Breastfeeding Support Thread

[Nicky_Jones]

I am planning on BF for at leat 6 months but I suspect I will be introducing solids before 6 months. I get the feeling by the way she watches so excitedely when we eat that she will be ready for solids sooner than 6 months.

 

[Daggers]

Skatty so glad that they have identified what was wrong with Leorah now just hoping she cuts heal quickly so she doesn't have to suffer any more - and you . You are lucky with her sleeping between 4-5 hrs, Otis's longest stint really is between 7pm and around 11pm (and that's not guarenteed!), I'm sure with time he will start sleeping longer.
I know what you mean about the jeans! I've been meaning to pack away my maternity clothing so I have more room for my 'normal' clothing, most of the stuff fits okay it's just the belly that hangs over - yuk , looks like I have a beer belly! I haven't started running as yet but managed to dig out my yoga vid, now to find the video recorder! .

I am hoping to BF feed for at least 6 months eventhough I'm sure it will be a mix of solids and maybe some formula, by then I'll probably go down to BFing in the mornings and evenings, will see how it goes!?
Another thing, at the mo when I BF Oats at the most he only feeds for around 10mins and only one boob, I'm presuming that as his weight is okay that my milk supply must be in such abundance that he can take what he needs in such a short period of time ?

 

[Lucy]

Daggers, thanks for your kind comments. Any help I can give to anyone is fantastic. I can't recommend enough the La Leche League, NCT and Breastfeeding Network organisations as well, they all have telephone helplines manned by excellent bf councellors.

Skatty, glad your little one is getting the help she needs now.

I weaned Olivia at 6 months of age, my DH has lots of allergies on his side and so I felt it was important to do everything I could to try and prevent Olivia getting them. She was still putting on weight on my milk alone and although showed signs she was ready at about 5 months we waited til 6 months.

Lucy

 

[skatty]

Hi daggers, Leorah also only feed for 10 mins and last night only 8 mins from one breast and the HV and the docs Ihave seen recently said its fine as she is putting on weight and that they can see my flow is really fast. I'm sure its the same with you, I think we are actually lucky because feeds are quick

I think Leorah is going so long between feeds because of her medical problem thougfh so I'd rather she be better and waking more often. My problem at the moment is that by boobs are still producing loads of milk at night and I feel engorged like at the beginning when the milk comes in. It seems they don't get the message to cut down but I don't want to pump or they will think I need the milk! Any advice anyone?????

Leorah seemed worst last night but I don't know if that's because I now know what the problem is! My DH came in to comfort her and she honestly looked at him like Superman came to rescue her! It was sweet and heartbreaking at the same time seeing her clinging onto him like she would never want to let go! This parenting thing is so emotional isn't it?

 

[Daggers]

Awww Skatty I know what you mean re the superman thing, when ever Otis see his daddy he always beams up! I put it down to his beard, but my OH say it's his gentle and warm personality , yeah whatever!
With regards to your swollen boobies, how about trying to express just a little bit each time they get painful? Like 1 fluid ounce, that way it should releive your boobs a bit and your breast won't product loads more milk thinking that you've got a monster feeder for a baby! With me it's my right boob that keeps swelling - nice one big boob !
Yes I guess we are lucky that we don't need to sit with our LO's for ages when BFing, 10mins does seem to be the max at the mo, and today Otis weighed in at 10lbs 6.5, spot on apparently! Nice one

 

[Jadie]

Hiya Skatty, The white nipple is a sign of the thrush too.I read some were If you had left it un treated it could have stayed like that!!!

I am glad you are all finding feeding easier now, OLiver feds for less than five minutes now.

Jade

 

[skatty]

Thanks for letting me know about the nipple Jadie, thank god I have some cream though I think I may need to go back and get something stronger. I'm pleased you mentiomned that Oliver only takes 5 mins to feed too because since the overproduction of my right boob (snap Daggers mine is the right too!) she only feeds for 8 mins off that one!

I am goimg to have to express that boob a bit, its so painful. Its also the one I have the white bit on the nipple and the worst of the shootiong pains. The last thing I need is to get mastitis as well!

Daggers have you used any breast shells? I bought a pair and I use one on the side I'm not feeding on in the night and collect more than an oz sometimes. I just throw it away as I can't be bothered to put it in the fridge but if you sterilise the shells you can use the milk. I wore them all night the first night and poor Leorah kept banging her head on what's normally a nice cushion! Don't wear them at night if you sleep on your stomach though, they dislodged and soaked the sheets

Otis is a nice weight. I must say it is lovely that Lleorah isn't so fragile and tiny anymore though most of her newborn clothe are still too big. At this rate it will be summer before she fits her 0-3 month stuff and it will all go unworn because its the wrong season!

 

[Lucy]

Hi

Daggers - well done on Otis's weight, he's doing really well

Jadie - how's Oliver feeding now, is he still only take a wee bit of solids?

Skatty - cream didn't cure my thrush, I had to get tablets. A lot of Drs are hesistant to prescribe what is THE best treatment for thrush which is fluconazole . If you can, print this page http://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/information/thrush.php and take it to your Drs. My HV was great in getting me the tablets and it cleared up the thrush in a couple of days. Also, Daktarin gel is great for the babies, Olivia hated the nystatin drops we had at first but the gel stayed in her mouth much better (I didn't see any symptoms in her except a wee bit of nappy rash but you must treat you both at the same time).

Well, Olivia now has two huge top teeth to go with her 3 bottom teeth and yesterday she bit me really hard, I yelped like a puppy who'd had it's tail stood on.

Lucy

 

[Daggers]

Skatty, no I haven't used the boobie shells, I haven't been leaking recently so don't think there would be much point to getting them. i have had to restort to putting one of Oat's blankets dwon in our bed when I'm feeding him at night as feeding can still be a bit messy occasionally when we boob is full and I dribbles down the side of his mouth and onto our sheets!
How big is Leorah now? Otis is finally starting to fit into his 1-3 months cloths, isn't nice to put them into something other than sleeper/play suits.

Lucy, I remember my sister telling me the joys of BFing her son when he started to get teeth, it sounded most painful! It was bad enough when Otis was freaking out while BFing and he would bite down with his gums ! Good luck hun, it would be nice if someone could come up with some device to prevent this - good be a good money earner as well!

 

[Jadie]

Lucy.... Oliver is still not taking solids well and has now started waking 3 or 4 times a night instrad of two! We thought the other day may be does not want the solid food from me as he sees me as mlik... but last night he would not spoon feed from dH either!

He is sleeping a lot during the day now. Maybe I should try keeeo him up? I woke him at 9 this morning. He had woken for a feed about 6 and gone back to sleep. He went back down for a nap about 10 30!!! he has a cold so may be this is why his routine has changed.


Jade

 

[Tina & Gabs]

Hi Ladies

Hope you are all well.

Skatty hope your boobies aren't so sore hun.

Daggers Otis is a great weight.

Lucy, ouch, is all I can say.........

Jadie I hope Olivers cold goes soon, seems to be a lot about at the moment.

Gabriella got weighed yesterday and she is 9lb 8oz, i can't believe how well she is doing. Her skin is still a bit bad and she seems to have it on her body now, I have been given oilatum (sp) to bathe her in and some different cream and so far seems to be working. Poor little thing, I hate to see her skin looking so bad.

Hope you all have a great weekend

 

[xSuzx]

Hi girls

Sorry still trying to cathc up with everything.

Skatty I hope leorahs getting better, also about the white bit on the nipple is in the whole nipple or just like a tiny spot on the nipple.

I got a tiny spot on my nipple (it was creamy coloured and red on the outside and would get very sore) when lily was younger and at first thought it was trush but upon closer expection I found that it was an area covering a milk duct and if I squeezed the nipple milk would come out and it would get abit better.

I'll try and catch up with everyone elses posts too in a mo.

xSuzx

 

[Nicky_Jones]

I am having problems with Ellie falling asleep at nights while on the breast. That in itself is not the problem, but knowing when to unlatch her is. When she starts feeding it is long sucks continuosly. Then she goes in 3 quick sucks in succession and the a long pause. Last night she was latched on for nearly an hour (I hadn't realised that much time had past until I went back to bed as I had fallen asleep) before I took fer off.

Is she still actualy drinking anything when she is like that?
Is it OK to tkae her off the breas as soon as she goes into that mode of drinking?

She used to go into that mode for a bit and then come off on her own, but not anymore.

Thanks

 

[skatty]

Hi everyone, this is just a quickie to say hi and I hope you are all doing fine. Leorah seems a little better and I think my thrush is clearing too (xsuzx, I think the white bit on my nip is the same as what you had!)

What's wrong with Gabriella's skin Tina? While Leorah was in hospital she went really spotty and they said it was the hormones ion my milk (must have been stress hormones ) but since we go home they are clearing up and I swear they were from her overheating as it was so warm and they wrapped her in a duvet! Her bodysuit was damp!

Anyway I really must go and do some work before eastenders! Chat soon!

 

[Jadie]

Hiya,

Hope every one is well?

Nicky... I think Lucy will now better than me but if you know Ellie has fallen to sleep I would take her off the breast in the night. She is proberly just sucking for comfort? Even now if I left Oliver I am sure he would stay sucking all night! I cant feeed him laying down, if I fall asleep he just stays on me till I wake up!

Skatty... The hosptal I was in here was so hot, I am it made us both more ill. Babies are meant to be at 18c but we think thats too cold!! Its hard deciding whats best, as the health people say 18c!

JAde

 

[Daggers]

Evening all, also just a quickie to see how everyone is doing? Yes Tina, what is up with Gabriella's skin? Still glad see that it seems to be clearing up.
Skatty also good to hear that Leorah is getting better, hopefully you can both relax and be a bit more stress free now!
Nicky sorry I can't give any advice re Ellie, but hope you manage to find a resolution soon. I have noticed that Otis has started waking up recently when ever I put him down in the evenings. After he's been fed and fallen asleep in my arms I put him down and he'll wake up!! Still he just tends to look around his room gurggle, smile and go back to sleep - in most cases! So I'm not to upset as long as he manages to fall back asleep on his own.
Well other than being exhausted - had a complete lazy day today and I'm still knackered! All 3 of us (me, OH and Oats man) stayed in PJ's - well house attier all day ! Just did my first milking for the day and I'm glad to say that so far I've managed to bag and freeze 6x4 fluid oz, I've got Otis's bottles for tomorrow all done and I still have one more milking to do later tonight! So I'm slightly chuffed with myself .

 

[Lucy]

Hi everyone

Daggers - well done on the expressing! 6 x 4 oz in one go?! That's excellent! I was never very efficient at expressing but I don't think I kept going long enough, with my next baby I plan to express once everyday and even if baby doesn't need it I'd love to donate to a hospital - they see it like gold dust to give to prem babies (especially as a lot of prem babies mummys milk doesn't come in for a while).

Jadie - I post alot on this thread but I know you are training/have trained to be a breastfeeding peer , you know a lot more than me!
Nicky - Olivia would sometimes do this as well and I would constantly ask at the breastfeeding support group whether or not she was still feeding when she was latching on doing a wee flicker of her tongue. I was told unless I could hear her swallowing then she wasn't feeding so often I would unlatch her and pop her dummy in or else unlatch her and rock her carrycot gently. I found swaddling Olivia for her evening feeds helped to settle her better when I had to unlatch her.

Well done everyone,

Lucy

 

[Jadie]

Thanks Lucy... But you have been feeding longer than me and experience is a big thing in this breast feeding game!! I am at week 7 in the training, 5 weeks left!

I try and express every day but Oliver keeps pulling on the pump, I can only express when I am feeding him. So I cant keep it up much longer! I am getting less every day now.

Jade

 

[Tina & Gabs]

Evening All

Glad you are all well.

Daggers well done on the expressing, that is fab.
What a nice lazy day; I love days like that.

Skatty glad the thrush is clearing up.

Gabriella had baby eczema, her skin looked awful but it is so much better now. It didn't seem to be itching her or annoying her but it just looked awful.

Feeding is going well and Gabriella slept for 5 hours last night
It was probably a one off though....... She normally does between 3 and 4, sometimes as little as 2........ we shall se.

Lots of hugs to you all; take care

 

[Daggers]

Tina, sounds like Ellie's sleeping times is somewhat like Otis - not sure he's ever slept for 5hrs! Must be nice thiugh hope for you it's not a 1 off, I can't wait for Otis to start sleeping for longer, my OH keeps trying to pump more food into him but unfortunately it doesn't work!
By the way the 6x4oz was collected over the past week - my boobs ain't up to that sort of milking in one go!!! , otherwise you'd have to call me Mrs Moo!!!