Breastfeeding Chatter #16

[Mum2twoBoys]

Hey kaytee, welcome.

Sent from HTC wildfire using TAPATALK, so forgive any spelling errors its a small keyboard.

[Jennifer13]

Quick congrats to MNB. I'm truly inspired that you tried each time and look at you now - you're an old hand!

Kaytee, welcome and well done on 12 mths. I never had a negative comment in four years of bfing DD1, so I hope your good run continues. Mind you, we didn't bf in public much after 18 mths, because mostly she was a sleepy time feeder.

Netix, can you try cold compresses or a cold cabbage leaf for the engorgement? It will settle down, but not fun in the meantime.

[Teeki]

Thanks for the welcome

Jen, DD mostly feeds to sleep now too. Which was a godsend last week! Had been waiting at the Dr's an hour when she decided she'd had enough, and bang! In an instant she went from the gorgeous, sweet, quiet bub playing in the corner and smiling at everyone, to the terror no one wants to be near lol. Up on the lap, boob out, she was asleep in a minute Crisis averted!

[Ladylove]

Welcome Kaytee

[Jennifer13]

Kaytee I wish DD2 fed to sleep! DD1 did for three years. That was so easy. DD2 on the other hand believes bfing is for nutrition only and prefers to fall asleep on her tummy and at night time with a cuddle. Lucky she seems to be happy to self settle now, so it's not too difficult. She's generally a 40 min napper during the day, which is not long enough to get much done!

[Netix]

WM; I am in Swan Hill.

I went looking for a breast pump yesterday at the hospital, but doesn't look like they had one. Very surprised. I didn't really feel like having a second shower, due to a severe lack of progress the first time round. I ended up going home last night, about 8.30, because I think I had just had enough of being in hospital, missed my family, felt awful, etc, etc, etc. I was in terrible tears.

I have a manual breast pump, but no bottles for it. The Man will be going out soon to see if he can get a bottle to fit. God I hope so. This is utter agony. I had a hot shower before, and tried to express, even just a little. But I could not get a drop. Not one . Usually in the hot shower, let down happens, and they practically run on their own. But nothing! So unhappy and sore!

[Ladylove]

Oh Netix you poor thing. Can you buy an electric pump? Once your milk has settled you don't need to pump usually, unless you are working etc. I don't use mine super regularly but i find it's really handy to have an electric one, for daddy to feed her if I'm out on the weekend getting my hair done or something, or for relieving engorged breasts if she refuses her first feed of the morning, which is common at the moment.

[onthefly]

Are you a member of the ABA Netix? Your local group will have pumps for hire (it's cheaper if you're a member). Chemists sometimes have them too

[Teeki]

Kaytee I wish DD2 fed to sleep! DD1 did for three years. That was so easy. DD2 on the other hand believes bfing is for nutrition only and prefers to fall asleep on her tummy and at night time with a cuddle. Lucky she seems to be happy to self settle now, so it's not too difficult. She's generally a 40 min napper during the day, which is not long enough to get much done!

Oh the number of times I've wished she would *not* feed to sleep! At night it's all me, DH can't put her to bed, and it's only on the really horrible nights when she's sick that after a few hours of me she let's him rock her to sleep. Naps are either on me or in the pram. So I'm just waiting for the day she decides she's tired, lays down and puts herself to sleep lol.

Netix, I really hope being home can help you relax and maybe express a bit. I agree with hiring a pump, but hopefully your DH can get some bottles for yours quickly. I'm useless at hand expressing but my simple manual pump works great.

[Netix]

The Man went to both chemists in town, but not any luck in finding even a similar bottle, so he bought another manual pump (avent), WITH a bottle. :yay: i expressed a little then fed mack. He keeps going to sleep before finishing, so i dont think he is getting whqt he needs

[HotI]

Kaytee - even if they stop feeding to sleep (my DD did when i was prgnant), it still doesn't mean they will decise they are tired, lay down and go to sleep easily. Can you feed her lying down and then sneak out again?

Netix, hope you feel better soon.

[Teeki]

Yeah, I'm thinking she may start doing that when she's around 13 If I'm tired I feed her lying down, but I prefer her to at least start in her cot. She's the very definition of a starfish baby, she's so uncomfortable to sleep with!

Netix, hooray for the pump! Were you seeing an LC or anyone in hospital? Maybe he's not latching on properly if he can't get enough and it's tiring him out?

[Netix]

Thanks guys.

Kaytee; Didn't see a SOUL about bf in hospital! I doubt there would be a LC in town, and I *don't* think there is an ABA group anywhere near here if I needed them. Luckily with my first two I learnt so much about bf and attachment (lol, I could be the most qualified person in town! Hahahaha), so I know he's attaching properly (though I also know I am a little lazy sometimes and know he doesn't ), especially since my milk started to come in. It's hard for him to have much to latch onto when my bb's are the size of melons.

Even though I did some expressing before, my bb's are still super hard, but at least not *quite* so sore. They are bearable now, and I can feel that my mood has definitely improved. Now I just realise I need to sleep!

Perhaps I should study and be an LC......

[HotI]

Netix - i don't know how active they are, but there is a contact no. for your local group

https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/gro...ll&=Find+group

Kaytee- I'm still waiting with DD too. I was thinking more of the day nap when i suggested feeding her on a bed and then sneaking out. Having half an hour to yourself can make a big difference if it works.

[Teeki]

Netix, that's pretty poor form from the hospital. I bet if you trained as an LC you'd be in high demand! I get what you mean about being too big for him to get on - I remember the first time DD slept through, I'd never seen such big boobs in real life! Poor DD couldn't do a thing with them. Luckily as soon as she tried I started squirting about three feet so DH got bowls to catch the milk and I sat there waiting to deflate so the poor bugger could actually get something in her mouth Hopefully having the pump makes it easier, and the rest too, sweet dreams!

HotI, I didn't even think about feeding in bed for day naps! Feeling a bit silly now lol. Usually the morning nap is shorter so I just get comfy on the couch, then in the afternoon we go for a walk and I get all my stuff done while she sleeps when we get back. At daycare though, it's crazy, she goes to a little toddler bed on the floor, and just puts herself to sleep. For up to 2.5 hours!! At home she has a little fold out couch, and when she's tired she'll go lie down, but she still just plays around and not sleep, she'll come over for a feed when she's ready to nap.

[onthefly]

believe me, some metro hospitals are crap with breastfeeding, too. \

Hope you've got it sorted Netix.

They do grow out of feeding to sleep. DS did by around 12 months - was a bloody pain because then I had to just lie there with him for HOURS till he'd finally get to sleep. And STILL, DH was no good till he was closer to 2.

[Netix]

Thank you very much HotI. Most appreciated.

We just got back from the hospital (love living only like two minutes away from it!), and let me just say; Halla.. Halle.. Hallelu... THANK GOD! The local mchn called me earlier to check in and make an appointment for home visit. Very quickly we got on the topic of feeding & engorged bb's. She rang the hospital and rang me back and said to get some things together and just go down there. Turns out they DO have a breast pump I could have used. Oh was I peeved! Anyway, we went there to midwifery, and two of the nurses that were on last night when I left were working. It wasn't long before chwngeover, but one of them is obviously the 'bf go to person'. She asked if I was this engorged last night when I left, and felt bad that she had 'let' me leave like that. Anyway, good news is I don't have mastitis! but that it would have come pretty soon judging by my enormously sore bb's. I got onto the breast pump and expressed about 200mLs in a few minutes, then put Mack on. The little poop played around and wasn't interested! we stripped him off, and he came around, and I think *eventually* got everything he needed from one bb. Now I just have two very grazed nipples, one I've never had that bad, and one bb that still has a bit of pain. They both still have some lumps, but, oh! The relief! Doesn't matter if I get it again tomorrow, I feel so good right now! And, further satisfied because I know that Mack has eaten his whole meal, instead of just his veges.

[MantaRay]

That must be a huge relief hun. How frustrating that no-one could find the pump for you before.

Mack can probably get a lot of milk out in a short time so he well could be getting enough. His nappies will give you a good clue. Otherwise popping him on often, on the same side a couple of times in a row if you think he didn't get much the first time, should get him there. You might also like to try some baby led attachment with him to see if that is kinder on your nipples. Do you want some links to baby led attachment?