Eames
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Post by Eames on Mar 15, 2019 8:20:04 GMT -6
Hi all, Wanted to start a thread for anyone that wants to talk breastfeeding. Challenges, tips, cheering each other on, etc. For me and the twins (1w4d old now), we are pumping and doing bottles at night. During the day I am tandem feeding them at the breast but using nipple shields to help them latch. I can't do it for every feed though, because they will take 45 minutes to an hour and I have a 4 year old too. I'm getting frustrated/feeling bad because with my older child, I seriously sat all day long and nursed her. I didn't do anything else. This time around, I have to help care for her, plus care for 2 newborns. I just can't sit all day. My H has been a big help, but he'll be going back to work next week. My ILs will then be here for 2 weeks to help, but they aren't super comfortable with all the boobs out part of breastfeeding. I try each day to get them to latch without the shields, but they are refusing now. We've been doing some skin on skin each day too. Any tips for weaning off shields? Just keeping trying? I feel like a lot of BFing is just sticking with it, and they get it eventually, but in the meantime I could use a bit of cheering on. The main reason I want to get them back to breast is to help keep up my supply (so far it's more than adequate), and because once they are efficient I think it will save time to tandem. I also miss snuggling them and all the cuddles that DD got that I feel they are missing out on. (Tagging AmyG because her tips and support are always so helpful.)
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pambee
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Post by pambee on Mar 15, 2019 8:51:26 GMT -6
I don't have any experience with a shield but I'm so impressed you're able to tandem already, even if you need the shields right now! I knew a few ladies who had twins and waited a while before trying to tandem because it was harder, so that's awesome that you're managing it!!
And I feel you on being conflicted about being attached to the boob, and wanting that time with him but also the limitations of having another kid this time. Thankfully E can be pretty independent but she still needs attention, and days like yesterday where H was on the boob alllllllllllllllll day she struggled with understanding why mom couldn't do this with her or help her right now or why she couldn't hold him etc etc.... It's definitely a hard transition!
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Post by jewelsofthenile on Mar 15, 2019 8:57:42 GMT -6
I used a nipple shield on my left breast for 5 weeks with my daughter. That nipple was flat/inverted and it was painful every time she latched and she would get frustrated with finding it. I used the shield for protection and to draw it out first before she latched so she wouldn't get frustrated. At 5 weeks she was starting to hate the shield it was bigger than my nipple so a lot to get in her mouth, so I just started latching her directly some feeds. Especially at night because it was less work. She was happier with just the nipple and My nipple was less sensitive and less inverted so it was smooth sailing after that.
I would just keep trying to latch them without the shield once a day or something. They may just still need them at this point.
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Post by tapdancer on Mar 15, 2019 10:08:40 GMT -6
Eames First of all you are amazing for attempting to breastfeed twins. When my cousin did it she had this awesome mega nursing pillow that helped her get both babies positioned. I'll have to check with her about the name. I used a shield with my DD for a few weeks and ended up ditching it MOTN one day because I was tired of using it and her latch was better. Hang in there
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Post by tapdancer on Mar 15, 2019 10:10:30 GMT -6
BF has gone so much smoother this time. My biggest issue is the MOTN cluster feeding. With DH home I've been able to manage since he gets up with DD in the morning and I've been able to catch another hour or two of sleep but I'm nervous for when he goes back to work.
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nmom
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Post by nmom on Mar 15, 2019 13:53:37 GMT -6
I haven’t read repsonses yet and props to you on all of this with twins! So keep in mind I only had one... and only one no older I’m curious to see how this time will go because I too have a 4 year old But I did use a shield with her and had fears of never weaning off it etc. we tried once a day I would latch her with shield get going then slip shield off and I use to get so frustrated!! One day though it just clicked for us. I was still on maternity leave so I know we weren’t on it for more then 12 weeks old but I think maybe around 7?
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Eames
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Post by Eames on Mar 15, 2019 16:42:07 GMT -6
Thanks, all. I was feeling so discouraged but you all made me feel so much better! And like my H said, they aren't even 2 weeks old yet. One day at a time.
I was glad to hear that people were able to ditch shields once the baby was a few weeks older. They can be so annoying but I'm glad to have them on the breast at least.
We'll keep trying!
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Yogurt
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Post by Yogurt on Mar 15, 2019 19:30:11 GMT -6
Thanks, all. I was feeling so discouraged but you all made me feel so much better! And like my H said, they aren't even 2 weeks old yet. One day at a time. I was glad to hear that people were able to ditch shields once the baby was a few weeks older. They can be so annoying but I'm glad to have them on the breast at least. We'll keep trying! With Ramona I used a nipple shield for 5 weeks. She was a voracious nurser I had to pry off the boob at 2.5.
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pambee
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Post by pambee on Mar 15, 2019 19:57:03 GMT -6
The past few days I've felt very much like a milk cow. He wants to nurse all the time, and MH is not great at keeping him content while he's awake (not for lack of effort). It's making me not appreciate the snuggle time I do get which makes me a little sad but I know it will pass.
At least we have a family event tomorrow and I know my mom will hoard him for a few hours and I'll get a little break.
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bex15
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Post by bex15 on Mar 18, 2019 20:30:38 GMT -6
This is probably a stupid question but I assume it’s best to feed on both sides each time, correct? If so, how do you know when to switch? My guy has been kind of picky and sometimes when I move him he won’t relatch and then is just done.
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pambee
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Post by pambee on Mar 18, 2019 20:40:13 GMT -6
This is probably a stupid question but I assume it’s best to feed on both sides each time, correct? If so, how do you know when to switch? My guy has been kind of picky and sometimes when I move him he won’t relatch and then is just done. Not a stupid question! H usually only nurses on one side at a time, randomly after I burp him he'll root around and I'll offer the other side. E almost never ate from both sides. I just let him nurse until he's done or unlatches and then burp, and honestly I only offer the other side if he acts like he's still hungry. If he doesn't then there's no making him open his mouth, lol.
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Post by tapdancer on Mar 18, 2019 21:55:21 GMT -6
This is probably a stupid question but I assume it’s best to feed on both sides each time, correct? If so, how do you know when to switch? My guy has been kind of picky and sometimes when I move him he won’t relatch and then is just done. I've always thought of it as one boob is dinner and the other is dessert. That's how I fed DD and we BF for 2.5 years. This guy is the same. I offer one at a time. Sometimes he cluster feeds so he gets one side at 12, the other at 1, back to the first at 2 etc. it's important that they get both the fore milk and the hind milk. If he's satisfied then I wouldn't worry about it.
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Post by tapdancer on Mar 18, 2019 21:58:07 GMT -6
Also the cluster feeding is important in the beginning to establish your supply. The lactation consultant in the hospital said it will usually happen the second and third night after they are born. It will seem like they are constantly hungry and you just have to power through. This was very true for my guy this go around.
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jacks
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Post by jacks on Mar 19, 2019 6:46:30 GMT -6
So with D1, she started out only eating off one side at a time. Then I got mastitis and my left side became my dud side, so I started always offering that side first before switching to the right to help keep supply up. Will that side still be a dud side this time or is it like reset back to zero each time?
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Eames
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Post by Eames on Mar 19, 2019 7:10:03 GMT -6
With my DD, I always offered both sides but would let her drain one side completely first. She often would take both. During night feeds I would do her diaper in between.
With the twins this time, I am switching them after each feed, but each only gets one side. Since we are using nipple shields they are not completely draining me so I have to pump after each feeding and we top then off too.
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Post by tapdancer on Mar 19, 2019 9:54:43 GMT -6
With my DD, I always offered both sides but would let her drain one side completely first. She often would take both. During night feeds I would do her diaper in between. With the twins this time, I am switching them after each feed, but each only gets one side. Since we are using nipple shields they are not completely draining me so I have to pump after each feeding and we top then off too. Goodness you are amazing! This sounds like so much work.
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Post by jewelsofthenile on Mar 19, 2019 10:59:03 GMT -6
This is probably a stupid question but I assume it’s best to feed on both sides each time, correct? If so, how do you know when to switch? My guy has been kind of picky and sometimes when I move him he won’t relatch and then is just done. Not a stupid question! H usually only nurses on one side at a time, randomly after I burp him he'll root around and I'll offer the other side. E almost never ate from both sides. I just let him nurse until he's done or unlatches and then burp, and honestly I only offer the other side if he acts like he's still hungry. If he doesn't then there's no making him open his mouth, lol. This is what i have done the last 2 times. My kids were usually satisfied with one side. Its worked out well each time. If they were really hungry I gave them the other side.
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tngrl3
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Post by tngrl3 on Mar 19, 2019 12:56:53 GMT -6
This is probably a stupid question but I assume it’s best to feed on both sides each time, correct? If so, how do you know when to switch? My guy has been kind of picky and sometimes when I move him he won’t relatch and then is just done. Lurking from J/F19, this is baby #3 and they all have been one boob only per feed kind of kids. If they had a growth spurt or my supply dipped later in our nursing journeys they sometimes took both sides in one feed. If baby seems satisfied from one side and having plenty of dirty diapers you are good. When I was back to work and needed to have bottles, I would pump one side while I nursed on the other.
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Eames
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Post by Eames on Mar 19, 2019 13:31:40 GMT -6
tapdancer thank you! I am just hanging in there waiting for them to latch better. IME breastfeeding turns a corner and gets easier than pumping/bottles etc. but we aren't nearly there yet.
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Post by orangehibiscus on Mar 22, 2019 1:31:31 GMT -6
So my milk just came in yesterday, but my right breast already has some firm lumps under the skin. Could I have clogged ducts already??
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Post by jewelsofthenile on Mar 22, 2019 6:33:42 GMT -6
So my milk just came in yesterday, but my right breast already has some firm lumps under the skin. Could I have clogged ducts already?? I would guess not my whole boobs where like rocks for 3 to 5 days when my milk came in. I kind of block out how awful it is because to me it is the worse thing about the whole breastfeeding processes. I would take a hot shower and see if you can massage those lumps to make them feel better and get out any clog if there is one.
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Post by orangehibiscus on Mar 22, 2019 6:39:31 GMT -6
So my milk just came in yesterday, but my right breast already has some firm lumps under the skin. Could I have clogged ducts already?? I would guess not my whole boobs where like rocks for 3 to 5 days when my milk came in. I kind of block out how awful it is because to me it is the worse thing about the whole breastfeeding processes. I would take a hot shower and see if you can massage those lumps to make them feel better and get out any clog if there is one. I did a hot shower last night with massage, but it didn’t seem to help much. I was able to hand express a little bit of milk out. DD is nursing regularly so hopefully this will all even out soon. I am also massaging the lumps when she nurses.
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Eames
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Post by Eames on Mar 22, 2019 6:46:34 GMT -6
orangehibiscus, the rock hard boobs part of the process sucks. It will regulate after a few days. In the meantime, yes to a hot shower and massaging them towards the nipple while nursing or in the shower! I have a cheap hand pump which works better on them than a regular pump, and I have brought the hand pump in the shower too. I've also heard running a wide tooth comb over them helps, or dangling your boob in a bowl of warm water.
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Post by jewelsofthenile on Mar 22, 2019 6:47:02 GMT -6
yeah see if it feels any better after nursing that usually how i could tell if i had a clog it would not feel any better at all sometimes worse, but I mostly have clogs much later like 8 months into breastfeeding. I just remember my entire boob being in pain when my milk was in and feeling like i had rock hard cantaloupes on my chest. Not sure I would have been able to feel a clog if there was one. I pumped a little just to relieve some pressure if it was getting really unbearble just an ounce on each side or something. Thats probably my favorite thing to take that colostrum milk into daycare once they start going and the ladies in baby room ask what is wtong with that milk. Nothing just from a few days after they were born.😜
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Post by tapdancer on Mar 22, 2019 7:18:35 GMT -6
I'll add dangle feeding to the suggestions for the clog. Although I don't know if it will work for a little baby. I'd lay the baby on the bed and hover over them so gravity would help move things along.
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Eames
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Post by Eames on Mar 22, 2019 7:21:47 GMT -6
So with D1, she started out only eating off one side at a time. Then I got mastitis and my left side became my dud side, so I started always offering that side first before switching to the right to help keep supply up. Will that side still be a dud side this time or is it like reset back to zero each time? I'm not sure. I think it would reset because of new pregnancy/baby and new needs?
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Post by orangehibiscus on Mar 22, 2019 7:43:30 GMT -6
Thanks y’all! Good to know this is normal. I’ll definitely keep up with the massage and hot showers. I’ve never heard of dangle feedings before tapdancer, but I’ll definitely have to try that!
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Post by tapdancer on Mar 22, 2019 7:52:28 GMT -6
Thanks y’all! Good to know this is normal. I’ll definitely keep up with the massage and hot showers. I’ve never heard of dangle feedings before tapdancer, but I’ll definitely have to try that! Hang in there. The first few weeks are hard. I found setting small goals helped me feel accomplished.
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Post by orangehibiscus on Mar 22, 2019 7:54:05 GMT -6
Thanks y’all! Good to know this is normal. I’ll definitely keep up with the massage and hot showers. I’ve never heard of dangle feedings before tapdancer, but I’ll definitely have to try that! Hang in there. The first few weeks are hard. I found setting small goals helped me feel accomplished. Thanks! This has definitely been more challenging than I thought it would be. Setting small goals is a great idea!
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Post by jewelsofthenile on Mar 22, 2019 8:28:14 GMT -6
Hang in there. The first few weeks are hard. I found setting small goals helped me feel accomplished. Thanks! This has definitely been more challenging than I thought it would be. Setting small goals is a great idea! Definately this the first 2 weeks are very hard but by 2weeks you baby will have had over 100 tries at learning this new skill and they will get more and more proficent at it. By a month my daughter was so good at nursing she would be full/ done in 10 minutes. I just kept wondering of she was getting enough. Then i had my husband feed her one night she downed a 3 or 4 ounce bottle that fast so i didnt worry about her not getting enough after that.
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