The Breast Feeding Support Thread

waterfaerie

I used to find I needed to get the Haakaa in place before the let down started. If I put it on too late, I didn't get much. If you get it on in before the let down and it's on right, then theoretically it should collect as much as the baby is getting from the other side.

hollymartins

I'm a fan of the hakaa but I do have a strong let down. I also have a medela swing which is grand, I've just taken it out of storage as I'm going to try and pump.

My girl is 13 weeks now and still feeds for hours before bed - a typical evening is 6.30 to 9.30 which is so draining. I was at the end of my tether at the weekend when she fed til 10pm, I went out and bought formula as I don't know how much longer I can keep feeding her like that, especially as she's still wants to feed every hour during the day. I've been feeding on demand but surely she should be stretching out her feeds to a couple of hours at this stage?

I haven't used the formula yet, if it was just a growth spurt I'd be fine but after 13 weeks I'm not sure how I can keep going.

shesty

She may be having a growth spurt at the moment hollymartins, but it's probably unfortunate that it's been so hot lately too.That might be why she's feeding the whole time.I have posted elsewhere, my little guy is nearly ten weeks and I have moved him mostly to formula.Mainly due to the fact that he wouldn't settle on the breast when he had any bit of wind in him - and he is now the same on the bottle, won't settle to drink a full one if he has any bit of wind.He's feeding every couple of hours of this stage, which I find is a lot.I am pumping a few times a day at the moment to give him a bottle a day of breastmilk (supply has gone down a good bit) and he snacks at night on the breast :-) Can you pick one or two feeds to give her with a bottle of formula if you want a break?You have another child, don't you?

hollymartins

shesty wrote: »

She may be having a growth spurt at the moment hollymartins, but it's probably unfortunate that it's been so hot lately too.That might be why she's feeding the whole time.I have posted elsewhere, my little guy is nearly ten weeks and I have moved him mostly to formula.Mainly due to the fact that he wouldn't settle on the breast when he had any bit of wind in him - and he is now the same on the bottle, won't settle to drink a full one if he has any bit of wind.He's feeding every couple of hours of this stage, which I find is a lot.I am pumping a few times a day at the moment to give him a bottle a day of breastmilk (supply has gone down a good bit) and he snacks at night on the breast :-) Can you pick one or two feeds to give her with a bottle of formula if you want a break?You have another child, don't you?

Well done keeping up the pumping, it's good you can still give him some of your milk.

Yes the hot weather has certainly contributed to the frequency of her feeds. I have a toddler so being tied to feeding his sister every evening means I barely see him before bedtime. I know it will pass but I just feel quite drained after an intense few days of feeding. I spoke to PHN last week and she mentioned going on solids at 17 weeks but I told her I wanted to wait until 6 months and she didn't push it.

I'm going to try her on a bottle of expressed breastmilkfor the next few evenings then maybe see about topping her up with formula if she doesn't settle. Although she's still not great on the bottle yet but that's another story!

shesty

I hear you, I had him on a bottle in the evening from the start.Found it too difficult to deal with my second cluster feeding and my first at bedtime when I had no.2, so I wanted to be able to let my husband do an evening feed for this little guy and I could do bedtime for the others too if needed.The guilt is bad, specially second time I found.Try not to beat yourself up too badly.I'd be more inclined to leave the solids and top up with formula myself, but that's my personal choice obviously.I don't understand why they suggest solids like some kind of magical solution.....
But do what works for you, and go easy on the mummy guilt about it all, god knows there's enough guilt about other stuff going on!

hollymartins

I definitely don't want to go near solids til she's 6 months, she's still so young and I don't believe their digestive system is ready before that. The guilt is awful but I just hope we can all settle into a new routine in the next few months. If that means combination feeding then so be it.

Anne_cordelia

If you want to continue breastfeeding my advice is not to go near the bottle unless using paced bottle feeding. It’s crazy the amount of babies I’ve heard of who ended up refusing the breast after starting taking bottles. It’s totally up to yourself of course but I’m just letting you know the risk. It’s such a short time in the grand scheme of things. You will be surprised in the next few weeks how she pulls back on the feeding and starts falling asleep earlier for the night. I understand he guilt when you have older kids but it might help to build some one to one time in with your older child at 5.30/6 before cluster feeding starts for a couple of weeks. Also you could try handing baby over to your OH and see if she’ll settle with him once you know she’s fed well.

hollymartins

Anne_cordelia wrote: »

If you want to continue breastfeeding my advice is not to go near the bottle unless using paced bottle feeding. It’s crazy the amount of babies I’ve heard of who ended up refusing the breast after starting taking bottles. It’s totally up to yourself of course but I’m just letting you know the risk. It’s such a short time in the grand scheme of things. You will be surprised in the next few weeks how she pulls back on the feeding and starts falling asleep earlier for the night. I understand he guilt when you have older kids but it might help to build some one to one time in with your older child at 5.30/6 before cluster feeding starts for a couple of weeks. Also you could try handing baby over to your OH and see if she’ll settle with him once you know she’s fed well.

We used paced feeding with my son when he was introduced to the bottle at 7 weeks and I breastfed him for 7 months so I would aim to feed her for at least the same length of time

hollymartins

I've started using my medela pump every evening as my daughter is beginning to take a bottle. At the moment I rinse out the parts and sterilise in the microwave each evening but I'm wondering is that necessary or would washing in hot water be sufficient?

Cakerbaker

hollymartins wrote: »

I've started using my medela pump every evening as my daughter is beginning to take a bottle. At the moment I rinse out the parts and sterilise in the microwave each evening but I'm wondering is that necessary or would washing in hot water be sufficient?

If she was full term when born then washing in hot soapy water and rinsing well is all that’s needed. I think it’s recommended to sterilize for premature babies though.

catrionanic

For breast milk, just hot soapy water is good. No need to sterilise.

hollymartins

Excellent, thank you!

Sausage dog

Just to update...I got the Haakaa and the Spectra 3. I've only used the Haakaa so far....fed on one side whilst using Haakaa on the other and got about 50ml each time with no effort, just attach it, give one gentle squeeze & leave it hanging there. Will try the Spectra 3 over the next few days.

Mondo123

Hi ladies,
It seems I have a milk blister on my nipple which is very sore. Anybody got any advice on how to get rid of it? I'm feeding with it but it is very sore. Thanks

saggycaggy

Mondo123 wrote: »

Hi ladies,
It seems I have a milk blister on my nipple which is very sore. Anybody got any advice on how to get rid of it? I'm feeding with it but it is very sore. Thanks

oh I remember I had one of those during the bad snow when we were housebound. Someone here sent me this link:
https://kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mother/nipplebleb/

I think I just fed through it though and it was a week to 10 days, sorry not much help to you.

mojesius

My daughter's first teeth are out (bottom incisors) and she's had a few bad days in pain with them and wants to nurse more. She's 6.5 months. She has bitten while feeding three times today, last time was so painful. I'm really anxious now about feeding her.

I've a small supply of pumped milk in the freezer (was saving it for next weekend as my husband and I are planning a few days away alone), but might need to dig into it and pump more if the biting continues.

Anyone been through this? Any tips? I've sort of yelped each time she's done it (nearly f'd and blinded the house down the last time to be honest) but she's obviously in pain, it's not intentional and her teeth are constantly at her. She likes to be nursed to sleep so we're on shaky ground here. I had recurring mastitis when she was younger and would really like to avoid it again!

Thanks

scarepanda

Ha! You cursed me ;-)!! I was just after reading your post when my 2 yr old, who rarely bites, bite me hard!

Anyways, whenever she does bite, boobs go away. No discussion. I tell her she's hurt mammy and leave it for a minute or two and then offer her boobs again, but tell her that she can't hurt mammy and if she does boobs are going night night. Iv done this from a very early stage and I carry through, if she bites me a second time boobs go away, so she knows I'm serious. If your baby won't go to sleep without nursing to sleep, I'd put boobs away for a few minutes, possibly even get up and walk around before settling back down for a nurse to sleep session. Biting is a natural way for them to relieve pain, but they also can't be biting you, and they learn very quickly not to when they know your serious, even at 6 months.

Pocos

Hi all, just wondering has this happened to someone before! Herself has had her vaccinations on Monday and has gone completely off solids and not much interest in feeding from me either! To be honest I think she’s just miserable and doesn’t know what she wants!

Due to her sporadic feeling my boobs have been all over the place and my left one seems to be filling much quicker than the right? Like if I feed off the left the next feed I would always go to the right and there could be about 6 hours between left being used and then being used again! I’m finding this week though the left seems to fill up and engorge by the next feed even though I fed off it last! Then I have two really full boobs it’s very uncomfortable!!! Kinda seems to settle by 4/5pm but the rest of the day I’m sore and I want to avoid matistis..

Any advice would be very much appreciated?!

lazygal

I would hand express for relief if necessary and feed from whichever breast you finished on the last time.

Eviledna

My little fella cut his teeth before we started solids and I'll admit to yelping a few unsuitable curses through the bites!
I found that nurofen worked so much better for his pain than calpol, just for the days it was really bad. I stopped lingering during feeds; I noticed he would stick out his bottom jaw just before biting me so I'd watch like a hawk for his tell, and whip away the boob before he had a chance, which worked some of the time.

I've also been uncomfortably full during weaning and I found Lasinoh microwave heat pads excellent for reducing the pain and blocked feeling.

Pocos, my bubs also went off his food with injections 1 and 2, the rotavirus doses are usually to blame, but I hear it's very common for all of them. It usually lasts a few days. Poor little things, it's a pity doing what's best is so hard on them!

bee06

mojesius wrote: »

My daughter's first teeth are out (bottom incisors) and she's had a few bad days in pain with them and wants to nurse more. She's 6.5 months. She has bitten while feeding three times today, last time was so painful. I'm really anxious now about feeding her.

I've a small supply of pumped milk in the freezer (was saving it for next weekend as my husband and I are planning a few days away alone), but might need to dig into it and pump more if the biting continues.

Anyone been through this? Any tips? I've sort of yelped each time she's done it (nearly f'd and blinded the house down the last time to be honest) but she's obviously in pain, it's not intentional and her teeth are constantly at her. She likes to be nursed to sleep so we're on shaky ground here. I had recurring mastitis when she was younger and would really like to avoid it again!

Thanks

My little fella did the same when his first teeth arrived and I did a lot of boobs away for a few minutes and watched him like a hawk with a finger at the ready. The anticipation of the bite was nearly worse than the bite itself. He stopped after about a week. He does still occasionally give me a nip every now and again. His first top tooth is on the way now so I’m hoping it doesn’t start up again.

Pocos

Thanks all! Yes I have been hand expressing just to give myself some relief! But I was afraid I was making the problem worse! Making the body think I need that milk when I hand express so it will make the same amount tomorrow! It’s just weird how it’s filling up so quick, And so uncomfortable! Hopefully after a few days it will calm down!

She’s 6.5 months old so I assumed all this would be behind me at this point

Millem

Pocos wrote: »

Thanks all! Yes I have been hand expressing just to give myself some relief! But I was afraid I was making the problem worse! Making the body think I need that milk when I hand express so it will make the same amount tomorrow! It’s just weird how it’s filling up so quick, And so uncomfortable! Hopefully after a few days it will calm down!

She’s 6.5 months old so I assumed all this would be behind me at this point

This happens to me when I have a clogged duct

waterfaerie

Pocos, are you offering the breast first before giving solids? I wouldn't push the solids too much at this early stage if she's not interested. She should gradually start eating more over the next few months. You'd be surprised how little solids she needs at just 6 and a half months so if you're feeding her that first it might decrease her appetite at the breast. If solids are introduced gradually enough there shouldn't be any engorgement.

I'd say it's too long after the vaccinations for that to be the problem if she had them on Monday. If she's genuinely having a decrease in appetite for any type of feeding it could be just a normal phase. They go through phases where they feed more or feed less. Is she acting normal otherwise? If you're worried about it or if it's a very drastic drop in appetite over a long period, you could double check with your GP.

Pocos

Millem wrote: »

This happens to me when I have a clogged duct

Oh don’t say that millem that’s what I was dreading!!!

Pocos

waterfaerie wrote: »

Pocos, are you offering the breast first before giving solids? I wouldn't push the solids too much at this early stage if she's not interested. She should gradually start eating more over the next few months. You'd be surprised how little solids she needs at just 6 and a half months so if you're feeding her that first it might decrease her appetite at the breast. If solids are introduced gradually enough there shouldn't be any engorgement.

I'd say it's too long after the vaccinations for that to be the problem if she had them on Monday. If she's genuinely having a decrease in appetite for any type of feeding it could be just a normal phase. They go through phases where they feed more or feed less. Is she acting normal otherwise? If you're worried about it or if it's a very drastic drop in appetite over a long period, you could double check with your GP.

Thanks waterfaerie for the advice! Yes I am offering milk feed first thing in the morning then I alternate between solids and boob rest of the day! So she should fill up on milk first thing and I kinda see the solids as a “snack” and the milk feeds as the mains! It’s just weird how quickly the left bob keeps filling up!!! It’s quite sore! But maybe I am giving too much solids, I read offer between 2-4 tablespoons and I’ve limited it to 2 tablespoon and often doesn’t finish it! I don’t push it! But maybe 2 is too much?

We’ve had 3 very bad nights of waking up every 2 hours in pain and then this morning she had a rash all over her face and body! So I rang doctors surgery went in and it’s seemingly a reaction to the 6 month injections! She will have “flu like” symptoms the doctor said! So pretty much lots of milk and alternate calpol and neurofen for the weekend! Fun times ahead

Millem

Pocos wrote: »

Oh don’t say that millem that’s what I was dreading!!!

You would know though because it’s painful if anyone or anything brushed up against you.

waterfaerie

Pocos wrote: »

Thanks waterfaerie for the advice! Yes I am offering milk feed first thing in the morning then I alternate between solids and boob rest of the day! So she should fill up on milk first thing and I kinda see the solids as a “snack” and the milk feeds as the mains! It’s just weird how quickly the left bob keeps filling up!!! It’s quite sore! But maybe I am giving too much solids, I read offer between 2-4 tablespoons and I’ve limited it to 2 tablespoon and often doesn’t finish it! I don’t push it! But maybe 2 is too much?

We’ve had 3 very bad nights of waking up every 2 hours in pain and then this morning she had a rash all over her face and body! So I rang doctors surgery went in and it’s seemingly a reaction to the 6 month injections! She will have “flu like” symptoms the doctor said! So pretty much lots of milk and alternate calpol and neurofen for the weekend! Fun times ahead

I did baby led weaning so I'm afraid I don't know about how many spoonfuls but I'd offer the breast before every solid feed. They don't actually need solids at that age, it's just to get them used to eating.

That sounds like a strong reaction. The vaccinations can be so hard on the poor things. It's good that you've had reassurance from your GP. Hopefully she'll be feeling better soon. Yes, plenty of milk will sort her out.

shesty

Not BF related but Pocos, my little guy (11 weeks) has a temperature at the moment.Had him in the doctor yesterday and there doesn't appear to be anything else wrong.We have had a few doses of sickness through the house in the last few weeks so likelihood is he just picked something up.He's not in awful form but I have to keep an eye.Maybe there's something going around.Also just to note Neurofen can be hard on their little tummies, so see how that goes.

Pocos

Thanks shesty it’s more the rash that’s the worry! They are never a good sign are they? Form still up and down so alternating between calpol and neurofen! She’s getting tired much easier than normal as well!! Poor thing is just knocked from it! Hopefully be better soon! Hard to see them sick she has my heart broken!!!