Since giving birth to my daughter a few weeks ago, my boobs have become an even *larger* part of my life than I am used to– and that’s saying a lot. All of the sudden, these boobs that I’ve been lugging around for the past twenty or so years are heavy with milk and have transformed from body-part to bar-part–and, since it is our goal to breast-feed exclusively (no formula)–the bar is open 24 hours a day.
At Ida’s first and second week pediatrician appointments, the doctors informed me that Ida wasn’t quite gaining enough weight, and told me that I had to ‘feed like gangbusters’ so that she could catch up and surpass her birth weight– (she had lost some weight after her birth which is, apparently, quite normal.)
This was disappointing to say the least. I was feeding her at least 12 times per day, on each boob. In fact, it felt like feeding Ida is pretty much *all* I’d been doing for the past three weeks. How was it possible that she was not getting enough milk? Could it be that these giganta-boobs that I have had to get bras special ordered for are not producing enough milk to sustain my tiny Ida? Apparently, boob size has absolutely zero connection to how much milk one can produce. Go figure.
We hired a lactation consultant who was helpful and showed me some positions and techniques to maximize the amount of milk that Ida gets from each feeding session. But even after a week of feeding with the consultant’s tips, Ida’s weight came in just .06 oz above her birth weight.
Yesterday, I tried pumping milk for the first time. If you’ve never seen the whole pumping thing (which I hadn’t before yesterday) Check it out. It’s crazy. I felt like a cow. Seriously. BUT, it was very worth-it to feel like a cow because I was able to actually see and measure how much milk Ida is getting, which is, at the very least, reassuring on an emotional level. I’m also hoping that pumping will help to stimulate more milk production so that Ida can get her fill. So far, she happily took the bottle from daddy and guzzled down the 3oz it took me about 30 min. to make in about 5 minutes.
After ten months of growing Ida inside me, it is now amazing to feed her with milk from the breast. It’s the perfect transition from inside to out, I think–for both of us. This whole ‘mama’ journey has been such a trip so far–and I know it’s only going to get trippier. I’m curious to see what happens when we leave the house more and my breast-feeding goes public. I’ve heard so many stories from girl friends about weird reactions from strangers–and they all have smaller, subtler boobs.
Just wait till they get a load of me. :D
Have you all breast-fed your kids? Any good pointers, suggestions, or funny stories? Please share. Let’s talk about boobs.
Hey :-) I went through something similar, have you tried Fenugreek? It’s a nutritional supplement you can pick up at most health food or vitamin stores and it can aid in milk production, you won’t have to take it long term, just until your body gets in the groove. It’s great stuff!
i loved breastfeeding both my boys. it was such a spiritual connection. i really miss that, since they have grown up.
I always breastfed in public, if i needed to. i wasn’t shy, but i was respectful of strangers. i always made sure to wear an under shirt tank top under my regular shirt, so that i could pull my top shirt up, and my tank and bra down, just exposing the nipple for the boys to nurse. i rarely ever used a blanket to cover, because my boys hated being so covered up.
i was never given too many looks out in public, thank goodness.
anyways, sounds like you are getting the hang of it. im so glad that you are breastfeeding. i think that is wonderful, that you are able to!
-m
besides fenugreek, you can also eat old fashioned oatmeal.
-m
When my daughter was just born the pediatrician said the same thing to me. I wish i hadn’t listened as much, honestly. My lactation consultant helped reassure me that my daughter was getting plenty and that it’s just added stress to worry about baby’s weight gain. But bc i was a first time mom and worried I eventually started pumping and our breastfeeding relationship got worse and worse. I say feed on demand and as long as babylove is peeing and pooping regularly just keep doing what you’re doing. My daughter has stayed in the low weight percentile to this day no matter what or how much she eats! :D Good luck and congratulations on your joy!
i’ve been feeding my little babe for 19 month’s now, the first 3 were the most hard. You have to get conformable and the baby as well, just try to get in to the grove, thing that really helpt me was putting on some music and later audio books so i have my hands free at all times ^_^
Btw my modest breast grown from a b85 ( european size?) to a c cup.
Size really doesn’t matter for those little ones. Btw try applebutter, really helpt my iron ect! -Rebelleke
I’m sure you’ve already seen this site, but in case you haven’t, head on over to kellymom.com. It is one of the best breastfeeding sites out there. It gives a realistic explanation of what to expect the first sic weeks. There are also great forums that are moderated by experienced moms and that other moms visit to share their experiences.
Please remember that pumping is not an indication of milk supply as some moms just do not produce for the pump nor does it indicate how much baby is getting. Some babies take a little longer to put on weight. As long as baby is having the proper number of diapers for age, seems satisfied after most feedings, she is most likely fine.
Be sure to listen for swallowing while baby nurses. Some babies (a couple of mine, in fact) like to use mom as a pacifier and are not really taking in nourishment.
Good luck to you as you continue to grow in your mom and baby relationship!
way to go! breastfeeding is so marvelous and rewarding. i breastfeed my now 2 year old, and am currently breastfeeding my 2.5 month old. i wish i could pass a little of his weight gain on to your sweet (and adorable!) little ida! he definitely has a few to spare. ; ) one of the most helpful things for me to remember when i’m breastfeeding is to relax. and if you feel like your milk isn’t letting down very well, just rub your baby’s back and think about how wonderful she is. it always helps me. i think a lot of times we don’t realize that we’re tense, and then that prevents a good milk flow. hope that helps!
I nurse exclusively and only pumped in the beginning because my milk took a few days to come in. I feel like my breasts are even bigger now! My baby girl is now almost 9 months and super healthy! Getting started is rough, but once you find your groove it’s just 2nd nature and so good for baby and momma :)
Another thought if you are looking to boost your supply is Traditional Medicinal’s Mother’s Milk Tea or Yogi’s Nursing Mother’s Tea. I had more luck with TM’s tea and liked the flavor a bit more. Oatmeal is also linked to improved milk production. Fenugreek can make you smell like maple syrup, so that might not be something you want to try unless it is clearly a milk supply issue. The best way to boost supply is to nurse, nurse, nurse :)
It took my son 6 months to fully get the hang of breastfeeding, and I pumped around the clock until then. It can feel like it you’re constantly feeding or pumping, but it’s totally worth it. Oatmeal definitely helped!
It’s a wonderfult and loving thing to do, but the first few weeks were hard. Both times. And then all of a sudden you have both adjusted and it is smooth sailing. A gut thing, instinct. And once you “give up” and just surrender your body for “a while”, then all is well. And sooner than you sometimes want it is all over and you miss it. Aaahh… sentimental, a bit.
Best wishes and HUGE congratulation to youe sweet baby!
Another commenter mentioned it, but I just want to reaffirm that the milk you get from pumping is not necessarily an accurate indicator of how much your boomba is getting. Good move on getting the lactation consultant on board, I’m sure she’ll be a great resource.
I breastfed my twins, and am still breast-feeding my 12 month old. My favorite way to boost my milk supply was by having a “bed day” with my baby. It takes time and a super-supportive partner, but I always thought it helped. Spend a day in bed with your baby, napping, snuggling and feeding. Your partner keeps the food and drinks coming and you relax. Feeding a new baby takes more from you than you think, and I always ate like crazy those first couple of months; lots of protein and dairy, and healthy fats.
Good luck!
I second Rachel’s comment to make sure the baby isn’t just using you as a pacifier. I truly believe that is the main reason people experience the “I’m breastfeeding all the time! How could the baby not get enough?!”
Breastfeeding is such a great experience but not if you’re doing it 24/7. If your baby could, she would be attached all the time. you have to “teach” her to get to work at the breast. If I noticed my boys weren’t swallowing, I’d pull them off and then put them back on and they would immediately swallow. After a while they were so efficient, I could be done feeding them in 20 minutes. Or if I wanted to, take longer with them before they went to bed. Also, continue to see your lactation consultant. She can continue to help.
I haven’t had much trouble with milk supply, which I am very thankful for. I wanted to share a pumping idea that has worked with both my girls (3 1/2 and 5 weeks). Since it can be hard to find time to pump between all the feedings, I pump on one side while I feed her on the other. I do it every morning when we wake up, it’s when I seem to have the most milk. I seem to get the most when I pump this way too because she is more efficient at getting the milk to flow than the pump is, so it comes pouring out when she gets a let down. This way, I always had a stash of milk in the fridge, so I could have some freedom and still avoid supplementing. You’re lucky that Ida took a bottle so readily, I’m still working on that with newborn. I wish you the best of luck, you are a great mom for going to all this effort! :)
There is LOADS of good information at Joyful Abode. I don’t have a baby yet, but I am already reading her info voraciously to learn about the ins and outs of breastfeeding. She recently had an issue with her little one not gaining enough weight and it turned out he was tongue-tied, so she had to get that fixed and get back to work. Read all about it – http://www.joyfulabode.com/category/family-life/breastfeeding/
This stuff really helped me increase milk supply. It has fenugreek and some other herbs:
http://www.motherlove.com/product/530-More-Milk-Plus.html
Also, if you don’t already have one something like this is crucial so you can have your hands free and do other things while pumping:
http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Wishes-Pumping-Bustier-Medela/dp/B003Y01MQY/ref=sr_1_1?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1346265006&sr=1-1&keywords=hands+free+pumping+bra
The longer the baby latches on the more milk you’ll produce. Let her supple your nipple for a little longer even after you’ve had let down and the supply seems drained. If she demands more, you’ll make it. Take special notice of when your breasts have let down, when your mammory glands kick in to create milk your baby demands. If you do not experience let down, try techniques to relax while she latches; deep breathing, quiet, low lighting, relaxing music. And really, as long as she appears to be healthy and happy over all, she’s fine. Ideal weight isn’t always the perfect indicator for the health of small babies. There are many more factors to take into consideration before concluding that shes not thriving on mammas milk. Try to latch her on only when she shows obvious signs of hunger. If she latches on for comfort and then falls asleep too quickly, that may not be enough time for your breasts to start producing milk. If you schedule a pumping session at the same time every day separate from baby’s normal feedings, you should begin producing more milk for the demand of that pumping session. I enjoyed using light blankets and nursing covers when breast feeding. Made me feel like baby and I had a secret hide out, and others weren’t made to feel uncomfortable. You may feel differently about nursing covers and such. They were something I liked, not for everyone. I nursed my three children for a year each and I liked the simplicity of it. Just whip that bra down, or up depending on the model, and there you have it. Instant bottle.
Breastfeeding, or as I like to say nursing is such an amaaazing experience. I know it sounds like a cliche but it has been the absolute truth for me. My humble advice to you is to stick with breast milk only as much as possible, unless otherwise told by your peditrician. Your baby is still learning and their tummies really are so tiny still. I know you have heard all of this before, but trust your instincts because they will not fail you. All babies are different, your little Ida reminds me of my Sophia when she was an infant. My second daughter Scarlett will nurse for 25 minutes at a time, but hey I’m not complaining ;) Congrats! ~~Monique
When I was nursing I was so “busy” taking care of our daughter that I would forget to eat and drink enough water. My doctor as well worried me with the “she lost weight and is not gaining fast enough” so I started pumping and counting every ounce that she took in. I should have been more persisent with nursing and less worried about the doctor. My child has always been in the high percentage for weight and height. So you do your thing and like everyone else before has stated you just have to get in your groove. Congrats on such a beautiful daughter and good luck on your journey of nursing!
I breastfed all of my children exclusively and I am a size A and I made TONS of milk for me little guys. They got fat quickly! However, I second the fenugreek suggestion as well as cannot emphasize enough the importants of a high fat diet while breast feeding. Add coconut oil, flax oil, and organic butter to your diet daily as well as raw nuts and seed and nut butters. And Drink lots of water. If you are worried about calories-which you shouldn’t be while breast feeding-but if you are don’t cut the fat, cut the sugar and empty carbs out to compensate for all the good fats you are adding. Hope that helps.
Oh man I love how open & comfortable you are with your body. It’s so nice to see. Congrats on your sweet Ida & those sexy boobies of yours. ;)
I’m a big boobie breast feeding lady too! Here in NZ the breast is best vs just feed your child debate is constantly raging. It seems everyone wants you to breast feed, and judges harshly if you don’t regardless of your reasons to bottle feed. So much the case that recently an add featuring a prominent NZ rugby player feeding his daughter a bottle while imploring us to quit smoking – was pulled! Never mind his baby was lactose and soy intolerant…!! However! If you whip it out in public…SHAME ON YOU! I read an write up recently that suggested we get over it as breast feeding is food not porn – and I agree! Once upon a time a woman was not seen in public with her beautiful belly, look how far we’ve come on that front! Time for everyone to ease up and let babies be fed which ever way!
Also, I am currently breast feeding and in the first 6 weeks it sure is tough going, we’re at week 14 now and it takes 10 mins for both sides and she gains 100grams a week. Some how, if you can and you persist, breast feeding figures its shit out, and is amazing :)
You might like Nikki’s breastfeeding chronicles:
http://www.clickclackgorilla.com/2012/04/30/gorilla-mama-dont-cry-over-spilled-milk/
I don’t have much experience with boobs (!) but I can say that Ida is SUCH a doll!
Justina, that’s a great choice! You mentioned that she guzzled up all the milk you had pumped in five minutes, which leads me to believe that she may be getting tired at your breast and falling asleep–we had the same problem with my son (who was also born 8 days late! and had lost weight in utero) The first couple of weeks, he was just too tired to drink his fill and pumping helped me boost the supply as well. Once the flow was good enough for him, he just took to it and started gaining weight. Hang in there, you’re gong to be alright. Just don’t get discouraged and keep pumping and feeding her till she gains enough strength to help herself.
Some of the diet suggestions up there are excellent. fenugreek (see if any indian grocery store carries fresh fenugreek leaves–use as you would spinach in soups etc–it is a tad bitter, but if you cook it with some tomatoes it tastes fantastic! (let me know if you want recipes!). Healthy oils like coconut oil and olive oil would be great supplement as well.
Scarves and shawls work beautifully in public….stock up on your pretty scarves, luckily fall is almost here!
I also have big boobs and found the football hold best, I ended up getting the My Breast Friend Breastfeeding pillow for Twins as it was wide and my son could lie on it comfortably to feed. I used Fenugreek to get more milk and also a prescription tablet which was an anti-nausea tablet but it stimulated milk production big time. I forgot the name but the name will probably be different in the US to Australia anyway.
Don’t bottle feed too much as your milk production will decrease. Ie don’t substitute feeds with it, use it for extra feeds! Good luck, hope you’re getting some rest as the first 12 weeks are soooo hard!!
Awesome – look at all these comments! We had our second son two weeks ago and after about a week of smooth sailing we’ve run up against some painful and time-consuming complications. So I totally sympathize! Luckily I just got some antibiotics and good advice, so hopefully things will be looking up from here. Hang in there!
Oatmeal. Lots and Lots of oatmeal. Umm just something to think about, if you’re breastfeeding exclusively as apposed to bottle and breast daddy might start to feel left out of part of her nurturing process. Just a thought.
I breastfed my Laelia until she was 20 months! My goal was min 2 years, but she wasn’t interested anymore, and it’s not in my parenting style to force anything so I just let it go… slightly bittersweetly. She was almost exclusively breastfed her entire first year (her teeth didn’t emerge until she was 10 months, and she projectile vomited the few times we tried solids, even though it was against my instinct to give it to her in the first place–I yielded to familial pressure… my suggestion is to trust maternal instinct over what everyone else says), and she only drank pumped milk from a bottle a handful of times.
I think the first month of new baby is constant breastfeeding! I was engorged and chaffed, but luckily no mastitis. I distinctly remember crying through the first week because of the pain, but I’m a very dedicated and determined type, so I just kept thinking about the moment when breastfeeding would simply become second nature and before I knew it, it WAS second nature!
As far as bfing in public goes, I almost always just fed her while I was wearing her in the ergo (we didn’t really use our stroller until after she was 1 year)–It was INCREDIBLY easy; I would shop, look at clothes, wait in line, check out, etc. all while bfing my daughter, and no one had a clue; it kinda made the “modesty” thing moot. Quite frankly, I think your child’s need for sustenance and nutrition trumps whatever some stranger or passerby might think… not that I never had to remind myself of that! I had to repeat that in my head sometimes! Yet, the only comments I have ever received were other mothers commending me for bfing my child when she needed it, which was so nice! (And I was def. beyond a DD and I live in LA too, so it’s a local large boobied experience). Only thing is baby isn’t really ready for ergo until 3 months, but I DO know that you can bf in a moby in cradle hold…
Was your lactation consultant named Rosa? She’s awesome, and has such a solid reputation in SFV/Glendale/Pasadena/Silver Lake.
Also, I just wanted to say I effing love you and the photo you pinned to pinterest for this post. You rock so hard. And kellymom.com is a great bfing site, if you don’t know it already, and I totally second “my brest friend” over the boppy any day.
xoxo
I feel you on the big boob thing. I grew to an H CUP (I didn’t even know that an H cup existed!) I’ve nursed two boys for a total of four years now – you can do it! My advice is to remember that doctors have to cover their butts by following statistics and trying to force you to do the same thing. So, try to relax and trust your body and your baby! Fenugreek, water & sleep, sleep and more sleep!
As far as nursing in public with ginormous boobs – location is key. Example, restaurant: look for a table in a corner or against a wall – not in the middle of the room where you’ll feel on display. Same strategy goes for any place you go. I just assume that most people won’t notice and if they do they can look away, right? I also count on the baby covering my body to a certain degree, a blanket, the table I’m sitting at. NEVER NURSE IN A PUBLIC RESTROOM! The worst by far and not worth the hassle. Loose tops help. I used the lift up strategy (lifting my top up vs. pulling it down). With big boobs it would be crazy to whip it out from the top of your shirt! Lifting up a loose top allows for some fabric to help cover you up as well.
You’ll be a pro in no time. I think the key is being comfortable with your body. All the best to you and your beautiful family!
Hi, here’s my only advice on it (I breastfed my first daughter til 8 mos and 2nd until 4 mos). It’s awesome that you want to exclusively b-feed and if you are determined to do that there are TONS of resources out there so you will find a way. Just be careful about putting too much presure on yourself or letting others put too much pressure on you. Nothing bad is going to happen if you give your little munchkin formula one time or even if you have to suppliment with it until she gains a little weight. Allow yourself that if you need it. Give yourself a break if you find it necessary. You are NOT a bad mom. Especially in this first year when you are so tired (I read the average amount of sleep new parents/mothers lose in the first year is six months!) Emotions will be high, you’ll second guess yourself often and the topic of breast feeding is definitly a “judgement zone” and it is very easy to feel like a failure as a mom/woman if you can’t produce enough milk, or baby can’t latch on, etc. You have to do what’s best for yourself, baby and your family. There is no right answer, so just allow yourself to know/beleive in that and you’ll be okay. And like I say, if breastfeeding exclusively is your goal, I’ve no doubt that you’ll find a way to accomplish it, so good luck!
In my own experience, I went from being really nervous about breastfeeding in public, to wanting to be public about it, because as you are talking about, its important as a society that we think these things out.
Around my Mexican friends I’m the only one with a baby, and when we get together I always BF comfortably. I don’t go topless, but I don’t cover up at all, and I’m quite sure this has generated some conversation among the couples. Which is GREAT I think these couples will be having babies in the next few years, and i WANT for them to have these discussions now, so that whatever they decide, they’ve had some time to think about it and to make an informed decision. And maybe when they do have questions when they get pregnant they’ll feel comfortable talking with me the same way I felt comfortable asking questions of the women who “exposed themselves” ;) to me… does that make sense?
I know we tend to hear lots of negative stories about people making comments about breastfeeding in public, but I think it’s important to tell the good stories too. When my baby was about a month old he was desperate to feed, and I was desperate to find a place to feed him. I had just come off the subway and found a café in the corner of a supermarket. Pretty darn public, and I wasn’t SO used to nursing in public yet, not yet mastered the “oh so casual “football hold”, you know. I got him latched and I remember this 80 yr old women smiled at me the whole time and I felt so encouraged. She came over and said “your baby is getting the best lunch out of all of us” and I it meant so much to me.
I know my Abuela tells me about how “taboo” even being PREGNANT was when she was younger, so I felt that for this lady seeing me breastfeeding in public, that it was empowering for her too if that makes sense.
I know being told to “cover up” happens, it hasn’t happened to me, but I know it’s important to bring attention to that kind of ignorance, but my “activism” has been strengthened way more by the encouragement of strangers than the opposite.
Like the Jamaican owner of the cafe where I go, who when again, my month old baby started fussing and I started packing up to leave, so I could rush home to nurse, he came over and said, “take your time, you don’t have to go. We’ve all had kids, do whatever you need to make baby happy”… and I felt so much better and went ahead and feed the baby and felt totally comfortable doing so.
These little experience really helped me. And I make a point of always smiling at other mamas nursing in public after that, it helped me so much. I think those early stories are important… because new moms sometimes feel like “so-and-so can just whip it out and I’m still feeling so awkward” … its important to realize we ALL had to make that transition and it was both scary and super empowering at the same time! Enjoy the experience, and share your stories!
Jacin
Nursed each of my children 15-24 months, and each lost weight the entire first month. Your lil boomba will likely go kaboomba when she is ready for her growth spurts (4-6 wks, 12 wks, etc). Plenty of time for that. So hard to chill with the first one. Pump if it’s good for daddy bonding or mommy breaks, listen to instincts and to Ida. Hard to believe, but they usually get what they need that way. xo
O man, you know every one here has posted great stuff indeed, I can add on a bit more…I had twins and boob fed them for over a year but could not of done without the help of a post-partum doula being at my house to help with each feed during the day (and my hubs at night) for the first 6 weeks. The first 8 weeks were hard graft.
The doula was really experienced in breastfeeding and has attended a heap, a ton of BFing seminars for many years and spent hundreds and hundreds of hours doing real BFing help. I found her so much more helpful than a Bfing doctor or a lactation consultant. The reason being that she stayed with people and really was immersed in all the issues we mothers have…not just having an appt time and following a routine appt. She also made sure i rested after feeds which is vital. If u r interested type in post partum doula to your area…look for one with bfding experience and passionate about it.
I got a bad infection around week 9 and nearly lost all milk but used motilium for 2 months until it was cool again. I pumped (use double pump, hospital grade and rent from pharmcys) from day one for first 4 months…i was a bit anal haha!
With hindsight i fed them – like you are doing now just constantly and i felt that the world was the size of my sofa…a little depressing and kind of hated BFing to be honest at that point! Was not the lovely experince I had heard about! milk everywhere leaky hard boobs. YUK. I wore these cool implant things in my bra on one boob while i was feeding one baby – the spurt was caught in the milk catcher and them I poured it into a bottle for another time! Awesome, no wet tops! will re post if u r interested with the brand name..
anyway, many challeneges, is not always easy at first but with help, rest and support u will get there :-) Pumping is wierd but works…u wont get out as much as your baby can, they are so effeicient.
I only ever intended to do 6 months..but it was so easy and so so fast by then..i just kept going. Saved all the doula costs by not buying formula! Was feeding them on a glacier and up a mountain at 4 months (yes that ever feeding on the sofa got better!) hang in there excuse my waffling :-)
Public breast-feeding? After 27 months lasting Medela-only experience i was comfortable enough to PUMP in public! (Trip for holiday, forgotten batteries, the only source of power at gas station toilet + my boobs going to explode.):-D
Keep calm, have a lot of pasta with cheese sauce and remember – pediatrician charts reflect average gains of formula fed babies!
Okay, I’m seeing a lot of comments about Fenugreek. I also didn’t make enough milk so I tried the Fenugreek and it was a disaster. It made me smell like pancakes with syrup. Seriously, just like an IHOP. It also made my daughter not like the taste of my milk. So, she’d be starving, try to nurse, pull away and cry, try and nurse again, pull away and cry, etc… over and over again. We finally tasted my milk and it definitely tasted funny. Then, we tried flushing it out of my system as best we could but ended up giving her formula because she was so hungry and we couldn’t get the Fenugreek out of my system fast enough. Long story short, my milk dried up at 4 weeks and she was on formula from there on. I can’t remember how much of the Fenugreek I was taking, perhaps it was too much? I know lots of people swear by it but be careful, my experience was pretty bad.
thought might you want to read this:
http://theleakyboob.com/2011/08/baby-explains-normal-newborn-behavior/
and this:
http://www.thealphaparent.com/2011/12/timeline-of-breastfed-baby.html
-m
I had a similar experience with my first son. My friend, who’s a CNM, delivered him. The cord was so tight around his neck that his first Apgar was 0, but after a few seconds and a good suction, he was great. However, the pediatrician must have been biased against midwives and, when he had lost a few ounces, decided he wasn’t getting enough milk. I saw the lactation “specialists” at the hospital. Ugh. They talked me into using a Supplemental Nutrition System. If you’re not familiar with it, you put some formula in a sort of plastic flask that you hang around your neck. Two teeny tubes come out of it and you tape them near your nipples so the baby can nurse you and the formula simultaneously. The lactation folks also had me pumping with an electric Medela (but were sure I wasn’t producing enough milk since I couldn’t get much from pumping). Everytime I turned it on the baby cried. I cried. It was hideous. After a month, I decided to trust myself because baby had been gaining weight, though slowly. I returned the pump. I got rid of the SNS and the formula. And I never looked back. I nursed both my boys for almost 3 years each. They’re both super healthy, but smaller kids–like their parents.
I say, trust yourself. The oatmeal is good. Traditional Medicinals Mother’s Milk Tea is awesome. Drink tons of water and eat well. If it hurts when Ida nurses, get some help figuring out how to get her to latch on more comfortably. Often along with big boobs (which I have) come big aureolas. It’s not always easy to get the entire thing in baby’s mouth! If she’s falling asleep while nursing, tickle her under the chin. That will keep her awake and stimulate her to keep sucking.
If there are no other health issues, you’ll work out the nursing in a bit. But as someone else pointed out, if you have to go with formula, it’s OK. You already had to let go of the “perfect L&D” so you know you can shake up the plan and still move forward.
As far as nursing in public, I did both “out there” nursing and nursing under a little blanket. Rather than feeling shunned, the blanket gave the baby and me a little hiding-in-plain-sight spot of our own. And here’s one more thought: breastfeeding can sometimes be a fabulous excuse to escape a party. You can hide out in another room for some quiet time with your little one, but still hear what’s going on. I don’t know about anyone else, but I just craved that time alone w/ my baby. ~Cathy
Congratulations on your joy!!!
My Pediatrician told me the same thing when i had my daughter, it is important to remember that breastfed babies gain weight differently than formula fed babies. As far as milk production is concerned, “Organic Mother’s Milk” from Traditional Medicinals help me produce milk. Pumping will increase your milk production as well, and it is a good idea to pump between feedings. In my experience my child had a favorite side and would take more from one than the other, after she would get her fill I would pump to “empty” the other, in the beginning you will get only a couple of ounces, but you can always freeze them and then combine them later to create a whole bottle. I wish you all the best in you breastfeeding and motherhood journey.
P.S Vitamin E oil is great to prevent cracking
I breastfed my two grown sons until they were 1 year old, and they started eating anything else until 8 months. I would say try not be the pacifier, and be the feeder instead. If you are the pacifier you don’t give time for milk to grow in your breast, and you/your body get extremely tired and non productive. (I’m new here so I don’t know if Ida has a pacifier) I was firmly against it while pregnant and decided my son would Not use one, but then I changed as you probably will, with many things on the go, be flexible :)Try to softly time the breast feeding (about 3 hours periods) allow the milk and the hunger on Ida to grow, give her a pacifier if you hadn’t yet. Insist on breast feeding, is one of the best things you are going to give to your child, don’t give up! enjoy the marvelous experience!
Speaking as a lactation educator, retired nurse and mother who breastfed my son through lots of complications- the advice you’ve received is right-on. Different babies grow differently for sure. If your little Ida is peeing 8-10x and pooping 6-8x in 24hr period she is getting plenty of milk. Then advice is to relax, hang out with baby and enjoy this time. If not, then see lactation consultant or doula (excellent suggestion!) to check suck-swallow, latch, etc for problem solving. You’ve done a fantastic job and have a beautiful daughter. This time will pass. So funny, I logged onto your sight for story about your nursery design! What a supportive following you have!
I’ve missed out on so much since my wifi broke! nice to meet Ida she’s gorgeous, and I love her name. I breast fed my two kids, Sydney for 10 months Indi for 2 weeks! pretty big difference. I kept getting cistitis and could no longer handle it anymore…it’s not pretty. Cold cabbage leaves tucked into the bra helps with painful engorged boobs…..strange I know!
Sarah x
I unfortunately couldn’t breastfeed due to my son’s prematurity (I tried for about 2 months). But while I was trying, our lactation consultant was super helpful. Also try to find a local La Leche group in your area. It’s a support group for breastfeeding mamas. I went to one before my son was born, and it was really wonderful.
Other tips that were helpful – the pumping, baby in bed day, and an herb called Golacta. If your milk production gets low again, talk to your lactation consultant about it. It did help me for awhile.
Good luck! You are doing a great job. Remember to go easy on yourself.
Wow you got a lot of responses to this one! I had similar problems and here is what nobody is telling you: there is a difference between foremilk and hind milk. The milk that comes out at first is watery and unsatisfying. Later, rich nutritious fat milk comes. I produced so much milk that my baby was getting a bellyful of foremilk and was hungry again an hour later. She also dropped some weight. Finally I figured it out (thanks internet!) and I pumped a bit and dumped the foremilk before nursing. Genius! She was satisfied, slept better, and stopped losing weight. I hope this helps!
I breastfed both of our children. I also pumped … A LOT! I produced so much milk, we actually bought a freezer to store the milk in. We called it the frozen cow. Anyway…lots and lots of water, Greek yogurt, oatmeal and a supplement called fenugreek from the health food store. Also, I was told to stay away from mint tea because it can decrease milk production.
Make sure you dont breastfed your baby after 6 months old, the inmune globulins and all the components start to be “not enough” and she can fall in the term of “malnutrition”, you can ask a PED about this, the best thing is start her with vegetables and fruits excluding those that can cause an allergic reaction, such as: banana, strawberry, also egg, chocolate, kiwi, and some sea food.
whenever you introduce your baby to the regular diet, your mammary glands will reduce its size, just because your baby is not stimulating the production as often as before. Make sure you wear some pads, the reason of this advice is that whenever the baby cries for food, your pituitary gland will translate that as ” TIME TO RELEASE MORE PROLACTINE!!” and you’ll be full of milk. it take about 2-3 weeks for this to stop.
And if your boobs are sore, or have little “cracks” in the skin, apply some of your milk directly over the areola, this will help you with that. It is said, that a quarter of a glass of wine, will help you to relax, and this will reduce the tenderness and the stiffness you may get.
hope this helps, sorry about my english.
Congratulations! best wishes.
Your Ida is so adorable! Breastfeeding is hard and you are on track on learning all the cues and inside scoop on it. From making sure you empty both your breasts in every session (sometimes it’s not possible, because they fall asleep) to pumping to help with production. But you are doing a great job and the important thing is that you are trying and that is WORKING. Congratulations!
In those early days, it was so invaluable to get lots of skin-to-skin cuddling with my baby while she nursed. Just get in bed with your shirt off and the baby in just her diaper. It helps with bonding and makes you both calmer- which helps her nurse and your milk flow.
After I went back to work and started pumping I realized how much my mood mattered. If I’m stressing, the milk is not flowing.
I always let my daughter keep suckling, even if it was ‘just’ for comfort and not milk. It soothes her and my ped encouraged it (I’m not sure if it stimulates milk production or not). That said, if you are hurting you don’t have to let her do it non-stop.