https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 25 May 2026 12:43:39 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/june-14-feeding#post-1770804 Mon, 21 Jul 2014 08:13:03 +0000 beachbee 1770804@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BabyBruins: we also tried a routine and it failed :( with DD1 we started a bedtime routine early, maybe around 4ish weeks. she loved the bath and we had plenty of time to do lotion, sing songs, and read a story before rocking her down to sleep. well all of that is out the window. we tried last week, but DD2 hates the bath and DD1 is a crazy monster toddler by the time it is bed time :) so we've just accepted the fact that there is no routine, and we're happy when we get both kids asleep before 10! i hope once she starts to get herself on more of an eating/napping schedule it will work out better. as for spaced feedings, we are right there with you! the evenings are just brutal, she wants to eat all the time. during the day we get about 2-3 hours and then usually play time and a pretty good nap until she's ready to eat again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/june-14-feeding#post-1770544 Sun, 20 Jul 2014 21:57:16 +0000 BabyBruins 1770544@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littleveesmommy: I had to supplement for a bit and after 2 weeks, we only top him if I think he needs it and we only do 1-4 ozs every other day. It took a lot of pressure off, but it was hard for those 2 weeks when I would BF, bottle feed then pump. I finally stopped pumping. It was impossible with my toddler. Now I only pump when I miss a feed and was surprised about how much I got. Made me feel better about how much j was getting.<br /> Are any of the babies starting to space out their feedings? We go 3.5-4 hours overnight, 2.5-3 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon &amp; evening and the every 2 hours is killing me. Of course it's the busiest time of day. I don't remember when J started to go a little longer. I tried to do a "bedtime" routine with the baby and it was a big FAIL. He hated the bath so that was super short so he ate earlier than I wanted, fell asleep on the boob, but didn't stay asleep. Is anyone doing any routines yet? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/june-14-feeding#post-1770369 Sun, 20 Jul 2014 19:57:06 +0000 shortcake 1770369@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for all the tips! </p> <p>@msbadger: my LC also suggested saline and I did it for a few days, but need to start again. Thanks for the tip about getting the netti pot saline. </p> <p>@seattlemom: I need to try the gel pads. I have been using the soft shells but I cut the back (a few slits on the soft plastic part) so they are more of a shell and less of a way to bring out the nipple.</p> <p>@littleveesmommy: so happy BFing is going well so far. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/june-14-feeding#post-1769788 Sun, 20 Jul 2014 08:29:02 +0000 littleveesmommy 1769788@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi fellow mommas! I only have a few minutes to post before DD1 wonders where I snuck off to and DD2 is asleep but I agree with @Seattlemom on both those items! A friend of mine gifted me a pair of shells, which I never used with DD1 and now wonder how I lived through the first few brutal weeks without them. My nipples were cracked and bleeding with the frequent feedings and adjusting to the daily assault, and the relief of not having anything rub against them while letting them heal is amazing! After every session I squeezed a few drops of breast milk to rub on then (for healing purposes) then once air dried I rubbed lanolin onto it. At 2 weeks pp I'm happy to report my nipples don't hurt anymore!!! The soothing gel pads helped when I went out because those shells do give your boobs a very strange dome-y shape at the nipple lol. </p> <p>DD2 lost just under 8% body weight by the first pediatrician appt at day 3 and we had to go back in at day 10 for weight check. She didn't go back to birthday weight yet so we were asked to go back in again tomorrow at day 17. I'm hoping she is back or close enough because I don't want to supplement. DD1 was also a slow gainer and didn't hit her birth weight until 3 weeks and she has always been low on the weight chart but I explained to the pedi that its just genetics since DH is very tall and very skinny and has been all his life. She's 2.5 years old at 37.5" and only 25 lbs - a bean but a strong bean! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/june-14-feeding#post-1769623 Sat, 19 Jul 2014 23:20:11 +0000 lady grey 1769623@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shortcake: @MsBadger: I'm a June '13 mama, lurking on your thread! just wanted to throw out that these gel pads are awesome for helping your nipples heal. Wear them in you nursing bra between feedings, they last about a week.</p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ameda-17261M-ComfortGel-Hydrogel-Pads/dp/B003IP2L38/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1405829834&#038;sr=8-1&#038;keywords=comfort+gel+pads#productDetails" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Ameda-17261M-ComfortGel-Hydrogel-Pads/dp/B003IP2L38/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1405829834&#038;sr=8-1&#038;keywords=comfort+gel+pads#productDetails</a></p> <p>There are also these shells, for keeping cloth, etc off your sore nipples if they need to air out or are really sensitive:<br /> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/SoftShells-Breast-Shell-Soothers-Nipples/dp/B000058DPN/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1405829966&#038;sr=8-3&#038;keywords=nursing+shell" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/SoftShells-Breast-Shell-Soothers-Nipples/dp/B000058DPN/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1405829966&#038;sr=8-3&#038;keywords=nursing+shell</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/june-14-feeding#post-1769589 Sat, 19 Jul 2014 22:33:07 +0000 BadgerMom 1769589@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shortcake: I had some latch issues in the beginning which luckily corrected themselves but I was left with cracked and bleeding nipples and a really painful ulcer like spot on one side. I found the motherlove nipple balm was my favorite but I really think helped was soaking my nipples in salt water a couple times a day. I actually bought the nettipot salt packets and would fill two juice glasses with the salt water solution, hold the glasses up to my breasts, and let my nipples soak for 2-3 minutes. Sorry for the terrible visual lol but I really think it made a HUGE difference in healing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/june-14-feeding#post-1769500 Sat, 19 Jul 2014 20:22:11 +0000 shortcake 1769500@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi fellow June mamas and others. My LO is almost 3 weeks and we've been having some latch issues too. It feels good when we start, but then as my breast deflates, I think her latch changes position. I too have ended up with cracked nipples that we are now working on healing. We are thankfully past the toe-curling stage and now in the merely cringe stage. It's just hard to heal when the little beast keeps sucking on it 10 times a day. </p> <p>Does anyone have any healing tips or tricks other than pumping (I am trying to avoid it for now if I can). I had an LC here and she is coming back on Monday for a follow up to help address any lingering issues. I am using the cradle hold which I like but sometimes it takes me so long to get her on and we both get so frustrated. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/june-14-feeding#post-1768327 Fri, 18 Jul 2014 18:05:38 +0000 CakeLady 1768327@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsBadger: the love definitely makes the milk works tolerable. I've taken to tucking a prefold cloth diaper into my bra to catch the milk. It keeps me a bit drier. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/june-14-feeding#post-1768278 Fri, 18 Jul 2014 17:38:13 +0000 BadgerMom 1768278@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CakeLady: I think I could have written your post. I've got an over eager little guy too! The panting and the vigorous head shaking before latching is quite amusing lol. And instead of letting the milk flow out of his mouth when it's too strong, he just pulls off and lets it flow into my bra before he re-latches. It's a good thing we love these little creatures :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/june-14-feeding#post-1768236 Fri, 18 Jul 2014 17:03:01 +0000 CakeLady 1768236@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Chastenet: thanks for the info! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/june-14-feeding#post-1766477 Thu, 17 Jul 2014 21:18:01 +0000 Chastenet 1766477@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CakeLady: I'm not sure if the production difference between sides will regulate, but I would assume so if you continue stimulating the "bad" side more often. As for the let-down issues, your supply will change around 4 months. From that point on, your breasts always have milk, and your body no longer requires a hormonal trigger to "let down" milk when your baby starts nursing. Your let down issues should improve at that point. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/june-14-feeding#post-1760814 Tue, 15 Jul 2014 18:21:15 +0000 spaniellove 1760814@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know the discussion here is mostly about BF but I thought I'd mention this tidbit about Alimentum in case it's ever helpful! (Though I hope no one ever has to use it. It sucks and you will never want to eat french fries again.) We were mixing the formula in Dr. Brown's pitchers and recently went back to making each bottle individually and around the same time J started taking forEVER for each feeding and giving up halfway through. I think the bits of unmixed Alimentum are clogging up the nipple and he needs to use a level 2. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/june-14-feeding#post-1760751 Tue, 15 Jul 2014 17:32:22 +0000 CakeLady 1760751@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm pretty late to the party, but I thought I'd check in and see how everyone is doing feeding these little hungry people :happy: </p> <p>Overall, E is a great eater - he's gained almost 5 lbs in 6 weeks! @Meagan2014: @beachbee: He definitely is in the over eager category, he starts panting and bangs his head into my chest... He is like a crazed milk-vampire. Early on this often resulted in a bad latch which really messed up one of my nipples. It's better now but I think it hurt my supply on that side. Now I've got two different sized boobs and when I pump I get 3-4 oz on one side and 1.5 on the other. :sad: </p> <p>I'm trying to even things out by always starting on the bad side first, can't tell if it's working yet... To make things even more interesting, I think I have over active letdown on the "good" side. little mr. hungry deals with this by just letting milk run out of his mouth all over my clothes (or a strategically positioned burp cloth).</p> <p>Does all of this wacky stuff eventually regulate or is this just how it goes with breast feeding? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/june-14-feeding#post-1740808 Fri, 04 Jul 2014 22:19:13 +0000 beachbee 1740808@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kentuckygirl: my left breast definitely produces less, always has, even with my first LO. I think my nipple is shaped differently and both LOs always preferred the right breast so it was always my higher producer. Of course, I still have low supply for various other reasons, but the left is lower overall. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/june-14-feeding#post-1740663 Fri, 04 Jul 2014 19:00:39 +0000 kentuckygirl 1740663@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BabyBruins: We also dealt with bright green poop for about 4 days before I read about fore milk/hind milk imbalance and started block feeding. But when I mentioned it afterward to our Pediatrician she said green poop is normal??? Either way, the block feeding (from only one side per 2 hour period) worked and we are back to mostly mustard color poop too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/june-14-feeding#post-1740660 Fri, 04 Jul 2014 18:57:02 +0000 kentuckygirl 1740660@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are now doing 100% breastmilk through BF and pumping. Baby M lost 10% of his birth weight while we were in the hospital so we did start pumping then &amp; supplement with formula for a few days. I also went through latch issues so the pumping helped my nipples heal. I am using a nipple shield on my left breast due to an inverted nipple and my supply on that side had definitely been lower. I assumed it was due to less efficient nursing due to the shield but now oddly, my right side supply seems to be decreasing. Has anyone else noticed such variations? M is 4 weeks old now so I had expected my supply to have regulated by now but it apparently hasn't. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/june-14-feeding#post-1740521 Fri, 04 Jul 2014 13:55:29 +0000 beachbee 1740521@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BabyBruins: supply issues are so stressful!! I'm sorry to hear your back to pumping, but so happy his poops are no longer green and its not a dairy issue! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/june-14-feeding#post-1740519 Fri, 04 Jul 2014 13:53:54 +0000 beachbee 1740519@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Meagan2014: my LO does this also. She goes crazy for the breast and has a very shallow latch. I've been working with an LC because her shallow latch is causing inefficient transfer of milk so my supply is suffering. I don't have anything overly helpful other than what we've been doing is tickling her nose then chin with the nipple a few times before she latches. That usually gets her to open wide and I can get more in her mouth. Not sure if that makes sense! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/june-14-feeding#post-1740511 Fri, 04 Jul 2014 13:43:05 +0000 Meagan2014 1740511@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hello Ladies!</p> <p>Im not on the June board, but thought I would post anyways. </p> <p>I just had my LO June 30 after having a crash c-section (which has had its only challenges!) Despite all that, we left the hospital yesterday with LO already being back up over his birth weight. My milk had already come in by tuesday/wednesday. The challenge we are having is that LO is overly eager to latch. I have been having a hard time getting it in his mouth far enough before he starts sucking! Has any one else's had an experience like this? The nurses were not overly helpful at giving suggestions. I am hoping to get an appointment with the LC next week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/june-14-feeding#post-1740453 Fri, 04 Jul 2014 12:19:30 +0000 BabyBruins 1740453@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know I said I wasn't going to pump anymore ... aaaaand I'm pumping right now. All the feeds overnight were pretty weak and I haven't been feeling as "full". In other news, his BRIGHT GREEN poops have turned yellow/mustard again. My LC said that the green may have been due to a growth spurt which would also maybe make sense about the better feeds recently. Thank God, I was afraid it was a dairy thing.<br /> So, I'm back to being paranoid about my supply again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/june-14-feeding#post-1739189 Thu, 03 Jul 2014 16:52:49 +0000 Little Misters Mom 1739189@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Glad you started this. We're breastfeeding but it has been really challenging. LO is gaining weight like crazy and I think my supply is decent, but his latch is very painful even after a visit from the lactation consultant. And for the past two nights he has switched from nursing every 3 hours to every 1.5 to 2 hours which is doing a number on my sleep considering how long it takes to get him back down afterwards. The LC suggested I just do one breast at each feeding, which we're done the past week and a half. But he really still seems hungry after 20-30 minutes on one side so I'm going back to 15 on one side, then however long he wants on the second.</p> <p>I think we may introduce a bottle tonight, even though we are a few days shy of the three weeks the LC recommended. How is everyone else hanging in there? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/june-14-feeding#post-1739159 Thu, 03 Jul 2014 16:33:14 +0000 beachbee 1739159@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BabyBruins: thanks for getting this started! I'm happy to hear he's gaining now and that you're not having to supplement all that much. Hope things continue in the right direction. </p> <p>We've been through the ringer with feeding so far. LO was born at 8lbs 9oz and dropped 10% in the hospital. My milk didn't come in until day 5/6 so poor baby was probably starving. And once it came in, my supply is awful. Only I didn't know, because she was so sleepy! She wasn't fussy or anything, I would wake her up (every 2 hrs per ped) she'd eat and immediately fall asleep for another 2 hrs. All the sleepiness was her jaundice :( she ended up losing between 10-11% altogether. After battling jaundice for almost 3 weeks its finally gone and she's much more alert. But I'm worried my supply wont recover from the lazy eating and lack of stimulation. I've done weighted feeds and I'm working with the LC I used with LO#1, she's awesome. I'm pumping after every feed (or attempting to) and giving her pumped milk when she seems still hungry after nursing. We had her 1-month ped appt Wednesday and she is gaining, but still on the slow side. And to top it all off, just as I felt like we were turning a corner and had a great nursing weekend, I caught a cold. The past few days she has flat out refused to eat from the breast and I haven't felt that full feeling at all, so I'm stressing that my supply has tanked even more :( I'm back to feeding/pumping every 2 hours, I just don't know how long this is possible. I feel so stressed and I don't want to spend my time pumping when I could be spending time with both of my girls. I feel like I'm going to give it 2-3 more weeks max, because everyone says it gets better around 6-8 weeks. If I'm not able to get my supply where it needs to be by then I'm seriously thinking about nursing on demand and supplementing with formula as needed. And that's if I make it 2-3 more weeks on this schedule, I'm just exhausted!! :)</p> <p>Hope you all are doing well with your new babes! I loved seeing all the sweet faces on the other thread. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/june-14-feeding#post-1739136 Thu, 03 Jul 2014 16:22:01 +0000 spaniellove 1739136@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I appreciate that you made this open to all methods of feeding - it's all challenging! </p> <p>I'm FF for medical reasons (I'm on antiseizure meds), although I did attempt to BF in the hospital just because. It didn't work because LO had a bad latch even with a nipple shield. I've suspected for weeks that he had a milk allergy and we're finally addressing it with Alimentum. It's been challenging dealing with the diaper rash from Hades and his reflux and other rashes and congestion but I think we're finally maybe turning a corner. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/june-14-feeding#post-1739088 Thu, 03 Jul 2014 15:49:40 +0000 BabyBruins 1739088@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi June '14 moms! Per the suggestion on the due date thread, I am starting a feeding thread. I didn't make it specific to breastfeeding since I know some of our mommies are supplementing, doing formula, etc.</p> <p>My deal is that we are breastfeeding, but supplementing as necessary bc he was low weight at a 2 week appt. since then he has gained almost 1.5 lbs in 2 weeks and the ped is happy. We see her again on Monday. I'm only supplementing 1-3 feedings a day now and trying to just top him off with an ounce.<br /> I was pumping after every feed, but it was killing me. I stopped last weekend and I think it was better for my supply to not have that stress. So I don't have breast milk to supplement with, but I'm happier and I have more time for both of my kids.<br /> I was surprised at how long the feedings take. I don't remember it taking this long with J (but I pumped and bottle fed for the first 6 weeks with him). If I can get it done in an hour, I consider it a victory.<br /> Anyone else have feeding challenges and successes?!? </p>