* overproduces like crazy, and that's the one I had to pump for a long time in the beginning.
Basically, those early days are good to just establish your supply before introducing the pump- however, I also believe that if pumping is what you end up needing to do in order to keep breastfeeding, then you gotta do what you gotta do! I just personally found pumping to be more work than just feeding the baby myself