10/2 Newborn-3mo Check In

[lily]

Please join us!


How old is LO?

How's everything going?

Questions/concerns/cute stories to share?

0-1mo:
How's your postpartum recovery going?


1-3mo:
Nursing in public: questions, experiences, anecdotes?

If you're pumping, how is that going? When are you returning to work, or are you SAH?


GTKY: who was the first person you told when you found out you were pregnant?

[lily]

Bringing some replies over here so I don’t bump last week’s check in...

wells2010 I’m sorry your insurance doesn’t cover the LC. But hey cheaper than formula on the long run?
Have you tried laid back positioning to help with choking and with keeping a deeper latch?


@easilyunamused sounds like a growth spurt and/or general fourth trimester behavior. Remember that more frequent feeds may be less in individual volume but higher in fat content.

jexxa clicking is the sound of latch breaking / suction breaking. It can certainly be a way of coping with OALD. Clicking without pain or transfer issues is not something that needs “fixing.” But if there is pain or transfer issues / weight gain issues, it gives you a first place to look.

[bootsorhearts1]

Hello! Would love to join you guys and share experiences!

How old is LO? She is 6 days today! She was born at 37+0 so a little early.

How's everything going? Pretty good! I am thrilled that I was able to make BFing work this time as I was not with my DS and ended up EPing. Some chapped nips that coconut oil is helping with. We still use the nipple shield sometimes. For whatever reason, sometimes she wants it so I don't argue with her. She seems to be past the sleepy eating thing which makes me happy but she is wanting to do a bunch of comfort nursing latel, more below!

Questions/concerns/cute stories to share? The last couple of days she eats but then she won't go to sleep after, I know she's full but she roots and fusses until I pick her up then she comfort nurses for a few minutes and goes to sleep in my arms and if I put her down, same deal again. I think maybe she just wants to be held and I'll have to work through it. But wondering why the no-no on pacis this early? I understand avoiding bottles (which we have so far, day 1 we used a syringe with colustrum because she couldn't latch well) but seems like a paci would be ok because milk doesn't come out of it. Maybe the comfort nursing helps establish my supply?

0-1mo:
How's your postpartum recovery going? Hemorrhoids and post partum edema, but other than that I can't complain.

[wells2010]

How old is LO? She will be 4 weeks tomorrow

How's everything going? Ok- I decided not to do a weigh in this week, so I'm not sure if she is up to birthweight yet. She seems bigger and her nb clothes are seeming to fit smaller, but who knows? My pump finally came in today! I didn't get too much since she has been feeding frequently in the afternoons (I tried in the evening around 5pm). So far I like how quiet the spectra is and it seems to be a lot more gentle on me!

Questions/concerns/cute stories to share? I think the laid back nursing might be helpful for first thing in the morning or overnight when I'm really engorged.

0-1mo:
How's your postpartum recovery going? It's getting better. I had a hell of a time after this birth (hemorrhage, blood transfusions, etc). I haven't had pain meds (ibuprofen) for about a week now and no Percocet for way longer, which is good because I was really hurting for a while.


1-3mo:
Nursing in public: questions, experiences, anecdotes? It's not my preference, but I don't mind. I usually use a Muslin swaddle as a cover. I also have BF with baby in the ergo. Now I mostly use a lillebaby, but I haven't needed to nurse in it yet.

If you're pumping, how is that going? When are you returning to work, or are you SAH?
I try to pump about 1-2x/day now. I EP'd for a bit, but transitioned back to mostly BF. I will go back to work after 12 weeks (so 8 more weeks). I work 3, 12 hr shifts plus 12 hours of on call a week, which is tough to pump enough and maintain a good supply. Once I go back to work I probably won't pump much at home.

GTKY: who was the first person you told when you found out you were pregnant? I think my husband all three times.

[thatgirlrachel]

Hi! I'm from O17 and I'm just going to jump right in 😄

How old is LO? 8 days old

How's everything going? Way better than his big sis. He latched right away after delivery and has continued to do great ever since.

Questions/concerns/cute stories to share? My biggest question at the moment is regarding pumping. I know I shouldn't start pumping yet, but within the next few weeks I want/need to start building at least a small stash for when I return to work. When can I start pumping? And, how does pumping while still BFing work? I don't want to mess up my current supply. Do I pump right after feeding, a certain amount of minutes after feeding, or what?

0-1mo:
How's your postpartum recovery going? Pretty good. I only had a small tear and it seems to be healing nicely. I'll go see the midwife for a two week check next week so we'll see if she agrees.

If you're pumping, how is that going? When are you returning to work, or are you SAH?
Not pumping yet, but I will try to begin soon. See questions above.


GTKY: who was the first person you told when you found out you were pregnant? H!

[bootsorhearts1]

thatgirlrachel I have been trying to pump once a day since I have to take a weekend trip without baby next month. I do it in the morning usually because supply is higher then. Usually I'll pump right after a feeding (not right after but maybe 30 mins after) both sides or if baby only ate from one side I'll pump the other side. I don't make much yet but I like the security of knowing we have a little in the fridge or freezer. I have a doctors appt tomorrow and don't want to bring her so knowing I have some there if DH needs it while I'm gone is nice.

You won't get a lot of volume at this stage so waiting a few weeks might be more efficient use of pumping time. And I wouldn't pump more than once a day or you risk getting into an oversupply situation which is no bueno.

[lily]

bootsorhearts1 the reasons pacifiers aren’t recommended so young are (1) yes the comfort nursing helps your supply and (2) some sleepy newborns won’t give hunger cues if they are already suckling on something, even if it’s not giving them any sustenance. But you can always give it a go & see if it works for you & your family. If it doesn’t you can always stop using it.

thatgirlrachel in general it’s recommended to wait until after the 3 week growth spurt to begin pumping. That’s not always possible depending on how early you’re returning to work, but it’s the recommendation. bootsorhearts1 has good advice on when to do it.

[bootsorhearts1]

lily thank you that helps. I've been trying to shush and rock her when she gets in that stage of wanting to comfort suck and that seems to calm her down so we will keep doing that for now.

[danvers]

How old is LO? 5 days

How's everything going? Ok...

Questions/concerns/cute stories to share? Baby was born Monday, my milk came in Thursday and by Friday - Holy breast engorgement. Now I have super fast letdown and my breasts feel like rocks, big heavy rocks. I can’t remember from DD what I did to releave it but I also don’t remember it being this bad. My nipples are still recovering from a not great latch in the hospital that kind of destroyed them initially so I’m dealing with that as well.

1. Am I supposed to use a heating pad for engorgement pain? Ice (I thought cold dried them up?!)? Just suck it up?

2. Express a little bit to help with the fast let down? Do I use my hand? Pump? Will this cause over supply though?

Despite doing this once already for 18 months I feel like I am a newby all over again sometimes. We don’t have a local LC and google has a lot of information to sort through....

0-1mo:
How's your postpartum recovery going? Good - despite how the above may read I feel better 5 days out now then I did 5 days out with DD1. May not say the same in a week when the fatigue really hits but for now I feel good.


Read more: howeverithappened.proboards.com/thread/7067/10-2-newborn-3mo-check#ixzz4unLCr7UX

[lily]

danvers hope the engorgement is subsiding by now. It’s a self limiting problem; the longer milk remains in your breast, the stronger signal it sends to your body to lower production.

If not-
You can always offer to nurse to take the edge off. If that doesn’t work, a warm shower and hand expressing will usually do the trick. Hand expression is usually recommended because it’s so easy to pump longer than just-until-comfortable, and the more milk you express, the stronger signal you’re giving to your body to keep making that much.

Warm compresses helps the milk flow.

Cold compresses reduce inflammation, but can inhibit letdown. (You can look into lansinoh 3 in 1 therapearls for both hot & cold. Or a disposable diaper with warm/cold water makes a moldable hot/cold pack.)

You’re probably already taking ibuprofen for other postpartum concerns but it can also help with engorgement inflammation, provided there’s no counterindication for your taking it (allergy, for example.) Ibuprofen can mask fever which is a hallmark sign of mastitis, though, so be extra vigilant looking for clogs and/or red streaky areas on your breast.

If baby is having trouble latching due to engorgement, reverse pressure softening can help.

kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mother/engorgement/

If overactive letdown is bothering baby, try laid back positioning so gravity is working against milk flow.
You can also hand express or nurse until letdown, unlatch, let milk flow into towel or cup until flow slows/stops, then relatch.

Hand expression (instructions start at 1:30): med.stanford.edu/newborns/professional-education/breastfeeding/hand-expressing-milk.html

Laid back positioning:

I know you said there’s not a local LC, but hopefully there’s a La Leche League nearby: www.llli.org/webus.html

Hopefully your nips are healed by now too. Express breastmilk onto nipples and air dry after feed. Generous application of nipple cream after every feed & as needed. Going topless or using breast shells or gel soothies may speed healing.