Post by hilwithonelary on Nov 19, 2012 23:51:51 GMT -5
I just read your update. Correct me if I'm wrong, but are you BFAR? I thought I remember you saying that at one time. If you work with an LC and determine that there is a supply issue, I want to give you hope that you can BF and supplement long term. I haven't had a reduction, but after exhaustive efforts, I still don't produce enough to EBF. DD gets about 12 oz of formula a day, but we're still BFing at 7.5 months. I intend to continue to a year, or longer if DD wants (she may not want to very long because I intend to stop all my supplements/meds at one year). Good luck!
ETA: I'm sure your goal is to fix whatever issue there is and get to EBF, but I wanted to let you know that isn't the only solution.
Post by dumbledore826 on Nov 20, 2012 0:12:58 GMT -5
I sent you a PM as well. I 'successfully' BFAR for over 10 months (LO weaned, I was not ready to be done). I say successful, bc LO got some BM for over 10 months. At some points he was getting 95-100% formula, and I was working on building my supply. At my peak production, he was getting about 50% BM. I attribute some of this to getting a lot of bad advice from people who did not really know about BFAR.
If you are really REALLY sure that you want to BF, I would invest in a at-breast supplementor so that you continue to stimulate your breast tissue as you provide formula. If you are perfectly happy to split formula/BM, your production will be at its highest overnight, and LOs tend to latch better/allow you to guide more overnight as well (at least in my experience). I would also start with galactogogue immediately. Goat's Rue actually increases the amount of milk producing tissue, while fenugreek increases production within the tissue. I was also on a max daily dose of domperidone from about 6 wks on.
I am happy to answer any and all questions you might have. Just remember, any time she gets formula, you need to express/stimulate your breast tissue. Do you own a pump?
Post by beachdweller on Nov 20, 2012 14:59:10 GMT -5
As for the nipple confusion questions, my pedi (mom of 4) indicated that new research actually shows newborns that use pacis have a lower SIDs risk and she did not think nipple confusion was a problem for the vast majority of babies. Just wanted to offer some support on the EBF issue. My kiddo was a big at birth and had to have several formula bottles early on due to lower blood sugar (I know the issue of whether that is necessary can be debatable, but we went with the pedi recommendation). She was fine and switched from paci, to bottle, to boob no problem. Also, after 7 days of some formula supplemenation, we were able to EBF until 6 months, so don't stress about that.
As for pumping, I pumped early and it worked great for me. I had a bit of an oversupply, but I actually liked that because I had a huge stash by the time I went back to work. I didn't go crazy, but pumped 1x a day or so after the first week.
Late here but DS had nipple confusion in the beginning. He came back from the nursery after my c/s with a pacifier and we didn't have too many problems breastfeeding. I had to go back in the hospital a day after being home and DS had to be on formula for 2.5-3 weeks. I pumped both sides every 2 hours that whole time and ended up with a horrible oversupply that took months to correct. I didn't know any better and I just wanted to make sure I'd be able to breastfeed later.
When I was off the meds and able to start breastfeeding DS it took 3-4 days before he could figure out how to eat from the breast and not the bottle. He then refused a bottle until well past 5 months.
Post by shouldbworkin on Nov 20, 2012 15:58:36 GMT -5
My DD had it from the cheapy disposable bottles/nipples of formula you get (got) at the hospital. They effed up her latch all sorts of bad and made me hurt. So, I just stopped using them. DS2 liked pacis, none of the others really cared for them and they didn't mess up their latches or make them not want to nurse. They all did well with playtex nurser comfort latch nipples and had no confusion with those when used. I supplemented all of them until my milk came in really good - only after I nursed for 20 mins on each side (every 2 hours) and only an ounce or two. I BF DD for 13 mos and still going strong with DS2 for 7+ mos (only BF DS1 for 6 weeks but it had nothing to do with any of that stuff). Do whatever works for you.
You guys thank you so much for chiming in on my late night panic. Nothing makes you sweat like a screaming baby that you just can't quiet.
I am trying to breast feed after a reduction. H is picking up a Medela Symphony pump this afternoon that we're renting. The plan is to start with the boob, then supplement with formula while simultaneously pumping. I'm taking it one day at a time!
Post by moonstone523 on Nov 20, 2012 20:44:29 GMT -5
We introduced a bottle at a week. She will take it from everyone, even me, though we only give her one, once a week or so. I didn't introduce a paci soon enough and she won't take one.
We introduced a bottle at a week. She will take it from everyone, even me, though we only give her one, once a week or so. I didn't introduce a paci soon enough and she won't take one.
Eh, don't beat yourself up over that--it might just not be her thing. C had a paci right away in the hospital and he is still pretty uninterested in them most of the time. He only takes one if he's really, really tired.
Owen happily took a paci and a bottle until he was about 4.5 months old.
And then he quit.
Babies are people. They have preferences. He never had a bit of interest in his thumb, either. Kid likes boob, what can I say? Mostly, that's been just fine. My supply has always been fantastic!
No new mom can be a human pacifier all the time. You need a break. If you refuse to give a pacifier, you are more likely to break down and shove a bottle in the kid's mouth when you can't take it anymore.
Wording it like that could scare people into using them. Lots of new moms are "human pacifiers." I was to two babies at once. No bottles here, no formula, and aside from the hospital and two week shots, no pacifiers for the first six weeks. I don't know if that all helped me build a strong supply to EBF my twins, but I know it didn't hurt any of us.
I am just going to ditto Ojo.
Also, can we please stop using the term human pacifiers. Pacifiers were invited to mimic the boob not the other way around...sorry this is just a pet peeve of mine. it makes it sound like comforting your kid via boob is wrong or demeaning..I don't know I just don't like it.
ETA: I know that people will probably roll their eyes that I just said that, but that term really does annoy me for some reason!