Series of questions from a new mum

[Damiensmum]

Hello everyone :) I'm so glad I found this board! I'm going to give you a quick overview on me and my new baby, then ask my questions! I'm a 22 year old first time mum that just gave birth to my baby boy Damien on April 30th. He was exactually 3 weeks early, due to my condition of eclampsia (sp?) and I was too sick to carry on the pregnancy. During labor, I was almost emitted into an emergency c-section, because the little guys heartbeat kept dropping with my contractions. I ended up giving natural birth to him (fully natural <~ bragging rights! :) ) and he was a miracle. Shortly after he had a series of problems. Apneias (stop breathing spells), swelling on the left side of his brain, jaundice, and he still had the magnesium in his blood that I had to be on so I wouldn't go into seizures. I knew I was going to breastfeed, but the hospital made it difficult. I couldn't nurse him because he was on IV fluids for almost a week before they started feeding him, then shortly after when he was eating (I was pumping milk for him) he was on jaundice lights and they really didn't want me to even hold him because of needing to be on there. Also he was never in our room with us, so I never got to nurse him. No one even taught me how! Needless to say, hes fine now but a week and a half later he was finally discharged, and was fed breastmilk out of a bottle the entire time. I have tried nursing him, but he can't seem to latch on correctly, and well to be honest I'm rather modest and don't get the privacy I feel comfortable with to nurse him regularly.

So, after that long winded paragraph I've decided for the sake of me and baby, its in our best intrest for him to get breastmilk, but for me to pump and feed from bottle. Now, for the questions. I respond very well to my hospital grade pump.

I am still "short" on milk supply. I'm -just- managing to keep up with his feedings, and having to supplement him 1 bottle of formula a day to keep up. I need to be able to satisfy his needs and be able to have extra stash for when I go back to work. I've read oatmeal helps, now is this just regular oatmeal, or does the flavor varieties work? Thats what we have in our home, and it seems like a silly question but I want to make sure my efforts aren't going to waste :)

I've also read up on the pill that makes you smell like maple syrup? Starts with an F. First off, I'm not a pill swallower. I gag. So can I break these capsules open and still take them or are they not effective that way? Does walgreens or another common store carry them, or should I order them off line?

Does pumping more often really bring in more milk? In the hospital I pumped every 4-5 hours, and my first few days home too. I was getting about 4 ounzes per pumping session. I was told to pump every 3 hours, but then i'm barely getting 2 ounces! I mean, I will do what will work but I am a human and have things to do! I can't hover around a pump every few hours if its not going to pay off!

I really want to be able to give my baby boy all breastmilk because I do believe its best! The formula is gritty and he gets much more excitied over the bottle with my milk in it. I just need more!

Thank you so much for your time reading and any suggestions you can give me. I know I had more questions, but can't remember them now. haha. Thanks!

[Brianna]

Welcome to the boards and congratulations. I don't have any experience pumping, but I do know that you have to pump every single time baby eats. If you don't your milk supply won't be able to keep up with baby's demands. If you are having a supply issue, I would pump every 2 hours during the day and every 3 hours at night. Your babe is still really young. If you are interested, you may be able to get baby to nurse from the breast. Breast milk is wonderful, no matter how it is delivered; but it is often easier on moms if baby will nurse in addition to taking a bottle.

Oatmeal does seem to help some people increase their supply. Also be sure to stay well hydrated and get as much rest as you can.

This board is a great place for advice. I'm sure someone with more pumping experience than me will chime in and help answer all your questions.

[KatieLou]

Hi! Welcome to the boards, 'tis a wonderful place!:hugegrin:

Congrats on your new bundle, and a big pat on the back, for bfing your baby despite the difficulties you have faced.

As far as milk supply goes. Alot of it will be supply/demand, the more milk taken out (be it by babe or pump) the more milk you will produce. How often are you pumping? It may be possible to add a session or two. Yes, pumping more often really does make more milk. I would, personally pump every 2 hours, (maybe even more)and gradually you will begin to get more milk at each session, and then may be able to drop the extra sessions you hasve added.

When I was pumping, I started out only pumping a couple oz's per session, but by the time I quit pumping, I was making a 6oz bottle per breast, way more than my babe needed.

Yes, the oatmeal will help, I actually avoid it now, because i'll start spraying! steel cut oatmeal is best for uping your supply.

Have you talked to a LC in your area? They may be able to actually get your baby to latch on to your breast if you would like that. Eithetr way, a LC could be a great help to you.

It does take some time to pump, but it is so worth it in the long run.

(((hugs)))

pardon my typos, I am nursing as I type.

[RedheadbyChoice]

Short on time here, but you need to be pumping every 2 hours during the day, every 3-4 at night. Yes, that's a lot of time to be hooked up to a pump, but that's the way it is; breastmilk is all about supply and demand. And it's not the amount of time of the pumping session, it's the FREQUENCY of the sessions, that stimulates that milk supply. Newborn babies eat OFTEN. Most newborns eat every 1-2 hours, around the clock. Some more frequently than that. That's damn disappointing that they were only having you pump every 4-5 hours. *sigh*

Think of it this way: every time that baby eats, your breasts need to be involved. every.single.time. That's either by pumping or nursing.

Oatmeal.....yes, any kind will work. Even cookies or granola bars.

Fenugreek is the 'maple-syrup' you're speaking of, it can be found at health food stores. linky: info on fenugreek (http://www.kellymom.com/herbal/milksupply/fenugreek.html)

I'd also encourage a tincture, like what's at this site. (http://www.kerrysherbals.com/)

It's also absolutely not too late to get babe back to the breast; an LC or an LLL leader could absolutely help you with that. There are many many many ways to nurse discreetly, sugar, to preserve your modesty. If you're looking at the time factor, breastfeeding straight from the tap is certainly less time-consuming than exclusively pumping.

Also, how much milk is babe getting? How often are you currently pumping? How much are supplementing?

Here are a few links for you:

hwo much expressed milk will my baby need? (http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkcalc.html)

bottlefeeding the breastfed baby (http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/bottle-feeding.html)

workign and pumping tips (http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/bf-links-pumping.html)

[Damiensmum]

Honest i'm a little too modest to be nursing. I want the benefits of breastmilk but want to involve daddy with feeding as much as possible as well. I can hardly find a private place to pump!

Well, I will start eating oatmeal (So let me get this straight, instant oats don't work? I gotta use the regular oats?) and start pumping every 2 hours and see how far that gets me. If I need to, I will look into the Fenugreek pill. I really hope I can get my milk supply up, I mean even if its just 2-3 ounces per breast each time, that would be magnificent! Hes eating between 2-3 ounces every 3 hours or so, so as you can figure if I want a stock pile, I need to pump more than the measily 2 ounces I have been.

I notice my baby is hungrier when fed formula as well. He gets hungry in an hour or so rather than when I feed him breastmilk hes passed out for about 3! I thought it was the other way around? Maybe I just have a backwards baby! haha

[RedheadbyChoice]

Any old oatmeal will do, instant oats are fine. :)

Could you tell me again how often you're pumping and your pump output? How much formula and when for babe?

[DecemberBaby]

Good luck and welcome!

[Jmom1010]

Good luck and welcome. What everyone is saying is true, pumping every two hours is necessary for a good supply.

And I understand wanting daddy to be involved in the feedings and he can still be involved. He can change the baby and bring him to you, he can swaddle the baby and put the baby back to bed.

Could you tell me more about your modesty issues? Nursing is very discreet, way more discreet than pumping.

Have you tried pumping a little first to get the milk flowing them trying to latch baby? If he gets excited over bottles with mommy milk, geting a good wiff of it from the tap may help.

Do you massage your breasts before you pump? That helped me letdown. Also warm compresses or a shower helps too.

How long are you pumping each session? And do you stay on the pump long enough for a second letdown? I'd often got 5 to 10 minutes with nothing then suddenly get another letdown good for another 1 to 2 ounces.

I hope all that helps and welcome.

[pumpkinhead7]

Have you considered part time nursing and part time pumping? No pump can stimulate milk production like a baby's suck can. Welcome and congratulations!

[Damiensmum]

Oops sorry, I had company over and forgot to refresh the page so I totally missed RedHeadbyChoice's post. Sorry again!

I was pumping every 4-5 hours and getting 2.5 oz off my left breast and 2ish off my right. baby gets fed whenever he wants, which has been about every 3 hours and eats between 2-3 oz. He gets about 4 oz of formula each day, so maybe two feedings worth?

My modesty issues? Well, i've tried nursing before, but honest It doesn't feel "right" for me. I feel anxious and that I can't relax when I am trying to feed baby. Pumping is easier on me, it was hard to get used to at first. I feel less embaressed while i'm pumping, but really I feel uneasy when my boyfriend is in the same room when I pump. It's just a silly personal issue, but its a personal issue none the less.

Ive never massaged them before pumping but I do notice after a hot shower I get let down.

I pump for about 15 minutes, altho my milk is out and in the bottles in about 7 minutes and after that its drop by drop over the rest of the 15 minutes. I have a Medela, and I've tried re-starting the pump to get that let down motion and nothing special happens. I've never had a second let down, when does that happen about for you?

Well i've eaten my bowl of oatmeal, and have just started pumping every 2 hours, and will continue from now on. Thank you so much for your advice, hopefully with religious pumping I will get more and more each time!

[ima062002]

I hope what I am going to say does not come across as being critical - modesty and breastfeeding are not excluding one another IMO. The ONLY reason human women have breasts (that is breasts that stick out, i.e. have tissue as opposed to male breasts) is so that we can feed our young. It is a completely man made thing (i.e. cultural) that some of us feel that it is something immodest to do when other people are around. It isn't even tied to religion since in South America, where many people are very religious, it is absolutely acceptable to whip your breast out to feed your young. I have seen a picture (on a phone card of all things) of a momma feeding her baby while shaking the president's hand - I think it was from Venezuela.

You can absolutely nurse without showing flesh. It's a matter of practising a bit in front of a mirror. Yes, if someone wants to see a speck of breast, he or she could, but then who is immodest?

[ima062002]

If you are interested, this is a site that has a lot of food for thought about nursing, breasts, our culture etc. - http://www.007b.com/

[hotlama]

If at all possible you need to rent or purchase a good quality breast pump. They are expensive but well worth the price. With my old pump it would take me 30 minutes to get the milk that I can get with my Medela pump in 10 minutes. A double pump will also be more efficient and help you to not feel so overwhelmed with pumping every two hours.

[Jmom1010]

I used to pump for 20 to 25 minutes while home and 15 to 20 minutes at work. I would get the last letdown towords the very end of those time periods. But everyone is different. If you are tense about pumping at all it may inhibit another letdown. I used to have a hard time pumping at work when I first went back since I felt like everyone knew what I was doing. And pumping took me physically away from my work. I felt guilty.

Your issues don't sound like they are about exposure since you can't get my exposed than pumping.

[Nipple_nectar]

I'd make a list, if I were you, the pros and cons of pumping versus nursing. I feel bad for moms who choose EPing(exclusive pumping) as it is alot of hard work.

I am mostly modest about nursing, myself. I take cover when just DH walks into the room and I NEVER nurse in my livingroom, I have big kids and it grosses them out. So, I may understand how you feel. Sometimes I wish I could be more at ease with nursing in front of others but to tell you the truth, it makes me feel very out of place.

We had a very rocky start like you, almost to letter: a stint in the NICU, magnesium knocking her out. Four days on a bottle, refusing to latch, me feeling like quitting. Thank goodness I found this place or I probably would have quit.

If there is a chance we could talk you into nursing full time, you should consider it;-)

[Jmom1010]

Nursing full time really is easier. I almost decided to pump exclusively because in the beginning it seemed so much easier and a lot less painful. Once I went back to work full time and had to constantly struggle to keep my supply up I was so glad I did not exclusively pump.

[Damiensmum]

You guys are so much help, and I do appriciate it. Really do. I will go ahead and get a LC appt with the hospital I gave birth at, because either way I do think it will benefit me. I will have her coach me on the proper way for babe to latch, and will give it a whirl again. I mean whats the harm in trying again? If i'm really uncomfortable with it, at least I can say I gave it one hell of an effort! :)

The oatmeal and regular pumping has been helping, but I have a feeling its going to take awhile of religious pumping to really notice results.

I lost some milk (I was pumping, but tossing it) because I had a couple drinks last night. I normally don't, but it was reason to celebrate! I'm now engaged! :)

[RedheadbyChoice]

Congrats, sugar!

And FWIW, depending on how much you drank, it's not necessary to pump and dump. If you're safe to drive, you're safe to nurse.

See this linky: breastfeding and alcohol (http://www.kellymom.com/health/lifestyle/alcohol.html)

[Nipple_nectar]

Well, please come back and let us know how you are doing! I promise, if you did it for six weeks, it will be long enough for your baby to show you that it is the best and least stressful for the both of you;-)

You're not alone, alot of us here have been through similar feelings {{{hugs}}}

[Jmom1010]

YAY!!!! Let us know how it goes.