Post by scribellesam on Apr 22, 2015 14:56:42 GMT -5
How long have you been breastfeeding? This time around, 6.5 months. I also nursed DS1 for 13mo. Best part of breastfeeding for you, right now? The snuggles, especially at night because I don't have to focus on the toddler at the same time. Worst part of breastfeeding for you, right now? I hate being bitten when he's teething. Do you have plans to wean? Probably at a year, I did the same for DS1 and it worked well for everyone.
Best part: snuggles, how excited he gets, don't have to worry about how much he is eating
Worst part: I would have to say that overall the worst parts are/were stressing about when he needs to eat and doing all the MOTN.
Plans to wean?: my goal was always a year and then "see what happens" with child-led weaning but I would really like to go to 18 months to 2 years. However, DS seems like he is losing interest so we will see.
Post by Ashley&Scott on Apr 22, 2015 15:21:09 GMT -5
How long have you been breastfeeding? 3 years, 3 months
Best part of breastfeeding for you, right now? We're down to just bedtime now - the snuggles & how peaceful he is as we snuggle before he falls asleep just melt my heart.
Worst part of breastfeeding for you, right now? That it's not burning the calories like it used to. I miss being able to eat whatever I wanted.
Do you have plans to wean? We're slowly working on it. Some days I'm ready to be done, but I can't bring myself to do it. There was one time a few weeks ago that I was going to start talking to him about weaning. But I got choked up just thinking about it & could not bring myself to say the words. ETA - it's going to break his heart so I need to be completely ready if I'm going to initiate it. The child led weaning that I envisioned is not happening.
How long have you been breastfeeding? DS3 is almost 6 weeks. DS1 never latched, DS2 was BF for 3 months
Best part of breastfeeding for you, right now? Extra food. And DS is thriving.
Worst part of breastfeeding for you, right now? Everything else. I don't really enjoy BF that much. It actually kind of makes me sad (and jealous) to hear some of these other stories
Do you have plans to wean? Not right now. My next goal is 2 months. I keep moving it every time I reach one.
Questions for the rest of us? Up until the last couple of days, he was consistently eating off both sides each feeding. Sometimes now he's only wanting one breast per feeding. Will my body adjust to him eating off each side every other time, or should I be pumping the opposite side? If I don't, that means sometimes each breast would go 5-6 hours without being eaten off of, since he tends to go 2.5-3hrs between feedings besides during the evening time.
How long have you been breastfeeding? DS3 is almost 6 weeks. DS1 never latched, DS2 was BF for 3 months
Best part of breastfeeding for you, right now? Extra food. And DS is thriving.
Worst part of breastfeeding for you, right now? Everything else. I don't really enjoy BF that much. It actually kind of makes me sad (and jealous) to hear some of these other stories
Do you have plans to wean? Not right now. My next goal is 2 months. I keep moving it every time I reach one.
Questions for the rest of us? Up until the last couple of days, he was consistently eating off both sides each feeding. Sometimes now he's only wanting one breast per feeding. Will my body adjust to him eating off each side every other time, or should I be pumping the opposite side? If I don't, that means sometimes each breast would go 5-6 hours without being eaten off of, since he tends to go 2.5-3hrs between feedings besides during the evening time.
Just feed the baby, and it works out. No need to pump the other side.
Sorry to hear you're not enjoying it! You're still doing an amazing job. Sticking with it if you don't like it is a big sacrifice for your baby.
Post by andthentherewere10 on Apr 22, 2015 15:51:26 GMT -5
How long have you been breastfeeding? 12mo Best part of breastfeeding for you, right now? All of it Worst part of breastfeeding for you, right now? I thin it is contributing to every 3 hour wakeups Do you have plans to wean?not imminently
Questions for the rest of us? Anyone supplement with formula at night only? I was thinking of doing it at his 7pm-ish feeding. Like 2oz and then feeding him at 8:30 as bedtime feeding. Last night he wanted to feed at 5:30, 7:30, 8:30 and there was like zero left by 8:30. Or will supplementing screw my supply?
Yes, supplementing will affect your supply. BFing is a demand-supply system, not the other way around. Baby is growing, and demands to nurse. Your body responds by upping your supply. If you interfere with that process by supplementing (especially in the evenings), your body doesn't get the signal to up your supply, and your supply will be ever lower in the evenings. The upping of supply lags behind the demand by a few days. You're probably almost through the hard part by now.
Cluster feeding (like your described) is so, so normal in the newborn weeks. The 6-week growth spurt was the biggest one for me. Your breasts are never really empty, baby is always getting something. The solution to feeling empty in the evenings is to just keep nursing! It sounds like you're doing great, KOKO!
How long breastfeeding? DS3 has been nursing for 24 months now. DS2 nursed for 28 months before that, and DS1 for 24 months before that. So almost 6.5 of the last 7.5 years.
Best and worst parts right now? I am at the tail end of nursing my last baby, so I am really just trying to enjoy it right now. Especially nursing and rocking him to sleep at night. But DS3 is at a grabby and demanding stage, which is sometimes not so pleasant.
Plans to wean? I think we will try to wean in the next couple months. Part of me gets teary at the very thought, but I think it is time. I have been nursing, pregnant, or both for over 8 years straight, and the thought of not using my body to sustain another person in any manner sounds kind of nice.
A question: how bad are underwire bras, really? I'm tired of having a giant floppy uniboob. I'm going to a fancy bra store on Saturday and some of their nursing options are underwire. FWIW, in 21 combined months of nursing I've never had a single clog.
A question: how bad are underwire bras, really? I'm tired of having a giant floppy uniboob. I'm going to a fancy bra store on Saturday and some of their nursing options are underwire. FWIW, in 21 combined months of nursing I've never had a single clog.
I want to know as well. I wore an underwire last week during the whole day and at the end of the day my boobs were sore. I have been BF 2.5 years so I thought it wouldn't be an issue.
A question: how bad are underwire bras, really? I'm tired of having a giant floppy uniboob. I'm going to a fancy bra store on Saturday and some of their nursing options are underwire. FWIW, in 21 combined months of nursing I've never had a single clog.
I have worn them nearly every day for most of the 6+ years I have nursed, and I have never had an issue.
Best part of breastfeeding for you, right now? I truly hate breastfeeding. Hate. Everything about it. I'm really struggling =( I hate that I spend hours every day doing it, that its uncomfortable, that it really restricts where and when I can go places, that sometimes she keeps popping off and crying and that makes me feel awful, that my nipples are torn up and my boobs hurt. I hate that I need both hands when breastfeeding so I can't scratch my face if its itchy, or fast forward through a commercial, or be on here. I hate that all the breastfeeding literature out there is so crazy that I feel guilty for not considering breastfeeding a "conversation" with my baby, that I'm not breastfeeding her on demand, etc. I hate that figuring out why it hurts is so confusing and how to fix it even more confusing (seriously, one website says do X, the other says don't do X at all). I hate that all these "fixes" are so time consuming, i.e. soak your boob in epsom salt, then a super hot compress, then nurse for every feeding. I hate that I can almost never pump because she eats all the time, from both sides. Today she only ate from one side so I was trying to pump and soothe her as she started crying at the same time. I hate when I am finished feeding her and she sticks her tongue out (the cue sign for hunger) and I can't believe it because we just spent 45 minutes nursing. I hate watching what I eat and wondering if this or that is what is causing her to be gassy. I hate the psychological stress of being the only one who can feed her, and having to do all MOTN wake ups.
Worst part of breastfeeding for you, right now? See above
Do you have plans to wean? My original plan was 1 year, but now I'm hoping for 6 months. Not sure if I'll make it. I feel like I'm just powering through right now through sheer force of will.
How long have you been breastfeeding? Baby A is one week old today, so one week! Best part of breastfeeding for you, right now? Loving doing this with her, it's not hurting now so that is great. I love when she falls asleep on my chest afterward. Worst part of breastfeeding for you, right now? Still just trying to figure it all out - how to hold, what works for us. My boobs are massive now that my milk is in (had a big chest before) and I feel like that is complicating things more than I expected when I practiced with the little stuffed animal at the breastfeeding class I took. Do you have plans to wean? nope Questions for the rest of us? Ok, I have a gazillion questions: How do I keep her awake to feed at night? She'll wake up hungry, but then she eats for 2-3 minutes and konks back out. I try flicking her feet, rubbing her cheeks, using a cold wet washcloth (what the doctor recommended) but nothing works - she is just determined to go back to sleep. I'm assuming she's getting enough to eat because at her doctor's appointment on Monday she was already up past her birth weight, but when last night she ate well around 11 and then only had two short 2 and 4 minutes feedings throughout the rest of the night I get nervous that the poor little thing is starving.
Also - I can only seem to get her to eat at one breast at a time, even during the day. She can handle about 10-12 minutes at one, but then falls asleep and is done. I'm assuming this is okay, and I just switch breasts at each feeding, but is this going to affect my milk production? Should I be trying to split it 5 and 5 on each boob? How long until she builds up enough stamina to eat at both?
Also - when should I think about starting to pump? The lactation consultant at the hospital told me she thinks I'm going to have a great supply and suggested I not pump the first few weeks so I didn't start producing enough for twins or triplets, but I've no idea when to know that I should be breaking the pump out.
How long have you been breastfeeding? I breastfed (so, so miserably) for the first week, EPed for 3 months, and have been nursing again for the past 4 months
Best part of breastfeeding for you, right now? Most of all, I love that we were able to get back to breast feeding after EPing for so long. Specifically, I like how convenient it is. We can just leave the house together, without bottles or worrying about getting home to pump/feed. I also think about the details of feeding him much less often. I don't remember what times or how often he eats. I feed him when he seems hungry, or when I feel like it's been awhile.
Worst part of breastfeeding for you, right now? Not much. Pumping, when I was working, was a pain. Now, I think the only thing that could be better is having to think about my wardrobe, and how easy it is to nurse in any given shirt.
Do you have plans to wean? Not specifically. I'd like to get to a year, at least, but then that puts us at the beginning of cold/flu season. Ideally, he'd continue to breastfeed until at least 16 months or so. For now, I'll follow his lead.
Best part of breastfeeding for you, right now? The snuggles! She's very go go go otherwise. Also, I LOVE when she smiles/laughs when she's latched. It is the cutest.
Worst part of breastfeeding for you, right now? There really isn't anything. I'm done pumping and this week have been semi successful with CIO to cut MOTN feedings which were my two big complaints.
Do you have plans to wean? No. I'll keep going until one of us is ready to stop!
How long have you been breastfeeding? Baby A is one week old today, so one week! Best part of breastfeeding for you, right now? Loving doing this with her, it's not hurting now so that is great. I love when she falls asleep on my chest afterward. Worst part of breastfeeding for you, right now? Still just trying to figure it all out - how to hold, what works for us. My boobs are massive now that my milk is in (had a big chest before) and I feel like that is complicating things more than I expected when I practiced with the little stuffed animal at the breastfeeding class I took. Do you have plans to wean? nope Questions for the rest of us? Ok, I have a gazillion questions: How do I keep her awake to feed at night? She'll wake up hungry, but then she eats for 2-3 minutes and konks back out. I try flicking her feet, rubbing her cheeks, using a cold wet washcloth (what the doctor recommended) but nothing works - she is just determined to go back to sleep. I'm assuming she's getting enough to eat because at her doctor's appointment on Monday she was already up past her birth weight, but when last night she ate well around 11 and then only had two short 2 and 4 minutes feedings throughout the rest of the night I get nervous that the poor little thing is starving.Â
Also - I can only seem to get her to eat at one breast at a time, even during the day. She can handle about 10-12 minutes at one, but then falls asleep and is done. I'm assuming this is okay, and I just switch breasts at each feeding, but is this going to affect my milk production? Should I be trying to split it 5 and 5 on each boob? How long until she builds up enough stamina to eat at both?
Also - when should I think about starting to pump? The lactation consultant at the hospital told me she thinks I'm going to have a great supply and suggested I not pump the first few weeks so I didn't start producing enough for twins or triplets, but I've no idea when to know that I should be breaking the pump out.
If she is gaining weight and having enough wet/dirty diapers and not acting miserable then she is fine! My DS has only ever nursed on one side at a time and he is 11 months old and 94% for weight . It does not appear to have affected my supply at all. You should absolutely let her nurse on one side until she is done/it's empty or she falls asleep. You can offer the other side but if she doesn't take it that fine. It's more important for her to drain the breast so she can get the fattier hind milk. Personally, I wouldn't bring out the pump until you absolutely had to but I think most people say between 4-6 weeks if there are no pressing reasons to pump before then. Good job and good luck!!
I enjoy the cuddles and one-on-one time with my beautiful girl. I love how I can be silly and make her laugh while she's nursing and she'll smile but keep hold of my nipple and just make the cutest face. I love that she falls asleep on me. Selfishly, I love the no-guilt sitting down for a spell on weekends, and I'm sure I eat more right now than I'll be able to without weight gain once she weans.
The worst part isn't even pumping at this point, because I've dropped down to once/day. In fact, I'm struggling with giving it up. It's become such a part of my routine (identity?), I can't imagine not doing it. I guess because that means committing to not nursing all day on weekends. So maybe the worst part is the general screwing with me it's done over the past year? I've been really bad about leaving the house without the baby on weekends, because I time everything around her eating and don't want to drag my pump with me or risk missing a nursing/pumping session. And I have lots of guilt for how much I've pumped at work (originally, 3x/day, then 2x for a couple months, and only 1x more recently) because so many other women at my office have only done 1x day since the beginning because they have no time. Oh, and I guess I'd like to sleep in sometimes; I think it would be cool to trade off weekend morning early hours with my husband, but while I'm nursing her at wake-up, that's not happening. Bless his soul, though, he's always up with us; he never sleeps in, either.
My plan has been to give up pumping after this week. She'll be one on Saturday, and I'd like to keep nursing her early in the morning and at bedtime until she decides she's had enough of that. Feeling uneasy about it now that the end of pumping is so near, though. I think I'm afraid she'll give up our morning and bedtime nursing sessions once she realizes I'm not nursing her all day on weekends. And I would keep up with that, but I think my daytime supply will stink if I'm not pumping throughout the day all week. Ugh. Decisions!
How long have you been breastfeeding? Baby A is one week old today, so one week! Best part of breastfeeding for you, right now? Loving doing this with her, it's not hurting now so that is great. I love when she falls asleep on my chest afterward. Worst part of breastfeeding for you, right now? Still just trying to figure it all out - how to hold, what works for us. My boobs are massive now that my milk is in (had a big chest before) and I feel like that is complicating things more than I expected when I practiced with the little stuffed animal at the breastfeeding class I took. Do you have plans to wean? nope Questions for the rest of us? Ok, I have a gazillion questions: How do I keep her awake to feed at night? She'll wake up hungry, but then she eats for 2-3 minutes and konks back out. I try flicking her feet, rubbing her cheeks, using a cold wet washcloth (what the doctor recommended) but nothing works - she is just determined to go back to sleep. I'm assuming she's getting enough to eat because at her doctor's appointment on Monday she was already up past her birth weight, but when last night she ate well around 11 and then only had two short 2 and 4 minutes feedings throughout the rest of the night I get nervous that the poor little thing is starving.
Also - I can only seem to get her to eat at one breast at a time, even during the day. She can handle about 10-12 minutes at one, but then falls asleep and is done. I'm assuming this is okay, and I just switch breasts at each feeding, but is this going to affect my milk production? Should I be trying to split it 5 and 5 on each boob? How long until she builds up enough stamina to eat at both?
Also - when should I think about starting to pump? The lactation consultant at the hospital told me she thinks I'm going to have a great supply and suggested I not pump the first few weeks so I didn't start producing enough for twins or triplets, but I've no idea when to know that I should be breaking the pump out.
If she is gaining weight and having enough wet/dirty diapers and not acting miserable then she is fine! My DS has only ever nursed on one side at a time and he is 11 months old and 94% for weight . It does not appear to have affected my supply at all. You should absolutely let her nurse on one side until she is done/it's empty or she falls asleep. You can offer the other side but if she doesn't take it that fine. It's more important for her to drain the breast so she can get the fattier hind milk. Personally, I wouldn't bring out the pump until you absolutely had to but I think most people say between 4-6 weeks if there are no pressing reasons to pump before then. Good job and good luck!!
Post by undecidedowl on Apr 22, 2015 18:49:42 GMT -5
How long have you been breastfeeding? DS1 for 2.5 years then a 3 month break and now 6 months with DS2.
Best part of breastfeeding for you, right now? Snuggling and knowing that right now I can be everything he needs.
Worst part of breastfeeding for you, right now? Pumping. Also, DS2 has a very weak latch so he isn't able to nurse in bed well which makes night feeds a PITA.
Do you have plans to wean? Nope. I think the pregnancy was a big part of why DS1 weaned so I'm curious to see how things will go this time. I'm hoping it's a long way off.
Post by sillygoosegirl on Apr 22, 2015 18:54:24 GMT -5
How long have you been breastfeeding? 5 months and change.
Best part of breastfeeding for you, right now? Convenience.
Worst part of breastfeeding for you, right now? Not being able to eat dairy, especially worrying about avoiding hidden dairy and being afraid to eat food prepared by anyone but myself.
Do you have plans to wean? Not yet. For the first time basically since she was born, I'm starting to be able to consider nursing beyond next week.
Questions for the rest of us? How long after we start solids can I avoid carrying around snacks? I'm really going to miss not needing to worry about making/packing food for her when we are together.
Best part of breastfeeding for you, right now? I truly hate breastfeeding. Hate. Everything about it. I'm really struggling =( I hate that I spend hours every day doing it, that its uncomfortable, that it really restricts where and when I can go places, that sometimes she keeps popping off and crying and that makes me feel awful, that my nipples are torn up and my boobs hurt. I hate that I need both hands when breastfeeding so I can't scratch my face if its itchy, or fast forward through a commercial, or be on here. I hate that all the breastfeeding literature out there is so crazy that I feel guilty for not considering breastfeeding a "conversation" with my baby, that I'm not breastfeeding her on demand, etc. I hate that figuring out why it hurts is so confusing and how to fix it even more confusing (seriously, one website says do X, the other says don't do X at all). I hate that all these "fixes" are so time consuming, i.e. soak your boob in epsom salt, then a super hot compress, then nurse for every feeding. I hate that I can almost never pump because she eats all the time, from both sides. Today she only ate from one side so I was trying to pump and soothe her as she started crying at the same time. I hate when I am finished feeding her and she sticks her tongue out (the cue sign for hunger) and I can't believe it because we just spent 45 minutes nursing. I hate watching what I eat and wondering if this or that is what is causing her to be gassy. I hate the psychological stress of being the only one who can feed her, and having to do all MOTN wake ups.
Worst part of breastfeeding for you, right now? See above
Do you have plans to wean? My original plan was 1 year, but now I'm hoping for 6 months. Not sure if I'll make it. I feel like I'm just powering through right now through sheer force of will.
Questions for the rest of us?
So many hugs. You are in the thick of it right now, but it will get better. I remember feeling the same way and reading everyone say that things would get better around 6 weeks. I felt so discouraged that we were still struggling. It took a little longer for us, but once we hit our groove, breastfeeding became so much easier (no pain, hands free, faster, etc.) What helped me the most was visiting a LC in person and then follow up phone calls for questions. Good luck, we will support you in whatever way you need.
Post by patbutcher on Apr 22, 2015 19:03:01 GMT -5
I've been breastfeeding for almost 14 months
Best part is that she seems to love it. It's an easy way to comfort her if she is hurt, it helps her go to sleep and she seems to love it still
Worst part- I just got home from a 2 day business trip. I hate pumping. I was sore the whole time I was away with lumpy boobs that I just can't seem to empty with the pump. Sweet relief once she fed tonight.
I'm not sure when to wean. Ideally I would keep feeding her but I have a four day trip in May and the thought of pumping depresses me.
Hugs lynn07 and leeluu. I dreaded BFing for 4 weeks, didn't stop wondering if it was worth it until 6, and had my first "I think I might actually enjoy this" moment at ~2 months. It's so all-consuming and overwhelming at the beginning, but it really does get easier. I know everyone's experience is different, but there's still hope!
My answers: How long: 5 mo Best part: Convenience and bond Worst part: Being default caregiver, esp MOTN. I also dislike pumping Questions: DS has been really weird/fussy in the mornings and especially evenings lately. Quite often, he will start arching his back and getting really worked up when I try to feed him. Sometimes if I can get him going, he calms down and eats, otherwise we have to take a break. I hate feeling rejected. Side note, he also has been grabbing his left ear occasionally, for several weeks. DH thinks he's just doing it because "it's a handle on the side of his head," but should I be taking him to the Dr to check for EI?
Thought of another question: I used to not be able to feel letdown. But now I can if I focus. The weird thing is, it seems to be taking "too long" compared to what I expect. Like one session last night it didn't happen until 3 min in. Is that a problem? DS doesn't seem to mind... Also, things seem to get moving faster when I pump, but I am doing compressions so not sure it counts.
Your story gives me hope! How did you get back to nursing after 3mos of EPing? I really hope I can do the same.
I could go on and on about all of the details, the lack of professional help, my personal theories on what was wrong with our initial attempts to BF, etc. Let me know if you want the super long version. LOL. What we did is just my own made-up solution. By the time I was pumping, I couldn't get any professional advice that seemed reasonable.
I continued to offer the breast regularly. I tried for once per day, but sometimes forgot. I wanted him to remember what the breast was for, and in a non-stressful situation (not starving, super tired, etc.). He would usually latch, but pop off within a few seconds. One day, I offered the breast when he was ridiculously hungry and tired, and he latched and nursed a full session. Then passed out. It was the first time, in his life, that he nursed an entire feeding and was satiated for several hours. I don't know if it was successful because he was motivated by hunger, or if it was just the right timing of his age/size/strength. After that one successful session, I never offered him a bottle again. He has since had bottles, as I returned to work about a month after that, but never from me, personally, again.
My theory was that he was just a very inefficient nurser (who knows why) in the beginning. I was hoping that someday, with a bigger mouth, and more strength, he could become efficient enough to nurse well. I wish I could give specific good advice, but my approach was just to keep trying, casually, in an attempt to wait out whatever nursing issues he had.
FWIW - a midwife who did my postpartum check-up, wanted me to make an attempt similar to sleep training. She said I should just stop pumping, cold-turkey, and basically give him no other choice but to figure out breastfeeding. The thought of going through that stress, like the first week, was way more than I could handle.
My plan has been to give up pumping after this week. She'll be one on Saturday, and I'd like to keep nursing her early in the morning and at bedtime until she decides she's had enough of that. Feeling uneasy about it now that the end of pumping is so near, though. I think I'm afraid she'll give up our morning and bedtime nursing sessions once she realizes I'm not nursing her all day on weekends. And I would keep up with that, but I think my daytime supply will stink if I'm not pumping throughout the day all week. Ugh. Decisions!
I gave up pumping at a year and continue to nurse morning, night, and usually twice per weekend day (before naps) with no problems. Obviously there is no guarantee how it will work out, but it's very possible your worry will be for nothing
Post by redpenmama on Apr 22, 2015 22:29:40 GMT -5
How long have you been breastfeeding? 16 months and counting with DS. I nursed DD for 18 months. (so almost 3 years total!)
Best part of breastfeeding for you, right now? It still is the quick fix -- it calms him and relaxes him.
Worst part of breastfeeding for you, right now? Nursing gymnastics as I call them -- if it's a middle-of-the-day nursing not associated with sleep (going down or waking up), he's climbing all over me, upside down, etc. Not my favorite.
Do you have plans to wean? No specific plans -- I assume we will do it sometime between 18m and 24m but I'm just taking it one day at a time.
I weaned DS last month when H and I went away for five nights. He was 19 months. I had weaned my older two girls around 18 months and thought I'd go closer to 2 with DS since he's MY BABY! but then I decided the trip might be a good excuse to make a clean break. I was sad leading up to it, but now that it's done, naptime and bedtime are so quick and easy. He does still like to reach down my shirt and squeeze my nipples though. lol.
Pilsy, I stopped pumping with all of mine at one year but continued to nurse 3-4 times a day until around 14 months and then morning and night until 18-19 months (though DS stuck with three times until the end). I don't think I had much left at the end, but my kids were all still happy to keep going as long as I let them.