Breastmilk question

[SuperchargedMom]

Yay! We are doing good with the breastmilk. I ran into an evil engorgement issues on the 24th, so we bought a pump. With a 20% off BRU coupon I got the the Medela PISA for $223.00. I have gotten him to latch on the left a couple times and not even close on the right side.

So my question is, if I pump into two bottles, can I pour them into one for feeding?
I'm pretty much pumping enough for 2 feedings every 3 or so hours. (about 3-4 oz) I'm only getting 1oz from the right to 2.5ish from the left.

I got lucky and found an amazing LC at the hospital. She's like 80 and just incredible. We exchanged cell numbers and she's checked up on me a couple times so far. But she's working today and I didn't want to bug her with milk questions.



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[Sarah]

Yes, you can pour them into one for a feeding! You can combine any amounts you pump within a day. I had oversupply, so I would always have way too much so I'd freeze whatever I wasn't going to use the next day (in my trials and tribulations with bottles -- LOL, neither of my babes would take one).

That's awesome that you got 20% off your pump! :hula:

[SuperchargedMom]

Awesome. Thanks!

Mike thought that the day could be mixed. I am starting to get beyond immediate supply which is good. He seems to prefer the bottle over the boob though.


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[SuperchargedMom]

How about repeated feedings. Should I split the bottle into individual feedings or can I feed more than once from the same?

I read breastmilk is good at room temp for 4-5 hours, yes?

What's the best way to warm it up?
I've been using a large measuring cup with hot water in it.

How often should I pump?
How long should I pump for?

I've been reading, but I'd like your opinions... :love:

TIA

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[Jojo]

Yeah you can combine it all and the separate to freeze. Of you are having troublexwith latching to the breast you can try a shield.

[Jojo]

If I had 4 oz in bottle and he only drank 2 then I would save the other 2 for my next feeding. I pumped every 2 hours to 3 hours depending to keep my supply and build it in the beginning.

Warm water warm up is the best way. Pump for 20 min give or take. If you are getting a good amount then keep going until it slows down. Warming the boobs and massaging helps with the letdowns.

[Elaine]

Right now you might want to hold off on feeding him a bottle (you can freeze the milk you pump). It's significantly easier to get milk from a bottle than a boob, which is why he prefers the bottle, and you don't want him to start refusing nursing altogether.

I can't remember if you said this already or not but have you tried a nipple shields? He might take to that if he takes a bottle so easily. It's so much easier to nurse than it is to pump all the time (BTDT) so if you can get him to latch, even with a shield, it'll be a lot easier than pumping.

Be careful how much you pump the side he does latch on to or you're going to wind up with a huge oversupply because you're telling your body it needs to make that much milk. I'd pump only on the side you doesn't latch on to. If you're going to keep pumping, pump every time you'd normally nurse so, depending on whether or not he eats from both sides at a feeding, pump every second nursing if he eats only from one side and every feeding if he eats from both sides (that was a little confusing, sorry...).

The general rule is to continue pumping for a few minutes (I think it's 5) after milk stops flowing. Personally I found that the longer I pumped the more milk I got. I used to pump for about 20 minutes but if I went for 30 minutes I got more milk. The pump I have has a speed setting as well as a suction setting so I'd start off with the speed fast for a few minutes then slow it down to trigger a let-down. A few minutes later I'd speed it up again then slow it down to trigger another let-down. I'd do it 3 or 4 times each session to maximize the amount of milk I could get.

Crap. That was long. Sorry... :blush:

[SuperchargedMom]

I should clarify, :)

I'm totally ok with exclusively pumping. I'll be going back to work in about 5 1/2 weeks...

He's latched a couple times since I started pumping. My LC thinks he will latch a lot more once my engorgement goes down. We will see.

My aunt brought by the medela storage bags tonight, the ones that have the pump attachment :love:

So, I should only pump 1.5 oz into each bag? Or fill it with a whole pump sech.

In less than 20 mins I'm pumping over 4 ozs. Should I aim for 5 ozs?


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[Jojo]

4oz is wonderful! If you get that much then you should be okay. How long are you pumping for?? You can pit your whole session in 1 bag. oh and those medals that attach straight onto the pump are awesome! Worth the extra money.

[Elaine]

Store your milk in small amounts, like 2 to 4 oz bags so you don't waste any (he'll only eat a little right now and you don't want to throw out too much).

This is a tough time to be pumping. You don't want to pump too much because you'll wind up with a huge oversupply, which isn't a bad thing if you're going to be exclusively pumping, but you don't want to pump too little because your supply will eventually drop. If you only pump for the 20 minutes you're only getting foremilk and you want some hindmilk in there too. If you're going to exclusively pump, pump until the milk stops flowing. Build your supply now and then it won't be a worry later. Just be prepared for the engorgement to continue for a while.

I'm trying to figure out how to say this without sounding like a total ***** but exclusively pumping sucks (pardon the pun :hehe:). It can be done, no doubt about it, but it's a lot of work. I completely understand that you're going back to work but that's only 2 or 3 pumping sessions a day as opposed to the 7 or 8 (or more) you'll be doing if you're EPing. You have to stick to a pretty strict schedule (for the first 4 months or so you pump every time he would eat including waking through the night if he still wakes to eat) to make sure you establish your supply. You're not only pumping on a schedule you're cleaning pump parts, warming bottles, cleaning bottles and feeding a baby. It's rough. There are a few of us who did it and I think we all agree that EPing is hard frickin' work. It's worth it but nursing is so much easier. If you can work through the rough patches or nursing it's entirely worth it when things start to smooth out. I am so glad I didn't have to pump this time around...

[Jojo]

Yes it sucks. I did it for 3 months with Matt and definitely would have kept going if I had to. It was either pump or BF and for me atcthst point pumping was it. You can do it. Wecare here to support you. To make it easier you can put you parts in the fridge for 12 hours instead of cleaning them after ever session. The toughest part is waking at night to attach yourself to the machine do get yourself extra parts so you can knock right back out after pumping.

[Jojo]

It's hard for me to get all the info on the touch since I can't see all your questions in the screen as I type. For me i pumped 20 min, made sure I had 2ish letdowns and then pumped again 2 hours later. Then moved to every 3 once I established my supply. I did have over supply with James because I was pumping too often and too long.


And if I was freezing then i put in 2 oz and smetimes 3. You can pump your session in 1 bag and then divide to freeze. It can stay in the fridge for up to a week.

[Elaine]

My milk started to go funky after 2 days in the fridge so if I wasn't using up within the 2 days I'd freeze it. I figure it had to do with lipase. My frozen milk always smelled funky too but Ben never had a problem drinking it.

[SuperchargedMom]

Wait, if I keep pumping I will letdown again? I just pumped again and got just over 5 oz combined. I think I'll try the boobs again once the engorgement lets up.

I'm playing it by ear or boob for a few weeks. My MIL is leaving tomorrow to go back to Wyoming. I'm a little nervous, but we will do fine.

So just to have this straight, I should not feed 5oz over several feedings from the same bottle. Also I should freeze 2 or 3 oz per bag?

Jo, have you tried tapatalk?

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[Jojo]

I dont have tapatalk. You can call me if you want 9176673881.

How much does he drink at 1 sitting?? If i had 3 oz in a bottle and James ate 2 oz I would save the other oz for his next feeding. I wouldn't save it for more than 1 feeding which is why it's best to freeze in small increments so you don't waste it. If you are emptying your breasts when you are pumping the enforcement will just get worse so don't pump until you're empty. If you are pumping 2O min then that should be good.

You can also use cold cabbage Leaves but be very leery because it can decrease supply.

[SuperchargedMom]

I suggested tapatalk because it makes touch posting easier. :)

Thanks for the advice. Im getting stuff all figured out.

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[Heather]

www.kellymom.com has a printable worksheet that I have taped to my fridge that answers all of these questions. I'll look for it in a bit when I can get on the computer and try to post it for you.

[SuperchargedMom]

When I get home I'm gonna finally visit that site.


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[Jojo]

I suggested tapatalk because it makes touch posting easier. :)

Thanks for the advice. Im getting stuff all figured out.

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oh yeah DH wouldn't let me buy it because we had to pay :rolleyes: So if you need a question answered just text me or something if you want.

[Heather]

Sorry it took me so long to post this. Here's the link (http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkstorage.html) to the worksheet that you can print and hang on your fridge. There's a little thing under it to click on to print a .pdf version.

Here's (http://www.kellymom.com/bf/index.html) the general breastfeeding area.

And the medication section (http://www.kellymom.com/health/index.html).

Also, Dr. Hale's site (http://www.infantrisk.com/). He's the country's top breastfeeding pharmacologist. Go to the forum section of the site, and you can look up just about any drug. There's the old forum section and a new forum section. I visit the old because the new one has just been opened and doesn't have much info. However, the best source of information is his book "Medication and Mother's Milk (http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&sugexp=ldymls&xhr=t&q=medications+and+mother's+milk&cp=9&bav=on.1,or.&wrapid=tljp1298914406734014&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=1112853697401934997&sa=X&ei=d9xrTfnwE8OftgeC_8zmAg&sqi=2&ved=0CCIQ8wIwAg#)". I've never owned a copy myself, but most LC's and LLL people will have this on hand, so you can always call them and ask about a specific drug if you can't find it on the forums. Anyway, this is what the kellymom site uses as well.

Sorry about the information overload! I just think this is good info for anyone who's breastfeeding.;)

[SuperchargedMom]

Thank you so much! Everything BF right now is overload... But all of you MH ladies make it manageable.
I appreciate everything.

Yesterday and last night I got a few latches. But he won't stay latched. So its 20 mins of nursing but maybe only 10-12 minutes of feeding. This morning I was pretty full and he wouldnt latch at all. Ended up pumping 4oz and 2oz while hubby gave him 2oz in a bottle.

He doesn't want to eat every 2 hours. Even sometimes at 3 hours he isn't interested. I strip him down to his diaper. Sit him up on my shoulder and rub his back. No dice until he's ready. At night he's sleeping 4 hours solid between feedings.

We go Tuesday to reweigh him and recheck his jaundice level. I hope he's getting enough. (6-8 wet and poopy diapers a day)


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[Heather]

The wet and poopy diapes are the best indicator. Cohen had a horrible time latching for probably the whole first month. He latched fine at the hospital but as soon as we got home, it went to Hell. It would take me 5-10 minutes of him squirming, trying to latch, pulling back, fussing, etc. Once he FINALLY got on he'd be fine. It just took us a while to figure I out, but we finally got the hang of it. You will too :hugs:

[SuperchargedMom]

Ok, my white milk is starting. Well, very pale yellow. But I'm pumping a lot less than when it was a deeper yellow. Normal?

Mason gained 7oz from friday to today... So he's getting enough, just worried about production.

I also learned he has a slight tongue tie. Mike never told me that he did as well. His wasn't corrected until he was a teen due to speech issues. Our pedi said Mason may grown out of it and to check with a LC first to work on latch.


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[Jojo]

Well the tongue tie could be affecting his latch. See if you can get it clipped.

If you are putting him to the breast and then pumping you will not have a lot of output as you did before if you were only pumping.

If you pump early in the morning 4-5amish you will get the most milk. I used to get 3 bottles worth when I pumped that early.

[SuperchargedMom]

I have to admit, I have been giving him more bottles then trying to get him to latch.

His appointment to get the clipping done is on the 10th. I already wanna cry about it. Mike can't go with me that day... :( hopefully he won't cry much. The dr said its minor, but the LC says any tie will cause latch issues.

As far as pumping, I'm getting anywhere from 5 to 8 ounces total per session.

Sidenote: I got puked on today while burping him... Bleh


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[Jojo]

I have to admit, I have been giving him more bottles then trying to get him to latch.

His appointment to get the clipping done is on the 10th. I already wanna cry about it. Mike can't go with me that day... :( hopefully he won't cry much. The dr said its minor, but the LC says any tie will cause latch issues.

As far as pumping, I'm getting anywhere from 5 to 8 ounces total per session.

Sidenote: I got puked on today while burping him... Bleh


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I think that is awesome for the days PP you are :)) Keep up the good work. Oh and even if he eats every 4 hours or sleeps. Try to pump at least every 3.