Baby Corner

[anya-D 8]

So a couple questions...

Ive read that when EP you should pump everytime the baby eats to mimick her behavior, but most BF babies eat every 2-3 hours. Well now im pumping and nursing and wondering if I need to be doing a pump during the 5 hour stretch she sleeps at night? That 5 hour stretch is my sanity at this point due to the demand of pumping and nursing all day lol

Also, do I need to wash my pump parts every single time I pump or can they just be rinsed? Washing parts at 2am is a hassle. If they do need to be washed everytime Ill prob just go buy an extra set.

I will say pumping and nursing is getting easier everyday. I have nursed each feeding today and pumped the opposite breast bc she is getting full just off one. So I have about 8ozs of BM in the fridge now It feels so good knowing I have worked so hard at this the past 11 days and seeing it pay off. I have managed to pump without spilling everywhere and nurse without leaking everywhere, triumph!

Wow, congratz on your progress!! I pump at work, at least 3 times a day and I just wipe the parts dry with paper towel during the day and wash with soapy warm water at night. I've been doing this for 5 months and Sam hadnt gotten sick from it yet This is just what 'I' am doing.

Congratz again! and she is beautiful!! (finally see the pic )

[Jenn! 918]

If you pump in the middle of the night, you can just put the horns in a plastic bag in the fridge when you're done. I would do that without even rinsing them if I was really tired.

[Vi Mazzella 4]

OMG, I'm so proud of you!! Sounds like everything is going really well!!! I'd definitely skip the 5hr pumping, you need rest, a tired and worn out mommy=decrease in milk supply! Look at you for even nursing! that's awesome Kel, congrats!

As for the parts, I'd recommend wash with hot soapy water after each use and then let it air dry on a paper towel. That can def be a hassle at 4am so I'd just get another set of the flanges (sp??) since it looks like you'll be doing this for a while and it's definitely worth the investment (and your much needed sleepy time).

So I am officially 5cm dilated and 70% effaced, now just waiting for enough contractions before I can head to the hospital. I am so excited, finally finally!! Today is my calculated due date! (the due date by the first ultrasound said march 4th).

WOW!!!! Can't wait to meet your little one!!!!! Good luck mami

[Jenn! 918]

OMG, I'm so proud of you!! Sounds like everything is going really well!!! I'd definitely skip the 5hr pumping, you need rest, a tired and worn out mommy=decrease in milk supply! Look at you for even nursing! that's awesome Kel, congrats!

As for the parts, I'd recommend wash with hot soapy water after each use and then let it air dry on a paper towel. That can def be a hassle at 4am so I'd just get another set of the flanges (sp??) since it looks like you'll be doing this for a while and it's definitely worth the investment (and your much needed sleepy time).

So I am officially 5cm dilated and 70% effaced, now just waiting for enough contractions before I can head to the hospital. I am so excited, finally finally!! Today is my calculated due date! (the due date by the first ultrasound said march 4th).

I missed this, next time please start your post off w/ the big news so it doesn't get lost on lazy readers like me!

Good luck!!!

[faryan 4]

Hi Anya, thanks for responding (i just saw it) I love bananas, and yet never thought about this at all! Will definitely introduce Ihsan to bananas soon. Will try and see if he likes carrots first (tomorrow). Today I fed him rice meal with just water and not milk, he seems to find it ok. STill not a fan. Hopefully he will enjoy the veggies and fruits better. I kept on putting it off. Right now we have established a little routine everyday, and that is keeping me sane and that is why I'm a bit worrisome re feeding him solid. But i suppose the only thing that remain constant is change hahaha. cliche i know.

Hi Far, I think I remembered you, you had a very pretty wedding Anyway, dont stress about solid!!! I didnt give my son rice cereal becasue he hated it. And also becasue the rice ceral is likely to give him constipation. I started him on just a ripe banana. Just a plain ol banana, spoon (or fork or any baby food mill) and he loves it. I started my son on solid since almost 5 month and gave him banana a lot coz he didnt like other things much and it's easy. Now he has 4 teeth and can chew a bit so I made apple sauce, pear sauce and also vegetable (boiled then throw in blender or something like sweet potato, put it in the oven until it's super soft and can use fork to mesh it) Now he eats almost everything I gave him and love table food. It was just out of the blue one night he just wanted to eat everything we eat lol, before that he only eats banana hehe. Banana is pretty easy to swallow so I think it's really good for the first food. Also ripe one helps him poop

Dont force him to eat though. the solid at this stage should be an addition to the milk, not replace so if he doesnt want to eat, you dont have to worry, just try later.

have fun mama!

To Kelly (i think?) re breastfeeding, I have heard that fenugreek works wonders. I'm sure you've gotten that nailed down.

I was unlucky in this department (sob) as the most that I was able to pump at one time was abt 2 oz. We have lactation consultants, i bought a brand new electric pump (ameda) even before baby is out, a book on nursing etc. We went for a holistic mindful birthing class with yoga and the whole works, and had a doula (i read about doula on this Baby Corner thread wayyyyy before I was pregnant so thanks to you ladies) and wanted a water birthing (they just allow water labour tho here) but after a 1 1/2 day of labour, pre-enclampsia bla bla, had to undergo an emergency c-sect. The pre-enclampsia, and then also baby hospitalized for 10 days doesnt help my breastfeeding case. Probably only on day 3 that I was able to have him on my chest, and try to have him latch on day 5 or 6? It was veryyyy stressful being there at NICU. I accepted the situation of the birth (because we were prepared mentally i suppose), but not prepared to face having the baby hospitalized. After he was discharged and we're back home, OMG felt soooo good! Then abt at abt a month old or so, he's diagnosed with not being able to process protein in milk (i was breastfeeding him with what I can + pump + formula). Changed my diet to no milk and casein etc, and changed his formula. He got better, but my milk production just went down the hill. It never really take off in the first place anyways... I'm still sad about that. But he is flourishing and such a happy baby Maybe next time I can breastfeed

How do I post picture? Wanted to share baby picture...

Edited February 24, 2011 by faryan

[Autumnchik 6]

Kel - Way to go!!!

Stef - Keep us posted! Can't wait to see new baby pics.

So, I have been off birth control (Loestrin) now for maybe 3 weeks and I am feeling so hormonal. I feel like I am bitchy all the time (BTW, sorry Caro if I came across a bit snappy in the breastfeeding post) and want to eat more than usual. Also having cramping. I don't remember how my body handled it the last time I came off birth control. Does anyone know how long it generally takes your body to even out?

[Mommy2ZaidnSalma 11]

Looks like Stef had her baby boy this morning! CONGRATS STEF AND BIG BROTHER BEN!

[Anna C. 4]

@ Karen: It varies from woman to woman and how long you've been taking it. I have friends who took it for years and it took them a couple years to get pregnant, but obviously you haven't taken it that long ... I had been on it for a year before I stopped and got pregnant on the first cycle. I actually felt much better without the pill, more balanced and happier, but everyone reacts differently!

Yup, congrats Steffi on Kai. Can't wait to hear the birth story, I'm a sucker for those

I have been doing way too much lately and got "rewarded" with mastitis, day 3 off antibiotics which I hate. I'm taking probiotics to avoid thrush... The PA was like looks like flu, your symptoms are too strong for mastitis. Yeah right. 15 minutes later the flu swab revealed no flu, and I got my rx for the antibiotics... I had a very sudden onset with fever going up to over 102 within less than an hour. My doc's office nurse gave me the urgent care referral right away as she has nursed 3 kids and knew you gotta act quickly... It's getting better already, the fever and chills are gone. The pain is getting less bad too, I'm glad. They stressed how mastitis in the first 4 weeks postpartum is almost always a sign to slow down... I thought hey I'm healed, no more bleeding, I feel great, I'm gonna do everything, and that's just not how it is. One really has to take it easy for bit, after all, my body was pregnant for 39 weeks, growing and nurturing a baby, and then I gave birth to her and now I'm healing and providing all nutrition to her, my body is working really hard even though I don't notice... Oh well at least it's getting better and Eloise is doing fine. She just was screaming all day yesterday so I was like hm only nursing settles her, which was not a good idea - if she nurses too often all she gets is foremilk which causes gas and green poop and a very unhappy baby. Now she's back to 2.5-3.5 hours between nursing sessions and MUCH happier... A screaming infant combined with a sick mama and emotional-clingy toddler (he wants mama and nobody else right now) = day from hell.

[Mommy2ZaidnSalma 11]

Anna, I hope you feel better soon <3 I know those "days" are tough but they go so fast! Hang in there! I too feel the same, no bleeding, tons of energy, so Ive been doing it all too. Yesterday I got my ENTIRE house cleaned while both kids napped. Maybe your story is an indicator I should slow down too. Im only 16 days PP, at this point with Zaid, I was still doubled over in pain from my episiotomy and bleeding a ton.

I nursed Salma for the first time in the middle of the night last night rather then pumping and I will say it wasnt much easier. She was fussy and broke her latch like 25 times. It took me an hour to nurse her, change her diaper, and get her back to bed. Pumping, bottle feeding, and getting back to bed was only taking me 30 minutes. I plan to keep at it though. Everything has gotten easier day by day so im sure that will too.

[anya-D 8]

CONGRATULATION STEF!!! Cant wait to hear the story!!

wow so many new babies!!

I just talked to one of my old friend and now I personaly know 3 babies name Sophia (and more on internet). I love the name but it's getting overwhelmingly popular! wow.

[Nizzy 1]

Karen: your symptoms sound like what I experience when I am ON birth control. I remember my doc telling me, after I told her that I planned on being on birth control for a year, that it would take my body around 6 months to go back to it's normal state. Have you noticed it improving each week?

[Autumnchik 6]

Hey Nizzy - I am finally feeling more human, except it is that time of the month and I am cramping like crazy. I don't remember cramps being this bad. Hoping my body will even out with this, but the bitchy mood is pretty much gone, thankfully.

[Nizzy 1]

Hey there Karen:

Well I am glad to hear your mood had leveled out but boo to the cramps. I definitely recall those after stopping. Those will eventually subside and normalize...although when you get that bun in the over you won't have to worry about yucky periods... :dance:

[Staashi 371]

And someday, after that bun in the oven comes out, get on Mirena and your period almost vanishes. Yay!

[Nizzy 1]

And someday, after that bun in the oven comes out, get on Mirena and your period almost vanishes. Yay!

Oh cringe, my post was riddled with typos...darn iPad...but anywho, I had no clue mirena had that effect. I will def be looking into that once I get off the baby train...lol...