I've noticed a lot of threads lately (including my own!) from new moms trying to navigate their way through breastfeeding/pumping. I know that we have a lot of similar questions, experiences, and obstacles.
Would anyone be interested in a support thread so that we can ask each other questions, track progress, and offer support for each other? I know I have had a few tear filled nights where I feel like a failure and am wondering if it what I am going through is normal.
What do you ladies think?
GOLD / cantaloupe / 6581 posts
@rahlyrah: YES! LO is still not here, obvs, but from yours and a couple other threads lately, I've started to think I'm going to have lots of questions. A dedicated thread would be awesome to have when she gets here!
pear / 1563 posts
Definitely interested! LO is 4 weeks old and EBF. We've struggled with latch and pain and damaged nipples. I think things are improving but they are far from effortless. I'm also sporadically pumping to build a freezer stash and so others can give LO a bottle.
pomegranate / 3212 posts
Love it! We're BF and I'm pumping once a day (but tryin/aiming to do more) to buy myself some freedom! I'm using a shield because of short nipples but hope to wean soon...
clementine / 972 posts
I'll join! LO is 5 weeks tomorrow. It's gotten a lot easier but I still have concerns about transference and weight gain.
honeydew / 7586 posts
@Espion: I feel your pain. I have to supplement my LO, too. I pump as often as I can so I can supplement with breast milk but I have to use formula every day or two to supplement as well. I'm hoping I can get my supply up enough to just supplement with breast milk.
clementine / 825 posts
Yes! LO is not due until November but it would be great to have a place to turn to!
pomelo / 5820 posts
I would love this! Typing with one hand as I nurse, currently! @rahlyrah: I cried a lot too, especially in hospital, and will probably continue to do so. You're not alone! .
I'm freaking myself out bc I feel like the corners of his eyes are slightly yellow. I just hope he is getting enough. 1st Pediatrician appt tomorrow morning... Guess ill find out.
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
What a good idea!!! I wish this support thread had been around when I was first starting off!!! I know it helps just knowing that you're not alone in your struggles!
I'm not new at this anymore (Xander's 4 months), but I'd love to share my experience and hopefully help out you ladies in anyway I can, so if you have questions, I'll try to answer them! 
Though if it's regards to clogged ducts, thrush, or mastitis, I am zero help, since I haven't dealt with those... yet.
honeydew / 7811 posts
Yes please! I'm 10 weeks in but I don't have much support in real life (outside of DH). It's hard work and we all need to be there for each other!
honeydew / 7586 posts
@Pepper: B was a little jaundice at his first appointment but it cleared up quickly. Once my milk came in he pooped a lot more which helped. I also put his RNP in the sun when he napped and took daily walks. All clear now
pomelo / 5820 posts
@rahlyrah: Oh good idea with the RnP! I think he'd like that too. The morning sun is very mild here so that could work
Do BF babies not burp that much? I swear I try to burp him after every feed but I rarely get anything out of him!
pomegranate / 3895 posts
I'm in too! I feel like we're in a good place now with nursing (DD is 9 weeks) but it's still mentally difficult for me though, and I am ALL about support (and honesty) for BFing moms.
@rahlyrah: Are you doing anything beyond pumping to increase your supply? Are you taking any herbs?
pomegranate / 3577 posts
@Pepper: They say that they don't tend to. Although, if E has been fussing, then I'll definitely burp him since he seems to gulp in more air.
honeydew / 7586 posts
@Pepper: B rarely burps. I only attempt to burp him when he takes a bottle.
@hergreenapples: I have been drinking a cup of Mother's Milk Tea every day but that is it so far. I want to try lactation cookies but finding time to bake seems close impossible!
pear / 1563 posts
@Pepper: I was told they don't burp as much, but to offer mid feed or if LO was fussing at the boob. When my LO fusses it is often because she needs to burp, but she doesn't burp every session.
pomegranate / 3895 posts
@rahlyrah: You need to take fenugreek and blessed thistle! 3 capsules of each 3x/day. You should see a marked improvement pretty quickly. According to my LC, you'd need to drink about 20 cups of tea per day for it to even come close to being as effective as the herbal supplements in capsule form
pomegranate / 3895 posts
@rahlyrah: Apparently any brand is fine and it's a standard dosage across brands. I saw major improvement within 24 hours. It was miraculous! Oh, and they make you smell like maple syrup...could be worse, I suppose!
squash / 13764 posts
I also wish this had been around when I was a new mama! It's always great to hear from people who are going through the same thing we're still ebf at 8 months and I seriously never thought we'd make it this far, so I truly believe it's possible for anyone! We had tongue tie mastitis thrush vasospams...glad to help if I can!
nectarine / 2163 posts
also happy to help out where I can! we had serious latch issues, which caused really gross looking, ripped up nips that wouldn't heal, which lead to staph infection and antibiotics, then thrush... we made it to almost 11 months before pregnancy and a long haul flight totally dried up my supply!
sending happy BFing vibes to everyone!!
pomelo / 5820 posts
@Espion: @rahlyrah: @Revel: Thanks! Good to know I'm not missing something with burping.
We had our first ped appointment today, and LO is down to 6 lbs 14 oz from his discharge weight of 7 lbs 3 oz. The doctor isn't too concerned because he has a ton of poopy wet dipes, but she wants to see us on Monday in the hopes that my milk coming in as of yesterday will make a significant difference in his weight. She said he looks "bad on paper but good in person". She doesn't want me to supplement with formula just yet (even though I told her I was ok with doing so, if needed).
She does, however, want me to feed him every hour. I'm having trouble with this because he just refuses to wake up to eat that often! My husband thinks every hour is a bit excessive, but we both want him to gain, so I'm not sure what to do. I can't force him to eat 
GOLD / grapefruit / 4007 posts
@Pepper: my lo list a full lb because it took 5 days for my milk to come in ! I think if the dipes are good you are good and your LO will definitely gain with your milk in !!!
pomegranate / 3577 posts
I just ordered an SNS system today. E is three weeks old and still hasn't made it up to his birthweight, so we're trying to supplement. (Peds gave me a "recipe" of a teaspoon of formula to 3 oz of breast milk to increase to 24 calorie.) Unfortunately (or fortunately?) E doesn't take a bottle very well. (The speech pathologist recommended the Nuk, which he takes better than a standard nipple shape.)
Since he latches so well, I ordered the Medela SNS for one-day shipping from Amazon to get here before we move out of state. I'll let you guys know how it goes!!
grapefruit / 4291 posts
@Espion: I know a couple of ladies through LLL who have had good success with the SNS system! And that's awesome about the good latch
honeydew / 7586 posts
@Pepper: B lost over 10% of his birth weight so I started supplementing with pumped milk. I don't do it every feeding, only when he seems really hungry. Now that my milk is in (it didn't come until day 5) I honestly don't think I have to keep supplementing but have just to be safe. I'm meeting with the LC on Tues to see if he is transferring better now. He had his 2 week spot yesterday (at 12 days) and was only 2 oz under birth weight.
honeydew / 7586 posts
@Espion: Please let us know how it goes! My LC had great things to say about the SNS. I will keep sending good thoughts your way :). Your LO is so lucky to have a mama who cares so much and tries so hard!
apricot / 495 posts
I want to join! LO is 8 weeks we haven't had many issues, but we did successfully wean off the shield around 5weeks! Maybe I could offer some support?
nectarine / 2177 posts
Great idea! LO is 4 weeks old. We also had cracked bleeding nips And are now trying to wean off shield and formula supplement (1-10 oz depending on day). Thanks for starting this thread!
papaya / 10473 posts
@Cupcake: Yes please! I can't get my LO off the shield.
He will latch for two seconds then scream and shake his head.
apricot / 495 posts
@rahlyrah: @grizz: before bed, after his last nursing session, I would take the shield off and he would suckle. Once this started, during the day I would offer the nip sans shield, only a few times would he take it, that's when I would put the shield on. He started going longer into a feeding before realizing there wasn't a shield and fuss. Eventually he would go a whole feeding without a shield. It took about a week.
Does anyone else's LO eat every hour still when they are awake? I thought he would start going longer between feedings once he got a little older? I go back to work Monday ( ) and am curious, when they feed him a bottle of expressed BM if he's only going to eat an ounce or 2 every hour ,or if he'll start eating more and go longer between feedings.
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