re: BREASTFEEDING!!!!

Quoting anniegebel:“ welcome! what's AP? I miss my LLL meetings. I went in WA and learned so much and met some ... [snip!] ... anything about it...why should they educate themselves on such an incredible and important thing!   glad you're here!”

Attachment Parenting  
That is sad that there is no interest, breastfeeding is a wonderful thing and it helps to have support! I managed this far with just minimal, but now that the pedi is being difficult, I need more, because he refuses to listen to me. I didn't actually stand up to him, I juts didn't do it. Standing up to him is going to come at the 6 month visit and I am not looking forward to it. I may end up switching pedis  

Ladies!! I'm in desperate need of some help here. Alexis will be 5 weeks on Tuesday and I think I have a low supply. I've been pumping like a mad woman and am on my 2nd pump. Yesterday I pumped for 30 minutes and only got half an ounce! My breast aren't hurting like I've heard so many times, and are not engorged at all. How can I produce more milk? I feed on demand, but she'll stick for 30min to an hour. She sleeps mostly through the night, only wakes up once to feed and falls asleep while eating. Now I want to pump cus I'll be going back to work soon and need to have bm for my mom to feed her. Also... She went 5 days without pooping, my mom suggested formula to help her, so I cringed and gave in. This was on Friday, she pooped a lot just once right after, but hasn't again since. What do I do ladies? Please help. =(

Formula won't help pooping tht I know of O_o And it is normal for some babies to not poop once in a while. As long as she is not in pain, I wouldn't worry right now.
As for supply, by 5 weeks you shouldn't be engorged really, and pumping is not an indication of true supply as it is not as efficient as a baby nursing. If you are wanting to increase your supply, nurse more often and it will go up within days  
As long as baby is not acting like she is starving, you are making enough ^_^

Quoting Mrs_Davila:“ Ladies!! I'm in desperate need of some help here. Alexis will be 5 weeks on Tuesday and I think I have ... [snip!] ... in. This was on Friday, she pooped a lot just once right after, but hasn't again since. What do I do ladies? Please help. =(”

When are you pumping? That can make a big difference in how much you get. Especially if you have been ebf up until this point. What i would recommend is that you pump at the same time everyday, once maybe twice a day. Try to do it at least an hour after nursing, more if possible. When you do it right after nursing, you aren't going to ge much. If you do it right before a feeding, you'll get more and there will still be plenty for baby because she's better at getting it out than the pump.

It is normal not to feel full or get engorged after 5-6 weeks. This just means your supply is regulated now (which is also another reason it is hard for you to get a lot when you pump). And she could be going through a growth spurt right now as well, making her nurse longer and/or more frequently.

Quoting mamacj:“ When are you pumping? That can make a big difference in how much you get. Especially if you have been ... [snip!] ... you pump). And she could be going through a growth spurt right now as well, making her nurse longer and/or more frequently.”

They never felt full really. I usually pump one side while she's nursing on the other then switch. I've been pumping since she was 3 weeks. Is there anything I can do to make more?

Quoting Mrs_Davila:“ They never felt full really. I usually pump one side while she's nursing on the other then switch. I've been pumping since she was 3 weeks. Is there anything I can do to make more?”

Don't worry about never feeling full, as I never do either unless my daughter goes 8+ hours without nursing overnight, even when my milk first came in  
Nursing more often increases supply usually as I said... Though I think you can also try fenugreek, mother's milk tea (or something like that?), brewer's yeast... not sure what else, but I am sure someone here does ;D

Quoting Tari Mithrandir:“ Don't worry about never feeling full, as I never do either unless my daughter goes 8+ hours without ... [snip!] ... mother's milk tea (or something like that?), brewer's yeast... not sure what else, but I am sure someone here does ;D”

Thanks! She's never starving, just constantly latched on. I need to pump to start storing for when I have to be away. Also, I try pumping for when we go out bc I'm still kinda nervous and shy to nurse in public. Could it be the pump? Also, what's brewer's yeast?

My daughter is three weeks old, has been using a Soothie pacifier since day 2, and has bottle fed twice within the last week and seemed to do well. But for the past few days she's been clicking her tongue when nursing...which sometimes breaks the suction, causing her to re-latch (ouch!). I'm wondering if she's doing this because my breasts are fuller due to my pumping and storing or if she's having trouble nursing all of a sudden. It doesn't seem to cause her any trouble except gas, but it hurts me!

Quoting Mrs_Davila:“ Thanks! She's never starving, just constantly latched on. I need to pump to start storing for when ... [snip!] ... for when we go out bc I'm still kinda nervous and shy to nurse in public. Could it be the pump? Also, what's brewer's yeast?”

It could be a low-quality pump. What kind is it? Also, I think manual's are harder to get more out of. Also, you may want to eat a little more and drink more water. I know that whenever my supply drops, it is usually one of those two things - not getting enough calories or being dehydrated.

Quoting mamacj:“ It could be a low-quality pump. What kind is it? Also, I think manual's are harder to get more out of. ... [snip!] ... I know that whenever my supply drops, it is usually one of those two things - not getting enough calories or being dehydrated.”

I have an Evenflo electric one and an Avent manual. The electric works for like 2 minutes then nothing comes out. With the manual, it only works for the first few pumps then nothing comes out.

Quoting Mrs_Davila:“ I have an Evenflo electric one and an Avent manual. The electric works for like 2 minutes then nothing comes out. With the manual, it only works for the first few pumps then nothing comes out.”

Does your electric one have settings you can mess with? I know my Ameda had two different knobs I can turn to adjust both the suction and the cycle to get it to where it works best for me. Usually the closer you can get to how your baby sucks is what will work best. I know if I have it on certain settings, nothing comes out but when I adjust it...here comes the flow baby lol.

Quoting Tari Mithrandir:“ Attachment Parenting   That is sad that there is no interest, breastfeeding is a wonderful thing and ... [snip!] ... up to him is going to come at the 6 month visit and I am not looking forward to it. I may end up switching pedis  ”

ah...that makes sense. I guess I practice semi-attached parenting! I sling my youngest when out and about but not around home. There's probably more to AP than slinging your little one all the time, but that's my impression of what it is...I wouldn't mind a fuller definition if you (or anyone) has one.

As for the pedi...that's how I started too...nodding my head in the office and then simply not doing the things that were suggested. With my first two I'd go straight from the pedi to the LC, who was in the same hospital, and ask her about the recommendations. She'd tell me why they were or weren't necessary and if they weren't, she'd get the doc's name and to a little BF education! She was wonderful. After a while I got so I could tell the doc right in the appointment "no" and why. I had one give me that look of disapproval and he was sure to let me know he'd be writing it in my daughter's chart. But the other's I've seen have responded more with surprise than disapproval. And one said she'd look up what I was saying and let me know...she did, I was right, and she is more informed.  

you'll get great support at the LLL meetings.

Quoting Mrs_Davila:“ Thanks! She's never starving, just constantly latched on. I need to pump to start storing for when ... [snip!] ... for when we go out bc I'm still kinda nervous and shy to nurse in public. Could it be the pump? Also, what's brewer's yeast?”

Being "constantly latched on" isn't unusual at this age. It doesn't mean you're not making enough, it just means she's growing and eating...she's probably priming you for a growth spurt too (usually happens around 6 weeks). So, keep letting her suckle as often as possible. That's the best way to increase your supply.

I don't know a ton about pumping, but I know that pumping the same time every day will let your body be on a schedule. I also know the amount you pump is not a good indication of how much you're making...baby's are more effecient (someone already said that I think).

Aslo, when you go back to work, there are lots of ways to still breastfeed. You might be ablet to have baby come to you for feedings. Try to pump the same time at work as normal feedings would be. Baby might eat more frequently when you are around and less frequenlty when you're gone.

keep up the good work...good luck.

Quoting Tari Mithrandir:“ Formula won't help pooping tht I know of O_o And it is normal for some babies to not poop once in a while. ... [snip!] ... nurse more often and it will go up within days   As long as baby is not acting like she is starving, you are making enough ^_^”

I agree. Breastmilk isalmost completely used in the body so there's not a lot left to poop. The more hindmilk baby gets the more likely he or she (can't remember) will have something left to poop. But don't stress...my little guy went 16 days without pooping!

Formula babies poop because it's not digested as well and there's a lot of stuff left to get rid of. Don't go by poop, go by wet diapers...if you're good there, you're good!

Quoting Jess [Isabella's Mommy]:“ My daughter is three weeks old, has been using a Soothie pacifier since day 2, and has bottle fed twice ... [snip!] ... or if she's having trouble nursing all of a sudden. It doesn't seem to cause her any trouble except gas, but it hurts me!”

I don't really have an answer, but my thought would be to stop her, look at her and say "no, that hurts mama." and then relatch her. Also, if she can click her tongue it doesn't sound like a good latch...her tongue should be under your breast not really free for fun!

There are some good latching videos at http://www.thebirthden.com/Newman.html