Leah Update... Questions... Bragging :)

Hi ladies!  I have Leah down for a nap... she just took two full ounces of breastmilk and after an ounce of formula earlier this morning I'm very pleased!  

My mom left yesterday so I'm all on my own (dh just does some holding here and there lol... he's still even a bit scared to move her).  Thank goodness for mom having been here though because I got some rest and did some great healing I think over this past week.  Plus she def. helped me get through the upsetting news at the pediatricians office and helped me get leah gaining weight.  

Anyway, as most of you know, I am now supplementing with formula because my milk wasnt coming in well yet.  Milk is def. coming in better with the single medela pump though and I am getting decent volumes to feed her along with the formula.  I think I have a good system down of alternating between the two using as much milk as I can get.  She takes both very well!  Her wet diapers and her messy ones seem normal.  Her poo is def. very yellowish... I wonder if that is a sign that the jaundice is coming out?  I could sound so dumb saying that haha.  I dont know if that has anythinbg to do with it!  

Unfortunately I have discovered that she isnt takign to my breast as well with all of the bottle feeding.  I offer it to her at the beginning of each feeding and she sucks for a while and seems to get very frustrated and exhausted.  I know myflow isnt fast and I really want her to gain this weight so for now I'm giving the bottles after about 10  mins on my nipples.  Plus she's still getting a lot of breastmilk from what I'm pumping and I'm happy with that.  

Has anyone mostly pumped their milk and bottle fed it to their baby?  Are the benefits the same?  (Aside from the obvious missing out on the bonding but I am comfortable holding her close and feeding her well for right now).  
I def. plan ot give her primarily breastmilk because it is better for her and cost effecient.  I feel happy with it so far, should I?  

Lastly, I wanted to brag a bit.  Over the weekend or late last week I was concerned because I had only lost 11 of the 30 lbs I gained... 7.7 of that being her.  Today I weighed and I've lost 20 of the 30 pounds!  That leaves me with only 10 to go exactly one week after labor!  I am just so glad for that!  I wonder if all of the pumping helped?  Might be that and all of the water drinking and milk drinking filling me up.  Might also be the stress and I might gain it back haha.  We'll see!  Once she's back to birthweight I'll take her for walks but right now I feel she is so fragile!  

Anyway, any tips on the supplementing/pumping situation are greatly appreciated!  

[nikkicole827]

Oh and one big shout out to Rubyolivia finally being admitted to have Max!  I'm so excited for her!  Ally76, youre around the corner, I know it!

[Nicole624]

IM glad shes doing well! Wow!! Loosing all that weight CONGRATS! Im up 55lbs with this little guy so I hope to loose it fast!!!

[jd1419]

Just think by pumping and having it in a bottle DH will be able to feed her also..it will give him some bonding time--and it may allow you to take a shower in peace and quite....don't worry about the bonding--you are still bonding when you hold her just look into her eyes and hold her little hand...that is one thing I miss now that my baby is turning three--just sitting and looking into their eyes when they are so small--it is just so precious....

[mum2beagain]

That is great news, if you find it easier pumping and giving it in a bottle do it, it still gives baby all the benefits of breastmilk; the delivery system does not matter!!!! I did it with my first for a couple of months (he was preemie too) and considered it with my second although he took to nursing after a couple of weeks.

[tmv]

Keep up the good work. I would try putting her at the breast a little more, if you can. Do what you have been with trying the breast first, give a little more from the bottle but not enough to fill her just to satisfy so she won't be so hungry, then put back to the breast. She'll get the hang of it with persistance. I had to do the same thing with my ds when she was jaundiced, only she started at 3 days. You're right, too, the bilirubin is excreted in the stool and when it's up high you'll even notice it in the urine. Now that you're a mom, you'll find yourself comfortable talking about anything! We all do, I think.  The pumping isn't as efficient as the baby nursing,and she'll get more from nursing you. Best wishes and glad things are shaping up!

[tiredbuthappy]

keep trying the breast if you can to keep her used to it. my dd never went on the breast because she was a preemie and had feeding issues. at 6 1/2 weeks, we are still working to get her nurse. But, pumping is just as good for her as nursing. my dd was gaining twice as much weight as they wanted the first month of her life. she was averaging over 2 ounces of gaining/day on the pumped breast milk. plus, by pumping, you know exactly how much she's getting. i am NOT saying pumping is better- i desperately wish she'd successfully nurse and am paying a lot of $ to try to get help. but there are some benefits to pumping, and nutritionally, it's the same. plus, since i pump, dh watches her and feeds her so i can sleep 3 or 4 consecutive hours at night before he goes to bed.

[AndiJ78]

Nursing will be much easier as time goes by and she will be getting more from that as well as all the hind milk. Pumps can draw out the foremilk, but sometimes people stop nursing before the fattening hind milk comes out.

At this age, she may take 20 minutes per side to get the hind milk. Nursing will also get that milk supply going alot faster and better than the pump.

[lovethebops]

I'm really glad you are feeling better today, your mood seems a lot better! That is too bad your Mom had to leave so soon, I was able to have mine help out for the first few weeks, and it really helped me to get the rest and healing I needed as well! That is great that you are sticking w/ the breastfeeding, I'm sure it will get easier for you w/ time, did for me anyways...I'm not really sure about the poo coloring having to do w/ jaundice...My dd never had jaundice, but she did have yellow/mustard colored poo the whole time I breastfed her...I thought that was the normal color it's supposed to be....She sounds like she is doing great and I'm glad you are doing well today!~bops

[tomel]

Breastfed babies poop is supposed to be yellow, has nothing to do with jaundice coming out.
If yor giving her the breastmilk it doesnt matter how she gets it.
When you pump try putting (feeding) her on one breast while you pump on the other, you will get alot of milk this way.
  

[leetlebeanweasle]

WAY TO GO! :) Your doing good!