Breastfeeding Question

[amjurey]

my DD was in the NICU for the first 11 days so i pumped from the start. i was very scared that we would have latch issues when she came home but she was a champ. i still had to pump once a day to give her medicine (she wouldn't take it unless it was mixed with milk). during that time i was able to create a pretty good stockpile as well.

i pumped for 6 mon after i went back to work full-time. during the day i would pump 3x/day which was usually enough to feed her the next day. the biggest thing to remember is drink WATER!!!!! i can't tell you how much of a difference i saw on days where i didn't keep myself hydrated enough.

also, my medela PISA is awesome (and paid by insurance). we used (will be using) the avent bottles. they sell attachments so you can just pump directly into the bottles. this was wonderful and convenient - less spilled milk (literally).

DD self weaned at 9 mon - she was/is too independent to be dragged down by mom.

good luck!!!

p.s. the best two pieces of advice i got - don't ever quit on your worst day and keep making small goals for yourself (1 day, 1 wk, 2 wk, 1 mon, etc). and before you know it, you will have been going strong for 6 mon.

[austingirl]

Originally Posted by amjurey p.s. the best two pieces of advice i got - don't ever quit on your worst day and keep making small goals for yourself (1 day, 1 wk, 2 wk, 1 mon, etc). and before you know it, you will have been going strong for 6 mon.

I have to echo this. DD was in the NICU for 2 weeks, so I pumped from the beginning. I stopped pumping after a month, when she was exclusively nursing, and it was VERY hard to get any milk when I started pumping again at 6 months to go back to work. I pumped air for the first week while my body adjusted to the larger milk supply required, but then I was able to slowly pump a little more. I just kept telling myself, "ok - so we'll pump 5 times today and see if I can get a little more than yesterday"; next day was " I got 50 mL yesterday, let's see if I can get 60 today" and I'd find myself pumping that one extra time to meet the goal... I was never again able to pump enough for more than 1 feeding a day, so I arranged my schedule so that I could nurse her all except one feeding (not practical with most people's jobs), and we conserved milk by mixing her rice cereal with formula instead of milk when she started solids. At the same time, there was NO WAY I would have stuck with it if I had tried to continue exclusively pumping the whole 6 months. It's so much easier to nurse than pump once you get established, and why go through the hassel of a bottle for 3am feedings if you can avoid it?

I agree with the posters that said they pumped some from the beginning. During that first month after the NICU, I would feed her on one side, then let DH get her to sleep while I pumped the other. This got my milk supply established well enough that I was producing more than she needed, which is key if you are going to have to start primarily pumping because even the hospital-grade pumps are not as efficient as your baby at getting milk. My mistake was stopping the pumping around week 5 - my milk supply dropped way off and I started only producing enough to feed her, which wasn't even to feed her if I was just pumping (because again the pump won't get as much out).

[tmsmalley]

If you're going to pump and work, you need a good Medela Pump In Style. They're not cheap but you get good results otherwise so you'll end up wasting more money on cheaper ones. Call your insurance company first. Some reimburse, some will with a doctor's note, some have an in-house discount place to purchase. You can also try for a "new in the box" on ebay. Get the pump before the baby so you can read all the directions and see how it works (don't actually start pumping before the baby arrives however).

Then when the baby does arrive, I'd pump and nurse. No matter how great the pump is, the baby is better so if you can get your baby established, do so. The pumping will help get a good supply going for you and you can freeze the milk for use when you're back at work. Be sure that your work has a place for you to pump and store the milk (there are ice packs with the PIS if you need to do that). You'll need about 20 minutes about 3 times during your work day. When you're home, nurse, don't bottle to keep the mommy milk flowing.

If you have trouble with breastfeeding, call the hospital's lactation counselor right away. Don't think it will get better on its own, use their help. Most women and most babies CAN do this.

If after everything, it doesn't work out, just do the best you can with it. My babies were "lazy eaters" and with the first I pumped 7 times a day for 9 friggin' months (what a pain). Many times I was only getting an ounce of mommy milk a week to supplement the formula. With the second we sat in the LC's office an entire hour while she fed and she only took in 1 tiny ounce. They figured she lost calories on the deal because she'd suck, suck, suck, suck, swallow instead of suck, swallow, suck, swallow. Anyway, with the second I didn't have the heart to face another series of pumping 7 times a day, so she went to full formula at about 4 weeks.

So, give it all you've got, get help from the nurses and LC's and remember that most mommies do make it work but is also ok to do something else if it isn’t working.

One final thing- doctors don't usually release you to return to work until 6 weeks post-partum for a regular birth and 8 weeks after a c-section so you may not be going back at 4 weeks. Check with your OB/GYN about what the standard is in your area so you have a good idea what to expect for your off time.

All the best!
Tess

[bonniebabies]

I'd buy a good pump and bottles with nipples that are good for preventing nipple confusion. Medela or Avent Isis pumps are very good. A good BPA free bottle is Playtex drop ins.

[Abigail's_Mommy]

I think everyone had great advice. I just wanted to add, we tried every kind of bottle and DD would only take Breast Flow. Here is the link; Amazon.com: The First Years Breastflow Starter Kit: Baby

[regbyandjulie]

Thanks for the advice everyone!

Some people talked about caregivers after I go back to work, but DH and I talked about it and he's going to stay home with the baby for at least the first year after I go back to work.

I had no idea insurance sometimes helps with purchasing a breast pump. I have a really great insurance plan through my employer, and I have sent in a form requesting information about whether or not they will subsidize the cost. Either way, though, I'm definitely going with a Medela pump, I've heard so many great things about them and a couple of my friends have one.

[klevesque]

I EP from the time my son was 2 weeks old until he was a year old (He had latch issues). I used the Medela PISO.

I would suggested breastfeeding for the 1st couple of weeks to get your milk established. Then gradually add in a pumping session. Once you have enough milk stored gradually replace a breastfeeding session for a pumping session and feed your baby bottled breastmilk.

Good luck!!!!!

[crecian]

I don't know what insurance you have, but I know CIGNA pays for pumps. Call your insurance company and ask what durable medical equipment company is in-network with them in your area, then call that dme company and tell them that your insurance company (tell them the name, CIGNA, etc) referred you to them and you want to see if they will order a pump for you. Let them know what kind of pump, model # etc you would prefer and tell them you will have your md send a rx if needed.

[mnnice]

Originally Posted by regbyandjulie Thanks for the advice everyone! Some people talked about caregivers after I go back to work, but DH and I talked about it and he's going to stay home with the baby for at least the first year after I go back to work.

Very cool. DS2 stays home with Daddy right now too(although at almost four the routine doesn't involve bottles, breastfeeding, or diapers) They are on to trips to the library and doing yoga together.

Any way if you live close enough to work that you could go home or that they can come visit (even if you just sit and nurse in the car in the parking lot) It would be more pleasant than pumping and washing bottles.

[regbyandjulie]

Originally Posted by mnnice Very cool. DS2 stays home with Daddy right now too(although at almost four the routine doesn't involve bottles, breastfeeding, or diapers) They are on to trips to the library and doing yoga together. Any way if you live close enough to work that you could go home or that they can come visit (even if you just sit and nurse in the car in the parking lot) It would be more pleasant than pumping and washing bottles.

Thanks! This is encouraging. DH is excited to stay home with the baby, however he's been getting a lot of flack from some of our friends because he's going to stay home.

Unfortunately, I work about 30 miles from home, so it's not practical to go home during lunch. I have great benefits at my current job, though, so I'm extremely lucky. I'm probably going to look for a job closer to home after the baby is born, however. The commute is killing me and it would be nice to have a short commute so I have more time with my family.