Breast Feeding Questions

1. When did your milk come in?

It's day 4 now and I don't think it's in. They feel heavy and full, but from what everyone says, it's painful, they leak, and YOU KNOW. I've been pumping a little and it's yellow,so I'm assuming it's still colostrum.

2. Can you ever feed too much?

I'm doing on demand feedings and sometimes she will feed every hour.

3. Also, since going home, a lot of times I will just do one side for however long she wants, and then she's good and doesnt want the other side. I then start with the opposite side, is this ok?

I've been feeding usually 10-12 times a day and she is going above the pee and poo goals, so I think it's going well and she's getting enough.

My nipples are killing me. I know especially on my left side, she doesnt always latch right..she just takes the nipple and it is cut up and bleeds a little.

4. Ive been pumping that boob more and feeding from the other one because it kills when she's on it. Is that ok??

5. Any tips for my nipples and getting her to latch on the whole aerola...

6.Any breastfeeding tips in general?

TIA

Re: Breast Feeding Questions

I never knew when my milk came in. I swear it was over a week.

You can't feed too much. My son fed every hour for a long time, but he was over 11 pounds at birth.

Yes, you can feed just one side at a time. My son typically only fed one breast per feeding, all the way to a year. I would switch him to the next breast for the next feeding.

Or, you can feed one side and pump the other. I began pumping at 6 days.

My nipples KILLED for two weeks. Then it was all good. Lansinoh breastfeeding cream helped.

I got tips on latching and pumping from my local la leche league. If you go to their website, you can find local leaders in your immediate area. They take phone calls from new moms all the time. If one isn't home, try the next. They typically have at least 6 girls in your area to call with random questions. They helped me so much in the beginning.

You're doing great!!!!!!

Re: Breast Feeding Questions

1. I didn't know my milk came in. It wasn't overly painful (or at least not as painful as my nipples were). I didn't feel full or overly engorged until I was well over 2 weeks into nursing. The only thing I really associated with my milk coming in was I would get the chills.

2. No. Just feed her as often as she needs it. The more you feed her the more milk you will get.

3. I do that. I usually only nurse one side at a time. Occasionally, she'll want to nurse on the other side too, but it's very rare. I also noticed if I nursed her on both sides she got more fore milk and was super gassy.

Apply Lanolin cream to the nipples. CONSTANTLY. Esp before you shower and right after she eats.

4. It's fine to pump if her latch is hurting you, but try the lanolin. I swear my nipples were in so much pain for the first week. I used to grimace when she latched. The lanolin helped. Make sure she's taking as much of your nipple as she can. I was really concerned we had a bad latch, but the latch was great it just took me a little to get adjusted. So if you are sure the latch is good then just give it time.

5. I used to let her latch and then loosen the latch a bit on the bottom with my finger. and shove a little bit more in there. Also make sure her bottom lip is fanned out.

6. Be patient! It gets better but for the first few weeks you will feel chained to a chair. It really does get to be enjoyable.

Re: Breast Feeding Questions

1. When did your milk come in?

Days 3-5 is typical. ETA: Not everyone gets engorged!

2. Can you ever feed too much?

Keeping bf on demand and don't watch the clock...watch your baby!

3. Also, since going home, a lot of times I will just do one side for however long she wants, and then she's good and doesnt want the other side. I then start with the opposite side, is this ok?

Yes!

I've been feeding usually 10-12 times a day and she is going above the pee and poo goals, so I think it's going well and she's getting enough.

Awesome!

My nipples are killing me. I know especially on my left side, she doesnt always latch right..she just takes the nipple and it is cut up and bleeds a little.

Please let your ped know. You may need an antibiotic cream if you are seeing blood.

4. Ive been pumping that boob more and feeding from the other one because it kills when she's on it. Is that ok??

Yes.

5. Any tips for my nipples and getting her to latch on the whole aerola...

Make sure she has a wide open mouth before latching. If she doesn't, put your index finger on her chin and pull down while she is latched. That should correct it. Also, keep her tucked in close. Keep firm pressure between her shoulder blades. You will not hurt her! This allows her to get a deeper latch.

You're doing great! Keep up the good work! Congratulations!! You can FM if you need any more help!

Message edited 9/25/2011 9:38:11 AM.

Re: Breast Feeding Questions

1. When did your milk come in?

I think my milk came in around day 3 or 4. I knew it came it because they got really hard and hurt a lot and they were leaking.

2. Can you ever feed too much?

On demand is the best way to go.

3. AJ does this as well. When I went to the doctor the first week they said try to keep him awake so he can go to the other side and at times it was just impossible. Now he's a month old and he still feeds from one side at a time.

Its a great sign that she is above the peeing and pooping norm.

My nipples felt the same in the beginning. Get Earth Mama nipple butter it's the only thing that really helped. I also got these gell pads that could be refrigerated that helped me feel better. The medela brand didn't do much and I can't remember which ones could go in the refrigerator. I was in a lot of pain so I did some pumping to give my nipples a break. It will get a lot easier and they will toughen up.

4. I did the same thing and everything turned out fine for me.


6.Any breastfeeding tips in general?
I used a nipple shield for a couple of days when they felt really bad and that helped them heal and the pain wasn't as bad. It's something worth trying.

Once the pain subsides it gets so much easier. The first week was the absolute hardest.

Re: Breast Feeding Questions

Thank you everyone! My boobs definitely have been feeling harder and fuller, so I don't know if it's milk.

Does milk come out yellow too? Because when I pump, it's yellow.

Sometimes she latches great, and she's really good with my right boob, but the left boob is difficult. I'll try the nipple sheild with that one and continue pumping that one more, especially since that is the one that bleeds a little.

Is it bad for her if she feeds when there is a tiny bit of blood?

I go to the ped tomorrow, so I will talk to them also.

THANKS!!!!!!!! I know it's going to be tough at first (and it's actually better than I thought), I just feel like she's attached to my boob 24/7!

Re: Breast Feeding Questions

Harder/fuller means it's coming in! It will start out as transitional so you'll see it get thinner and whiter. Good for you! Very important not to skip feedings at this point! Your milk supply will establish in around 3 weeks. Your blood will not hurt her at all.

You may want to try a different hold on the left side. The nipple might be different on that side and she may have difficulty feeling it in the roof of her mouth (which establishes the latch).

Another thought I had was to make sure you aren't pulling DC off of your breast. Make sure you break the suction first b/c that will hurt you further!

Good luck! You're off to a wonderful start!

Re: Breast Feeding Questions

Re: Breast Feeding Questions

1. I didn't know my milk came in. It wasn't overly painful (or at least not as painful as my nipples were). I didn't feel full or engorged. I did leak, and did feel let down.

2. Feed on demand - with my first I was a clock watcher and that screwed me! with my second she was about every 2-3h. By 12w I started clock watching and had no prob.

3. You can do one side, switch, whichever works for you. I did 10 on one side and switched for either another 15 or until baby popped off.


4. It's fine to pump - I used the gel breast pads in the early days...best invention!

Re: Breast Feeding Questions

1. When did your milk come in?

It took about 5 days for me. I knew it was in when I squeezed my nips in a certain way and saw the white stuff come out.

2. Can you ever feed too much?

At first, I fed her every 2 or 3 hours, which was exhausting. My DD was small, but once she regained her birth weight and seemed to be thriving, I fed her on demand. Babies dont overeat from what I have heard, so I dont think you can overfeed if youre feeding on demand.

3. I do this too. As long as your nips feel ok, keep at it.


5. Any tips for my nipples and getting her to latch on the whole aerola...

Get Soothies! My ped recommended them and theyre great. Pop them in the freezer and then into your bra. they really helped me in the beginning. For me, once i started pumping regularly, my nipples felt SO much better. I think it was the moisture.

Good luck!!!!!
TIA

Re: Breast Feeding Questions

1. When did your milk come in?

My milk took 6 days to come in. It was frustrating because I constantly felt DS was starving, but he was fine.


2. Can you ever feed too much?

No. DS often ate every hour in the beginning and whenever he was getting a growth spurt.

3. Also, since going home, a lot of times I will just do one side for however long she wants, and then she's good and doesnt want the other side. I then start with the opposite side, is this ok?

That is totally fine. I always offered the second side. He often did take it but even if it was for a few minutes, the next time I would start with the second side.


4. Ive been pumping that boob more and feeding from the other one because it kills when she's on it. Is that ok??

I dont know whether this is ok or not because I didn't do it. However, what hellped a lot was really talking care of my nipples. What I would do was wash them with ivory bar soap after each feeding, then putting bacitracin on and lanolin. I would let them air dry or I would put on the nipple shells so that they would get air. I would then wash them again with ivory soap before feeding DS the next time. Bacitracin is good to use to prevent infections which you might get if you have cuts and are bleeding.

5. Any tips for my nipples and getting her to latch on the whole aerola...

With respect to getting her to latch the whole aereola, i had very large ones when I first gave birth and the nurses in the hospital kept on telling me that all of it needs to be in his mouth. Well, i had a woman from La Leche League come (I think she was a lactation advisor but not a consultant) and she basically said that mine was so large there was no way it would entirely when he latches. What she suggested was that I have him latch on to as much as possible. I dont know if that is the case for you. DS got plenty of milk even though he was not latched on to the whoel aereola.


6.Any breastfeeding tips in general?

The best thing for me was getting a lactation specialist come and see me nurse. She helped boost my confidence that I was doing it right and well.

Also, it gets easier, so dont give up! Sounds like you are doing great so far.