BF weeklish thread

[karen_p]

hi BF/pumping and any combination of that and other things mommies,

Highlights from last time:
Stephanie - how's the oversupply going?
growth spurts
introducing bottles
alcohol
increasing supply
pacifiers

Two things I thought I'd raise this week.

1. Does anyone have any goals for BF/pumping etc?
I'll take it as it goes, but I'd like to let them wean themselves.

2. Has anyone heard of d-mer?

Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex is a newly recognized condition affecting lactating women that is characterized by an abrupt dysphoria, or negative emotions that occur just before milk release and continuing not more then a few minutes.
http://www.d-mer.org/

I noticed that I was feeling super super exhausted just before letdowns and someone directed me to this organization. Curious as to whether anyone has felt this way.

[WishinIwasInCA]

My supply seems to have regulated a little, but I still have a forcefull let down Milk baths anyone?

No luck with bottles I've tried again. There goes the $180 I spent on concert tickets for Thursday night.

Pacifiers: Declan likes his, Killian can't stand anything but his fingers.

My BF'ing goal is to continue until it's no longer agreeable for the 3 of us. I want it to be baby lead weaning, but I don't want to be BFing my 4 year old either.

Never heard of D-mer. I wasn't able to feel my let down until recently. And now I notice it hurts slightly before let down. But sorry to hear that Karen, I will have to chek out the link.

Oh and I do drink the occational glass of wine, margarita, beer, ect. I just try and drink it at the end of one feeding and with a meal. But sometimes that 2nd glass of wine sounds good.

Hope everyone else is doing well.

[amelu]

growth spurts:

I think mine have leveled off a bit, my little one Halee has caught up in weight with Grace, My supply is good too.

introducing bottles

well mine did great with the bottles at first, but now Grace has decided she doesn't like it, it takes her almost 2 hours to eat 3-4 oz. I decided last week to start giving them a bottle a day, I really need a break. BF has gotten really tough for me in that sometimes I dread each feeding. My DH doesn't really support it so its hard for me sometimes.

alcohol

I usually have 1 beer a day after their 8 pm feeding since they usually go at least 3 - 4 hours to the next. Sometimes I will have some wine or champagne but mainly beer. Even though I have a great supply I am so nervous about it disappearing so I drink a beer.

increasing supply
my supply is good

pacifiers
they both take pacifiers fine, usually I use them when they are fussing/crying and I can't get to one, or in the car since they don't like car rides.


1. Does anyone have any goals for BF/pumping etc?

I take each day as it comes, if I go back to work in Oct. then I will be shooting for 6 monthes, if I don't then I will try to make it a year or maybe when I lose all the pregnancy weight



2. Has anyone heard of d-mer?

I haven't heard of d-mer but I do have a painful letdowns for a minute or so, I am pretty used to it though I figured it was normal.

[christine]

growth spurts:

I think we are in a spurt-free period finally because they are eating more or less on a 2 hour schedule for the past few days. I hope I am not jinxing it by posting about it!

introducing bottles


we do a bottle every once in a while to keep up my fantasy of having someone else feed them for an entire evening at some point!

alcohol:

I dream about martinis, but the closest I have come is a glass of wine in the evening.

increasing supply:

I've decided that my supply is good because they definitely get enough to eat (gaining weight like champs) even though sometimes I don't get a lot from pumping which made me think maybe I was low. However, I hardly ever pump.

pacifiers:
nope

1. Does anyone have any goals for BF/pumping etc?

My babies are gassy and spit up frequently... and lately the spit ups have become epic... so I am terrified of going to formula if my mild breastmilk causes that much of a stir. So I am in it for the long haul! Everyone says it gets easier as time goes on, so I keep reminding myself that I am getting through the hard part- then why quit for the easier part?


2. Has anyone heard of d-mer?

Never.

[mom2ngj]

Originally Posted by christine

growth spurts:

1. Does anyone have any goals for BF/pumping etc?

My babies are gassy and spit up frequently... and lately the spit ups have become epic... so I am terrified of going to formula if my mild breastmilk causes that much of a stir. So I am in it for the long haul! Everyone says it gets easier as time goes on, so I keep reminding myself that I am getting through the hard part- then why quit for the easier part?

I will get better! It took about 6-8 weeks for the gasiness in my two level out. They still have episodes every now and then but the gassiness got better. Gabriel has been overeating lately and when I burp him its like a fountain. It only started about two weeks ago.

[mom2ngj]

growth spurts: passed... yeah!

introducing bottles: at least one a day of EBM, Joy is down to only about 1-2 extra YEAH!!!

alcohol: two glasses of wine.... very relaxing! One on our date and the other right after I fed.

increasing supply: I have plenty.... if I pump I get min of 10ozs.

pacifiers: love them... can't live without them

Two things I thought I'd raise this week.

1. Does anyone have any goals for BF/pumping etc?
Hopefully to at least to a year, I did with DD.

2. Has anyone heard of d-mer?
nope

Overall feeding is going really well. Its getting better. I am not having to pump three or more times a day and they are starting to sleep about 7 hours at night. I go back to work this week, only 2 days a week, I hope it goes well. I am feeling better than I did with DD but this time instead of in daycare they will be at home with DH. He is an amazing father and know that there won't be any problems! I just hope I can keep up with the pumping at work and my supply. I teach 1st grade and will have to fit pumping into my schedule. I am sure it will work out okay, I didn't have a problem with DD. I love BFing because it goes with you any where you do!

[Nicole734]

growth spurts:

I think Delaney is in one, she wants to eat all the time. I don't think Cam is all he wants to do is sleep.

introducing bottles
We do a bottle every once in awhile, especially if I am out getting groceries etc. I will be going back to work the end of this month so bottles are necessary.

alcohol:

Not yet, but I would love a glass of wine. I think my time has come. At babies r us I saw these strips that are used to test breastmilk to see if it has too much alcohol in it. Hmmmm......I wonder if they really work?

increasing supply:

I've decided that my supply is good because they definitely get enough to eat (gaining weight like champs) even though sometimes I don't get a lot from pumping which made me think maybe I was low. However, I hardly ever pump.

pacifiers:
Yep! Cam has also found his fist and loves it, I try to take it out of his mouth when I see it in there.

1. Does anyone have any goals for BF/pumping etc?

I would love to go for a year like I did with my others, but right now I am taking it one day at a time.


2. Has anyone heard of d-mer?

Nope


On a side note
Delaney is latching sucking, and pulling off then latching sucking a little more and pulling off then repeat. Anyone else have this? It makes it so hard to feed her.

[karen_p]

It's so great to get an update from everyone!

Originally Posted by Nicole734

Delaney is latching sucking, and pulling off then latching sucking a little more and pulling off then repeat. Anyone else have this? It makes it so hard to feed her.

I don't think I understand what that means... pulling off of the nipple? Or latching and then pulling off?

[WishinIwasInCA]

Originally Posted by Nicole734

On a side note
Delaney is latching sucking, and pulling off then latching sucking a little more and pulling off then repeat. Anyone else have this? It makes it so hard to feed her.

Hey sounds like my Declan! He does the same exact thing. He also makes this clicking sound when he eats, which I have read was due to a poor latch. I went to see my LC and she said that basically the forcefull let down was the culpret. I guess it is supposed to get better as he gets bigger and wants food now! But it is frustrating to keep latching him back on. The other night I swear I fell asleep feeding him and I think he tried to latch him self back on...to the side of my breast....I have baby hickie! Hopefully this does get better with time.

I say do what ever you are comfortable with but my LC did say a glass of wine was okay. According to her you should have one 5oz glass and feed 2 hours later and it should be out of your system. She said that she went to hear some BFing guru speak and that was the one question all the LCs asked.

Aimee, sorry to hear your DH is not supportive that would make things tough.

[karen_p]

Originally Posted by WishinIwasInCA

He also makes this clicking sound when he eats, which I have read was due to a poor latch. I went to see my LC and she said that basically the forcefull let down was the culpret.

Aimee, sorry to hear your DH is not supportive that would make things tough.

that's interesting. I get the clicking sound occasionally and despite relatching etc., it persists. If it's from the letdown, that would make sense. Sometimes they pull off and the spray that follows is shocking to me. I under estimate the amount of milk they are getting sometimes.

Aimee, I hope DH is more supportive on the bottle issue soon. It took a breakdown one morning to get DH more onboard with the whole bottle thing (though in retrospect, I think the breakdown was more related to emotions from D-MER). He's usually fantastic about most things, but is sleep deprived himself. Thankfully a good cry on my part has turned his attitude around.

[momta5vs]

OH good I'm glad I saw this I thought I had missed it somehow or that we weren't doing it any more.. Good job to all of us who are still BFing or pumping(which is harder imo)

growth spurts-I think mine are growing good, one is 9lbs and one is 10lbs they have their 2 month check up on Thursday so I'll be updating then.

introducing bottles-They will take a bottle with no problem, because they got them in the NICU. We use these whenever we will be out and about around a lot of people.

alcohol-occasionally.

increasing supply-I think my supply is fine, anybody else's one side produce more and what are you doing about it? do you try to even it out? and if so how?

pacifiers- Oh dear God yes, way more then with any of the others.


Does anyone have any goals for BF/pumping etc?
I'm hopeing to go the whole first year. That was how long I did with the others and they just pretty much weaned themselves, since we didn't nurse to sooth and it was only to eat, once they started on solids and eating more the less they nursed, don't know how these will do but i'm sure it will be the same..we'll see.

2. Has anyone heard of d-mer? I have never heard of that by name, but I do remember a friend of mine telling me she would get all anxious when she nursed, My theory on it was this.. You know how some people have the opposite side affects of medicine. like if it is supposed to make you drowsy but some people it makes wired..well to those people the relaxing hormone isn't relaxing.. does that make sence to anyone else? well it's just a theory.

[karen_p]

Originally Posted by momta5vs

2. Has anyone heard of d-mer? I have never heard of that by name, but I do remember a friend of mine telling me she would get all anxious when she nursed, My theory on it was this.. You know how some people have the opposite side affects of medicine. like if it is supposed to make you drowsy but some people it makes wired..well to those people the relaxing hormone isn't relaxing.. does that make sence to anyone else? well it's just a theory.

That totally makes sense. It's close to the working theory on it. This is from the website:

Milk release itself isn't caused by dopamine dropping; it's caused by oxytocin rising. In D-MER, the MER (milk ejection reflex) is a result of rising oxytocin (needed to move the milk out of the breast) but the D (dysphoria) is a result of inappropriately falling dopamine. Dopamine gets involved because it inhibits prolactin (which is what makes the milk,) so dopamine levels need to drop for prolactin levels to rise in order to make more milk. Normally, dopamine drops properly and breastfeeding mothers never knew it even happened, in D-MER mothers however, it doesn't drop properly and causes a negative emotional reaction.


we just had our 2 month check up today.

Casey was 7lb, 4oz at birth, and 12lb, 2oz at 2 months.
Paul was 7lb, 8oz at birth, and 13lb, 8 oz at 2 months.

Goooo mama's milk! It's amazing that they were roughly the same weight at birth, eat from the same source, and are over a pound difference in weight right now.

If I haven't done the thread in a while and someone feels like posting it, please feel free to go ahead and start it.

[dancingmom]

growth spurts - I think we are in between them right now

bottle - not an issue, they had them in the hospital since my milk didn't come in right away

alcohol - not much. i tried a beer a day to increase supply but it didn't seem to work

increasing supply - I'm taking More Milk Plus and that seems to help some but I still need to supplement.

pacifiers - we're working on it. neither loves them but end up using me for comfort sucking. I'm ok with that sometimes but not others.

bf'ing goals - I want to keep doing it as long as possible. I only did it for 2 months with DS before it mostly dried up so I'm already beyond that. I'm taking it one day at a time.

never heard of d-mer but I do feel a little anxious when I letdown, especially when pumping.

Here's a question for those of you who are alternating between bf'ing and bottle: When you bottle feed do you also pump? Right now I am bottle feeding and pumping at night because they are lazy nursers and I would never sleep. During the day I bf on demand with the occassional bottle if we are in a hurry but I don't usually pump during the day.

[amelu]

thanks for the support I think I may have a breakdown in the future with DH about the whole BF issue but my mom is coming for two weeks on Saturday and that should hold my emotions off a while because she is so so much help.


one of mine Grace also does the latch, suck, pull off, over and over. It only happened when she was really tired but this past week its been every feeding. My PED thinks it might be reflux since its getting worse but I am going to wait another week to see if its consistent before I give her prevacid.

Re: pumping and bottle, since Sun. we give them a bottle for their 8pm feed, I usually feed them at 6, bottle at 8, and I pump around 10. so I don't pump exactly when I give them the bottle but I try not to go more than 4 hours max without feeding or pumping to keep my supply.

[mom2ngj]

Dancing Mom-
When I feed a bottle I pump and then feed EBM. This week I have been pumping both sides for the last feeding and then giving them a bottle at the same time and putting them down together. For a while because Joy was lazy I would feed her and then pump what was left and offer her a compplimentary feeding. I tend to nurse every 3-4 hours during the day. Just this week they have fall into a pretty good routine. I am excited because I am going back to work tomorrow and know that it will make life easier for DH. Hope that helps.

[WishinIwasInCA]

Karen those are AMAZING weights!!! You should be proud!

[amybenay]

I'm purely pumping and giving EBM so not sure if this thread is for me, but I'll answer a few of the questions anyway...

Alcohol: I'll have a margarita every now and then otherwise I try to avoid it. BUT I do drink a lot of caffeine, which probably isn't great.

Supply: Mine's great - in fact I'm trying to slow it down a bit b/c I'd like to be done pumping in 2 months and am currently showing no signs of decreasing my supply despite my very-erratic and far-spaced pumping schedule. I know, not a bad problem to have - except that I'm ALWAYS full of milk, which is tough when I'm at work and can't pump for 8 hrs or more!

BF'ing goal: I'd like the babies to get 6 months of EBM and then I'll start adding in formula. Since I already have about 1.5 months worth of milk stored in the freezer, I'll probably pump until they're 5 months old then break out the frozen stuff.

[karen_p]

Originally Posted by amybenay

I'm purely pumping and giving EBM so not sure if this thread is for me, but I'll answer a few of the questions anyway....

yes this thread is for you!! I'm very impressed with your pumping - I saw your freezer picture. It's great that you are pumping so well. I know it must be difficult given the nature of your job.

Dancing mom (tori right?). When we give a bottle, I pump that feed. I usually pump more than they will take from the bottle, so I have various days worth of milk stored in the fridge and when I get too much, I start freezing it.

Mine are really lazy at night too and I wake up pretty full. I figure it's their way of weaning themselves off of night feeding - at least, I'm holding onto that hope.

[dancingmom]

Thanks to everyone for the info on pumping when bottle feeding. I am only getting about 3-4oz when I pump and they take 3oz each in a bottle. I try to do bottles with half EBM and half formula. I think I'm going to try and pump a few times during the day to make sure I'm getting really emptied out since I don't think the babies are doing a good job of that.

Amy - your supply is quite impressive, especially with your sporadic pumping. Sounds like you won't have any problem making it to 6 months. Way to go!

[karen_p]

Have you heard of the '3 day nursing sabbatical?'. Perhaps some of the ideas there might help with boosting your supply. Let me know if you decide to try it - I'd be really curious to know if it helps or not.

http://www.justmommies.com/boards/in...wtopic=1002487