BTDT moms- nursing.

are you able to keep a schedule while nursing, or are all feedings on demand? Is it possible to pump and BF alsom or do you have to do one or the other?

I am expecting a singleton around Thanksgiving, and I don't know the first thing about nursing. I pumped for the first month with DD's and supplemented with formula.

Re: BTDT moms- nursing.

When my DS was a newborn, I nursed on demand. Around 6 months, we started to develop more of a routine (which is also when he started solids). I call it a routine more so than a schedule, bc we did not watch the clock but we did have a flow. I still nursed on demand in between though, which is actually what we continue to do now, though not as frequently.

You can absolutely pump and nurse!

Please please please message me on fb if you have any questions!

Re: BTDT moms- nursing.

I fed on demand which was pretty frequent. I wish I would has taking a BF class when I was pregnant. There's surprising a lot to learn. I would also look into getting a lactation consultant, I heard they can be very helpful.

I feel mental strength and determination play a big role in BF success as well. It's hard, but you can do it!

BTDT moms- nursing.

I feed Dd on demand but like the pp stated we do have a routine. It is not always the same but it is definitely more predictable at 7.5 months then it was early on- you can pump and BF. I recommend pumping at the same time every day if possible. I knew very little about BF when I started. I find the kellymom website very helpful.

Message edited 10/25/2014 2:59:10 PM.

BTDT moms- nursing.

I think like everything, the first few weeks are all about baby's demand. Around 6 weeks I was able to get DD onto the eat, play, sleep routine and it worked great. I would say the feedings were the same time each day but once we were up for the day she nursed every two hours so it was easy to predict from there. I was usually able to push things up or back when I needed to also. Around 4-5 months it stretched to every three hours. I actually liked that it wasn't strict times bc I could go to library classes or doctor appointments and never worried much about the times bc I could adjust if needed. Closer to 8 or 9 months we got onto more of a timed schedule. I'm no help at pumping really. I rarely did it and it was even more rare that I actually left DD long enough to give her the milk. I do worry that having a toddler to entertain and care for this time around is going to add a whole new level of difficulty to those first few weeks!

Re: BTDT moms- nursing.

The first few weeks are all on demand and the feeding times can vary. I recommend starting to keep track of what time you started and ended feedings and for how many minutes each side after the first couple weeks. You'll start to see a pattern and eventually the amount of time you feed will get shorter as they get more efficient. You'll be able to set a clock to their feedings but then a tooth will come in and throw everything off.

I probably wouldn't pump until at least a month in. It's hard those first weeks so I wouldn't add another stressor like pumping in until you are established. If you want to exclusively breast feed, don't supplement at all. It messes everything up. (speaking from my experience of course, my first was supplemented and we didn't get off to a great start at all. My second and third I refused all formula and they got to nursing like champs right away.)

Don't expect much else the first weeks besides feeding baby, snuggling baby, and getting water and food into yourself and resting. That was my mistake with my first. I put a lot of pressure on myself to get back to normal and our families were all OOS so I had no help. In a perfect world, someone would be taking care of all mothers those first couple weeks so she can devote her time to recovering and her baby.

BTDT moms- nursing.

I wish I could bf for an extended period of time, but unfortunately I can't. Thanks for your advice, everyone! I still have a lot to learn.

Re: BTDT moms- nursing.

In the beginning it was on demand. I loved in sweatpants and my nursing bra for the first few weeks. I also pumped so dh could have a bottle to give dd so he would feel involved. In the beginning I pumped all day to get that one bottle.

BTDT moms- nursing.

In the beginning, it's hard to have a schedule - it really is all feed on demand. You can definitely pump, but if you're nursing as well your entire day will be pumping or nursing. My SIL has a 5 week old, she pretty much exclusively pumps during the day and nurses at bedtime and during the night. The only negative to this is her DD prefers the bottle to the boob. At 6 months, my DS is not on a rigid schedule but it's definitely more manageable with 6-7 nursing sessions a day.

Re: BTDT moms- nursing.

I agree with everyone else. By 6 months or so we had a bit of a routine going. Now, at just over a year, he still 'nurses on demand' when we're together but the times are pretty predictable.

I bf and pump because I work, but you can definitely do both! I recommend taking a class or speaking to an LC to get answers about your specific situation

Re: BTDT moms- nursing.

BF babies should always be fed on demand. But they will eventually develop their own schedule. The first 6 weeks are hard, and then after that you can't imagine how much harder it must be making bottles.

Pumping isn't recommended for the first few weeks to let your supply regulate, but it can definitely be done.

Good luck!

Re: BTDT moms- nursing.

On demand

Message edited 10/26/2014 10:33:48 PM.

Re: BTDT moms- nursing.

i nursed on demand for the first 2+ months. but i was going back to work at 3 months and knew i needed to give daycare a bit of a schedule since dd wouldnt be getting1 on 1 attention and they wouldnt know her cues to differentiate between hunger, tired etc. So by 3 months she was on somewhat of a schedule (for example i would tell them to feed her between the 2.5 and 3.5 hour mark). she adjusted really well to a schedule - it just took some time to play around with bottle amounts since i never knew what she was taking from me on the boob.

Re: BTDT moms- nursing.

Especially in the first few weeks, he was fed on demand - there were days especially during growth spurts when he'd eat every hour and a half or two hours. Now that he's 10 weeks, we definitely have somewhat of a schedule - it's every 2.5-3 hours and almost around the same time everyday, usually off by an hour or so. I barely pumped in the beginning - it took time for me to adjust to breastfeeding, and pumping was just too much. I would do it in the mornings (I think in the 3rd or 4th week I started?) during his longer nap and would get a few oz which I'd use if we were going somewhere or to have DH feed him a bottle. The last week or so, I've started pumping more often to build up a freezer stash for when I go back to work - now that I have a general sense of his schedule and how often he eats, I'll pump after feeding him and putting him down for a nap. The mornings seem to be the best in terms of getting the most milk out - but I don't do it every single day - I'll get bottles ready if we're going out for the day somewhere or leaving him with DH for a few hours, etc.

Message edited 10/27/2014 10:28:20 AM.

BTDT moms- nursing.

First few weeks he was fed on demand; there wasn't any schedule for us. As the weeks went by we still didn't have a set schedule but I could gauge from his last feeding how long it would be until the next one (to run to the store etc).

ETA: he went to daycare at 3 months; and I remember her saying he ate every 3 hours like clock work! They really do get on a little schedule of their own.

Message edited 10/27/2014 10:37:29 AM.