To ease on the stress...after a few weeks I supplemented both formula and breast milk. It was less stress on me and I didn't have to worry about leaving enough milk anywhere I went. Landon got big fast so he went up on his ounces fast.
I didn't mind it. The pumping part at work was the most frustrating to me and didn't last as long as I would have liked as I got distracted with meetings, lunch, interview - that I never gave myself enough time.
I cant say enough - time is the toughest part for me even today.
I feel so lucky that our hospital had a free Mommy/Baby TEA that was for breastfeeding moms from birth to 8 weeks. If you can find something like this, it is what kept me sane! It was a safe environment to bring such a little baby pre-shots but also to talk about being a new mom. A lot of what we discussed was bf'ing (so like a support group) - BUT - we talked about all kinds of new mom things, from sleeping to pooping and everything in between. It was nice to hear stories from other moms where were also tired and frustrated - and also to see other moms more tired and more frustrated than me. Highly recommend it! A support group of some sort will help you through the roughest of days. If your nipples hurt or you don't feel like the baby is getting enough, there is always a mom who went through that. So if you don't have something like Mommy/Baby Tea, find yourself a few friends you trust who will comfort and support you (and not judge you or try to tell you what to do) - friends you can text or call at any time. Support and encouragement is the biggest piece to success, IMHO!
Like Jenn, this is my toughest challenge. Working full time with a job that I travel for, and a preschooler - it was hard the first time any way harder the second time. It's a commitment, not an activity. Even if baby latches great you will worry if he is getting enough, or the milk in the fridge is enough and whether your breasts will ever be their old self. While I think formula stinks and is gross, I am glad it is an option for feeling more secure. I cannot tell you how many nights at the beginning I can't sleep because I am worried about supply and the can of Enfamil from the hospital is staring at me all night, laughing. 1. Expect the worst and hope for best. 2. While tough, it is amazing 3. Go as long as you can but set small goals... 2 weeks, 3 months, 6 months.... 4. When things are tough, take a nursing vacation. That means all you do is nurse! 5. Use a nipple shield if you need to at first. 6. Do not introduce a bottle too early or too late. I screwed up with both kids 7. My personal opinion is that you have to decide whether you want to be the sole feeder or share responsibility - and that may affect the direction of your nursing relationship. 8. If you get frustrated, just go one more day. 9. Never quit on a bad day 10. I never once had anyone say anything negative to me while I nursed or pumped, I think people get paranoid, but a little discretion goes a long way. 11. Find a support group and a lactation consultant. 12. If you want to nurse for a long time I recommend just feeding from the tap until your supply builds (8 wks?) 13. Cluster feeding is like running a marathon I assume. 14. You may need to watch what you eat while nursing. I gave up dairy for Diana. I try to eat minimal caffeine, chocolate and strawberries for Clark. Probably other things bother him too, but until I figure it out... I eat! 15. You think you were hungry while pregnant..... look out teenage boys, nursing mother in the room! 16. Drink lots of water - more than when pregnant 17. Fenugreek and Mothers' milk can be helpful to build supply. I also try non alcoholic beer. 18. Don't be surprised if you see a Mom pumping and dumping and you are so shocked you consider drinking it yourself. (partially kidding) 19. Good luck.
I got to 9 months with Diana before I started wasting away and already at 3 months with Clark, my supply is almost gone. I exclusively pumped with him (he just wasn't into me) and I think that has been part of the problem. One the positive front, I have been able to spend time with both kids. You have to accept you can only do what you can do. But while you are nursing and happy and going strong, you tell that Enfamil can that stares at you in the middle of the night to back off until you are ready. Good luck!
I have heard of a few friends who had trouble with salsa/tomato type things. Something about the acid/taste made their little ones not happy about nursing. -Ker
Oh yeah... Don't eat Thai Food....I pumped and dumped twice and that still wasn't enough. :) I thought Landon was never going to stop crying with Shane telling me I wasn't thinking and Landon crying for so many hours. It was a horrible horrible day!! Jenn
Don't worry while you are in the hospital if nursing does not go well. My doctor wanted me to give up with nursing Ryan but then a nun at the hospital told me not to worry that when I was home and we both were relaxed, nursing would be better and it was. I was a little frustrated that Ryan wanted to nurse every two hours but then laughed and felt I just had "skim milk". Ha. ha. I don't regret nursing and it does create a great bond between Mom and child. Just enjoy the experience and relax. Love, Mom
Sorry to be mute - I was stuffing my face with the portabello burgers (and a scone or two...ok three). I'm all about the boobs - lets talk boobs! After Faith was born I thought people were silly making such a big deal about breastfeeding; I mean how hard could it be right? The nurses at the hospital stuffed my boob in Faith's ever so tiny mouth (clearly she's not really my child) and away we went or so I thought....until I got home and was on my own. Rut Row!
I highly recommend researching a lactation consultant now (some are even covered under insurance! BONUS) to have in your back pocket in case you need a little guidance or support. It turns out I was doing it all wrong which is why it was so ungodly painful. My lactation consultant was my personal hero. She showed me how to get my gigantic cannon ball sorted so Faith could actually latch on.
I tried the Lanolin for the nipples after each feeding but threw that out pretty quick because honestly Jessi's right, express a little milk, bathe that little sucker in your milk, let it dry before covering up and it works better than any sticky ointment you can buy.
I highly recommend avoiding anything with tomatoes for the first few weeks. It took me a long time to figure that one out but once I went back to the basics of boring/bland meals and lots of fruit and veggies my baby didn't cry nearly as much. Happy baby = Happy Mom.
Check out nursingbraexpress.com That was LITERALLY THE ONLY PLACE I could find anything to wear and I shit you negative, I wore nothing but 3 nursing tanks for 4 1/2 months. True statement. I even went to work looking like a twobithussy with my cannon balls drooping down like mellons because the bra's were too small (and I'm talking the largest size they sell there) and majorly uncomfortable. For a few weeks the mailman came every day with a new bra for me to try and subsequently return until I bought the tanks. Then the mailman stopped popping up on the doorstep. Your posture will suffer because the nursing tank isn't as supportive but it's so much more comfortable and has just as easy access as the bra.
And I'm with Mom and Kristin; relax with the breastfeeding and enjoy it. If you don't feel he's getting enough you can always suppliment that particular feeding and try again the next feeding, it is not the end of the world. Someone recommended that when I introduce a bottle (which we did at one month) to have someone other than me introduce it for the first few times so John fed her with the bottle and it worked great. It eased her confusion.
Drink lots of water. Lots and lots of water and most importantly it is ok to cry over spilling your milk!! ~Christy~
Hi!
ReplyDeleteTo ease on the stress...after a few weeks I supplemented both formula and breast milk. It was less stress on me and I didn't have to worry about leaving enough milk anywhere I went. Landon got big fast so he went up on his ounces fast.
I didn't mind it. The pumping part at work was the most frustrating to me and didn't last as long as I would have liked as I got distracted with meetings, lunch, interview - that I never gave myself enough time.
I cant say enough - time is the toughest part for me even today.
Thanks-
Jenn
I feel so lucky that our hospital had a free Mommy/Baby TEA that was for breastfeeding moms from birth to 8 weeks. If you can find something like this, it is what kept me sane! It was a safe environment to bring such a little baby pre-shots but also to talk about being a new mom. A lot of what we discussed was bf'ing (so like a support group) - BUT - we talked about all kinds of new mom things, from sleeping to pooping and everything in between. It was nice to hear stories from other moms where were also tired and frustrated - and also to see other moms more tired and more frustrated than me. Highly recommend it! A support group of some sort will help you through the roughest of days. If your nipples hurt or you don't feel like the baby is getting enough, there is always a mom who went through that. So if you don't have something like Mommy/Baby Tea, find yourself a few friends you trust who will comfort and support you (and not judge you or try to tell you what to do) - friends you can text or call at any time. Support and encouragement is the biggest piece to success, IMHO!
ReplyDeleteoxo,
Michelle
Like Jenn, this is my toughest challenge. Working full time with a job that I travel for, and a preschooler - it was hard the first time any way harder the second time. It's a commitment, not an activity. Even if baby latches great you will worry if he is getting enough, or the milk in the fridge is enough and whether your breasts will ever be their old self. While I think formula stinks and is gross, I am glad it is an option for feeling more secure. I cannot tell you how many nights at the beginning I can't sleep because I am worried about supply and the can of Enfamil from the hospital is staring at me all night, laughing.
ReplyDelete1. Expect the worst and hope for best.
2. While tough, it is amazing
3. Go as long as you can but set small goals... 2 weeks, 3 months, 6 months....
4. When things are tough, take a nursing vacation. That means all you do is nurse!
5. Use a nipple shield if you need to at first.
6. Do not introduce a bottle too early or too late. I screwed up with both kids
7. My personal opinion is that you have to decide whether you want to be the sole feeder or share responsibility - and that may affect the direction of your nursing relationship.
8. If you get frustrated, just go one more day.
9. Never quit on a bad day
10. I never once had anyone say anything negative to me while I nursed or pumped, I think people get paranoid, but a little discretion goes a long way.
11. Find a support group and a lactation consultant.
12. If you want to nurse for a long time I recommend just feeding from the tap until your supply builds (8 wks?)
13. Cluster feeding is like running a marathon I assume.
14. You may need to watch what you eat while nursing. I gave up dairy for Diana. I try to eat minimal caffeine, chocolate and strawberries for Clark. Probably other things bother him too, but until I figure it out... I eat!
15. You think you were hungry while pregnant..... look out teenage boys, nursing mother in the room!
16. Drink lots of water - more than when pregnant
17. Fenugreek and Mothers' milk can be helpful to build supply. I also try non alcoholic beer.
18. Don't be surprised if you see a Mom pumping and dumping and you are so shocked you consider drinking it yourself. (partially kidding)
19. Good luck.
I got to 9 months with Diana before I started wasting away and already at 3 months with Clark, my supply is almost gone. I exclusively pumped with him (he just wasn't into me) and I think that has been part of the problem. One the positive front, I have been able to spend time with both kids. You have to accept you can only do what you can do. But while you are nursing and happy and going strong, you tell that Enfamil can that stares at you in the middle of the night to back off until you are ready.
Good luck!
I have heard of a few friends who had trouble with salsa/tomato type things. Something about the acid/taste made their little ones not happy about nursing. -Ker
ReplyDeleteAvoid eating salsa/tomato stuff (as Ker suggests)...but also be sure to avoid anything in the cabbage family....gassy baby for sure!!--Love, Mom
ReplyDeleteOh yeah... Don't eat Thai Food....I pumped and dumped twice and that still wasn't enough. :) I thought Landon was never going to stop crying with Shane telling me I wasn't thinking and Landon crying for so many hours. It was a horrible horrible day!! Jenn
ReplyDeleteDon't worry while you are in the hospital if nursing does not go well. My doctor wanted me to give up with nursing Ryan but then
ReplyDeletea nun at the hospital told me not to worry that when I was home and we both were relaxed, nursing would be better and it was. I was a little frustrated that Ryan wanted to nurse every two hours but then laughed and felt I just had "skim milk". Ha. ha. I don't regret nursing and it does create a great bond between Mom and child. Just enjoy the experience and relax. Love, Mom
Skim milk eh? My left boob was chocolate milk, I'm pretty sure.
DeleteSorry to be mute - I was stuffing my face with the portabello burgers (and a scone or two...ok three). I'm all about the boobs - lets talk boobs! After Faith was born I thought people were silly making such a big deal about breastfeeding; I mean how hard could it be right? The nurses at the hospital stuffed my boob in Faith's ever so tiny mouth (clearly she's not really my child) and away we went or so I thought....until I got home and was on my own. Rut Row!
ReplyDeleteI highly recommend researching a lactation consultant now (some are even covered under insurance! BONUS) to have in your back pocket in case you need a little guidance or support. It turns out I was doing it all wrong which is why it was so ungodly painful. My lactation consultant was my personal hero. She showed me how to get my gigantic cannon ball sorted so Faith could actually latch on.
I tried the Lanolin for the nipples after each feeding but threw that out pretty quick because honestly Jessi's right, express a little milk, bathe that little sucker in your milk, let it dry before covering up and it works better than any sticky ointment you can buy.
I highly recommend avoiding anything with tomatoes for the first few weeks. It took me a long time to figure that one out but once I went back to the basics of boring/bland meals and lots of fruit and veggies my baby didn't cry nearly as much. Happy baby = Happy Mom.
Check out nursingbraexpress.com That was LITERALLY THE ONLY PLACE I could find anything to wear and I shit you negative, I wore nothing but 3 nursing tanks for 4 1/2 months. True statement. I even went to work looking like a twobithussy with my cannon balls drooping down like mellons because the bra's were too small (and I'm talking the largest size they sell there) and majorly uncomfortable. For a few weeks the mailman came every day with a new bra for me to try and subsequently return until I bought the tanks. Then the mailman stopped popping up on the doorstep. Your posture will suffer because the nursing tank isn't as supportive but it's so much more comfortable and has just as easy access as the bra.
And I'm with Mom and Kristin; relax with the breastfeeding and enjoy it. If you don't feel he's getting enough you can always suppliment that particular feeding and try again the next feeding, it is not the end of the world. Someone recommended that when I introduce a bottle (which we did at one month) to have someone other than me introduce it for the first few times so John fed her with the bottle and it worked great. It eased her confusion.
Drink lots of water. Lots and lots of water and most importantly it is ok to cry over spilling your milk!!
~Christy~