Really? Hmm.... :think::
any advice on how to go about this? At the moment I have a baby who has forgotten that she ever did take the breast (for 3 days)
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Really? Hmm.... :think::
any advice on how to go about this? At the moment I have a baby who has forgotten that she ever did take the breast (for 3 days)
Hi ladies!
Has been very interesting to read all your posts...this site has never been so busy! LOL
Claire- Thanks for sharing the article about milk changing throughout the day, very interesting.
I feed Chloe whatever i have in the fridge as i express ahead (got lots of milk!) so i have no idea what time of the day that particular bottle came from! I personally havent seen any affects as a result of this, Chloe is generally a good sleeper day and night (although last week was a completely different story!), but ebm is all she has ever known and i have never been fussy about timing!
I'm not too concerned and won't be changing my routine, it just doesnt work for me to try to express for that meal...i never can judge when she is going to wake up hungry and expressing with a screaming baby is a disaster!
Jasp- i also found the Quote interesting:
Originally Posted by Barb Glare
But, don't close off the idea completely. Babies are able to learn to breastfeed at any age.
i tried again the other day with Chloe as my lactation nurse also said the same thing, and i had the exact same reaction as always: a screaming baby that would even try to attach! Oh well, was worth a shot!
Belfie & Jasp- as for what to tell people about feeding i also had the same issues...when people ask do i say i bottle feed ebm or breastfeed? i have decided to just say Chloe is breastfed now, it is easier and is close to the truth, she is getting breastmilk! I got tired of the confused look and having to go into detail!
Well thats it for us, we are off for our hip ultrasound tomorrow so will let you know how we go!
Hope everyone and their families are well!
Hi,
I know it can seem frustrating and confusing when our babies seem to reject us, and seem to not know what to do. I have had many, many cases where a baby has never attached to the breast, or hasn't attached for a long time, but then learns over time to breastfeed. Quiet perseverance seems to be the key to success. Offer the breast frequently, but never make it a fight. Have lots of skin to skin contact, keep your milk supply high. Be prepared for one step forward and two steps back. You may have to go over the same ground seemingly time and time again. Eg, they may refuse to feed with a nipple shield, but yet a couple of weeks later mums are surprised to find they are happy to use a nipple shield. I think our culture is to help mothers just accept that their baby "doesn't want the breast" and just move on - but I don't think that's the way it is. Babies are designed to breastfeed - but when they refuse, something is keeping from them from doing that. If you can work out what is happening, you can often find the key that fits in the lock. From personal experience, my dd spent her first 10mnths in an orphanage before she became part of our family. She learnt to breastfeed when she was 22 mnths old. but, I have a lady, who is now a dear friend who expressed and bottlefed until her baby was about 9 weeks old - then she learnt to attach, first with shields, then straight to the breast. She fed til she was 16mnths. Only 2 brief case histories - there are many more and then maybe there are BB'ers out there who will write in about their experience.
Hello :)
I've been expressing exclusively for nearly a week now due to breast issues which i'm still trying to sort out, and am not sure how much longer i'll need to be expressing for. Just popping in to see if you have any tips and tricks for making expressing easier and perhaps increasing my supply whilst i'm doing it?
At the moment i'm expressing twice between feeds and she takes 125ml each feed, plus occasionally she's still hungry and has a little more as well. I just can't seem to get enough of a supply up to have a few bottles in the fridge. I have 2 bottles in there at any given time, but would really like to build up a bit more of a stash as I worry about cutting it too fine and running out. I'm expressing every hour and normally get about 50 - 60ml each time. Does this mean that if I left it 2 hours I would have double built up or does it not work like that?
Any tips on getting more out? Once the flow stops after let down, I usually give my breasts a bits of a massage towards the nipple and get a bit more out. I'd just love to be able to sit down and get a whole bottle (or two!) at once.
Don't know how you ladies do it, it's hard work!
Thanks
Janine
Hi Janine... I remember reading your other thread, I was going to post but never got back there :doh:
As for increasing supply... pump often, empty the breast...that's pretty much it... I often find if I let the pump run for say 5 minutes after they have finished I will get a second let down. Also I think if you let it run it stimulates the nipple & that helps increase production also.
I massage before, during, after - whenever, it definitely helps. Also a warm washer is supposed to help although I haven't tried that.
I think you are better off at least to start with to express often, rather than wait longer & hope for double. You might have more after 2 hours, but it probably won't be double, at least that's how it is for me. I certainly have a lot more after 6 hours than 3! but definitely not double.
I guess if I were in your situation I would try pumping every 2 hours or so for a few days - I think it takes a week to increase supply? not too sure, hopefully MR or Barb will pop in & tell us :D
I increased my supply by 100ml per day, per week by being fanatical about pumping every three hours, and letting them empty & then still running the pump for a bit. No guarantees that will work but it's the best advice I can offer ;)
The other thing is your pump - not sure what pump you are using? but they can make a huge difference (so I am told) so if you were planning to do this long term you might want to look at a double electric pump, just to make it a bit easier again.
Hope it sorts itself for you soon :hug: keep us posted!
Little miss is calling, I'll be back later ;)
I forgot to thank you for your advice Jasp :) I'm still hanging in there, just. My supply was great, I had 7 back up bottles at one point! But I don't know what happened, I was expressing every 3 hours and I've just stopped making enough. I now have to try to get enough for the next feed and am only just scraping it in. We had a couple of days where I had to go out for the day and I took a couple of bottles and wasn't able to express to I think that's where I came undone.
So i'm frantically trying to increase my supply again. Last night I could only get 110mls for her feed that was due, so afterwards when she was still hungry I put her on the breast, instant excrutiating pain again and all my negative thoughts towards BFing came flooding back. She had 10mins on each side but didn't seem to be getting any milk and started screaming for more. That's when I cracked it and gave her 50mls formula. She happily sucked it down and went to sleep but I felt like I'd failed. So through her usual big night sleep i've been expressing every 2 hours and I think maybe it's increased a little but can't be sure. I have her next EBM bottle ready and 30mls towards the one after.
Mum says she'll pick me up some Fenugreek today to see if that helps, has anyone used this and has it worked? I'll try anything, but it says a posssible side effect is extra wind in bub. Has anyone found this to be true?
Hmmm, haven't used fenugreek but I hear it can help. Also raspberry leaf tea, I haven't tried it to increase supply but I took it while PG & I actually quite like it , it's nice with a bit of honey.
You can get a script for motilium from the Dr, again I haven't used it but it's something to try... what else... there is a recipe for lactation cookies somewhere here, I think they are supposed to help too.
Rest & drink plenty of water & try to relax when you're expressing, a bit hard i know when you are worrying about supply!
But maybe if you look at it like - anything she gets from you is good - even if you do have to top her up - you can only do what you can, kwim?
All I can say to you is good on you for sticking it out this long, and if you are determined to keep going then do it! whether it be breastfeeding or you end up expressing, either way it WILL all get easier.
Whatever you end up doing, you have given her a great start & should be proud.
AFM...I have found expressing has just become part of our life now, after pumping every 3 hours like clockwork for weeks I have started extending it out to every 4-6 hours & 6-8 overnight, although I'm trying not to go 8 hrs too often!
My younger sister had her baby 2 weeks ago and is expressing exclusively after having some trouble BFing. TBH I do think they are problems that might have disappeared given a bit of time - long feeds etc - but bub is still getting BM & she is much happier expressing, & that's what matters. She is only using a manual pump but it is very efficient, TommeeTippee I think & she does 5 min each side which gives her enough per feed.
And I knew my Aunt expressed - due to breast refusal - for my cousin (who is now 7) but not for how long - found out it was 18mths :o - so we now are a family of expressers, lol.
How is everyone else doing?
Thanks Jasp... I have RLT left over from when I was pregnant, will give that a go too! Might chat to my GP about Motilium next time i'm there too. *sigh* I hope I can get supply up, i'm just stressing out about it all the time!
:hug: you're doing great hun, keep us posted how things are going.
Just imagine if we were in my Grandma's day...she had problems BFing too, & she had to boil goats milk or some such thing!
She told me once but I can't remember... I will ask her next time I see her.
Double post
lol... really? I guess they didn't have the trusty ol' breast pump back then :p Thanks for your support as well, it's nice to know I'm not the only supposedly "crazy" one expressing! :):
:
Definitely not the only crazy one! I've just finished up - officially 12.5 months in the end!
I second what Jasp said re RLT. I always found that RLT did heaps more for me than fenugreek, but I didn't notice him getting windy from fenugreek either. As for that horrible feeling of getting behind, oh it's nasty isn't it. You can do it hun, it only takes a day or two of frequent expressing and before you know it, you'll be right back up there again. :clap:
Jasp - great to hear you're going well, sounds like you're really in the routine which is awesome.
AFM, I'm surprisingly thrilled to have weaned (took a surprising amount of effort) and have only really been sure that I'm finished over the last few days. It's wonderful being able to eat nuts & eggs again that's for sure! I've just washed my pumping bra today so it can go into storage! Quite a change from being used 5-6 times a day with barely a break to wash! Oh and we're still using the freezer supply of EBM so he's still getting some still (mebbe 1/4 EBM to 3/4 cows milk)- it'll probably last another month at the rate we're using it (pretty slow).
Anyway gotta run, happy pumping :)
Belfie
hi girls my 2nd son was born on friday and due to attachment issues I am attempting to express, I hand expressed in hosp got home yesterday have both a manual medela and a mini electric both on loan from friends, was looking at hiring one but hubby has said if I am serious he would prefer I spend the $$ and buy one
so I have been looking as it looks like I will be fulltime expressing I know its hard but I can do it :D
so can any one recomend for me either the medala swing or has anyone used a Ameda Purely Yours Breast Pump
I like the idea of the ameda being a double pump but haven't heard of the brand yet I know of medala
so opinions please!!!!
Congratulations on your new DS hun. It sounds like you are having a rough time with the feeding though. Do you have an LC helping you with that?
If your DS hasn't been checked for tongue-tie, that might be an idea. It's surprisingly common but I had never even heard of it until my first DS had one. None of the midwives or paeds picked up on it - not even the hospital LC! A good LC will know what to look for though.
Another thing that works for many babies who are having trouble attaching is Baby Led Attachment. This is like the breast crawl at birth, but can be done for up to a few months after birth. It basically means that the baby attaches himself, rather than you trying to attach him, and many mums find this is the only way to get good attachment. There is some information here - Australian Breastfeeding Association - Baby-led attachment.
In terms of pumps, both those pumps are good - it's really a matter of what suits you best. One idea might be to hire from the ABA for a while first if there is a group near you. This way you can get free help from a counsellor at the same time, and if your attachment issues can be resolved you won't need to buy an electric pump.
Best of luck with it all hun. It sounds like you are coping with the expressing really well.
thanks mantaray, one breast apparently has a lot of fibrous tissue surrounding the nipple..he did attach ok at 3hrs old but has been disinterested each time since
I live in a small country town the local ABA lady is a right royal cow and well no way in hell I would go near her for help unfortunatly
the hosp was great but at same time not much help nearest LC is 2 hrs away I looked into it before we had Luke, with Jack my milk didn't come into till day 10 I had nothing before that no colustrum nothing .. this time while in hosp I was able to hand express into a open ended syringe, and with the manual pump am getting about 30- 60ml my milk is definatly not fully in, judging by BB's
I have attempted to attach him before each feed but he is not interested what so ever, he roots around but wont attempt to attach
I am quite happy to express fulltime... in fact :redface: would prefer to express and bottle feed EBM, mayvbe that is my problem I am not comfortable ..
anyway going to give it a week with the 2 pumps I have if all is going well will purchase one or the other found them on a great sale.. so was mainly looking for opinions on one or the other...
Hi Rachel, congrats on your new little guy :D
I have the Ameda Purely Yours, got it for $280 new on Ebay + $20 postage. RRP is about $330 so it wasn't a huge saving but I was finding they are not something a lot of places stock either, kwim?
They have a pretty good resale value too.
I had an advantage in that the hospital lent me that particular pump so I was able to see how it worked for me first.
Works well for me, it has variable speed & suction, I start out fast & light & then adjust it slowly to the higher settings. I can express 150ml per side in about 15 minutes if I do it properly.
One thing I strongly recommend if you are going to express fulltime is a pumping bra - I am pumping this atm as I type! - and mine is not a 'proper' pumping bra just an old one I have cut holes in. It's a lifesaver :D
HTH
ETA - the Ameda also have optional extras available - I think a few of the other brands do too? like a car adaptor - and it's pretty portable, light & easy to move around. Easy to clean too.
thanks Jasp I have found it on sale for $250 with free shipping at the moment :) the medala is $239 on sale huge savings
I saw the breast pump bras they on sale as well $34 :lol: also saw a pump strap for $24 I think for extra $10 the bra would be better though
just need to know its going to work before I fork out the $$
oooh bargain!
Well it's hard to say what will work for you until you try it iykwim. But speaking for myself, my Ameda does a great job :)
Pump bras are cheaper than I thought they would be too :think: I wonder if they make them in really really big :lol:
I know people who have both and are happy with them so hopefully you will be too whichever one you choose. GL with the choice!
Jasp I will PM the site with the bras they are down from $59 they go up to a 20 something they seemed to have the bigger ones in stock they are on clearance
Rach - I've just finished exclusively expressing for 12 months. I had the Medela Pump in Style so can't comment on the Ameda, but I've heard of good things from others. Re the Swing though, that's not a double pump. If you want to a pump that will work for you full-time (and with 2 little ones to look after), you would really really need a double pump. I found I got more than double the quantity in less than half the time when I swapped to double pumping, so really can't recommend it enough. I think I paid about $470 for mine, and it comes with an adaptor thingo you can put batteries in, as well as all the attachment doovies etc. Can't say I ever pumped in the car tho :lol::
I also loved my pumping bra too :D it was the Easy Expressions one, and it's great to be able to just put over the top of your maternity bra. Re pumping bra vs strap... Hmm can't imagine the strap working well tbh.
GL with your purchasing & pumping & congrats on your bubba boy!
thanks belfie actually watching a in style one on ebay :)
Hi ladies,
I'm new to this thread.. my little princess is just 5 weeks old, and after a rough start in neonatal intensive care, we are now settling in at home. However, the feeding issues are STRESSING me out. My bubs got dehydrated after birth because of difficulty establishing breastfeeding, poor attachment etc. Whilst in the NICU i was expressing and decided to continue with this method once she was discharged. Lucy's weight gain has not exactly been fantastic.. it isn't going backwards, but her gain is not fabulous either. Birth weight 3570g, discharged at 10 days at 3600g, weighing 3850g at 4 1/2 wks. I am producing tonnes of milk and the paediatrician isnt worried about the quality of it, as he says it is about the volumes the baby takes. But Lucy is only having on average 5 feeds per day. She sleeps well overnight (6-7hours) and barely ever complains. She has several wet nappies per day and a few dirty ones also. I have been writing down the volumes and she is only getting about 530-550ml per day, rather than the 600ml the paediatrician has told me she needs. I try to push her to take more, but she ends up just fiddling with the teat in her mouth or getting grizzly. It now seems that i am spending more time worrying about how much she is getting and counting mls of milk than anything else. The paediatrician doesnt seem to think there is any value in substituting any of her feeds with formula.
Any advice? My major concerns are that a) is 550ml per day much too little for her to be taking given that she is well, good colour, not lethargic, not crying & wetting several nappies per day.. and b) should i be concerned about her having only 5 feeds per day and sleeping 6-8hours at night?
i think i am tearing my hair out with this whole new baby at home experience.
Hi Emmykate :welcome:
Congrats on your new little one. It does sound as though you have had a rough start!
Weight gain... I think I have a slow gainer here too, Arlea was last weighed 2.5 weeks ago & had only gained 300g in 4 weeks. I planned to have her weighed again last Friday but haven't been able to yet.
She sounds very much like your LO, I also have loads of milk but she is only having about 600-700ml / day instead of the 900 she should be having (well, that was her quota a couple of weeks ago anyway).
I have tried &tried to give her more & she just won't take it, like you said, fusses with the teat etc. You can't feed a baby that doesn't want it!
I am trying not to focus on the WG too much, she has plenty of wet nappies, enough dirty (the dirty nappies are actually increasing) & she is doing everything she should be, she's rolling, very chatty & active. And as one nurse pointed out, if she were BFed I wouldn't know how much che was getting. So I just kind of go with - she is healthy & growing & everything else is good - and it sounds very much the same for you.
I am glad your paediatrician hasn't recommeded formula. I am a bit wary of discussing any WG concerns with my GP, when I first told him I was expressing he said 'why not just use formula? It's jsut the same you know' :o ... so it's good that you have a supportive paed to discuss it with :)
having said all of that... 5 feeds a day isn't a lot.. maybe if you try & get a bit more in through the day? I think Arlea was sleeping a 6 hour stretch overnight at about 4 weeks... now she's down to 4-5 :( I just try & feed her whenever I can, she lets me know if she doesn't want it. another thing I have found that helps is waiting 1/2 an hour after a feed then trying again sometimes; she will go back for more.
HTH :)
How is everyone else?
Hi, Emmykate,
Congtulations, and welcome. You've had a stressful time of it, by the sounds of it. Your paed is right - forumula has slightly less calories than breastmilk, and formula fed babies are more likely to get ill, and usually sick babies don't gain weight very well.
As Jasp suggested, the secret will probably be in the number of feeds. Because of the rough start she had, sounds like your little one is not demanding feeds. Normally, a baby would demand 8-12 feeds in 24 hours. It's not really normal for a baby that age to sleep so long at night. their tummies are very small - about the size of her clenched fist - so need filling more often. At this age a baby breastfed baby would be taking about 700mls of milk.
I would suggest waking her every 3 hours, including during the night. This will only be for a short time. Pretty soon, as she gets more energy, she will be up demanding a feed, and you'll wish for those long sleepy nights- but you will have confidence that she is growing.
Thanks for the advice Jas & Barb. I am trying to make some changes. I have managed to get her to take an extra feed, so now she is having 6 per day and the last 2 days she took 690ml and 605ml, which is around the volumes my paed was suggesting, but i note a little short of your suggestion Barb. I am persisting though. Unfortunately Lucy just wont seem to take more - she clamps those lips tight and when she does open her mouth, her tongue is up on her palate!! She is unbelievably difficult to rouse at night, so the 5-6hr sleep overnight still continues. Most importantly, i forgot to mention she is on a once daily (7pm) dose of Phenobarbitone (an anti-convulsant) which is most likely making her so drowsy. We literally can't wake her for a feed overnight - we try undressing her, changing her nappy, rubbing her tummy & back, wiping her face with a cool face washer, talking to her - it is like she is totally unconscious & impossible to get her to rouse.
In the meantime, i am happy that she is getting at least that one extra feed and at least around the 600ml/day mark. Of course my over the top, in my face, 'i know everything' mother insists that my breastmilk doesn't have the nutrients that Lucy requires and hence that is the reason she is not gaining enuf. My mother has insisted i try her on formula - and if u knew my mother u'd realise sometimes it is easier to just let her do things her way (trust me on this) - so i have allowed her to give lucy one feed per day of S26. She thinks because Lucy's stools are so liquid-like after takin EBM, that she can't be getting anything out of it. I have told her all the info about how BM is specifically designed for my bub and that it will give her runnier poo than formula etc... but she wont listen. She is cranky that i wont let her give Lucy any more than one bottle of formula per day.
To top things off - i was expressing so much milk that i had stored tonnes in the freezer (>3L) and had managed to get my supply down to a point where i only need to express 3 times per day to yield enough for Lucy's daily feeds (600-700ml). Then i got home yesterday and DH had accidentally left the freezer door ajar... we lost everything... totally defrosted... all the stored BM, not to mention kilos of sausages, more than a dozen lamb chops, a dozen scotch fillet steaks, a dozen t-bones and all the frozen veges! grrrrr. I had just done a huge shop so i didn't have to undertake another shopping adventure for a while!!! :)
Oh Emmykate :hug:
My third child (DS2) was on phenobarb for a bit too, it does make them sleepy & is very likely why she's not feeding overnight.
I know very well how hard it is to feed a baby that won't feed & TBH I have given up trying. If she clamps her mouth , then I know that's it for now :)- but one thing that can work sometimes is trying again half an hour later or so. I do this through the day & then let her do her own thing at night.
I think in your case with Lucy on phenobarb, the extra feeds probably aren't going to happen overnight - I would perhaps save my energy & concentrate on feeding as much as possible through the day. Don't worry about the timing, just offer the bottle whenever you can.
It's great that she's taking another feed through the day. Have you had her weighed recently?
As for your mother...hmmm. The only thing I can suggest is that there are some very good, informative articles here on BB that you could try showing her. Apart from that , no advice just hugs, I guess she is coming from a place of love & concern but boy they miss the mark sometimes don't they ;) you need to deal with it however works best for you.
And the freezer door left open...I would have cried! You are doing so well to be coping with it all :D
AFM...Arlea is still very short of her quotas but her most recent weigh was much better than her last :dance:
I am feeling a bit fed up with expressing lately :( it will pass I guess. I had got to a place where I was quite happy & comfortable doing it but the last week or so I am feeling very time poor & resentful of all the time I spend pumping - especially at night when she goes down to sleep & I wait until it is time to express, then wash up & give her a dream feed, then I get to go to bed...
ahhh well. I keep telling myself it's not forever... it's a few months out of the rest of my life...I can do it :) everything else is going really well & she is so healthy & happy, it's all worth it really.
:grouphug: hope everyone else is good?
:hug: Jas. Expressing full time is hard work, it's no wonder you have times when you are over it! You are doing a fantastic job hun. Just let us know when you need your personal cheersquad to give you a boost!
EmmyKate, it sounds like you are doing a great job of increasing Lucy's intake. Well done hun. What a shame about your mum hassling you. Would it help to give her information to read - perhaps from the WHO or ABA websites so that she will find it credible? I feel your pain about losing all that EBM and food - that is really heartbreaking :(
Jas - you're doing an amazing job :hug:. If it's any consolation, I had those patches - boy, did I have those patches - and I used to come in here & post and it would help get me through. I had one time (when DH did his back) and I just thought about NOTHING but stopping pumping. In retrospect I'm really glad I pushed through it.
What are you doing while you pump? Can you try do some things that are really "you" time (as much as possible anyway!). You said you're waiting until it's time to express, can you express a little earlier then go to bed? Sometimes I think that feeling tells you that it's time to tweak your schedule a bit... Also, what are your goals? I think it helps to focus on the next short-term goal (well that's what the wise ladies on here suggested ;)) and I found that was helpful.
Emmykate82 - will she take a dream feed? Otherwise, I agree, if they don't want to feed, then they don't want to! Very difficult to force that. I'm sorry to hear about your mum, that sounds so frustrating. I had my MIL, FIL & a paed all telling me to wean at one stage, and it was so annoying. Just remember, your body, your baby, YOUR MILK! Besides, what if you stopped expressing, gave her nothing but formula and the situation worsened? As for the defrosted freezer.... ooooh :hug::hug::hug: if that was me I'd be bawling. That's a horrible thing to have happen and I agree with Jasp, you are coping with everything SO well!!!
i have been exclusivly expressing for two months now & have noticed that my milk supply has reduced quiet a bit scince my DD has been sleeping straigh through the night.
I am expressing approx 5-6 times daily & am getting approx 80-100mls (both sides) each time expect for the first morning session when i get approx 100ml each side.
What would you recomend to increase milk supply as i dont want to give her formula just yet as she is 3 months old & I was planning to BF for 12 months?
BTW- im using the electric medela swing pump.
Hi Star child :)
At this stage the best thing I could recommend to you to increase your supply would be more frequent pumping - sorry :( probably not what you want to hear lol but I do think it's the best option. Your body will produce milk based on supply & demand - so, the more that goes out, the more that is produced. Especially considering you are at the 3 month mark & I think that is around when the hormone driven milk production ends & demand plays a biggr role.
Not sure but I would expect a 3 month old to be having more than 5 feeds a day? So I would be expressing for as many feeds as she has, with a couple extra if you need to increase supply.
Other options - you can try herbal teas, I think raspberry leaf is supposed to help, you can get a script from your GP for Motilium, and there are some recipes floating around here for lactation cookies, I will see if I can find them for you.
Good luck :hug: hopefully Barb or Mantaray will be able to offer some better advice ;)
How is everyone else doing?
We are still going :) we have hit 4 months & I am feeling pretty good about it all - I guess it's a bit like running a race & I've hit my stride :D - I can't wait to stop :lol: but I know I can keep going until we hit the finish.
At this point goal number one is to reach 6 months, and I have started talking to Dh about going further. I am hoping that at 6 months when we start solids I will be able to drop one pump a day? And it will take me a while to wean anyway.
NOt much more to tell really, I still have quite an oversupply & have to be careful not to go too long between pumps, I have had a few blocked ducts now - ouchies!
I keep telling myself I should be reducing but I can't quite do it - the only way would be to express less & I hate NOT emptying my breasts. I guess at some point when I stop I will have to learn to reduce though :lol:
Hope everyone else is well!
well my supply dried up to nothing not a drop, but I got 1 month of EBM so better than nothing, in the end is probably a good thing on my side as I am having some PP issues with my heart and have had to take fluid pills, :(
Rach, absolutely 1 month is better than nothing and well done to you for being able to give your little one such a good start!
Sorry to hear about your health issues, hoping you get better soon :hug:
thanks Jasp just wish I held off buying my pump and my hands free bustier now I have to sell them LOL
thanks all for your comments- i have another questions.
should i be expressing in the night also every 4 hours?
Star child, I expressed every 3 - 3 1/2 hours around the clock for the first couple of weeks, at about 3 weeks I think she was sleeping well & I was able to go 5-6 hours overnight. My supply was pretty well established by then.
I still don't go much more than 6 hours overnight, occasionally i will do 8 hours but it's more by circumstance than planned.
She's not sleeping as well now as she was then & often it's 4-5 hourly overnight now :rolleyes: basically I just get up & pump after she has woken for a feed. Can't wait until she is sleeping through, I will start weaning off my night pumps then :dance:
ETA - that didn't really answer you, did it sorry I'm very tired tonight!
If you are looking to increase your supply, yes I would probably pump overnight, maybe not 4 hours but at least 5 if you can. Basically the more you pump the more milk you will produce.Is your LO still waking for night feeds?
Rach good luck selling your stuff :)
Starchild - I expressed for a year, and my DS slept through from about 10 weeks on. I didn't get up to express in the night, but sometimes if my supply got low, or I needed extra, or he was having a growth spurt, I just used to do some extra expresses for a day or two and that would help. So for example, if I was usually expressing 4 hourly (during daytime), I'd try to do 2-3 hourly for a day or so, but still get my sleep. The other thing is if your'e going short of sleep or fluid your supply will drop too. Rest up & drink heaps of water :) It depends a bit on you as to what works, but you'll find that you definitely can increase it, it's just a matter of working out what works for you. Sometimes I'd write down totals for what I'd pumped during the day versus what he'd drunk, so I knew if I was about right or not.
And while I know that nothing compares to just expressing more, I also found that RLT (tablet form or tea) really helped me too, whereas Fenugreek didn't do much. I had to take it for a few days then it kicked in. GL with it, let us know how you go.
Rach75 - :clap::clap::clap: absolutely a month of EBM is great and a lot of work! Well done to you, you should feel so proud of yourself.
Jasp - congrats hun, you're doing an awesome job :hug:. I agree that learning to reduce is tricky - I never thought it would be, but it sure is! We spend so much time trying to get more, more, more - going the other way is tough! If it helps, I found that expressing from 6 months onwards became sooo much easier. I'd always aimed for 6 months, and nearly quit around then. I wish I'd known how much better it would get, and then I would have been more confident about keeping going. You'll be amazed at how much more freedom you get, as you slowly drop pumps. But... on the flip side, short goals are good goals, so stick with 6 months, and just bear my words in mind once you get there ;)
Ahh Belfie I think about you & your journey HEAPS, you have been such an inspiration ;):
and it's one of the reasons I am already considering going past 6 mths. DH was a bit :o when I first mentioned it but I think he is getting used to the idea. I set 6 mths as my firt goal cause back when I started it seemed so far away! but as it gets closer I think I can probably do more, especially if it means I get to drop a pump!
ooohhhh, I'd love to lose this overnight one :pray:
Starchild how are you going?
Just wondering how everyone is going....
Anyone here still expressing?
Hi Jasp, how are you? I finished up on Belle's first birthday. If I ws bfing I would have kept going past 12 months, but ee is just so hard! I felt a bit guilty stopping (I don't really know why) but it was a huge relief. My boobs were killing me by day four, but went down after that. I still have some milk now so not sure when they will dry up completely. How's the ee going for you?