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mikeswife06
Drama Momma
Member since 9/06 9947 total posts
Name:
Anne
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If you are planning on nursing
I just wanted to share what I learned....
I had my heart set on BFing for a year (pumping and bottlefeeding after 6 months) but unfortunately at 6 weeks we stopped. It became too stressful and my supply just wasn't there. It was devestating.
1) If you think you drink a lot of water now, imagine drinking more. That's how much you should drink when you are BFing. I did not know this!!!!! People said drink your water but I had no idea the impact it has on milk supply.
2) If you think you are informed....keep researching and reading.
3) kellymom.com
4) If your baby is not gaining enough weight at first just keep on nursing and get a pump. Try not to supplement. And if you have to, ALWAYS nurse and then supplement. I made the mistake of using "supplemeting" as a break and it really decreased my supply.
5) Your nipples will get better.
Good luck! Next time around I WILL be more successful. 
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Posted 10/26/08 6:29 PM  |
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twinkletoes807
Mommy's Girls! ♥
Member since 11/07 10116 total posts
Name:
Gabi
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Re: If you are planning on nursing
Great advice! Since DD was in the NICU for 8 days and was getting bottle fed with my BM after day 3, it was very hard to make the transition to nursing when we got her home. Stress is not the word!!  I now pump and supplement with formula and though I felt an enormous amount of guilt doing this in the beginning, it was the best decision for me, DD and my sanity. I pray that next time I can nurse right away. 
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| Posted 10/26/08 6:34 PM |
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MrsRivera
2 under 2...whew!!
Member since 2/07 9876 total posts
Name:
Beth
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Re: If you are planning on nursing
Thanks for the info. I am terrible about drinking my water, this is something I'm really going to need to work on.
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| Posted 10/26/08 6:37 PM |
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thiadora
Happy Little Girl
Member since 5/05 3830 total posts
Name:
Thia (Cynthia)
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Re: If you are planning on nursing
Posted by MrsRivera
Thanks for the info. I am terrible about drinking my water, this is something I'm really going to need to work on.
In the beginning, I always sat down to BF with a bottle water, and I made sure to drink it during that BFing session. (I only did this during the daytime sessions. During the middle of the night I just BFed.)
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| Posted 10/26/08 9:21 PM |
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Re: If you are planning on nursing
Posted by twinkletoes807
Great advice! Since DD was in the NICU for 8 days and was getting bottle fed with my BM after day 3, it was very hard to make the transition to nursing when we got her home. Stress is not the word!! I now pump and supplement with formula and though I felt an enormous amount of guilt doing this in the beginning, it was the best decision for me, DD and my sanity. I pray that next time I can nurse right away.
I think that's often the best you can do with a baby that needs to be bottle fed in the NICU  .
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| Posted 10/26/08 10:48 PM |
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mia818
LIF Adult
Member since 12/07 2197 total posts
Name:
Mia
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Re: If you are planning on nursing
I think it is hard breastfeeding! I tried hard with ds, but he was in the NICU when I first had him and he had a few bottles so it was difficult at first. Your nipples get sore but once you get the hang of it it is so worth it! I supplemented for a month, because it was hard for me. I felt let down at first, but I didn't beat myself up over it. He got in a month of breast milk and the collustrum so I am happy with that. Hopefully this time around it will go easier.
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| Posted 10/26/08 11:05 PM |
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Alli06
Baby #3 coming this June
Member since 8/05 6721 total posts
Name:
A
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Re: If you are planning on nursing
Thanks for your advice!! I'm going to give it my best try. I will also be bottle feeding, since I need to go back to work.
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| Posted 10/26/08 11:24 PM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: If you are planning on nursing
Thanks for sharing this. I go back and forth but ultimately know BF won't be for me. And I did not even think about what you said abotu the water, knowing that now I could NEVER do it. I have trouble even meeting my daily water quota when NOT pg, and it's terribly hard now that I am pg. I know some days I barely drink enough and it worries me. So being I didn't think of that, now I know for sure I can't BF...it would just be too stressful for me.
Thank you and I am sorry it didn't work out the way you had hoped.
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| Posted 10/26/08 11:40 PM |
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NoStressMom
My Heart and Soul
Member since 5/05 11122 total posts
Name:
D
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Re: If you are planning on nursing
thanks for the information Anne
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| Posted 10/27/08 8:24 AM |
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smdl
I love Gary too..on a plate!
Member since 5/06 32461 total posts
Name:
me
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Re: If you are planning on nursing
Posted by thiadora
Posted by MrsRivera
Thanks for the info. I am terrible about drinking my water, this is something I'm really going to need to work on.
In the beginning, I always sat down to BF with a bottle water, and I made sure to drink it during that BFing session. (I only did this during the daytime sessions. During the middle of the night I just BFed.)
DS' ped told me an easy reminder.
He told me to drink a glass of water every time I was BFing. That was a good technique to remember.
BFin is a commitment. You cannot say "oh I don't feel like it". It has to be regular and consistent.
And yet, we have to accept that even when we do everything right, BF may still not work out.
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| Posted 10/27/08 8:37 AM |
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Porrruss
Nya nya nya
Member since 5/05 11618 total posts
Name:
Amy
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Re: If you are planning on nursing
In addition to Anne's recommendations (all very good), I HIGHLY recommend finding a lactation consultant. My LC became my cheerleader and was an AMAZING source of support. Anytime I felt like giving up, she always knew what to say to motivate me to keep going.
I used this website to find mine:
Lactation consultants
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| Posted 10/27/08 10:17 AM |
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Blissful
Ultimate Expression of LOVE
Member since 6/08 4985 total posts
Name:
Maria
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Re: If you are planning on nursing
Great advice! That hapened to one of my friends when I went out to help her after she came home with her preemie.
She didn't realize how important it was to drink water so her milk started drying up! SHe also didn't realize that the 2-3 espressos she was drinking a day because she was so tired was why her baby was so agitated and wouldn't sleep 
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| Posted 10/27/08 10:22 AM |
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headoverheels
s'il vous plaît
Member since 6/07 42079 total posts
Name:
LB
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Re: If you are planning on nursing
Posted by mikeswife06
I just wanted to share what I learned....
I had my heart set on BFing for a year (pumping and bottlefeeding after 6 months) but unfortunately at 6 weeks we stopped. It became too stressful and my supply just wasn't there. It was devestating.
1) If you think you drink a lot of water now, imagine drinking more. That's how much you should drink when you are BFing. I did not know this!!!!! People said drink your water but I had no idea the impact it has on milk supply.
2) If you think you are informed....keep researching and reading.
3) kellymom.com
4) If your baby is not gaining enough weight at first just keep on nursing and get a pump. Try not to supplement. And if you have to, ALWAYS nurse and then supplement. I made the mistake of using "supplemeting" as a break and it really decreased my supply.
5) Your nipples will get better.
Good luck! Next time around I WILL be more successful.
this is really good advice. i am sorry BFing didn't work out for you
i was lucky in that i had no problems with my supply but BFing is still hard and needs to be a 100% commitment. it goes both ways though - i try sometimes to give DS formula when i need a break (i pump if i get engorged) and he often refuses the bottle because he prefers the breast. the only time he will take a bottle is if we are out.
good luck to all you future mommies!!
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| Posted 10/27/08 11:21 AM |
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Lucky
Growing up fast!
Member since 4/07 12683 total posts
Name:
Dawn
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Re: If you are planning on nursing
I nursed my first DD for almost a year and you have given some great advice. Definitely keep nursing, even if you have to supplement.
There are other things that can help to increase your milk supply, outside of drinking more water. They say that steel cut oatmeal helps. Eating balanced and regular meals is also supposed to help. There are also mother's teas that will bump up the supply as well as an herb called "fenugreek".
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| Posted 10/27/08 11:55 AM |
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Rycois
Blessed with 2blue/2pink
Member since 12/05 13341 total posts
Name:
J
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Re: If you are planning on nursing
The ped told my husband at our first visit that his new name would be "water boy". He needed to bring me a water before BF, during, and after. I literally went through a case (24 bottles) of water a day - I was SOOOOO thirsty.
Now 7+months later, when I'm at work I keep a pitcher of water on my desk so I don't have to keep running to the water cooler.
Message edited 10/27/2008 12:45:46 PM.
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| Posted 10/27/08 12:45 PM |
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MrsS2005
Mom of 3
Member since 11/05 13118 total posts
Name:
B
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Re: If you are planning on nursing
Thank you for the advice. 
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| Posted 10/27/08 12:59 PM |
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