Ask a Grad?

[westiemom]

I used to post this at TCF like once a month-once every 6 weeks. Would you like me to post again here?

[ketchup]

I'd love it, if it'd get participation. Not sure where we stand with all of that, though..

[mrsrodgers]

I'd be up for it! It was really helpful for me the first time around.

[cali]

Yes please!

[cali]

I actually have a question too. For pp bleeding, is a heavy duty overnight maxi pads sufficient once you're at home? I know in the hospital they gave you the huge ones, but I'm not sure how long the bleeding is so heavy.

[muscari]

Aug 4, 2017 10:32:05 GMT -6 cali said:

Yes please!

+1!

Can't really think of any Qs right now myself but that will prolly come soon enough. Plus reading others Qs and answers always is useful too!

[yoshijo]

Aug 4, 2017 10:33:53 GMT -6 cali said:

I actually have a question too. For pp bleeding, is a heavy duty overnight maxi pads sufficient once you're at home? I know in the hospital they gave you the huge ones, but I'm not sure how long the bleeding is so heavy.

Yup, after I got home I used overnights but stopped using them after a few days. Bleeding for me was only heavy in the hospital

[muscari]

yoshijo, it's so odd that you are now one of the "grads" with experience!! I feel like we all pretty much just got our BFPs (though physically I'm feeling something completely different LOL!).

[yoshijo]

Aug 4, 2017 14:33:32 GMT -6 muscari said:

yoshijo, it's so odd that you are now one of the "grads" with experience!! I feel like we all pretty much just got our BFPs (though physically I'm feeling something completely different LOL!).

omg I felt the same way. I was like yay I can answer a question! Haha!

[ketchup]

Aug 4, 2017 10:33:53 GMT -6 cali said:

I actually have a question too. For pp bleeding, is a heavy duty overnight maxi pads sufficient once you're at home? I know in the hospital they gave you the huge ones, but I'm not sure how long the bleeding is so heavy.

Yep! Honestly, I didn't need the overnights or heavy flow for very long absorption wise for very long at all (maybe a couple days?).

That said, I had a csection, and while I don't have anything to compare it to I have heard that bleeding isn't as heavy post csection since they "clean" you out somewhat during surgery, but don't quote me on that. I honestly used my super heavy overnight pads more to cover my incision at home than I did for PP bleeding. It was much less intense than I had imagined it'd be.

[teachermomtobe]

Aug 4, 2017 10:33:53 GMT -6 cali said:

I actually have a question too. For pp bleeding, is a heavy duty overnight maxi pads sufficient once you're at home? I know in the hospital they gave you the huge ones, but I'm not sure how long the bleeding is so heavy.

Only used the huge pads in the hospital. Someone suggested the Always Infinity pads (the most absorbant ones) to me and they were great when I got home. They are super thin but hold a lot. After a week or so of those I switched to the pads I usualky use. I bled for about 5 1/2 weeks but after about 2 weeks it was just an annoying amount of bleeding that needed a pad but more than a liner.

[muscari]

So I plan on BFing.. Should I have a set of bottles + formula ready before baby comes already just in case as well? MH is thinking he will just pop to the store in case BFing/pumping isn't working as planned at first to get stuff, and I guess he could, except of tis the weekend (no 24/7 store openings here like in the US heh)... so I'm not sure how far ahead I should plan.

Also, for those who pump, do you exclusively pump or combine both BF as pumping? If you do both, do you use special bottle nipples (is that what they're called in English?)? And how many bottles do you have?

[yoshijo]

muscari our hospital sent us home with formula but I'm not sure how common that is near you. We also had some nicu time so we didn't really BF but I pumped and we supplmented w formula. I wouldn't buy too much of one kind though, we had to switch to a more gentle formula after A spit up too much. Our pediatrician gave us some too. All of that lasted 3 weeks and we just had to buy our own for the 1st time. My supply isn't enough not to supplement.

I mostly pump exclusively though I try to BF but A isn't a fan since she gets it faster from the bottle. If I had tried more in the beginning I think it would be easier now. But I like pumping so DH and others can feed her and I can see how much she ate (moreso in the beginning anyway). Is the word you're looking for a nipple shield? I thought about trying one but haven't.

I have 2 sets of pumping equipment and around 10 bottles. It's enough that I always have a clean one without washing them 3 times a day.

[ketchup]

Aug 5, 2017 14:24:07 GMT -6 muscari said:

So I plan on BFing.. Should I have a set of bottles + formula ready before baby comes already just in case as well? MH is thinking he will just pop to the store in case BFing/pumping isn't working as planned at first to get stuff, and I guess he could, except of tis the weekend (no 24/7 store openings here like in the US heh)... so I'm not sure how far ahead I should plan.

Also, for those who pump, do you exclusively pump or combine both BF as pumping? If you do both, do you use special bottle nipples (is that what they're called in English?)? And how many bottles do you have?

We have samples at home (because in the US the two biggest formula companies magically know you're pregnant and send them to your door), and had/have bottles ready to go, BUT I was determined to not use it. There's absolutely nothing wrong with FF, so if you would feel more relaxed knowing you had it as a back-up, then sure.. have some on hand. 

I combined pumping/BFing mainly once I went back to work. On maternity leave, once my supply was established (you don't want to pump AND feed if not necessary in the beginning, or you could end up with oversupply), I'd pump after her morning feed so that I could start a freezer stash. I will do the same thing again this time. Otherwise, while on mat leave, my pump wasn't an essential item the way it was when I returned to work. 

We use Tommee Tippee bottles/nipples. I did a lot of research on them before TT was born, and it just seemed like they were the easiest for a BF baby to switch between. That said, I feel like that's kind of the aim of a majority of the bottles/nipples these days, and it is really going to come down to your baby's specific preference. If at all possible, I'd hold off on buying a ton of brand specific bottles until you determine whether or not your LO will take the one you intend to use. We didn't have an issue getting TT to accept Tommee Tippee, but there are plenty of ladies who had to go through a dozen or so before they found one their LO would accept. 

HTH. 

[teachermomtobe]

Aug 5, 2017 14:24:07 GMT -6 muscari said:

So I plan on BFing.. Should I have a set of bottles + formula ready before baby comes already just in case as well? MH is thinking he will just pop to the store in case BFing/pumping isn't working as planned at first to get stuff, and I guess he could, except of tis the weekend (no 24/7 store openings here like in the US heh)... so I'm not sure how far ahead I should plan.

Also, for those who pump, do you exclusively pump or combine both BF as pumping? If you do both, do you use special bottle nipples (is that what they're called in English?)? And how many bottles do you have?

I planned to BF but had some samples at home just in case. Well, my milk never came in and DD was starving despite the hospital telling me at discharge she was fine and I was scared she would get dehydrated and we gave her a tiny amount of formula with a syringe. The next day at the pediatrician appt we raised our concerns again and decided we needed to supplement and I was glad we had some on hand. Running to the store with a demanding newborn is not easy.

Moral of the story: planning to BF is great and for most people it works but if your body doesn't cooperate you may want a backup plan just in case.

Side note: she never had any nipple confusion while I was trying to BF and bottle feed her.

[moto]

Aug 5, 2017 14:24:07 GMT -6 muscari said:

So I plan on BFing.. Should I have a set of bottles + formula ready before baby comes already just in case as well? MH is thinking he will just pop to the store in case BFing/pumping isn't working as planned at first to get stuff, and I guess he could, except of tis the weekend (no 24/7 store openings here like in the US heh)... so I'm not sure how far ahead I should plan.

Also, for those who pump, do you exclusively pump or combine both BF as pumping? If you do both, do you use special bottle nipples (is that what they're called in English?)? And how many bottles do you have?

The hospital gave us some basic bottles, nipples, and formula. We were directed to supplement with formula while still in the hospital because both my twins were jaundiced and feeding them extra is part of the cure. If that hadn't happened I don't know if they would have given us all the stuff, but you can definitely ask for it. We upgraded the bottles pretty quickly (to a set of Dr. Browns) but the hospital freebies would buy you time.

I ended up exclusively pumping, which I don't recommend if you can avoid it. While I was still trying to get the girls to breastfeed I used preemie nipples to make sure they would get used to a slow flow.

[yellowcat]

With my previous and current pg I use a mix of regular and heavy duty. Once you start becoming more active you may notice the bleeding pi k up for a few days but nothing heavy like after birth.

[muscari]

Any of you have experience with a milk blister, or blocked nipple pore? I have been leaking for a while now, no big deal really except I have to change my shirts more often heh (somehow it mostly happens when I am nog wearing a bra). But for about a week or a little longer I have a blocked nipple pore on one side. I tried to clear it while in the shower a couple times, thinking the warm water may help but I don't think it is helping any at all. For now it isnt really bothering me yet but I wonder/worry how it will be once I start BFing....? And rather just have it "unclogged" lol. Any ideas??

[mrsrodgers]

Aug 11, 2017 13:54:25 GMT -6 muscari said:

Any of you have experience with a milk blister, or blocked nipple pore? I have been leaking for a while now, no big deal really except I have to change my shirts more often heh (somehow it mostly happens when I am nog wearing a bra). But for about a week or a little longer I have a blocked nipple pore on one side. I tried to clear it while in the shower a couple times, thinking the warm water may help but I don't think it is helping any at all. For now it isnt really bothering me yet but I wonder/worry how it will be once I start BFing....? And rather just have it "unclogged" lol. Any ideas??

I got them a couple of times when I was nursing. Kelly Mom is a good resource for stuff like that. Also, get some nursing pads! They are a lifesaver with leakage! I leaked sooo much the first 6 months or so. I should have bought stock in the nursing pad industry.
kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mother/nipplebleb/