Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
MRSCHELSEAP and JENNIFER80808
Chelsea: I remember you saying that you trade your formula coupons for pampers points. Where do you swap them and how many points do you ask for per coupon? Say you have a $4.00 Enfamil coupon do you ask for 40 points?
H and I are planning to CD but right now Little Man is falling out of the diapers we got him so we are temporarily using disposables. Once H saw they have the GTG program he was so excited to "save money". It is an added bonus that T only seems to pee out of Huggies and not Pampers.
Jennifer: I hope you enjoy your vacation this coming week. I'm sure it will be a blast and Kennedy will love every minute of it. I have some Qs on BFing and pumping.
Unfortunately I have to return to work @ 6 weeks and am concerned T won't be interested in BFing once I do return so I've been trying to pump and build a supply. Since he has been doing so well with BFing now, I've been letting him eat until he is content and then trying to pump, but I can't seem to tell when my breasts are "empty" so that they continue to produce an ample supply of milk and my body doesn't cut back b/c they aren't emptying completely. How do you tell that they are empty?
I can tell when mine are getting full because they begin to feel heavy and ache so I try to get him to eat before they are engorged and he can't appropriately latch. I am getting frustrated b/c I can only seem to get 4oz out in 24 hours pumping, but then again I haven't been trying to pump right after every feeding. When you find that your milk supply is best and you get the most when you pump?
Sorry for all the possibly TMI questions, but I know that even through all the challenges your family has had this year, you have had an awesome experience with pumping and providing mommy milk for Miss Kennedy.
Re: MRSCHELSEAP and JENNIFER80808
Re: BFing. Don't stress out too much - that will cut your supply. If you are feeding then pumping, you are empty when milk stops coming out. Even if it's just 1 oz. I know that sounds fairly basic, but it's the truth. Your supply will be more plentiful the first half of the day, so make sure you pump during midnight and morning feedings if you can. And drink tons of water. It will help keep your production up.
DD went to daycare at 7 weeks and had no issues going from boob to bottle and bottle to boob. She was a Starvin' Marvin, so she ate whenever. Every baby is different, though. I think they suggest you start introducing the bottle around 4 or 5 weeks, just so that the baby is used to and takes to it, but to keep primarily breastfeeding. And breastfeeding only at home will help keep your supply high.
Good luck!
I trade on Swap Spot on the Bump boards. http://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/4544478/ShowForum.aspx
Its really up to the pair trading on what you both feel is fair. For a check like that, I would ask for a code from a package of diapers and a SASE (self addressed stamped envelope). The way that I see it, it's free points to me and I don't loose the money on a stamp. If I have a larger check ($7-$10), I ask for at least 100pts.
As far as pumping goes.... IME, if you do not pump after every feeding you will not "trick" your breasts to produce more milk. I would only pump in the evening, started out with an oz and eventually got up to 4 oz but then when I finally "regulated" I haven't been able to get anything from pumping. I produce exactly what L needs and can't remember the last time that I felt engorged. I used a hand pump that the hospital gave me though, which may or may not have had something to do with it.
Married Bio
I know a lot of people are able to BF and do bottles, so hopefully that will work out for you!! Pumping is hard, but try not to stress! You're doing the right thing by feeding and then pumping. I only pump now, but in the beginning I was BFing and pumping, When I started pumping, I would pump until nothing else came out and then 3-5 more minutes. That helped to stimulate more milk production. The first 12 weeks is the hardest because your milk supply is mostly hormone driven at that point, where as after 12 weeks it's more supply and demand. Someone also suggested to me that I manually express the milk after finishing pumping. At first I was like no way, I'm not going to sit here milking myself. But then I did it and got up to an ounce more on either side. That's how I could tell when I was pretty much empty. Nothing more came out with the pump and I didn't get much when manually expressing. You will never be TOTALLY empty. I didn't do the manual expressing forever, just while I was building supply. It does take time to build up a supply. Right now I only pump four times a day, but still produce 60-70 ounces a day. Make sure you're drinking TONS of water and eating enough calories. I notice my milk production dips when I don't eat or drink enough. Also, you can google the recipe for "lactation cookies" - my doula made these ones for me, and they really do work! I became such and over producer that I really didn't need them anymore. They are yummy though! You can also add nutritional yeast (also known as Brewer's yeast) to anything you eat, and that will help build supply. In addition to Mother's Milk Tea, and "More Milk Plus" which you can buy on Amazon. I used the Mother's Milk Tea and More Milk Plus in the beginning to help get my milk in faster because the NICU was threatening me with using formula.
Anyway - I hope that didn't confuse you, and that it wasn't WAY too much info. You can FB message me if you want! I usually can respond to that much faster. I don't get on TN very often anymore because it's a pain from my phone.
WTG mama for doing everything you can to give T your milk! It's so worth it. It's HARD and there are times that you'll want to throw in the towel, but you will get through it and it will get easier!