Hellobee Boards

@preggomeggo82: congrats!!!! He is adorable! And I thought I had it bad with 27 hours of labor!!

@jhd: so G clearly isn't a NICU baby, but I've been fiddling around with pumping since I came home. So far, here are my very unscientific findings:

-I started out trying to pump both sides at once...epic fail. I was jamming the flanges to my breasts to hold them there/balance them, and it blocked the milk ducts. So I started with one side. Actually, the hospital gave me a hand pump, and that has been much easier to learn from. Do you have one of those you could try?

-If I'm not eating/drinking enough, I get almost nothing.

-I've had to reposition the flanges quite a bit...my biggest problem was (and still is) that milk would drop all over the flange and all over me, I'm having luck by putting the bottom part of the flange to the underside of my nipple first, sort of like scooping my breast into it from below. (terrible description, sorry) I don't know if that might help you, but it took me a while to figure out!

You're doing an awesome job, Mama. Keep it up

@LovelyPlum: and I hope things calm down today. Is the smoke smell dissipating? I hope you all can get some good rest. How is DH's work going? Is the semester almost over?

@luckypenny: thanks! How are you doing? I hope both girls are sleeping a little better!!

@LovelyPlum: @luckypenny: um, I don't know but he just rolled over today!!! And did it three times in a row, so it wasn't a fluke. He just turned 6 weeks today, isn't this way early??

But yes, I was totally overwhelmed by pumping at first. You just kind of get this intimidating machine with all these parts and nobody tells you how to use it, but hurry up and pump!

@LovelyPlum: @jhd: So I got a hands free bra and it made ALL the difference in pumping. Definitely some adjusting right before the milk really gets going to make sure I"m "centered." But now my wrists don't hurt from holding the flanges, I have free hands to play on my phone or hold the remote--or whatever gets me distracted and relaxed and not watching the milk drip.

I also do not get tons-- especially since I am mostly pumping after nursing sessions to "get my supply up," but every little bit helps. (At least that is what i"m telling myself.) And it has.

Also, super embarrassing newbie pumper story: The first week I was pumping I was super concerned with getting the little white membrane things right etc and relaxing to the jazz music on pandora, blah blah. I finally sat down to pump and get some milk going. Great. Tip forward to empty the flanges bc they were collecting milk and…. my leg was all wet. Oh yes, I forgot to attach bottles. Dummy!! And on top of it I was so mad at wasting that hard earned milk!!!

@jill_a55: thank you!

@HazelEyes: I can't tell you how many tears have been shed over lost milk here. I'm doing better with pumping one side at a time right now but I did get a little contraption that helps with double pumping. It's not a bra and I don't even know what it's called but it's simple to use. I will probably have to invest in some stuff if we have to EP.

@jhd: @LovelyPlum: +1 for a hands free bra! I am pumping to supplement feedings and to let DH do a nighttime feeding so I can sleep. The bra is a life saver. I felt like such a dairy cow before using it. I have a medela version. It was maybe $30-40 bucks at target. I plan on using it at work when I go back too.

@jhd: yaaaay!! Happy Mothers Day to you!! How are you and T holding up?

Just popping in to say hi! I miss chatting with you lovely ladies, but I know we are all super busy. Miss G is one month old today...how?! Things are getting settled here, though we don't have much of a routine and sleep is fleeting sometimes. But I am really proud of what we have been able.to do with breastfeeding. I was ok.with whatever.outcome.we had, but it feels SO NICE to have my body work for once!

Have a beautiful.day tomorrow

@jhd: great news! I am so glad that you are doing most of his care. If it is not too nebby of me to ask, what is his biggest challenge right now? Does it look like you might be able to go home soon, or are you hanging out in the NICU for a while longer? Feel free not to answer, just been thinking about you!

@luckypenny: oh darling, that is awful I am so sorry. Of you weren't 3000 miles away, I would totally come help you (or sit and commiserate, when everyone fusses). Are you having to pack.everything yourself, or will there be movers to help?

@LovelyPlum: Yeah, I figured the belly button one will be the most obvious. what's funny is that my naval is filled with glue. I have dermabond on all my incisions, and they just went ahead and filled my belly button up to the rim with it, lol.

@Beyond2: congrats on your baby girl!

@Dandelion: glad all the crazy stuff is behind you. I hope you recover quickly. I am sure your boys are so so glad to have their mommy back!

@nana87: yay for good sleep! Hope you are doing well!

@luckypenny: I hope things go smoothly over the next few weeks. Just one day at a time!! I hope you can get some help with everything.

@LovelyPlum: thanks for thinking of us!

Being with T has helped me so much, but I'm struggling to get enough rest. One of the nurses basically forced me to take a nap this afternoon. I think we will be in the NICU for a while. T is really struggling to take a bottle and BF is not possible just now either. I'm pumping & supply has increased very slowly but I'm trying to accept that I may not be able to provide him with enough BM. For now we are mixing with formula. I know it's ok, but breastfeeding was a very important goal for me. Life just doesn't always go according to my plans! But baby smiles and snuggles make everything better!!

@luckypenny: so very glad to hear things are going better! we are doing ok. thanks for asking! getting ready to transfer to a larger hospital a few hours away for an eval and probably surgery on T's jaw to improve his airway. he's breathing well in his own but just can't get the hang of the bottle no matter how hard he tries. just can't wait to have him home!!!

@luckypenny: not at all docs here don't want to try to guess how docs there will choose to handle things. referral was made wed and we have been waiting for transport ever since. Hoping we will get to travel today!

I'm always reading on my phone but rarely have it in me to type out a response. Glad you ladies are doing relatively well. I'm cleared for normal activity as of this week, and it's been great to do some working out again. B is six weeks and so far so good. Five weeks was challenging but we seem to be coming around. It does not hurt that he smiles all the time now, plus cooing and a few other sounds. I'm so excited to watch him learn and I live to see what's next.

Things are definitely still pretty tough at times but I also feel like I'm getting better at handling the challenges.

Pretty sure I'm taking a semester off in the fall which means I'm home through January. I'm lucky to have the opportunity but it's also overwhelming to think about.

@lovelyplum: hope the pain subsides soon. I was torn up after delivery but I'm lucky to have had an easy time recovering. Hope you're feeling more yourself again soon.

@dandelion: glad your surgery went well and you're able to heal now. I cannot even imagine going thru that so soon after baby.

@jhd: thinking of you and baby T all the time!

@luckypenny: sorry to hear you've got drama especially with moving soon.

@jhd: how is he doing? How is the RM house?

@Dandelion: thanks for thinking of us! RMH has been a real lifesaver. I am amazed at all the lovely people who give so much time & resources to make a place like this possible. T is just more & more fun every day. He had a ct scan today so the surgeon can start making a plan. He wore his Batman onesie for that! lol