I need help with breastfeeding -BEFORE- my LO comes!
*some background* I had a difficult time with both of my boys before. Actually strictly breastfed for about 2 months each. It seemed that they were always hungry and weren't gaining any weight! My son's pediatrician actually YELLED at me at his 2 month appointment and told me I was starving my son and I HAD to give him formula because he hadn't even gained a whole lb yet! They actually had me pump both breasts for 1 hour (with a medela double electric pump) and ended up only gettin 1.5 oz combined. They told me that I didn't have enough ducts to produce milk.
Anyway, after having the same issue with both I SWORE I wasn't even going to try this time and get my hopes up. Lately though I've been really wanting to try again.
Does anyone have any suggestions that would help me possibly make this more successful? I figured I'd ask BEFORE he came rather than ask when it was too late.
Do what you can to stay hydrated, well-fed, rested.
Go for as natural a birth as possible.
Keep baby with you at birth, no bottles or pacifiers.
Plan to have help at home so that you don't need to do anything but Babymoon.
Stay in bed for 2 weeks breastfeeding.
Let others handle life for you.
Stay committed, know that keeping with it can be tricky but worth it!
Start attending La Leche League meetings now and continue after the birth for information and support.
You can read The Womanly Art Of Breastfeeding now, too.
- Nursing your newborn — what to expect in the early weeks
- Hunger Cues - When do I feed baby?
- How does milk production work?
- Latching and Positioning Resources
- Lactation Yoga ...side-lying nursing without getting up to switch sides
- Latching: Thoughts on pushing baby's chin down when latching
- Baby's Second Night
- Frequent Nursing
- Common Questions in the Early Days
(sleepy babies, baby poop, schedules, diaper rash & more) - Dads and Breastfeeding (links)
Birth is not only about making babies. Birth is about making mothers ~ strong, competent, capable mothers who trust themselves and know their inner strength.
~Barbara Katz Rothma
When you change the way you view birth, the way you birth will change. -Mongan
Wow thank you for all the reference links! I am going to do my research as much as I can now!
One more question though... you say to keep baby with me and such... but I am on rest for preterm labor and lets say I do happen to deliver early and he ends up in the NICU... what do I do for the first couple days when I'm in the hospital recovering and I can't feed?
Quoting doulala:
Do what you can to stay hydrated, well-fed, rested.
Go for as natural a birth as possible.
Keep baby with you at birth, no bottles or pacifiers.
Plan to have help at home so that you don't need to do anything but Babymoon.
Stay in bed for 2 weeks breastfeeding.
Let others handle life for you.
Stay committed, know that keeping with it can be tricky but worth it!
Start attending La Leche League meetings now and continue after the birth for information and support.
You can read The Womanly Art Of Breastfeeding now, too.
- Nursing your newborn — what to expect in the early weeks
- Hunger Cues - When do I feed baby?
- How does milk production work?
- Latching and Positioning Resources
- Lactation Yoga ...side-lying nursing without getting up to switch sides
- Latching: Thoughts on pushing baby's chin down when latching
- Baby's Second Night
- Frequent Nursing
- Common Questions in the Early Days
(sleepy babies, baby poop, schedules, diaper rash & more)- Dads and Breastfeeding (links)
Quoting desertwannab:Wow thank you for all the reference links! I am going to do my research as much as I can now!
One more question though... you say to keep baby with me and such... but I am on rest for preterm labor and lets say I do happen to deliver early and he ends up in the NICU... what do I do for the first couple days when I'm in the hospital recovering and I can't feed?
You pump like crazy, leave strict instructions about baby getting no bottles and get him latching ASAP.
As for the original question... Do you remember what their diapers were like while you were EBFing? How many they had, specifically? (I know, probably not). Basically, this is your only TRUE indication of supply. Pumping 1.5oz is actually average pump output and depending upon your babies birth weight, how much they lost and whether or not the 1lb gain was from birth or lowest weight, it could be normal.
Have you joined the breastfeeding moms group on here? That's a good place to start. LLL is another great resource.
So, read up all you can... even reading the breastfeeding group here will give you lots of knowledge! When baby comes, watch diapers. You want to see one per day of life up to a week and at least 6 thereafter. If baby isn't making enough diapers, you will know if you have a supply problem right away. There are several options to try for fixing it, if that is the problem.
If baby is making plenty of diapers, but not gaining enough weight (you want to see between 4-7oz per week starting from lowest weight), then you know you have to look for something else... is baby getting enough hindmilk? Dairy allergy? Anyway, cross that bridge when you get there. Right now, just read as much as you can and set yourself up with a support system where you can ask questions and get informed answers.
Thanks for responding!
As far as diapers, I don't remember specifically the amount, but I don't remember it changing when I switched from bm to formula, except for the consistancy of the poop got thicker...???
With weight, my first was born at 6lbs 13oz and got to 6lbs 7oz when leaving the hospital. He was 7lbs 12oz at his 2 mo appointment... With my 2nd he was 7lbs 4.8 oz at birth 7lbs even when leaving the hospital, but he was about 8 lbs at 2 mo appointment... so based off your 4-7oz per week, that's actually about right then huh?
Quoting LeanneC:
Quoting desertwannab:
Wow thank you for all the reference links! I am going to do my research as much as I can now!
One more question though... you say to keep baby with me and such... but I am on rest for preterm labor and lets say I do happen to deliver early and he ends up in the NICU... what do I do for the first couple days when I'm in the hospital recovering and I can't feed?
You pump like crazy, leave strict instructions about baby getting no bottles and get him latching ASAP.
As for the original question... Do you remember what their diapers were like while you were EBFing? How many they had, specifically? (I know, probably not). Basically, this is your only TRUE indication of supply. Pumping 1.5oz is actually average pump output and depending upon your babies birth weight, how much they lost and whether or not the 1lb gain was from birth or lowest weight, it could be normal.
Have you joined the breastfeeding moms group on here? That's a good place to start. LLL is another great resource.
So, read up all you can... even reading the breastfeeding group here will give you lots of knowledge! When baby comes, watch diapers. You want to see one per day of life up to a week and at least 6 thereafter. If baby isn't making enough diapers, you will know if you have a supply problem right away. There are several options to try for fixing it, if that is the problem.
If baby is making plenty of diapers, but not gaining enough weight (you want to see between 4-7oz per week starting from lowest weight), then you know you have to look for something else... is baby getting enough hindmilk? Dairy allergy? Anyway, cross that bridge when you get there. Right now, just read as much as you can and set yourself up with a support system where you can ask questions and get informed answers.
all great responses you have gotten so far. I just wanted to chime in that pumping does not actually reflect how much your baby is actually getting. They usually get Much more than you could pump.
There are two ways to live your life - one is as though nothing is a miracle, the other is as though everything is a miracle. Albert Einstein 
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I just had to add that I agree with housefullofkidz!I couldn't pump anything with my daughter. I would try for about a hour and would get half an ounce. But she breastfed until a little over a year without any problems!
Quoting housefullofkidz:
all great responses you have gotten so far. I just wanted to chime in that pumping does not actually reflect how much your baby is actually getting. They usually get Much more than you could pump.
Really? Good to know. Maybe if the pediatrician knew that he wouldn't have been such an ass to me!!! He made me feel so guilty!
Quoting housefullofkidz:
all great responses you have gotten so far. I just wanted to chime in that pumping does not actually reflect how much your baby is actually getting. They usually get Much more than you could pump.
Yay, you ladies are making me feel much more comfortable with trying again! I'm starting to think that the DR had some shares of stock in formula :P
Quoting GodsAmiga:
I just had to add that I agree with housefullofkidz!I couldn't pump anything with my daughter. I would try for about a hour and would get half an ounce. But she breastfed until a little over a year without any problems!
Quoting housefullofkidz:
all great responses you have gotten so far. I just wanted to chime in that pumping does not actually reflect how much your baby is actually getting. They usually get Much more than you could pump.
I just wanted to add that it is normal for your baby to eat often. Just because they eat a lot doesn't mean they aren't getting enough milk. Both of my girls were bf and with my 2nd it would seem as though she would eat every 5 minutes. You just feed as much as they need/want in the begining and it doesn't mean there is a problem. After awhile they eat less. Just go with the flow(no pun intended). And typically bf babies don't gain weight rapidly. Every baby is different and for a dr. to yell at you and tell you you HAVE to feed your baby formula is absurd!
All you ladies have such great advice!
Yeah, I didn't really have anyone to get advice from to even know that I could question his judgement. I just asumed that he's a professional and he was right!
Quoting IloveLacey:
I just wanted to add that it is normal for your baby to eat often. Just because they eat a lot doesn't mean they aren't getting enough milk. Both of my girls were bf and with my 2nd it would seem as though she would eat every 5 minutes. You just feed as much as they need/want in the begining and it doesn't mean there is a problem. After awhile they eat less. Just go with the flow(no pun intended). And typically bf babies don't gain weight rapidly. Every baby is different and for a dr. to yell at you and tell you you HAVE to feed your baby formula is absurd!
Bumbo baby seat being branded as unsafe for children *PIOG*
- desertwannab
on Nov. 24, 2009 at 12:45 AM