re: Breastfeeding tips! & Top 10 BF problems solved!

Quoting *Audree*:" I am returning to work in a week and a half. I work 8-5. DS will be at a home daycare right down from ... [snip!] ... each day? How long is milk good after it has thawed? I don't want him to be hungry, but I don't want to waste it, either. Help?"

Always try to use your fresh milk first. It has the most antibodies, etc. So to start off he will need frozen milk obviously, but once you start, you should aim to pump for Tues on Monday & so no on. Frozen milk should be for backup situations. You don't *want* to freeze milk if you don't have to.

Here is a good hart of how long milk is good for when fresh, refrigerated, frozen & thawed: http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/milkstorage/milkstorage/

Here is other info (like how many ounce to leave): http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/pumping/milkcalc/
Why you should not shake milk to remix the fats: http://www.bflrc.com/ljs/breastfeeding/shakenot.htm
How to bottlefeed the breastfed baby to prevent overfeeding and to help baby take a bottle: http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/feeding-tools/bottle-feeding/

I pumped with my 1st until about 14 months while I worked & went back at 6 weeks. I also found that hand expressing while pumping helped me get better output. I drank Mothers Milk Tea & ate lactation cookies when my supply stumbled. Later I learned that taking a cal/mag supplement can help when AF returns, as that REALLY can tank your pump output. It bounces back once AF passes, but it can cut your output in half.

So my son will be 4 months old next week. He's EBF.

His dad lives about 2 hours away and wants to start weekend visitation around 8 or 9 months. If all goes according to plan, I will still be BF at that time. I'd like to send milk with him so he doesn't have to use formula.

Obviously his BF patterns will be different in 4 months, but I'm worried about sending him for the weekend with enough milk. He can't just pop over for a feeding because of the distance.

When should I start pumping to build a supply for those weekends?

Also, when Bub's gone for the weekend, how often should I pump?

It's probably silly to start worrying about this now but I don't want to have to stop BF because he goes away for the weekend. Or lose my supply because he's not BF on demand.

Any other suggestions or tips would be helpful.

Quoting Love Wedge +2:" So my son will be 4 months old next week. He's EBF. His dad lives about 2 hours away and wants to start ... [snip!] ... he goes away for the weekend. Or lose my supply because he's not BF on demand. Any other suggestions or tips would be helpful."

Do you have any saved up now?! I would be pumping now I had my LO in Dec last year and the milk i pumped when he started to go to daycare was gone by june besides the stuff i pumped while at work, anything saved now will be good plus in four months he will be drinking even more than he is now! as for pumping when he goes away do what your normal routine is at the time and you can possibly miss one if hes still eating in the middle of the night but as soon as he comes back your supply should go right back up!
I know when I was BF I should have pumped more when I was working but seems i didn't that screwed up my milk system while we were apart so he started to get formula at daycare but I tried my best and made it to 11 months! I miss it so much!

<blockquote><b>Quoting justanothamotha:</b>" Always try to use your fresh milk first. It has the most antibodies, etc. So to start off he will need ... [snip!] ... when AF returns, as that REALLY can tank your pump output. It bounces back once AF passes, but it can cut your output in half."</blockquote>


thank you so much. Those links were really helpful!

About pumping...

if I only pump at night and one time during the day... Will that be okay for my supply? I start back to work in January, but I only work mornings. I really hate pumping...  

<blockquote><b>Quoting Rumpelstiltskin:</b>" About pumping... if I only pump at night and one time during the day... Will that be okay for my supply? I start back to work in January, but I only work mornings. I really hate pumping...   "</blockquote>




I think that'll be fine! Try doing it right after baby feeds, and keep going for 5-10 minutes after you don't seem to be getting anything, and you'll most likely get a strong letdown!

Quoting Sofia's Mummy♥:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Rumpelstiltskin:</b>" About pumping... if I only pump at night ... [snip!] ... and keep going for 5-10 minutes after you don't seem to be getting anything, and you'll most likely get a strong letdown!"

I get about two oz each pumping session... But I really hate the pump... the sound, the feel... the clean up! haha

<blockquote><b>Quoting Rumpelstiltskin:</b>" I get about two oz each pumping session... But I really hate the pump... the sound, the feel... the clean up! haha"</blockquote>




I feel you. I started college when DD was 8m and the nursery is right next to the college so I would go in every 1.5-2 hours to feed her, it's sooooo handy. I've pumped a few times but its way too much hassle when you don't need to.

Quoting Sofia's Mummy♥:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Rumpelstiltskin:</b>" I get about two oz each pumping session... ... [snip!] ... every 1.5-2 hours to feed her, it's sooooo handy. I've pumped a few times but its way too much hassle when you don't need to."

I'm going to need to stock up a bit for when I go back to work... I also want to stock up a few bottles for new years. I want some wine but don't want her to get any, so I'll bottle feed that night!! haha

<blockquote><b>Quoting Rumpelstiltskin:</b>" I'm going to need to stock up a bit for when I go back to work... I also want to stock up a few bottles ... [snip!] ... to stock up a few bottles for new years. I want some wine but don't want her to get any, so I'll bottle feed that night!! haha"</blockquote>




You can have a glass! Even a glass an hour, and if you have it right after she feeds, it may have metabolised before her next feed.
As long as you're under the legal driving limit (or feel sober enough to drive) you're fine to feed! So that might mean only giving her one or two bottles that night instead of all night  

Quoting Sofia's Mummy♥:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Rumpelstiltskin:</b>" I'm going to need to stock up a bit for ... [snip!] ... enough to drive) you're fine to feed! So that might mean only giving her one or two bottles that night instead of all night  "

I just worry about her liver... I don't think I could enjoy the drink if I knew she was getting it too...KWIM?

<blockquote><b>Quoting Rumpelstiltskin:</b>" I just worry about her liver... I don't think I could enjoy the drink if I knew she was getting it too...KWIM?"</blockquote>




I promise it would be fine as long as you go by the rule, but it is better to be safe than sorry! You do what you're comfortable with, but it's good to know that it is okay in moderation too  

Quoting Love Wedge +2:" So my son will be 4 months old next week. He's EBF. His dad lives about 2 hours away and wants to start ... [snip!] ... he goes away for the weekend. Or lose my supply because he's not BF on demand. Any other suggestions or tips would be helpful."

I know you say he wants to start overnight visits on weekends but frankly I'd say no. Most breastfed babies are feeding at night still at that age & if your body isn't used ot pumping like that, you won't get the sam eoutput & coudl even have issue swith plugs. i worked from 6 week sonward & when my 1st was about a year they started having me do some SHORT traveling - like overnight...and I have a terrible time with it. I couldn't get letdown, etc. My body was used to pumping EVERY day - yet when it had to rely on a pump for a full 24-36 hrs, it would not fully empty or cooperate. No one could have been more surprised than me. I figured I was a "pro" at that point & knew all the ins & outs of pumping.

I understand why dad would want this & why you want to cooperate, but I am not sure how practical it will end up being & once you agree to it & start, you may be stuck with it & I wouldn't want to take that chance frankly. Where I live, if you are allowing reasonable access to the child, most judges would not require an overnight visit until age 3....especially when nursing. I also think it is very easy when you have a 4 month old to see an 8 month old as being so much older & have all sorts of ideas about how different your baby will be by then. It is true, baby will likely set up by then, have solid foods & maybe crawl (or in rare cases walk). But they are very much the same in other ways. Many still nurse just as often as they did at 4 months, even at night. That may sound discouraging if you have a baby that nurses every 2 hrs - but it's the truth.

If you do plan to go ahead with it - start pumping now & saving it. Like I said, getting letdown is hard when relying solely on a pump for days at a time, most times a baby overeats at the bottle so they burn through milk if the one giving the bottle is not cautious & so you may find yourself coming up short.

Here is info on how much baby is likely to need:
http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/pumping/milkcalc/

I know it's really late and no one is probably on, but is this an active support group? I'm just looking for a group I can be involved in to encourage me to stick with it and even talk about it with. I'm hoping I find that in this thread.

<blockquote><b>Quoting [Boats&Hoes]:</b>" I know it's really late and no one is probably on, but is this an active support group? I'm just looking ... [snip!] ... group I can be involved in to encourage me to stick with it and even talk about it with. I'm hoping I find that in this thread."</blockquote>




Very active, you're very welcome here!