Got Milk!!!

So after Sequoia's unusual 4hr nap and not eating...I decided to pump and see what i'd get. i was shocked to get 5 oz's. She drank 2 1/2 oz's and acted done...but quickley began screaming...until i gave her the boob again. She didnt want anymore from the bottle I guess! I was glad that pumped to empty out my breasts. Im goingg to try to do it now once a day since i know i have plenty always in tthe beginning.It was nice to pump and see how much she eats. I got me a hungry girl!

That's a lot of milk! You are quite the producer. It is great that she will nurse and take a bottle.

That's great! Both that you are producing so much and she's such a healthy eater!

With my last 2, both only wanted to nurse on one side and then it would be a while before they were hungry enough to eat again. I would nurse and then when done break out the pump and do the other side. It was a great way to build up a stockpile in the freezer! That's what I plan on doing again this time.

Jake eats off of one breast and then the next breast at the next feeding. Is it necessary to pump the other side in between feedings?

The lactation specialist told me not pump until about 3 to 4 weeks and at that time introduce the bottle to Jake starting out once a week. She said if I pump now it will cause my breast to over produce.

De

I started doing those early pumpings because I was in too much pain if I didn't. Not to mention the mess the "unused" one would make with all the leaking it would do both during the feeding and then afterwards. Then the next feeding, I would use the one I pumped a few hours earlier.

I was happy with how things worked doing it this way. I also had to return to work after those babies were 8 weeks old and it was really a great stockpile I had built up by then. This time, I won't be going to work and don't plan on using bottles but at least the stockpile will be there for if we do need a bottle.

Dee, you'll have to do what you feel is right. If you're not in a lot of pain and/or a lot of leaking with the one he's not currently using, then stick with the routine you have started. If you do decide to pump, just freeze it for now. I agree with not introducing a bottle for a while still, because of the nipple confusion. Plus, the milk will come out of a bottle nipple easier than a real nipple and some babies decide they then want to take the easier way to feed (bottle).

Holy smokes do I have milk!! I have never had a problem producing, but I had forgotten how much pain it is when she doesn't empty a breast!! I am going to have to start pumping because these ta-tas are HUGE and hard when she doesn't finish. I probably could spray a good 2-3 feet in front of me with the amount of milk I have!! Poor girl, I nearly drown her each time she eats! I was so blessed to get my milk the day after my c/s--I never thought it would come in that fast!!!

Thats great Stacey. i am glad to hear all is going well.

My milk is really coming in. Jake only feeds on one side at a time so i feel like i should pump the other side for some relief. the lactation
specialist told me to wait until 3 weeks before i start to pump so i dont confuse my breasts in making too much. i need some relief and dont know what to do.

daj72705 wrote:Thats great Stacey. i am glad to hear all is going well.

My milk is really coming in. Jake only feeds on one side at a time so i feel like i should pump the other side for some relief. the lactation
specialist told me to wait until 3 weeks before i start to pump so i dont confuse my breasts in making too much. i need some relief and dont know what to do.

You can pump for relief. Dont let yourself get too full. You might get an infection that way. Watch for red warm spots and fevers. I'd say pump for comfort not quantity.

I agree with April, pump a little for relief! You don't have to empty your breast with pumping, but enough so you aren't miserable and engorged! I certainly don't want these mamas making more milk until she grows and needs more, but I have to do something to get some relief.

Stacey

I went to Babiesrus today and picked up some things I need for my pump. I think I will try pumping just for relief like what you said. I also got some washable breast pads to see if that helps with comfort. I have been putting milk on my sore nipple and walking around the house without a shirt. I am hanging in there but its not easy. I am still in tears when he latches on. My nipples are so sore and I pray they heal soon. Are the creams any good to put on your nipples?

When you pump for relief do you know about how much milk you are getting when you do that? Do you save that?

Dee

Dee.. Im sorry to hear your nipples are still sore and cracked. It really is normal especially for a FTM even seconds and thirds. The nipple cream is good for them. Its expensive. But it does give some relief. Pumping might be uncomfortable if they are still that sore. You can give it a try. Keep putting your milk on your nipples and let them air dry. The tshirt thing is a good idea. Sucks when you let down.. but if your just home who cares. If his latch doesnt improve, you really should see someone to help him and yourself. It sounds like this is really what you want. You should stick to it and do what you can to make it work out. You can also try tea bags on your nipples a few times a day. Moisten the tea bag in warm water and just rest them on your nipples. It will help with the healing. Your doing great!!!

Thank you April. I am trying my hardest and I really want to do this. Once he is latched on and eating it doesn't hurt, its just the initial latch on. I pray that my nipples heal quickly. I was worried about pumping and wondered how much that might hurt. I am going to give it another day or two and will probably call the lactation specialist to see if they can see me this week. I am going to work on at least hand expressing some milk to get some relief.
Thanks for listening and for the advice. Am I the only one having issues with this? I feel like I am failing my son.

I can totally speak from experience! Your are NOT failing Jake. Its a learning process for the both of you. I would say this happened with my first 3 kids and maybe even my 4th. Now my nipples are so conditioned to the "abuse" it doesnt effect them. Everything that your telling me is completely NORMAL! It would only last 2 weeks for me. I have spoken with other woman through my b/f'ing support groups and they said the same thing. The first 2 weeks are the hardest. Are you making sure he opens his mouth wide? Is he taking in a good portion of your ariola? When he sucks, can you see it in his cheeks by his ears? Thats a good thing if you see him sucking and you see the muscles by his ears working. Make sure his tongue is down and out as well. Put your pinky in his mouth. YOu can tell how he sucks by this. No one said breastfeedng was easy. But once the two of you catch on, it will stay with you as long as you want it too. And you will be rewarded!

Hugs hang in there mom!

Thank you April. I am making sure his mouth is wide and his cheeks are by his ears and I can for sure hear and see him sucking. So I know he is getting milk, that and he keeps spitting up. So at times I think he is getting too much milk. I think one of my problems is that I am not putting my nipple far enough into his mouth. I have been holding underneath my boob and when he opens wide I am putting more of my boob in his mouth. I think I was thinking he could do it. I don't know but the last few times I have fed him haven't been as bad because he isn't sucking or pulling on the end of my nipple. My boobs/nipples are for sure sore but it wasn't quite as painful when he latched on.

I wanted to ask, is it ok to let him drink on one side and then when he falls asleep (which I try to keep him awake but you know how that goes) I take him off and burp him and that wakes him up some then I put him on my other boob to help relieve the pressure on that boob. I was worried that he won't get the hind milk, is that what its called? The milk with all the fat etc in it. What do you think?

I am washing the washable breast pads, they are so soft and I hope that provides some comfort in between feedings. I also bought shields that will keep everything off of my nipples so I am anxious to give those a try too. I haven't used the cream yet although I have some here.

Last night was just rough for me. I am still hormonal and getting my body back and all that good stuff. I just felt blah and like I wasn't doing enough for Jake. I guess the FTM blues? Thanks for listening!

Dee.. Thats good news that the latches are starting to get easier and the nipple is on the road to healing! Sounds like the two fo you are getting it! As for him nursing on one side, burping, going onto the next but not finishing... Your milk had a let-down while he was nurisng on the first breast. So the hind milk, the fatty milk, mixed in to the first milk during that let down. So dont worry about that. Concentrate on empying the first breast and his latch. When ia his first weight check? one handed typing.

also one handed typing here, lol. he had his first weight check last tuesday. he left hospital sunday at 8lbs on tuesday he had gained 4 oz. we go again next week the 18th.

for the weight gain!!!!

Dee & April--I'm glad the two of you are dialoguing about this, it helps to have someone who has had experience that can walk you through this. I know they say breastfeeding is natural, and it is, but that doesn't mean it's easy the first (or second, etc.) time around. Dee, I experienced the exact same thing as you with my first son...I had so much milk and he wasn't eating much and my nipples were cracked and bleeding! Part of the problem was that the baby was latching on more to my nipple than the rest of my breast, I did have a lactation consultant come to my house and that was really helpful, she was able to see how he was latching on and what we were doing right/wrong. I did buy some Lansinoh to put on my nipples and that helped a little, and it's fine for the baby. Kudos to you that you haven't given up yet, but I totally understand the pain and the frustration!! Hang in there Dee, you aren't failing Jake, he is gaining weight which is important---but your comfort is also important, so maybe try to give your lactation consultant a call to see if she would make a house call. The pumping might be painful as well, but it would give your breasts a little relief when he only eats on one side. I typically try to feed Sophia on one side...then of course she falls asleep and then I change her to wake her up a bit and then feed her on the other side. I've read (and maybe April knows whether this is right or not) that the first 5 minutes on each side is the most important part of the milk, then it gets watered down and doesn't have as much of the important nutrients....then again they say you should try to empty each breast at each feeding...which is impossible for Sophia cause she falls into a deep Sleeping Beauty sleep every time! lol

Don't give up!!! You are doing great!!!!

Stacey

Just got back from WIC.. Sequoia gained 1 lb 1 oz since she came home. She is up to 8 lbs 1oz. That a girl Sequoia!!!

Wow, she is doing well. Thank goodness she is such a good eater and you are producing so much milk. April, you make it look easy!

yay for the weight gain!!

stacey thank you for the kind words. I am hanging in there. I am determined to do this!!

I wonder how much I am getting. When I go to feed her it just starts pouring out of me. I end up soaking my shirt and her. It's crazy. I just can't get her latched on quick enough. She eats every 2-3 hours and stays on for any where from 10 minutes to 30 minutes between the two sides. I can honestly feel them leaking now but she is asleep!!!!!! I don't know why I am producing so much.

Its your body adjusting to her demands. Your body thinks that it has to make and make...but when there is no demand.. it will stop producing as much. You can take advantage of this time to pump out the extra after you feed her if you want. It will make you produce what is coming out each time, but you will have spare milk in the freezer. I am pumping once a day, in the evening. Typically the evenings are harder for me to produce. So if i make my body think it needs all that extra milk I should be good later on. I pumped last night and got 9 oz! I split it up into 3 freezer bags, layed them flat in my freezer oh and put the date and oz on them. Frozen milk is good for like 3 mths i think.

I leak all the time too crystal. my shirt and baby jake end up being wet. i havent tried pumping yet, but i need to. i will feel better having food for jake in the freezer, especially if i need to go somewhere without him.

way to go april 9 oz!!