Breastfeeding General Chatter #12

[Laranna]

Welcome Sequoia! I too had issues with my DS but the second time around has been a breeze! Hopefully it is the same for you.

On Saturday, I volunteered to be a demo mum for a breastfeeding class. It was interesting (although I was a little put off by the presenter). Hopefully, I have made an impact on the women in the class to help them feel confident about breastfeeding

DD is still feeding well. Her weight gains have slowed now which I think is normal. Our night feeds are increasing again but we co-sleep so she has it on tap lol.

[alioops]

We are still going strong here too, at 10 months (or close enough). Leah loves her boobies. I took a few big steps for me (raised by a dad that is from the school of hide away) and on Easter Saturday fed in the RSL with him there and told him it was illegal to ask a BF mother to move. If he tells me to move while BF in public then I really will call the cops on him. I also fed in the food court at the local shopping centre recently.

When Mum and dad got here I went to feed Leah and he asked if I was still feeding her, and I just said yeah in a tone like why wouldn't I be? Thankfully it didn't go any further, hopefully I have Facebook links to thank for that!! I have a link on my page to the WHO recommendations.

I was discreet at the RSL but only because I didn't want to hear all about it until the Monday. She usually turns her head when she gets distracted but doesn't lift it tell she is done so keeps me hidden, which I do like.

Im really proud of myself for continuing, especially while DH is away because it is about the only time Leah gets a proper cuddle with Em's behaviour. And she is a Mumma's girl.

[Gigi]

go you little red fire engine! Woot Alioops! good on YOU!

i had to giggle at the YOU being discreet part. i remember many times, when I was trying so hard to be discrete, but BILBY had other ideas!

Now she can talk (finally!) she tells me, she doesn't like feeling any part of my clothing on her face, while she is feeding, but before it was sometimes like a tug of wills, a tug of war between her and me.

Me: pushing my top down, to cover as much of breast as humanly possible
Bilby: pushing my top up, to expose as much of breast as possible
etc etc
all done silently, cos she wasn't talking (then).

It takes guts, to stick to your guns, to put your child first, when everyone around you (at the time) is of a different opinion (and happy to voice that).

i think it takes extra guts to stand up for yourself when
- you're partly exposed (like when baby latches off for a quick stickybeak around)
- when you know you're in the minority
- and esp in your case when you're effectively a sole parent much of the time, and have older kidlets to look out for (which would mean you're more distracted i guess, with more to watch out for)
So i really admire you for taking this stand Ali

we know in our hearts, we're doing what we do, for our kids, but it's like the rest of the world views our actions as the opposite - or that is how it's felt for me, sometimes in the bf-ing journey.

At 3.5yrs, bilby is slowing down her number of feeds now. Doesn't need a good night feed 100% of the time now. But sometimes will cluster feed, in an opportunistic way. Like if she's got a cold (like she's dosing herself up on good medicine ha ha), or on the non-childcare days, when she and I both have the time. She loves having a drink in the bath, on the rare times we have a bath together (usually when my back is really bad and i "let" myself have a bath.

So funny to hear her talk now (since 3 last Nov, it hasn't stopped!), i will be getting dressed e.g in my pink mat. bra, and she's telling me "i love your pink boobies mummy".

Sequoia - great to read your post. Have you ever heard of the LACTATION COOKIES? they have real brewer's yeast in them. You eat them to boost supply (plus they are so yummy, i'd be happy to eat them even if supply was fine LOL). A dear friend made me a batch, when i had dreadful gastro attack and my milk actually dried up completely for a day, god that scared me (losing my milk for a day).

I had been feeding a baby every two hours (for 18 months) and suddenly NO MILK, 24 hours is a long time. Esp when she REFUSED to drink the formula i bought from the late night chemist. i was so scared my child would get dehydrated and have to go on a drip. I know other people go thru much worse things, but personally, just one day not producing milk, was a very scarey experience for me. (but bilby didn't get gastro at all, so strong are the protective immunities of bm).

Advice on bf-ing a nb (based on what i experienced).

- do not rely on the multitude of midwives/nurses in the hospital, to help you, guide you, educated you on how to feed your child. You will get so much conflicting info, in a short amount of time, when you may or may not be at your physical peak. Instead, find ONE person, who will help you BEFORE, DURING and AFTER the labour. Consistent info is worth so much more.

- join ABA whilst pregnant. go to meetings WHILST PREGNANT, you'll learn heaps from what the other women say and do. just soak it up. the little mag you get when you subscribe to ABA, "Essence" is wonderful. i was too unwell to attend meetings in real life with a nb, but "Essence" would arrive in the letterbox every two months, i would read it cover to cover. excellent

- have the ABA site, La Leche League etc, in your web bookmarks - for easy ref when you need it

- know who are the Lactation consultants in your area BEFORE you need them. My friend used the Lactation Clinic at the hospy where she birthed. Mothers are only eligible to use the clinic for the first six weeks of baby's life. She happened to need their help when her child was 10 weeks old. They knocked her back.

- do not assume that hospy's with "breastfeeding friendly accreditation" are actually that. I went to one of those, and STILL had to explain "skin to skin", "the breast crawl" and other very basic concepts to the staff. I had to fight (when VERY ill, after a c-section that went horribly wrong) for my nb NOT to be fiven formula as her first drink.

- get your support crew on board. Tell your dh/partner/birthing buddy exactly what you need from them - even if it seems obvious to you.
E.g to remind you to eat and drink, to bring you food and drink cos you'll be busy with bubs, to know where your breastpads are kept, to help you with pillows or whatever helps your back, to remind you to relax your shoulders (easy to hunch up when you're concentrating /trying so hard), keep visitors out/to a minimum so you you have time to get the feeding established - so hard to do that with constant coming and going of visitors (let alone all the hospital staff just doing their jobs).

- skin to skin contact IMMED after birth is very important and helps the bf-ing bond

- giving baby very easy access to the breast, is a great way to help babies latch too. it's alot easier at home, where you can be topless, or have a buttoned shirt, unbuttoned, if you feel like it.

- for modesty sake, i loved the nuvo maternity bf-ing clothing and also "almost mum" tops.

- cloth breastpads totally rock, saving you the "wet circles on the tshirt" look. Wash them in a lingerie washbag, then you won't lose your pairs.

- by educating yourself, listening to other mums talk at aba meetings, you'll realise MOST newborns have some kinds of bf-ing hurdles esp at the start. but the wonderful normalising thing of hearing these stories, is that they happen to lots of people, and theyere are many things you can try , to get OVER those hurdles.

not all things, are possible for all people, but i found it heartening, that there are lots of things you can try.

non-aba people are very quick to say "oh well, that's it then, you'll have to use formula", as if there is nothing to try. I wish GP's and child nurses who know stuff all about bf-ing, would just be realisic and refer people to the ABA and lactation consultants, INSTEAD of saying "well that's it then". So many mums get talked OUT of bf-ing that way.

I had a midwive who was very realistic with me, she prepared me that i would likely encounter bf-ing hurdles, but she would do whatever she could to guide me thru them. I felt very reassured. and then when things DID prove difficult, knowing i had someone to ask, kept me hanging in there. in our case, took about four months for it to settle down. Many times, i would say "i will keep going for 24 hours, i cannot say after that". but we did keep going. thanks to the support of the midwife (at first), ABA, a lactation consultant and the constant support i got online, from places like belly belly.

cos in my mother's group - no support
in my life - no i knew, that i saw, was bf-ing
no relatives had bf
so i had to find my support elsewhere

all the best Sequoia, i hope it works out for you, and if it doesn't, just your attitude, that you WANT to bf, that you want to TRY to bf, i believe that in itself, is a gift for your babe.

it's not a competition
whether you end up breastfeeding for three minutes, three days, three weeks, three months, or three years, it's all a win for your bub and you.

[Sequoia]

Eluned - thankyou for the welcome.

Gigi - wow, that was such a great post, thanks so much. I've already made an appt with my old LC to see her before the birth and while I am in hospital. Last time she even gave me her home number so I feel very comfortable with her second time around. I used to be an ABA subscriber so will get onto that again. I had skin to skin with DS and I've specified it again in my birth plan for #2.

it's not a competition
whether you end up breastfeeding for three minutes, three days, three weeks, three months, or three years, it's all a win for your bub and you.

You just put it into perspective for me, I pressured myself far too much last time and was greatly disappointed when it didn't turn out how I planned, thankyou.

[Sterla]

Gigi - great post!

Alioops: That's awesome - well done on reaching 10 months!

We have just passed 14 months, and it feels like we're suddenly feeding more! I think it's because DS has worked out how to ask for "oob", so whenever the thought crosses his mind he asks for a feed. We still have 3 main day feeds, but also quite a few more mini-feeds throughout the day. DS is so funny - if he asks for "oob" and I'm doing something I'll tell him "Yes, in a minute sweety, you go and wait in the lounge room", and he'll wander off and sit on the lounge room floor waiting for me - so cute!

Hope everyone else is going well!

[wysiwyg]

Has anyone found that biting increases when bubs is sick? DD has had a cold, so I have been trying to feed her more (she had cut herself down to 3 to 4 feeds per 24 hours) but this seems to have resulted in more biting - before it was very rare now is at least twice a day. I take her off immediately but she doesn't seem fussed at all about wanting to get back on - is it because she doesn't really want milk, maybe feeding is harder with blocked nose?

Am hoping you are going to say yes this happens and once she is over the cold will stop biting

Also I am taking over library for my ABA group and we are looking at purchasing some new titles - anyone any must reads? I can cross check they are ABA approved etc. Just interested to find out what type of books people would like.

[Shanti]

Hi Girls!!

DD and I made it into the latest ABA Essence Mag!! So excited!!!!

Wysiwyg - I'm also library coordinator for my local group too! We recently purchased some new books for our library from the QLD conference we had recently. They were.... Baby Magic by Sue Cox (she was there and i got to meet her YAY!!!), Mother to Mother by Virginia Thorley, Baby Led Weaning by Gill Rapley and Tracey Murkett, Sleeping with your baby by James McKenna , Breast Feeding Older Children by Ann Sinnott, Helping your baby to sleep by Anni Gethin and Beth Macgregor..... HTH!!!!
It's fun being group librarian as it means you get to read all the awesome books hehehe! (if only we had more time...... )

Feeding going well, DD has just today been interested in the L side again so that's great! We've only been feeding on the R side for weeks. My boobs don't look lopsided too much (not really noticeable at all) and there still seems to be milk in the L side still, its amazing how these boobs just keep going isnt it..... nature at it's best.

Alright chat soon - hope you are all great!!!!

ps we've started ttc #2 as of April.... exciting!!!

[MantaRay]

Congratulations Shanti, it's a gorgeous picture!

[wysiwyg]

Shanti - Was your letter the one about Fiji? When I read it I thought I am sure I have read that story on BB?. Thanks for the tips about the books, we have Baby Magic (a signed copy someone has obviously donated) and have the BLW one down to buy -will check out the others.

Have you heard of this book - The Breastfeeding Mother's Guide to Making More Milk: Foreword by Martha Sears, RN (Breastfeeding Mothers Guide) - recommended by La Leche League

I read about it on the peaceful parenting blog I think, we are getting a copy from council library to have a read and see if is suitable.

I also like doing the library as it is a good way to get speaking to everyone in the group.

[Laranna]

Shanti, congrats on being in the Essence mag!!

wysiwyg , I found that DS found it hard to feed when he had a blocked nose and so he got frustrated as he wanted to feed and suck for comfort but had to keep pulling off to breathe.

DD is getting faster at her feeds now and much more alert! She is at the stage of wanting to look around everywhere! I'm feeding her right now and she is looking up at me with a cheeky smile and sparkle in her eyes. Heart-warming!

My L side is a bit sore because DS kicked me when I was changing his nappy a few days ago. It's right inside the centre of my boob. No redness or lumps that I can feel, just sore particularly if I am holding DS or DD against my chest.

Went to the hairdresser a couple of weeks ago and there is an older lady (in her late 60's/early 70's I think) who helps my haidresser out and commented how great it was that I was breastfeeding DD and we got onto chatting about feeding in public. She said in her day it was normal and women did not even feel like they had to cover up. It was more accepted back then. She said it's normal and beautiful! Wish there were more people like her in the world!

[Gigi]

i thought we were "feeding as long as bilby wants that", but now, it's occurring to me, weaning might actually occur, when i have no more milk, rather than when bilby stops requesting.

these days, it really feels like "all of a sudden", the feeds are only five seconds per side, and bilby tells me, "no milk there mummy" "all gone". which is always a surprise to me.

she doesn't get upset, she's old enough to understand i can't give her what i don't have, but i can tell, if there was more milk there, she would be very happy to drink it.

she's 3.5yrs old now, it's a weird feeling, being on the cusp of her weaning.

[Laranna]

Gigi, how are you and bilby going? You are truly amazing to have BF for so long!

The last couple of days have been fairly frustrating, particular in the afternoons right through until evenings. DD keeps coming off crying. She feeds for about 5 minutes then pulls off crying. I've tried burping and cycling her legs, but she is pretty good with getting her wind out. I've tried different positions (cradle, football and lying down). She has fed soooo much the last couple of days I'm guessing it's a growth spurt/developmental thing? Now my supply is catching up already and starting to get lumpy. She has lots of wet nappies and two dirty nappies every 6 days. Even though it does cross my mind, I'm not overly worried about how much she is getting 'cause the output is there. It's just frustrating to see her so upset. Only thing I can think of is that she appears to be cutting two teeth!

[Inertia]

Happy 10 months old day to my baby Phoebe. Shes taking her first real steps, has only two little toofies which makes for the most adorable grins, and she still loves mummies mooks.

Cant believe I have made it to 10 months... well since I am here, might as well go all the way to a year!

[Laranna]

Awesome work on making 10 months Bending Reality! Well done Phoebe

As for me, we sure have made it past 4 months yay! But, if I wasn't worried the other day about weight gains, today I am! Had a check up with the CHN and DD has lost 60 grams since a month ago. We weighed her twice on the same set of scales and the CHN got out another set just to make sure in case the other ones were broken! But nup 60 grams lost I feel crushed because I honestly feel like she is feeding so well. She is happy after feeds, her output is good (6 heavy wet sposies in 24 hours, 2 dirty nappies every 6 days). Her length and head are growing as they should be, no concern there.

She feeds on demand, I'd say roughly 10 feeds in 24 hours sometimes less, sometimes more. Her feeds have just started to shorten down to about 20-30 minutes and she takes both sides or just 1 and a half sides. Overnight we co-sleep and she feeds when she wants but it's usually 2-3 times but mostly she only has 1 side before she's fast asleep again.

Do you think if I sat up properly for her night feeds and made sure she had both sides this would help her gain some more weight? Oh, I'm also feeding her to sleep during the day too. CHN said she is not worried at all but wants me to see GP as part of the protocol. CHN seems to think it is because DD is so active, she's rolling over and constantly waving her arms kicking her legs. Even we we feed, she rubs her feet together during the entire feed including the night time ones.

So what am I doing wrong? What's wrong with my boobies!?!

[Sterla]

15 months today and still going strong! DS loves his booby!

[HotI]

i am just starting out, but bub and i have been feeding for 4.5 weeks now. yay!

i think feeding is going well, bub seems happy, wetnappies and all that jazz. the last 2 weeks her weight gain has slowed down- 90grams in a week, and then this week 100grams. The MCH nurse didn't seem too worried, but just said its abit low. do i need to do anything different, or just go with the flow?

ta,

kate

[kelebek]

Eluned the length and head growth is very positive and she sounds happy, could there be another explanation for the weight loss? has she been more active recently? has she been sick? even if it was just a cold or something? or gastro? teething? What did the health nurse say? Have you weighed her since then? I'm also assuming she is being weighed naked?

[Laranna]

kelebek. she is definitely an active little thing and has started teething. I've just been keeping an eye on her and she does not seem to have put on any weight since my last post. She doesn't look underweight just petite, she's got good skin tone and all that so I'm at a loss really. Just trying to make it through a few more weeks when we start solids to see if that helps.

ETA: yep I weigh her naked