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When did you start pumping?
When Owen was born, we had latch issues and it took a while for my milk to come in. (He was born on a Tuesday and I don't remember being engorged until Saturday or Sunday.) Consequently, they had me pumping like mad in the hospital and at home, after every feeding, etc.
This time around, the colostrum was there immediately, the milk came slowly flowing by day two, and now on day four I am easily a DD (was a B in real life), and full of rock hard boobs with hard patches all the way up to my shoulders practically. Ellie is eating frequently and well, but for the first time in my life my supply is greater than her demand. My boobs HURT, and I'm dying for relief. However, the fear is that if I start pumping now to relieve the pressure, it'll indicate a higher demand to my body and I'll start producing even MORE milk.
WWYD? Should I pump just enough for relief or suffer through until Ellie's demand meets my supply? Or should I thank my lucky stars for excess and pump all I've got to stock up?
Re: When did you start pumping?
I started pumping in the hospital w/ Jake too because he was under the bili lights and had a horrible latch (by the time the poor little guy latched, it was time to go back under the lights!).
As for your issue now, I would pump an ounce to take the edge off, but not much more because you don't want your body to overproduce and cause pain. I know warm showers and cabbage leaves are what my LC's recommended - just manual expression in the shower was enough to help sometimes. Hang in there - it totally sucks!! I'll be in your shoes soon asking the same thing ;o).
How's Owen feeling about Ellie??
Jake blowing out the candle at Katie's coming home party
Katie Belle
Kristen, Chad, Jake, Katie & Sadie the Wonderdog, est. 6/17/06
I had to started pumping immediately. Like, an hour after she was born since Caroline was in the NICU and I couldn't see her. But, I know that my supply was huge and I'm thankful for that b/c even with the over supply and all the pumping I did for months my supply tanked eventually and I had all that back up. I think the next kid I'm going to be a breastmilk hoarder LOL
Also, when I was engorged at the hospital (day 4) the LC came in and I pumped and the LC squeezed and I tell you the relief I felt, phew! Was so happy to have that hard as a rock feeling go away.
I forgot about the cabbage leaf trick! I need to get some cabbage.
Tamzin -- no latch issues this time, actually (thankfully). Ellie is a champ latcher and eater, she just doesn't need all that I'm producing. Last night I decided to pump right before I went to bed since my parents were going to feed her in the middle of the night and let me sleep -- and by just pumping for a very short period of time I got almost four ounces! Holy moses.
I know engorgement goes down once your lymph nodes stop being out of control, but this is ridiculous. I look like a porn star. So I think I will keep doing as pp's all said and just pump a little once in a while to take the edge off. Thanks!
Kristen -- Owen is doing pretty well, all things considered. For the most part, he ignores the baby. He has no interest in holding her. He says hi and bye to her, and I overheard him talking to her once, and he's curious (checks her out when she's sleeping in the PNP or when she's eating), but otherwise he's steering clear of her. It's obvious he's wary of her presence, but seems to understand that she's staying. With my parents here, though, he's been getting lots and lots of attention -- that helps.
Sounds like you got some good advice and thankfully it won't last forever! It's great to hear that things are working as they should both with your milk and her latch this time around.
Haha this is awesome. As another small B I have got to remember to do this! Haha