New Mom, with 5 Breast Feeding Questions!

Hi J.,
I was in the same boat with all the family being in the midwest and a new mom. I hope you are doing well!

1) I had to use a shield as well as my daughter was using me as a pacifier and ouch! The clicking might be from the shielp not being on correctly or your baby is just playing with it in his mouth. I would check with a lactation specialist and have them take a look to make sure he is on correctly. I basically stopped using one about 10 days after I started as I had healed up and she was beginning to get the hang of it. There was no weaning involved...just stopped using it. Mine seemed to prefer not having it.

2) You can pump whenever. I froze some in 6 oz batches for later and then had kept some in the fridge also. I was so afraid she wasn't getting enough to start with so I wanted the backup and to know how much she was getting. It probably is wise not to bottle feed him just yet to avoid the nipple confusion but after 4ish weeks, you could do a bottle feeding now and then with the pumped milk. Whatever you do...get a good pump! It should not hurt when you do it. Your supply will eventually even out and you will produce what you need.

3) I gave birth at Scripps Mercy...they have a fantastic group of lactation specialists. I am sure that Mary Birch does as well. I have not used the La Leche league but I have heard good things.

4) Yes it is. It is a learning process for both of you and they get better and better at nursing. Mine was like yours and would nurse for 20-45 minutes in the beginning but now (she is 4 1/2 months old) she is down to 10-20 minutes. I have had her drain one breast in less than 10 minutes if she was really hungry. :) As long as he is gaining weight and seems content after a feeding you are fine.

5) I wondered this too, but it is totally ok for them to sleep a lot at this age. Mine had her days and nights reversed so that was kind of hard but you just want to try and keep them in the light as much as possible. She slept anyway but eventually got that turned around. They will be more alert down the road for longer periods of time where you can read to them or introduce a toy or two.

Feel free to email me if you have anymore questions. It is hard being out here alone! ____@____.com
If you need anymore to read the The Nursing Mother's Companion by Kathleen Huggins is a great book.

Hi J.-

Welcome to San Diego!! My now 13 year old didn't latch on so I went to Mary Birch Hospital Lactation clinic and got help there. I also went to the Breast Feeding Support group which met on Monday's and for me, it was a godsend! It got me out of the house and I could ask whatever questions I wanted.

Good Luck!

Hey J.,

I completely remember what it was like to have a million questions! First, I went to Mary Birch Breastfeeding support group and got a ton of great answers. Its also a great way to get out w/ your baby and meet other moms w/ similar age children.

I don't know much about nipple shields. I do know you can pump, now that your milk is in, whenever you'd like. I think I did it a day or two before I knew I'd be going out. Keep in mind your milk will change as your baby grows to meet their nutritional needs.

I understand your concern, but babies are rarely consistent. Or, at least, my girl was never consistent but later on, about three months, I started using it as a gauge to see how she was doing. (Teething, a cold, more energy, less energy)

At this point, let him sleep. If he's falling asleep at the breast, wake him by tickling his feet, face, whatever is going to do the trick. At 11 days old, he won't be doing much more than eating and sleeping. Very soon, next month or so, he'll be awake much more!

Best to you and your new little one!

J.

Relax!! This is the most important advice I have for you.

As for questions 1 and 3 I'd get in touch with La Leche League. (Prepare for some people there to have VERY strong opinions and be forcefully vocal about them.) You could also seek out a lactation specialist at your hospital.

Question 2, some will have differing opinions. La Leche and lactation specialist will be able to give you info. I suggest giving your body more time to normalize. See if you even need to pump. However, if for some reason you aren't providing enough milk for your child to have wet and messy diapers or if you know you won't be able to breastfeed all the time go ahead and pump now.

Ok, for question 4 I'll assume that your child is developing the skill and muscle tone necessary to quickly and effectivly nurse. Also your supply should be adjusting. Prepare for increased food needs to indicate upcoming growth spurts. It may take a few days for your supply to adjust to meet the new needs. At the end of a period of increased need you may have more than what is consumed. You'll adjust.

My response for question 5 is.. What are you? Nuts?!?! Leave a sleeping baby alone. Especially at night. They'll wake up when they need to. Hunger pains will eventually drive them to demand food. You've got plenty of time ahead of you to fit in play time. I prefer to have a sleep pattern where you play, eat then sleep then repeat.

You could read Happiest Baby on the Block. There are a lot of other books but that was one of many I enjoyed. The best advise is always relax. Pay attention to your child but don't obsess. Create routines, patterns and habits. Just know that you'll have to deal with the results. (Pacifier - taking away pacifier, Ridged routine - times you can't follow the routine) I'm sure you are and will continue to be a great mom.

Hi J.,

Please check out my book - What Haven't They Told Me? Practical Tips for Surviving and Thriving During Baby's First Year. Small and compact, the book is chock-full of helpful hints from experienced parents on everything from breastfeeding to diapering, sleeping to traveling.

It is available at several retail stores across San Diego as well as through Amazon and my website - www.OffRampPublishing.com.

Best of luck,
L. E. Fisher

1) Clicking: my daughter did this too--I figured a poor latch, so I played with her positioning and tried a different pacifier (went to the soothie) to mimic the shape of the nipple more, to train her suck/latch technique.

2) Pumping: You can try pumping anytime if you wish. I tried two things-- 1--immediately after a feeding, pump to completely empty the breast, signaling your body that it needs to produce more--I did this b/c one breast was not producing as much milk. 2--pumping between feedings (allow an hour btwn feedings) to store up milk for bottles. This also helped my production levels. If I had at least 4oz, then I would freeze it (for sitter to use when I go back to work, or just for emergencies); if less than 4oz, I wouldn't bother freezing and put in fridge for use within the week. FYI, you can combine milk from multiple pumping sessions in one day.

4) Feeding time: not sure on this one, but doesn't sound like a concern.

5) Feeding/Sleep Intervals: my general rule of advice--don't wake a sleeping baby. I pretty much let my baby sleep as long as she wants. She on her own gets hungry every 2-4 hrs, so I just go by HER schedule. (and sometimes at night she'll go 4-5 hours of sleep at night after 3-4 weeks old). At 11 days old, he will sleep almost the entire time he's not feeding and that is okay... In the next week or 2, you might consider trying to keep him up for longer periods of time during the daytime so that he'll sleep better/longer at night. Try talking to him, walking around with him-staying in well lit areas, play with a rattle toy... stimulating his senses of sound, sight, and touch.

I have a 1 month old and a 17 month old. Feel free to ask me any Q's, anytime--b/c with my newborn, everything you're going through is fresh in my mind. -K.

The Nursing Mother's Companion and The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding have been my bibles. They were both so helpful.
We've been nursing for 10 month and I still consult them from time to time.

If your nervous about anything a lactation clinic or consultant is the best thing.
La Leche League is great and as a group it's so supportive but a lactation consultant can give you the one on one attention and really solid answers.
There's probably a clinic or a referral through the place you delivered.

Keep up the good work. It really does get easier and it's so rewarding.
They say to breastfeed for at least 2 months before considering giving up. Those first two months are the hardest.
I wasn't sure I would last the full year at first and now I can't imagine weaning.
L.