re: Pumping immediately after birth...

Quoting ☮ Phuket:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Ravey Candyass:</b>" It took 7 days. I pumped every 90-120 minutes, ... [snip!] ... give anything to be able to pump ounces and have milk running out of my breasts.. Better than not having enough in my opinion."

Painful letdown, clogged ducts, constant leaking, spraying milk everywhere when baby pulls off after letdown. Having this issue...DD has been super fussy and it's frustrating as hell. The foremilk/hindmilk imbalance is causing her to be gassy, spitty, and have green poops. She constantly pulls off and screams while nursing and usually won't nurse for more than 5 minutes at a time (so she winds up eating like every 15 mins-half hour). I've ended up crying several times from frustration and am now nursing on a block schedule to produce LESS milk.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Supafly★:</b>" For the first 2 weeks all I did was pump and nurse. My milk took 5 days to come in and I had to supplement ... [snip!] ... my colostrum - either I didn't make any or hopefully DS got it all. Shuddering at the thought of eating raw placenta.  "</blockquote>




I will be blending it into a smoothie.. Im desperate

DD also chokes and sputters constantly while nursing because the milk comes out so fast. She ends up nursing a lot less because she gets frustrated and gassy from too much foremilk...so then you end up with the same problem.

Quoting ☮ Phuket:" <blockquote><b>Quoting A Beautiful Disaster:</b>" half the challenge of breastfeeding ... [snip!] ... girls with milk stashes and tht can EBF so easy Its so hard for me! I just want to do anything possible to have lots of milk!"

How soon did you introduce formula with your other 3? Even if you supplement once during the first 6 weeks or sometimes even longer, everything goes out the window because of how thick and hard to digest formula is.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Lizplustwo:</b>" Painful letdown, clogged ducts, constant leaking, spraying milk everywhere when baby pulls off after ... [snip!] ... hour). I've ended up crying several times from frustration and am now nursing on a block schedule to produce LESS milk."</blockquote>




Ive never had thqt problem, im not worried about making TOO much, i know my body wont let that happen, my boobs just suck, but i just want to make more than i have and make ENOUGH and to me, i feellike i need to trick my body into thinking i need to make more milk. And if i get an oversupply and it sucks, i learned the hard way like usual, but i hardly get engorged or feel let downs or anything, i want that, i want to have to pumo every 2 hours and nurse cuz my boobs are hard.. I want it.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Supafly★:</b>" How soon did you introduce formula with your other 3? Even if you supplement once during the first ... [snip!] ... the first 6 weeks or sometimes even longer, everything goes out the window because of how thick and hard to digest formula is. "</blockquote>




Around 2 weeks i ws told by oediatricians to supplement.

Quoting ☮ Phuket:" <blockquote><b>Quoting A Beautiful Disaster:</b>" half the challenge of breastfeeding ... [snip!] ... girls with milk stashes and tht can EBF so easy Its so hard for me! I just want to do anything possible to have lots of milk!"

dont supplement, they will gain the weight back. Dont let people (doctors) frighten or pressure you.
If anything, think of all the mothers in the world that breastfeed successfully without some doctor breathing down their neck or weighing their baby every day.

Just relax, feed your baby and give it time to work

You DO NOT want an oversupply. That's 24/7 engorgement. You will never empty and will be in agony the whole time you're producing. I had oversupply issues with my second and it actually led me to give up producing because I couldn't take it anymore. It took nearly 3 months before I could go without breast pads.

Quoting ☮ Phuket:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Supafly★:</b>" How soon did you introduce formula with ... [snip!] ... of how thick and hard to digest formula is. "</blockquote> Around 2 weeks i ws told by oediatricians to supplement."

But you do know it sometimes takes up to 2 weeks for a breastfed baby to get back to his birthweight right? And that as long as there's a certain amount of wet diapers a day and no jaundice, most babies don't need supplementation?

I'm just telling you because a lot of pedis are so misinformed and so freaking quick to jump the gun on formula. I was told to supplement with both kids. My first actually needed it - he was preemie, jaundiced and FTT. My second did not need it at all and luckily after we were released I did some research and was thankfully able to cut out the formula before he got used to a bottle.

I hope you're successful this time around. I remember the first days of breastfeeding and the fear of not producing enough. It's pure misery.

Quoting Supafly★:" But you do know it sometimes takes up to 2 weeks for a breastfed baby to get back to his birthweight ... [snip!] ... this time around. I remember the first days of breastfeeding and the fear of not producing enough. It's pure misery. "

Exactly! This is where Im coming from too.

My son was on chemo at 4 months old. I was told I wouldnt be able to EBF, and was pressured daily to get him a feeding tube.
He was EBF till he was 12 months old (on chemo to 15 months) and never lost a pound....didnt really gain, but never lost.
Id never let someone else tell me what to feed my kids....especially if the argument is about breast milk.


(Premies are a totally different case.....)

Quoting A Beautiful Disaster:" Exactly! This is where Im coming from too. My son was on chemo at 4 months old. I was told I wouldnt ... [snip!] ... tell me what to feed my kids....especially if the argument is about breast milk. (Premies are a totally different case.....)"

That's amazing!   I was worried about DS2 not being EBF because he had jaundice too...and the pedi told me to stop BFing and give him formula for 3 days to get rid of it. Well, I knew if I did that I could kiss my milk supply and his latch good-bye.so I just nursed around the clock and his jaundice went away. I am soooo glad I listened to my instincts! Now he'll be 8 months on Monday and still EBF.

Quoting Supafly★:" That's amazing!   I was worried about DS2 not being EBF because he had jaundice too...and the pedi ... [snip!] ... clock and his jaundice went away. I am soooo glad I listened to my instincts! Now he'll be 8 months on Monday and still EBF. "

I went into breastfeeding not knowing a thing!!!

I just knew boobs were for babies right?
Well in that year I learned more then I ever thought I would, and when you network with strong pro breastfeeding doctors/nurses/LCs/moms..you get facts and experience.

A lot of BG moms worry soooo much. Negative energy is the WORST thing you can do to your baby and supply. (I also learned a smurf load about babies and mamas energy through our chemo experience too)

Trust your body, trust you baby. IMO thats ALL you need to successfully breastfeed.

Quoting A Beautiful Disaster:" I went into breastfeeding not knowing a thing!!! I just knew boobs were for babies right? Well in that ... [snip!] ... energy through our chemo experience too) Trust your body, trust you baby. IMO thats ALL you need to successfully breastfeed. "

Yeah I know but with all the misinformation from professionals, family, and other mothers it's so hard to know if you're doing it right! Babies are meant to breastfeed but it sure as hell didn't come naturally to me lol.

And I agree about the energy. With my second I did want to breastfeed of course. But I reminded myself that it's not the end of the world if not everything works out. But it did work out - everything with my second has been going along smoothly and perfectly so far. Maybe because I'm more relaxed this time around? OP is on her 4th so I hope she is relaxed by now too.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Supafly★:</b>" Yeah I know but with all the misinformation from professionals, family, and other mothers it's so hard ... [snip!] ... and perfectly so far. Maybe because I'm more relaxed this time around? OP is on her 4th so I hope she is relaxed by now too. "</blockquote>




I was deff more relaxed last time, i figured if i just ldt baby nurse as much as often we would be fine. And i mean even now he still suckles my breasts for comfort even though ive nad no milk for months now. And we were able to nurse until i got pregnant, but never Exclusively.. It does stress me out. Its like another job on top of all the jobs i alreqdy have. So works out of town and might be gone shortly after i get home with the babe. I dont want to have to worry about formula or aything, i just want my body to work this to time. I wqnt to EBF for good! Thanks though for your advice! I just wnat to make lots of milk! My boobs aer lopsided too and i feel like one of them sucks at milk making. My other one will dominate when it comes to milk production, the other one....not some much, im lucky to get the bottom of thenbottle covered with milk when i pumo out of that side. I know pumping isnt a good indication of milk supply but even when i had expressed and stuff no more came out! Idk im justjp at a loss..

I actually pumped about 3hrs after I had my c-section with the hospital grade pump. I was getting colostrum instantly. I got about an oz on each side. The nurses were surprised since I was a planned c-section so my body technically wasnt 'ready' to have the baby. Have you tried the hospital pump? Its SOOO strong, its hurts a little but as soon as I saw it flowing I didnt care. He was able to latch and eat right after surgery, I wasnt even in the room yet just the recovery room and he was trying so hard. They pump worked wonders! I hope it works for you too!!!