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@2littlepumpkins: I've been quiet about this because I have a bit of guilt but I stopped BFing and pumping about 2 weeks ago. I was engorged one day after power pumping that the engorgement hurt and then I had family in town that I sorta got too busy and didn't continue pumping. I think the engorgement cut my supply. I heard using cabbage leaves will reduce your supply. My sister is BFing and has an oversupply so she had my older sister bring frozen BM when they came to visit. (Partly why I didn't continue pumping because I knew BM was coming.) Here I am trying to pump again to jump start my supply because I'm about to run out of my sister's BM. I don't have anything against FF feeding. I would do it because I don't particularly have a big attachment to BFing. I actual prefer pumping. But I think the thought of the chance of me preventing my babies from developing severe asthma (like my DH has) is what makes me want to pump for them or at least a tad better than FF. I totally get people who FF though. I definitely am torn about it.

@Mrs. Pickle: I went in to my regular doctor today (just because they are closer.) He said it seems more like a swollen lymph node because of the location (and it hasn't changed size whether I pump a lot and massage or do nothing..) I've had other lumps before so I'm kind of hoping it was just there and I didn't notice it.. I'll still try to call my ob's office again today. Couldn't get through yesterday.

@bluestriped bee: Thanks for the advice! I tried pumping with my first but developed bad PPD/PPA which may have had to do with that (hormonal stuff.) After a year and a half of GI stuff and pregnancy and all of that, I just feel so worn down and feel like I really need to take care of myself if I'm going to be any good to anyone. I would be more hesitant (like I was) with my first but because she is healthy and smart it is a constant reminder that FFing will likely be just fine. Plus, I was FF'd.

In other news, both ds and I have oral thrush, and I think the medicine is making him a little unhappy. BUT after months of antibiotics I am finally off of them.

Things are finally settling down for us so I'm happy to join everyone. LO is 1 week old today and I feel like I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. LO wouldnt really latch in the hospital and bc of all the attempts my nipple got bruised and bloody. The LC there suggested a nipple shield and that seemed to do the trick. But, bc I'm using a shield they said I need to pump after every feeding and then fed him the pumped milk through a little syringe. So that's been absolutely exhausting essentially triple feeding him. They told me I had to feed every 2 hours so by the time I'm done feeding, pumping, and feeding again I barely get 30 mins of peace.

Lo also had high bilirubin levels at 3 days old and they kept increasing so we had to put him under lights. He had to be in the lights (it was like a mini tanning bed) 24/7 unless he was eating. But as of yesterday he got to come out of the lights and now we're trying to find a routine again.

Last night he pretty much nursed the entire night, so I got no sleep. We're also dealing with him only sleeping in our arms and crying within 5 mins if I put him in a crib. So I usually just pick him up so we both can sleep. I hope I'm not giving him bad habits but it's just so hard to know what to do.

So there's my little summary of whats been going on. I'm hoping things start to get a little better from here on.

@renee0106: that feeding schedule sounds exhausting! I hope things get a little easier.

I'm 6 days postpartum and things are going well over here. Recovery has been a lot easier than I thought it would be. Luckily I didn't have an episiotomy, just a few internal stitches.

DD is nursing well. My milk came in day 3 and I was really engorged for a couple days, but it's getting better. I think I might have a bit of a forceful letdown because sometimes she'll sputter and pop off right after she latches. She was past her birth weight by day 4, which made me really happy.

This biggest thing we are struggling with is where to put her to sleep at night. We have a small crib in our room and she did not like being in there at all, even swaddled. So the next night we tried the swing with it on and she did a little better. Now we're using the swing with it off, so I guess it's sort of like a RNP and she likes that even better. She sleeps the best/longest snuggled up next to me though and so do I. I never wanted to be a cosleeper and DH isn't comfortable with her being in the bed so I'm hoping she'll get the hang of sleeping on her own soon.

hi ladies! So happy to be here Just wanted to jump on quickly--we just got home today and so far C is pretty sleepy, only waking to eat, and only wanting to eat for 15-20 minutes at a time. Her latch is super painful and the LC at the hospital confirmed my fears about a posterior tongue tie and lip tie, so we have an appt with an ENT for Tuesday. I really hope it helps--LO1 had the same thing, but his was improperly clipped and it still took about 9 weeks for nursing to be pain free.

I am going to try to get some rest and will read back through the thread later. hope you are all doing well!

@hilsy85: I'm wondering when to start pumping too. I don't want to wait too long and have her fight the bottle, but I also don't want to mess anything up because she's a good nurser.

Aaand it begins. My three year old seems to have a cold and sneezed right by my two week old. I was hoping to somehow get to six weeks or at least a month. Ds is getting some breast milk thanks to my difficulty weaning off the pump so I guess that's somewhat helpful but this sucks!

@2littlepumpkins: oh no! I hope baby doesn't get sick.

My mom just left. She and I cried and DD looked at us like we were crazy.

We're having newborn and family photos taken today. DD was nice and slept in 4 hour chunks last night, so my dark circles are quite as dark today. I wasn't sure I had enough concealer otherwise.

@Mrs. Pickle: thanks. I hope your pictures go well. We did ours on Tues and it was actually really nice. I remember when my mom left after visiting lo1 the first time and I was crying to dh asking him how I was supposed to take care of a child with no family (mine anyway) nearby. (I also wound up having ppd so I'm sure that was part of it.) it was so emotional!!

@Charm54: how long do you pump for each session? I'm thinking of trying to switch to ep'ing but right now I only get a max of 2 ounces in a 20 min session.

@2littlepumpkins: thanks that helps! I think I might try some things to up my supply. I only ever get 1oz/side max every 2 to 4 hours. I know that will not be enough to start ep'ing. That also makes me think DS isn't getting enough either which would make sense since he's having trouble gaining weight.

@renee0106: when I started EPing I was only getting 1-2 oz per session. Pumping often (7-8x a day) really helped to boost my supply in those first 10 days. I used quite a bit of formula to supplement days 1-10 but now I haven't had to supplement in over a week.

Also when you're nursing and pumping I would think you wouldn't get as much from the pump, since your LO is eating in between pump sessions? So it might not be an accurate reflection of your supply?

If you do think it's a supply issue, domperidone did wonders to boost mine with Dd1. My Dr wrote me a Rx for it again this time but I haven't started to take it yet since my supply actually seems to be keeping up these days

We had our first pedi appt today--C is already past her birth weight at 4 days old! She was born at 7lbs 12oz and weighed in at 7lbs13oz. I was surprised because she only nurses for like 10-15 minutes at a time, but maybe she is just really efficient? or my milk is super fatty, lol. Maybe she will be a chunky monkey, which would be a big change from LO1, who was a string bean!

The pedi also noticed a spot on her back that she thinks may become a hemangioma (strawberry birthmark). I'm a little worried, because I know they can be really big and obvious, but the important thing is that it's benign and she is in perfect health.

Anyone else dealing/dealt with engorgement? I am in major discomfort and my boobs are insanely huge and swollen makes it hard for DD to latch as well. Has anyone successfully done the cabbage leaves?

@renee0106: or lactation cookies! There are a bunch of good recipes online, and I think there has been one or two posted on HB too.

@hilsy85: that's awesome weight gain! Sounds like nursing is going well!! The engorgement only lasted a day or two for me. I just suffered through knowing it would be over pretty quickly and nursed as normal. Hopefully it will be better for you tomorrow.

@NovBaby1112: sounds like witching hour! My C has had similar evening fussiness but it varies depending on his naps. It's been falling on the later side the past few nights. (Just in time for daddy to take over when I'm putting J to bed, ha!).

@NovBaby1112: have you tried wearing him? maybe that would help? sounds rough though. I am terrified of next week when DH goes back to work and we don't have any help at home...the idea of entertaining DS while caring for DD is really overwhelming!

We had our ENT appt today and DD had her tongue tie and lip tie clipped. So far her latch is still painful but less so, and my nipples don't look quite as bad when they come out of her mouth. The ENT said it looks like I have the beginnings of mastitis I had it with DS and it was awful--I''m hoping that with the improved latch I'll be able to avoid it.

@NovBaby1112: I feel like we are also starting to have a fussy period at night--usually around 7/8/9pm, where she has a lot of trouble falling asleep without nursing. I really want her to take a paci but so far she has rejected them

Nursing is also going better--I think I have avoided mastitis, but have a plugged duct on one side--I've been doing massage and trying to empty it as often as possible. Hopefully it goes away soon.

@2littlepumpkins: aw poor guy is he horribly uncomfortable? I hope he feels better soon!