Starting daycare (and supply/bottle issues)

[curbsideprophet]

I would also feed him before you leave for work, even if it is a dream feed.

I would try to pump between now and then so you can send fresh instead of frozen. I would send 2 oz bottles since he is struggling with the bottle. I assume they have rules on how long they can keep trying the same bottle once they warm it up.

3.3 oz a feed sounds great so maybe it is a pumping problem and not a supply problem. What pump are you using?

[Poppy]

Hugs. Starting daycare is so stressful.

How did you build the freezer stash that you have? I agree that it'd be optimal to send some fresh milk in addition to a defrosted bottle if possible (because you could send again the next day if they didn't use it). It would be good to find out their policies on how long they have can go from heating to dumping. But generally, I definitely think you should start with small bottles. DS had taken occasional bottles but his first couple days of DC he was reluctant (though since he's had no problems!).

Have you tried other bottles? We love the Lansinoh mOmma ones. Before DS started DC though I panicked and ordered several kinds (Lansinoh, comotomo, Avent) since we had been using LifeFactory and then found out last minute that DC didn't accept glass. Also, DS was much more likely to take the bottle if it was thoroughly warmed.

I don't think you asked for pumping advice, but are you doing compressions? That makes such a huge difference for me.

Good luck!

[Poppy]

Jul 9, 2015 17:02:43 GMT -5 @pennypie said:

Jul 9, 2015 13:12:41 GMT -5 RexManningDay said:

This sounds stressful, I'm really sorry. I know there are people a LOT more qualified than I am to answer your feeding questions, but I figured I would chime in with this: I got some of the reusable write-on labels from NameBubbles and I love them so far. For the future. Before I had them I just used sharpie on masking tape. lol.

Good luck!

So I'm going to get the write-on ones. What do you write on them with? And it just wipes off or something?

They come with a pen and water pencil, I believe (though I didn't see that in the description so I added additional ones to my order). The pens are nice but make sure you erase the labels (with rubbing alcohol I think) before putting through the dishwasher since heat makes the ink permanent. We ended up ruining a bunch of labels that way. So now we just use the pencil.

[thebreakfastclub]

I dont know anything about pumps or breastfeeding. But when DS was super fussy, sometimes he would do better being formula fed off of a plastic spoon instead of his bottle. Just a thought!

[curbsideprophet]

Have you tried pumping in the morning before he eats?

I would try the pump at 1/4 speed and slowly increase from there. I don't think I have ever pump at half speed and certainly never all the way up. Are you sure you have the right size flanges? Have you replaced the membranes?

[jennistarr1]

I was told 6 two oz bottles for a full day.  So for that half day I would do 3 two oz bottles

So as not to waste breastmilk, I would say maybe even 1.5 oz bottles, and then formula to follow for each of those.  Doing that you have almost 3 full days in your current stash.  And 4.5 ounces I think may be about what you might be able to pump each day based in what you are saying.  Do you have a hands free bra, that helps me be able to do compressions

right now my 3 month old us doing 3 ounces bottles at 9 am 12 pm and 3 pm.  I have an extra 3 ounces just in cads she needs it.

[Poppy]

After some thought, here is what I would do:

-Defrost a 2.5oz bottle
-Send two more 2.5oz bottles of formula

Ask them to use the breast milk first. See how it goes, and see how pumping goes, then reevaluate.

This way you are not going to be dumping half your freezer stash after the first day if he doesn't want to eat at DC, which is common. You also aren't killing yourself trying to pump extra before you go back.


Hugs. It'll work itself out.

[humpforfree]

Yes yes yes @mrsbecky re: the hand pump. I would get mayyyyybe 1-2 oz with the double electric and somehow ended up with 5(!!) with a manual!

[humpforfree]

Jul 10, 2015 8:28:33 GMT -5 @pennypie said:

Jul 10, 2015 8:15:00 GMT -5 humpforfree said:

Yes yes yes @mrsbecky re: the hand pump. I would get mayyyyybe 1-2 oz with the double electric and somehow ended up with 5(!!) with a manual!

Dang! Clearly I am doing it wrong. Or have defective boobs

It was once, but I did consistently get more/enough with the hand pump. I would do 15-20 minutes?