Anyone breastfeeding

[NicMom]

For the new moms, are any of you breastfeeding and if so how's it going?

I've been bf'ing since she was born and just in the last few days we stopped supplementing with formula and are now just nursing and pumping. It's not too bad other than problems with a cracked nipple, OUCH. I'm up to 100 to 120ml every three hours.

[jenntanis]

Because of my preeclamsia, and not being able to move for 24 hours, Matthew was supplemented the first 24 hrs or so.  After that, we started breastfeeding, but because of my meds, my milk wasn't coming in fast enough for him.  He's a hungry, Hungry guy!  I was breast feeding for 15 minutes and still supplementing up to 20-30 ml while in the hospital.  And that was almost every hour/hour and half!  I was getting so frustrated, and they tried to have me supplement at the breast, but I was ready to throw in the towel all together.  Plus, he was jaundice, so I was worried about him eating well.  Finally, the NBN nurse talked to me about pumping, and it is a god send!  I rented a hospital pump, and my usual pump is between 120-180 ml, and my first pump is always great ( I don't pump at night).  He's already up to 8 lbs, from 7 lb 11 oz at birth, so we're happy, and Mommy doesn't have to feed him every time!

[JAXX55]

hi. i know how frustrating it can be in the beginning but the best thing is to just keep at it. the best thing for milk supply is to nurse, nurse, nurse. a pump might help(i personally hate pumps) but some people like em, but there is no substitute for the baby him/herself sucking/nursing to increase your supply. I'm working on it right now myself because i got sucked into the supplementing thing too. it ***** but im trying to cut out one formula feeding at a time to get back exclusively on the breast. its just so much better, not to mention EASIER... bottles are a P.I.T.A. aren't they!? lol  good luck and hang in there!

[colorado_g]

also i would recomend potasium so eat a lot of bannanas.

[NicMom]

Don't panic! It took me a week before I had enough milk come in to feed her. Before that I had to supplement with formula. Also you can pick up a nipple shield to help with nursing for a few weeks. It's a little plastic lip that sits on top of your nipple and makes it easier for the baby to nurse. Keep nursing and then pumping every 3 hours and your milk will pick up soon! Make sure you drink drink drink! I notice a huge decrease in milk if I'm dehydrated.

Hang in there and don't give up!

[Juana824]

I am trying to breastfeed and was doing good in the hospital until they took her to the nursery and gave her a bottle. She won't latch on now and I am not getting very muchwhen I pump...makes me wanna cry my heart out...my fear is that she is not getting enough from me so we introduced formula...I still try to nurse, but I thinkI am going to have to throw in the towel...I really don't want to...my cousn had me to take these all natural supplements called fenugreek to help bring in my milk. I hope it works...

Any suggestions on how I can increase my milk flow???

[colorado_g]

i a pumping and feeding him true bottle b/c my breast are 2 big:( and nipples are to hard so he cant nurse. I have a great lactation consultant and she told me 1 -4 week we might lern to lach. good is that 2day i picked up the hhospital medela pump and its great. good luck

[drmwvrjean]

i have been bf exclusively, and so far so good!!  gracie's pediatrician checked her weight yesterday and she has gained 10 oz. since her birth a week ago, so she must be getting enough milk!!  lol  i also bf my other 2 children exclusively until they turned a year old and then i went to regular milk.  i hope i can nurse gracie as long as i did my other 2 kids!!  :)

[tiredbuthappy]

I am, and I am loving it. I couldn't BF my first and had to pump, so I REALLY appreciate being able to do it this time around. It's definitely much much easier than pumping.
My nipples hurt, but the pain pills i am taking for the c-sec dull it a lot. The pain is only there for 10-20 seconds when she first latches on, and then it fades very quickly. The lanolin has made a huge difference, but it makes my nipples slippery and she has a little trouble latching on when I use it.

My older DD has been very sick since we've gotten home, and I'm hoping bf'ing will help prevent the baby from getting it.

[kaprovea]

I wouldn't say that bottle fed babies sleep longer he was getting up every 3 hours at night still so we will see.  

[JAXX55]

I'm doing both. BF'g all day and topping off with a bottle. Mainly bottle at night though. SOmetimes I BF in bed at night though too. It's going well.

[NicMom]

Kaprovea, I'm sorry to hear you had such a hard time. I almost wish I could say the same thing just because the pain is horrible. Plus I hear that formula fed babies sleep longer.

[kaprovea]

I was breast feeding for about 3 weeks and we just started feeding him pure formula.  My milk supply was not enough for him and everything that we tried didn't help my supply so I just admitted defeat and am giving him bottles now.

[rdh1981]

I am pumping! Cruz is such a big eater, nursing just makes him more tired and worn out. So, I opted just to pump. Although at least once a day I still let him nurse, so he does not forget how.  

I agree with cracked nipples it is hard to bf, it is much easier to pump. Wow, 100 to 120 mL, that is awesome. I can do that about three times a day and that is it. The rest of the day it is around 90ml. That is what Cruz is eating now, so I feel like I am dairy farm!!!!!

Have fun with Bella!