The Breast Feeding Support Thread

Millem · 04-03-2018 11:57PM

Toots would you believe I felt like I was getting a blocked duct yesterday:(
We started solids so he was going maybe 4 hours between 7am-11am......sorted it anyway thank goodness!
Jeekers we have had poo explosions since we started....literally down the legs of the nappy

he seems to be tolerating his beaker!!

Toots · 05-03-2018 01:01AM

Ah poo explosions! My little boy was an expert at those. The baba has only had one so far, although we had a very very close call the day before.

Toots · 08-03-2018 02:52PM

Has anyone else tried those Haakaa pumps? I got one the other day to catch the let down milk from the boob that's not being fed on. It was really more curiosity than anything else, but I couldn't believe how much milk it gets out!

Neyite · 08-03-2018 02:57PM

Toots wrote: »

Has anyone else tried those Haakaa pumps? I got one the other day to catch the let down milk from the boob that's not being fed on. It was really more curiosity than anything else, but I couldn't believe how much milk it gets out!

My sister has one. Raves about it. I wish I'd known about it when I was breastfeeding.

scarepanda · 08-03-2018 03:07PM

Nope, I only heard about them a few months ago, but if we're lucky enough to have baby no.2, I'll certainly be investing in one! I'm lucky enough to be able to pump, but it is one task I avoid at all costs so the haakaa sounds amazing!

bee06 · 08-03-2018 03:10PM

I have one but haven’t had a huge amount of success. I don’t have a huge letdown ... as in I can’t feel it and I wouldn’t get leakage in the other boob. My little boy tends to hit it as well so I have to keep my hand on it which is kind of annoying. I also seem to develop slightly blocked ducts when I have used it but maybe that’s a coincidence.

donkey10 · 08-03-2018 04:48PM

I got one of the Lasinoh double pumps and i find i dont get an awful lot of milk when i pump so i started using them singly but didnt get an awful lot more.
Is that normal?

Just wanted to pump so that hubby can feed him frm a bottle and i can have "free time"

Because im not getting much and hes such a big feeder it takes a few turns to fill a bottle

scarepanda · 08-03-2018 11:09PM

How old is your baby donkey10? Unfortunately for some women, they can't pump for whatever reason.

Iv only used a manual pump at home, so I can't comment on the pump your using. But from expressing there are a few things that always affected how much I was able to express such as when and for how long. I used to always get a good pump in first thing in the morning. Feed on one side and pump the other (my little one rarely fed from both sides first thing in the morning). But if your trying to up your supply to be able to pump more/build a stash, pumping between the hours of 1-5am are peak milk production times because of hormone levels during this period (sorry I can't remember the exact details as it's been a while since I had to do it).

Kellymom is a fantastic website for all things breastfeeding. Have a look through it and it may help you figure out why exactly your unable to express much.

https://kellymom.com/mother2mother/what-to-expect-when-pumping/

Always remember though that the amount you pump is in no way an indicator of how much you are producing/baby is getting as babies are always far more efficient at feeding.

Toots · 09-03-2018 12:02AM

First thing in the morning is best for pumping - I'd easily get 150ml in total first thing in the morning but wouldn't get anything close to that at any other time of the day. I got the lansinoh double pump too, and I'd find it more efficient if you're just using the single bit. My lactation consultant told me that often if you use the double pump function the suction isn't as strong and the one time I did try and pump both sides at once, there was a definite difference in the suction strength.

bee06, my little girl keeps kicking it as well, I end up having to kinda wedge it against my leg until she stops (usually about halfway through the feed) although I'm sure at some stage she'll kick it off and we'll end up soaked. I was in a rush to get to an appointment this morning so I stuck the Haakaa on one side and the electric pump on the other. After 15 minutes I'd gotten 70ml from the boob with the electric pump and over 100ml from the side with the Haakaa.

donkey10 · 09-03-2018 04:09PM

Scarepanda - hes almost 8 weeks. He wakes up once or twjce during the night so i wouldnt bother pumpin then

Toots - thats a brill volume . I seem only to get like 30ml on one side after 10 mins. Is there something im doing wrong with the expressing? Like this morning i was really full i went to pumo but i only got like 5ml. I noticed the suction wasnt drawing in the nipple??

scarepanda · 09-03-2018 04:45PM

If he's only 8 weeks your supply may not have settled out properly yet, it took me 8/9 weeks anyways.
You should give it a go pumping both sides after he's finished his first morning feed. I always got more first thing even when my girl was feeding during the night.

You should also pick a time of day and always try to pump at that time of day. It can take a few days for your body to regulate supply to meet the demand. Think of it as you pump today to put in the order for tomorrow. If you pump immediately after you baby has fed on one side, start with pumping on that side for a few minutes, even if you don't get much. I always found that it stimulated the other side as well as adding extra demand. And then pump the second side. 30ml is pretty good for 8 weeks, especially if your not pumping first thing or during the 1-5am period (I always found , even when she was feeding during the night that I always had more milk in the morning and by bedtime the tank would be fairly empty)

Other things that you can do is to stimulate your breasts before pumping, so you basically massage them to encourage the milk into the milk ducts, have your baby/picture/video of your baby to look at while your pumping, some foods can also help milk production such a oats and there's some herbal supplements (?) That you can take. I was recommended fennel tea and fenugreek tables by the hospital. I always found that porridge and the fenugreek tablets worked for me. And then also make sure that the pump you have fits you properly and is working correctly. So does the flange fit your breasts properly? Is there a full airtight seal between your breast and the flange? Are all the parts inserted correctly?

bee06 · 09-03-2018 05:22PM

Great advice from scarepanda but Fenugreek should only be taken when recommended by a lactation consultant as it can decrease supply in certain cases.

scarepanda · 09-03-2018 05:26PM

bee06 wrote: »

Great advice from scarypanda but Fenugreek should only be taken when recommended by a lactation consultant as it can decrease supply in certain cases.

It was recommended to me by the lactation consultant in the hospital. It obviously goes without saying that all supplements should be ran by lactation consultant/gp. I'm just giving advice from my experience.

bee06 · 09-03-2018 05:29PM

scarepanda wrote: »

It was recommended to me by the lactation consultant in the hospital. It obviously goes without saying that all supplements should be ran by lactation consultant/gp. I'm just giving advice from my experience.

Yep, I just wanted to confirm that because not everyone would think to run it past an LC and the fenugreek in particular can have a negative impact.

scarepanda · 09-03-2018 05:36PM

No problems!

Just a note for anyone that may get the go ahead to take fenugreek.. it has a very weird smell that comes out through your skin/sweat. I dunno if it wears off as your body gets used to it or if I just got used to the smell, but it stinks!

Toots · 09-03-2018 06:41PM

My LC recommended me herbs specifically for women with PCOS and I think they must be working.

If anyone's looking for one, I'd highly recommend Nicola O'Byrne, I found her brilliant.

Donkey you can also try putting a warm face cloth or compress on your breasts before pumping, it helps with let down. Also make sure you're not holding the pump too hard against your breast because it can block the flow.

waterfaerie · 09-03-2018 08:22PM

scarepanda wrote: »

Just a note for anyone that may get the go ahead to take fenugreek.. it has a very weird smell that comes out through your skin/sweat. I dunno if it wears off as your body gets used to it or if I just got used to the smell, but it stinks!

Yes! I used to find that even the baby ended up stinking of it!

Donkey10, with the pumping, I always found that pumping one side while my baby fed on the other was the only way I got enough milk into the pump. For some women, a pump just doesn't trigger much of a let down. It's all about the hormones between you and the baby.

I found the Haakaa pump excellent but no matter what sort of pump I used it was the only way I got a decent amount. I thought I had no milk but as soon as I did it that way I was amazed with how much I got.

Also, if you say you notice that the nipple isn't getting drawn into the flange it sounds like it might not be fitted properly. You might be able to fiddle with it and find a way that fits or you might need new flanges. The nipple should really be drawn in. I'd really recommend the Haakaa, though. It's so easy to use and I found it very effective.

jlm29 · 09-03-2018 08:24PM

Make sure you’re eating and drinking enough in general- I could get very little when pumping on my first.
In hindsight, I often wonder was my supply just not up to it, I was also following weight watchers at the time, and I suspect now I wasn’t eating enough. I have had a very abundant supply with my other two (but I could do with being more committed to watching what I eat !!

donkey10 · 09-03-2018 11:53PM

Cheers for the advice peeps. will keep all of it in mind ! Must check out the suction to see its working properly

foreverandever · 10-03-2018 05:49PM

Toots wrote: »

My LC recommended me herbs specifically for women with PCOS and I think they must be working.

If anyone's looking for one, I'd highly recommend Nicola O'Byrne, I found her brilliant.

Donkey you can also try putting a warm face cloth or compress on your breasts before pumping, it helps with let down. Also make sure you're not holding the pump too hard against your breast because it can block the flow.

Do you mind me asking what herbs did she recommend for PCOS??

PhoenixParker · 11-03-2018 08:15AM

Goats rue if guess.
It's the precursor to metformin.

tea_and_cake · 11-03-2018 08:57AM

PhoenixParker wrote: »

Goats rue if guess.
It's the precursor to metformin.

She recommended that to me. I ordered it from amazon yesterday so will see how I get on. Gets good reviews.

PhoenixParker · 11-03-2018 08:58AM

I used It, felt it helped. Expensive though.

tea_and_cake · 11-03-2018 09:27AM

PhoenixParker wrote: »

I used It, felt it helped. Expensive though.

It is expensive but it's cheaper (and easier) than the pump rental.

Toots · 11-03-2018 11:52AM

It was Goats Rue indeed! She alsp recommended Saw Palmetto as an alternative to Goats Rue. She said take one or the other but not both together. I got them from a site called iHerb. The Goats Rue is very expensive so I'm giving the Saw Palmetto a shot because it's about half the price.

tea_and_cake · 11-03-2018 01:05PM

Toots wrote: »

It was Goats Rue indeed! She alsp recommended Saw Palmetto as an alternative to Goats Rue. She said take one or the other but not both together. I got them from a site called iHerb. The Goats Rue is very expensive so I'm giving the Saw Palmetto a shot because it's about half the price.

I was too cheap to pay the shipping from Iherb so I git them via amazon

Millem · 11-03-2018 08:45PM

girls baby started solids a few weeks ago at bang on 6 months. He is wolfing into them. He is feeding from me less. How many feeds would be the norm? Today He has been going every 4 hours? (he feeds twice during the night at say 11pm and then 3am!). He started 3 meals a day today. Wet and dirty nappies are no problem and weighs around 9.5kgs (got weighed on friday).

bee06 · 13-03-2018 03:43PM

Millem, I can’t speak from experience at my little boy is only 10 weeks but I do think that breastfed babies are used to managing their hunger and feeding so trust your baby and your body. As long as he is still having plenty of wet nappies I’m sure you are doing great.

We were at the PHN today for his three month check and he is spot on the 50th percentile for weight and has been gaining 260g a week consistently since he was born ... I’m delighted with us! He’s in the 75th percentile for height then so tall like his Mom and Dad

Toots · 19-03-2018 01:07PM

Made it to my first milestone - 6 weeks! Still concerned that all of a sudden my milk will dry up and I've ordered a baby scales from Amazon to make sure she's gaining weight. My husband thinks I'm paranoid but it'll help put my mind at ease.

We're going to France in August for a fortnight with my family, so it'll be so handy not having to cart over a load of formula. We went away with my son when he was 7 months and it was a pain in the arse bringing tins of formula and bottles and all that. I'm wondering what the attitude is like regarding feeding in public over there. I haven't been in France in years. I know in Spain you can pretty much whip them out anywhere and nobody bats an eyelid. I remember being very impressed last year seeing a lady in the supermarket pushing her trolley with one hand and feeding her baby with the other.

bee06 · 19-03-2018 01:17PM

Well done Toots! You might feel like your supply is lower now because after the 6 weeks your body regulates your supply so you don’t feel as full as before but as long as there are plenty of wet nappies (and the weight gain of course) you’re doing great!

I was thinking the same about travelling! We’re going away when he’s 6 months and it’s going to be tricky enough because we won’t be checking luggage (50 Euro a bag!).

The Breast Feeding Support Thread

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