Breastfeeding Help - Refugio, TX

Hi C.,
Everyone's experience is different of course, but my experience and that of my closest friends has been that pumping only confuses things. It messes with your supply.. you often end up making too much foremilk so the baby would have to drink way more than it could hold to get to the hindmilk which is nutrient rich. Or you end up engorged and then NEED to pump just to feel ok. Again, I know that this is not everyone's experience and if you are working and need to pump then of course you have to do what you have to do. But if you can let your baby's needs dictate your supply through exclusive nursing then my opinion is that your body will be better off for it.
Check our Motherswork in the Village .. they sell nursing accessories, great nursing shirts and are staffed by qualified lactation consultants (who are expensive). And check out a La Leche League new you for excellent help with nursing when the time comes.
Lots and lots of luck!
A.- mom to Dominic (9) and Julian (6)

C., try contacting your local WIC office and see if you qualify for WIC, they can get you a good breast pump if you do. My dd was born 3 yrs ago, and I got a double pump electric Medula, one of the $300 ones. They also have Breastfeeding consultants who can help you with all your questions. You can make quite a bit of money and still qualify for WIC, so give them a call and see if they can help, the number in Texas to find the nearest office is 1-800-942-3678. Good luck and I hope this helps.

WIC is a big help...huge!! They have hospital-grade pumps, which would have helped with the preemie, and they have electric pumps which they will give you when you return to work. A good idea is to establish milk supply first; basically breastfeed ONLY for the first two weeks. No formula or water. Breastfed babies don't need water anyway. Pumping is also very different from nursing because no machine can mimick a baby's suckling action. Some women can pump without any problem, and some may take 30 minutes to get just a couple of ounces (if that). Every woman is different. Preemies do have a bit of a harder time because of development, but they catch on eventually. Also, when they go through growth spurts they will eat more and you may feel like you aren't making enough, but your body has to adjust to your babies needs. This is one of the big reasons why so many moms give upn so soon. Breastfeeding is so wonderful because as your baby grows your milk changes to meet his/her needs. I breastfed for at least two years each (4 children) and I had many problems but I also had a doctor who supported me and didn't tell me to "just give up and use formula". WIC does help a lot...try them!

Hi C.~
The key is "Act with confidence!" Show that sweet baby girl that you are the one who will take care of her and feed her. Yes, as a preemie your son probably did have issues I just wish the hospital had helped you more. If you do have trouble, while in the hospital, do use the hospital grade one there. Try your best not to use bottles, but if you need to, just introduce the breast at each feeding. The more you offer, the more willing she will be to accept.
I nursed our first daughter w/o issues, our second turned out to be boy/girl twins who were born 4 weeks early. My sone was a grat nurser, and my daughter had to be bottle fed the first 12 hours while they monitored her temp. So the next day I let him take the bottle and worked on nursing her. The funny thing was, that backfired!!!! LOL!!! He found out how much easier it was to use those baby bottles that just poured into his mouth! :) he decided he preferred that! :) I continued to offer and pumped often, and after about 3 weeks, he became my best nurser!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) In fact, he then decided that he was not even interested in bottles any longer!!! IT was pretty funny! Yes he does seem to go to extremes! :) But they are 2 now and it went by way too fast!!!

Visit www.tradcitionsfromtheheart.com for beautiful baby birth announcements.

Without reading all the responses, I will just put in a brief few tidbits.

1. breast milk pumping. It is normal to get about 1-3 ounces on each side. That is about how much you can expect. The baby is able to get more because it continously reproduces as he sucks- in tiny amounts. When you pump and store for later feedings he may eat anywhere from 4-8 ounces just depending on him/her. Breast milk is thinner and more digestible so it is going to be very different than formula in how much he eats.

2. The shield is great! I had one with baby #2 because she was early and I was getting sore. We quit using it after awhile, but had to gradually get used to doing without it.

3. If you cannot get them to latch on and the shield is a little hard to do, just pump and then give it to them in a bottle. That first few weeks they are getting a lot of wonderful benefits from you that they cannot get from formula. ;-)

Good luck,
ts

I wanted to breastfeed as well with my son. All I knew about it was what I read in books. The best advice I can give is to ask for a lactation consultant when you are in the hospital. Use them as much as possible before you leave. The insurance will cover it, but only while you are there. Don't be afraid to keep them around as long as you need and ask as many questions as possible. I wish I would have, but I was too shy. The pump I used was a Medela Pump In Style. We did not have $300 to buy a new one, so we purchased a used one and the hospital gave us all the hardware we needed for it. You have to be careful when purchasing a used one. Not only for safety reasons, but as I learned, pumps lose suction over time. You could rent a hospital grade one (which is awsome) and the hospital could help you out with that. Either way, make sure you have a pump with good suction (the hospital could also help you with that). I was never really able to produce much milk. I spoke with my ob/gyn and she gave a prescription for some medicine to help produce more milk. There are also natural things you can try, but they didn't work too well for me. Please let me know if I can help you with anything else.

I have the Medela Pump In Style. I absolutely love it! Its a double electronic pump and I use it daily. My son is six months old and no longer latches on; however, it is very important to me that he continues to get breast milk. I usually get 6-7 ounces when I pump every 2-3 hours. It usually only takes about 10-15 minutes. Everyone is obviously different; however, I would definatly suggest this pump. It is on the pricey side; however, many stores offer clearance prices when Medela okays the sale. It isn't an item that you can by online from other vendors as Medela strickly prohibits there products from unlicensed vendors. Let me know if you have any additional questions.

Water, water, water!!! I was actually admitted to the hospital the night before my c-section due to the stomach flu (they delayed the c-section until I was over it). However, they gave me bags and bags of fluid and my milk came in really fast and at a good rate - though not the best option. Start now on upping the water intake! I kept up my water and when pumping, had good results. As I let my water intake drop, so did my supply.

Be ready for the pain of breastfeeding. It doesn't last for more than a couple of weeks (and only the first few seconds as they latch on) - but it is so worth it.

Good luck and congratulations.

I have used the Avant hand pump. I have no idea how effective it is compared to others, because I never used any others and never pumped much. You can get it at Wal-Mart or HEB. I would really liked to have tried an electric pump, but this one seemed to get all it was going to get in about 15 or 20 minutes.

C.,

I had a fever during labor so they had to put my daughter in the Newborn ICU and I didn't have a chance to breastfeed her. My milk supply was pretty low because I didn't get to feed her regularly and I had crack nipple after feeding her a few times. I used mudella breast pump but it took me forever to get only a few oz! This time around, I've planned to request for a lactation consultant to come by immediately (if possible) after the baby is born and whenever I feel like having trouble breast feeding while still in the hospital. (Last time I paid $80+ for a lactation consultant to come to my house for an hour). And also I've heard that the hospital has breast pump available for rent which is more powerful according to my friend! It should cut the time by half.

Good Luck :)
P.

C.,
If you qualify for WIC they can provide you with first a decent hand pump and if you are still totally breastfeeding after the second month they can qualify you for an electric pump that is really nice. You would of course need to check the policies of your local WIC office but that is what the one here in Beaumont does. Also let the lactation people at the hospital help you with your little girl latching on while you are in the hospital. Who knows she just might get it right to begin with. I have had 4 children all of whom I breastfed for the first couple of months either wholly or in part depending on the child's temperment and nutrional needs. One of my kids was lactose intolerent so I had to change my diet for him. Good for you to plan on trying to breastfeed again it really is precious time for you and your new baby and like they say it really is best for baby. Good Luck with everything

C.,
Congratulations on your new arrival! I have read the majority of the responses and thought I would put in my "2 cents" I have a(n almost) 3 year old and a 10 month old and breastfed them both - i am still breastfeeding the youngest. I have several friends that couldn't breatfeed their babies and was terrified that I would not be able to. A book was recommended to me The Breastfeeding Book by Dr. William and Martha Sears. They have a whole line of parenting books that are WONDERFUL!! This book is very empowering. They have 8 children and Martha Sears has breastfed them all (including the babies they adopted.) To me that says something. They help to explain that feeding our children is what we are meant to do and no matter what keep trying. The give tips and ways to solve problems; latch on techniques and the confidence that you CAN do this. I did use an avent hand pump and the dual medela electric pump on several occassions and didn't have much luck with either. You wont get as much milk with a pump that you will with nursing. No matter what - DO NOT let the hospital give your baby a bottle or a pacifier. Nursing the breast is work for a baby and they learn the bottle really quickly and it is hard to break. Wait as long as you can to give a pacifier. You are there to pacify your baby in the beginning. It will help to build your milk supply. Begin nursing your baby girl as soon as you can after she is born. Be patient. Ask for help. Someone commented about Mother Francis Hospital in Tyler. There is a laction consultant there available most all the time. Your hospital should have the same. You can even go back after your released from the hospital for help. You can do this! Don't give up - it is such an amazing experience and what is best for your baby! Good luck to you and I would love to know how things go.

I suggest visiting this website, my friend Kimberley who I met while performing the play BIRTH is a wonderful lactation consultant & helps those in need. It is only $40 to join the village if you are interested, if you aren't you can at least consult with her about any problems or concerns you may have. she is a great resource & a good connection to have in this area!

http://www.theirbirthright.org

I breastfed my daughter who is now almost one and i am just now weaning her off. I do know that when you do pump it is not as efficent as the baby. When i would pump i would only get a few ounces of milk i couldnt get no more out it was frustrating finally i gave up the pump and just let her do it. The pump i used was the ele. battery operated one from walmart for like $40 it worked fine for my other friends who used it all the time i think it is just getting one that fits your breast. You can also try the hand pumps they work pretty well to if you have the patience for them.

Hi, I had the same problem with my son, tried everything for a week. The doctor said if he got hungry enough he would eat, never worked, it was a horrible first week. He was 8 days late and 8.8 pounds. I had a lot of milk, I think my breast got so big they were so tight that there was not much for my son to latch on to ( have small nipples) With my daughter she latched on the second day, best feeling in the world, I nursed her for 15 months, most beautiful thing I have ever done. I have a very nice pump (about 350 dollars) that works great. You can have it if you like.
E-mail me and let me know. They say boys have a tougher times than girls latching on, this was certainly true for me. I wish you good luck, and don't let the experience slip you by this time.
God Bless
C. :>)

I have 3 kids 11,8,&6 and i nursed all of them.When you have your baby let the nurses know that you want to breastfeed that way your baby can learn to latch on.I think that if a baby gets a bottle first then it is hard for them to adjust to your nipple.Also there is a product that will help with the pain that comes along with breastfeeding.It is in a purple tube,has no flavor,and is safe.As far as producing milk i found that eating oatmeal,fries,and milk (not together)helped me.Good luck

I encourage you to hang in there. The first couple of weeks is always the most difficult. Getting the right position down, getting use to the pain, and getting milk to come in is all part of the process and most people don't make it. I have breast feed my three children all for atleast 9 months. The last one I had a c-section and did not think I was going to make it in the first couple weeks because it was even more painful to get in position. But I knew I done if before and I stuck with it and before you know it, it all starts working well. Don't worry if you don't get alot of milk every time you pump, that is normal, if you stick with it you will get to know yourself and when you need to pump. Lactching on is the key, you just have to work with the baby patiently until they get a good grip and stay on. I tried to minimize giving a pacifier or bottle until I was sure that the baby was latching on well, and even then for the first couple of months try to only breast feed. I have seen many women give up before they should, so don't give up. The electric brest pumps are all that worked for me. Ask your doctor or at the hospital, there are ways you can get a rental one for little or nothing if you can't buy one. I am proud of you for wanting to try again. I'm sure you can do it. Keep me updated!

Hi! Catthy,

When my son was born he was 6wks early so I can understand where you have been with that. It took a few tries before he lached on. The one thing that I noticed was if I was a bit uptight about nursing he wouldn't respond he is my first and only child. I had to take the presure off of myself and just try to relax. It is eaiser said then done but just keep trying. Also, the hospital where he was born had a great staff and they had women that came to help out and show me how to do it so he and I were better set to take on this issue. They also provided me with a pump and all the other attachments that can help. If you haven't set up a visit with your maternity ward that might be a place to start. Most of the doctors and certainly the nurses will be very helpful. I hope I helped out a little here and congratulations on your up comming blundle of joy. Let me know if I did help and also when your baby girl has joined our world. My very best to you and your family.

Peggy Sue

I got a used Medela breast pump (replaced all of the parts), and it didn't seem to work very well either. It worked well enough that I couldn't justify spending the money to buy a new one though. On vacation, I borrowed a newer model Medela (using my attachments) from a friend of mine and it worked so much better! I'm not sure if the newer models have better technology or if mine was just so old that the motor was worn out. Anyway, I guess my point is that you might want to try getting a new one, although I know how expensive they are and you mentioned being on a tight budget so you'll have to decide if that will work for you.

As far as getting help...there should be lactation specialists at the hospital where you are going to deliver. While you are in the hospital, I don't think they charge to come and help you, so I would use them as much as you possibly can while you are still there. Once you leave, they should give you the number for the lactation specialists at the hospital in case you have any further questions. I called a few times once I left the hospital to ask questions and they never charged me anything for those calls. Also, I have never used them, but I think you can find a website or some information for the La Leche League. They may be able to help you find some help if you need it.

I'm editing my response because I noticed someone else mentioned a shield. I used this also with my daughter and while it was a bit of a pain to use, it worked for us. I am not sure I would have been able to nurse her without it. I am hoping that I won't need it for the next one, but at least I know it works if I do!

Good luck and congratulations on the newest addition to your family!

My baby did not latch since day one, and since my husband was so hung up on the idea of breastfeeding I had to rely on pumping. I used medela pump in style advance, yes at the beginning it was so uncomfortable but with time i got used to it.. my bunny is 20 months old and i am still pumping, all i used is the medela.. A friend told me to drink plenty of water and pump every three hours, and here i am 20 months later and i am still doing it.. my plan is stop when he is 2..

I had similar problems with my first baby, but the second one I had gobs of milk for. I think one of the best things the nurses/hospital did to help ensure success with my 2nd child was to leave my daughter in my room most of the time. From the time she was done with the postpartum cleanup/tests she latched right on. This way, the breasts knew she meant business and the milk just flowed. My nippled hurt because of the suction as it did with my son but after 2 weeks it was going great. I used the Medela too, the double one, so I could control the suction level and it wasn't so painful. Then gradually, I increased the suction and it was no problem. My daughter went to daycare at 6 weeks and sometimes if I didn't pump to take breast milk, I would just give them formula to give her from a bottle and she did great switching back to nursing when she was with me.
So, insist that your baby stay in your room and get that milk flowing right away. (My babies were born in different states and each facility has their own way of doing things, but if I had known to keep my son in the room with me and letting him nurse whenever he wanted, which seemed constant in the case of my daughter, I think I may have had better success with him. I would pump for 30 min and get an inch of milk--just wasn't there) PS. the pump is good on gentle if your breasts get engourged at first. That was what was causing alot of the pain in the beginning.(and I had inverted nipples--NOT Anymore!) You will be able to increase the suction and see if you get better results. I had better luck pumping in private at first and my husband appreciated that.I relaxed more.
Hang in there!

C., I also had a hard time breastfeeding. With my first child I was very young and I felt the same way I did not get much milk for the time it took or the uncomfort level. With my second child he was also about five weeks premature and had a hard time latching on, my doctor gave me a sheild to put on which helped some. He also wrote me a prescription for a breast pump so that my insurance could cover the cost instead of my husband and me. I know here we have what is called American Home Patient which is a medical supply store that rents out supplies. Many of these products are also covered by many types of insurances. The nursery at the Hospital I delivered in was very helpful. I am pregnant now and I am hoping that I will not have the same problems again. Good Luck to you.

I had a hard time with breastfeeding the first time around (not the same issue, more with my milk supply), but the second time around went a little better--Maybe your second try will work out better, too! Anyway, I used a Medela hand pump that worked great for me the second time around. I couldn't believe how fast I could fill up a little bottle! But I was only trying to pump a little extra just to keep my supply up and to stockpile some, so if you end up needing to do full time pumping I know that one would not be practical! Best wishes & congratulations!

Before each of my chilren were born, I went to the library and checked out books and videos on breastfeeding. I'm not sure what area you live in, but many large hospitals offer classes for $30 and under, and the hospital I delivered at actually had a lactation specialist come into my room and help me breastfeed (for free!) I felt awkward at first because this woman was very "hands-on" but by the time she left, I really felt that I knew what I was doing. Most WIC offices also have lactation consultants that you can talk to (whether you qualify for WIC or not.) Check online for lactation consultants or the La Leche League near you. You can call for prices, but many will answer questions over the phone for free. If you have friends that have successfully breastfed, don't be afraid to ask them for help, even if it means them seeing you feed.

As for the pumps, I used the Medela Pump in Style, the Evenflo Press and Release (I got it at Target), and the Avent manual pump. I was able to take the Medela with me to work and pump both sides at once so I didn't get in trouble for taking too many breaks. But I found it uncomfortable and I never felt like it was pumping enough. Same thing with the Avent one. I liked it least of all. I could never get enough milk for my child, no matter how many times a day I pumped or for how long. But the Evenflo one was battery powered so it was much more conveniet for times I was out shopping. It also seemed to pump much more, leaving me feeling empty and relieved. (I would sometimes pump AFTER feeding my daughter with this one to build up my milk supply.) It has a silicone sleeve for more comfort, but that doesn't work well for extra-large breasts. I found even without the sleeve, it wasn't that uncomfortable. IF I have another baby, I will definately go back with the Evenflo.

Good Luck!!! And congrats on the soon-to-be new addition!

Hello - I am an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) in private practice and can help you with all of your breastfeeding needs. You can also check out my website at www.AddALittleLove.com to read more about me and my credentials.

Hello C.,
Congrats on your upcoming new arrival. My son was also 5wks. early. He didn't have a problem latching on, I had a problem producing enough milk. I also used the mudela pump and it worked alright for me. I breatfed both of my children for 4mons. only. Just relax and try not to worry to much.

J.
www.deliveringonthepromise.com/40420383

Hello and congratulations on your upcoming baby girl. I have a beautiful baby girl who is 7 months old and I have been nursing (at home) and pumping 2 times (at work). I use Evenflo single electric pump and I have had no problems with this pump. I actually bought this pump when I was pregnant with my son who is now 4 years old, but I never really used it 'cos I was SAHM until my son turned 1 and that was when I weaned him.

On my job, I get 2 fifteen minute breaks per day to pump and I have been able to steadily pump 4-5 ounces at each session ever since I started in January.

About preemies having a hard time, I don't know about that but if it's any comfort, my daughter was born 4 weeks early and she had no problems latching on, I actually did not let the nurses give her formula when she was born (even though I had her through C-section), I made sure I started breasfeeding regimen right away after birth.

Good luck and I hope this bit helps you.

I am a Mom of 2 (5 yrs and 18 months). I breastfeed my second for the longest and would highly recommend the Whisper Wear Double Breast pump. I still have mine if you are interested. It works wonderfully. I could get 4 oz out of each breast at the same time within 5-10 minutes. I could pump in the car on my way home from work. It can run off batteries or plug. It leaves you very free to move around if needed. I loved it.

I don't know where you live but in Tyler at mother francis that have a great breastfeeding specialist. It is either free or a copay not sure. There is also a tea you can drink that will increase your milk supply you can get it at drug emporium it is all natural. Just ask the person in the health section about it they will know the name. its called something like mothermilk. Hope this is helpfull. I also used a medella pimp and it worked really well. It is next in line to the hospital ones. Someone said if you have your ob write you a prescription it is covered by insurance.

Some people just do not produce enough milk, like myself and have to switch to formula, i used carnation formula from walmart, it is just as good as those expensive one's!
I used the mudela breast pump w/both my children and they seemed like they were always still hungry ! So thats when i had to switch to formula, i spent alot of minutes trying to breast feed & pump, it was exhausting ! Mudela is the best breast pump to use! I paid $ 200.00 for mine. My sister has it now, since i really didn't have any luck breast feeding !
Good luck ! ~ you might want to try and shop resale shops, i have seen the pumps there ! Half the cost. Or even try ebay.

With my first child she had a really hard time latching on so I had little milk for her, I pumped to get more milk flowing when she was done each time for a few weeks and also used a NIPPLE GUARD to help her latch on. These are little plastic thin suction cup nipple looking thing (sorry don't realy know how to explain) I purchased one at the hospitol from the lactation specialist and also one at Target in the baby section. I also used the Medula Double Pump and while it wasn't exactly comfortable the first several times, I felt it was worth it to give my princess the benefits and after some time it wasn't bad, never really comfortable.