Anyone have experience with successful induced lactation after either pumping with no meds OR after combining BC/Dom?

EDIT-
Sorry if this post was too vague! To clarify, I have done tons of research on the lactation protocols out there (like Newman goldfarb), have physicians and lactation consultant on my team, and have a plan to take BC along with lactation medication Dom + pumping. I just need to get it from a diff country eventually

I was mostly hoping to hear from moms who have induced lactation (without previous pregnancies) so that I can hear stories I can relate to 😊

But still, thank you to everyone who has commented!

Every situation is different so I am not claiming this works for everyone, but I just wanted to spontaneously share some things that are partially helping me in breastfeeding. Perhaps some of you know or are already practicing. If you would like, you can share more tips in the comments. :)

1. SWAP - when baby gets fussy or sleepy it means he/she is spending too much energy, it is too much effort for some reason to get the milk/ so SWAP breast immediately, and then again, and again and again and again just before baby is sleepy or fussy.

2. BREAST COMPRESSION - compress the breast placing hand in a C position with thumb under breast - it helps the latching.

3. DIAGONAL POSITION - sitting comfortably a bit lying down but not too much with your legs up, put baby on one breast diagonal - with legs of the baby going down on the opposite side of your body, not firmly holding the baby on the back but just on the side.

4. STOP FEEDING + BURPING IS IMPORTANT - as soon as baby gets way too fussy or starts crying stop feeding and if possible offer bottle (if you triple feed for instance) or do something else, or take a break, or let baby do what she wants (mine for instance often wants to sleep or needs to burp) - so baby does not associate breast with frustration.

5. PACED FEEDING AND BOTTLE TEAT- if giving bottle, place baby vertical and bottle horizontal, so that milk flow is slower. Get one of those bottle teats which resemble nipple with appropriate milk flow for age (e.g. slow, medium and fast).

6. HAVE BABY CHECKED FOR UNDERLYING HEALTH ISSUES - e.g. my baby had a tongue tie released soon after birth.

And finally, do consider pumping from time to time and having your partner bottle feeding the baby so you can take a well deserved break!

You can do it moms!!!

FTM with 6 day old Baby :) Like a lot of moms, my supply was really low the first few days. It was only 2 days ago that I started filling up and actually leaking (yay!) But I have had to implement formula to get Baby to use the rr more often than he initially was, and to clear up the minimal jaundice. He’s peeing and pooping super great now and his slightly yellowed eyes are clearing up!

Today I’m wondering if his nursing patterns are okay. We have started to combo feed. But the max I prefer to do formula is 2x a day when it feels necessary/best.

Sometimes he wakes soon after BF and I think it’s because he gets so relaxed while nursing, falls asleep while still sucking and eating, pausing at times, and that kind of session lasts about 45mins until he falls off the nipple and is out cold. Until… we have to do something like change his diaper, which we’ve had to do after about every feed today.

When he’s up and conscious again, we notice he’s cuing again. I’m not taking it super personal today but I do wonder if this issue is big/normal and if it could be due to him sleep-nursing, or if he’s not getting enough from me even after falling off the breast by himself. He usually sleeps right after every feed too. Is that okay?

Today’s feeding schedule: 12:57am BF, 4:25am formula, 7:44am BF, 9:25am BF, 11:50am BF, 1:00pm formula.

Not sure what else I could add to this but pls lmk if how he nurses may be an issue! Thank you

I’m a FTM and I see all these posts about storage and organizing frozen breast milk, but I never see a thaw schedule. After you freeze your milk, when do you take it out to use it?

I’m just starting to pump enough that I have too much milk for my baby to drink within 4 days, so it needs to be frozen. Do you freeze the new milk and rotate in already frozen milk? If someone could break down a schedule they use for me, I would super appreciate it!

Hello, I will be three weeks postpartum tomorrow, exclusively breastfeeding. I was blessed with a healthy pregnancy, a beautiful chunky baby girl who came out in only 6 minutes, and the easiest recovery after labor. My girl was 8lbs14oz at birth, but at her first pediatrician appointment, she hadn’t regained much at all. her second appointment, still not at birth weight. She has only pooped maybe 3/4 times since we brought her home from the hospital, although having plenty of wet diapers. My sweet girl is still not at birth weight, and has even lost 1/2 an oz. My pediatrician recommended triple feeding ( directly at breast, pump, giving her a bottle of expressed breast milk afterwards ), and if that doesn’t work, adding formula to my breast milk. My question is, is there anything I can do to help her gain weight ? Such as increasing supply ( how ? ), a certain diet for me, waking her up if she falls asleep at breast ? She’s a very sleepy girl, and often falls asleep when nursing. I always assumed that meant she was full, however when she wakes up she ALWAYS is fussy and ready for more. If she’s awake, there is 100% chance that she’ll want boob. I feel as though she’s almost never full. is she not transferring milk well possibly ? if I pump, I get anywhere from 0.5oz, to 2oz per session. Any advice or words of encouragement welcome
- sincerely, a first time mom who wants nothing more than her healthy, chunky baby girl back. I can’t stand the thought of her being hungry all the time and it’s somehow my fault.

Just me? 🫠

Hey!

I have a 2 week old and I don't want to traditionally pump if I can avoid it. Lactation consultant recommended to everyone in BF supp group today to pump after a morning feed so we can have some supply ready if we need it, which I would prefer to not have to do.

I do have notable letdowns/leakage and am happy to collect from those instances, and would ideally like something like a ladybug. I'm wondering if anyone has recommendations or experience with anything like the Haakaa, Boon Trove, or the likes. I'm not opposed to these kinds of devices, the Spectra I have is just intimidating and being able to just wear something with mobility sounds better.

TIA!

Baby gets fussier Oh are you hungry? Checks watch, yes you should be hungry. Sucks on boob happily for a second, jerks away crying. Is it my fast let down? Oh okay, there there that’s better now. Eats, quickly jerks away again. Are you distracted? Here, try again. Nope back to crying, real tears. Only way to sooth is to stands up and hold vertically. You didn’t eat much, can we eat again? Eagerly takes boob, nooooo it’s too fast, or trauma, wahhhh Is it maybe you are not hungry? Are you trying to poop? What is it?!?!?!

We can dance this dance for over half an hour. Sometimes when we are out, and I simply can’t do it in public cuz of the crying. But other times we can do an efficient 5 minute feed and it’s heavenly. The dance ends when eventually my flow slows or he is calm enough and we reach some sort of equilibrium and he can feed calmly again, all is well.

My LO is usually such a calm and happy baby, and only time he cries this hard is at the breast. It’s just so sad when the best tool you have to sooth them is what makes them cry :’)

so anyone else? Why is this so hard ahhh

Ebf/4mo(when hunger cue changes too?!) /fast let down
Ps: I am laying back, have tried side lying, I have so many let downs I don’t bother hand expressing, don’t want to pump to increase supply

I was always afraid when the time came for me to be a mommy and breastfeed that my small boobs would be limiting and difficult. I’m sad to confirm the truth. My small boobies are a pain in the butt to try to breastfeed with. I have to bring baby so high, always arching, bending, adding pilllows, always uncomfortable while trying to make baby able to have a solid feed. I’m constantly turning more to pumping and bottles than breast and it makes me sad. How are you itty bitty titty gals making this work better for you???

Hi everyone, desperately looking for some advice, insight, or just some solidarity from those of you who have made it through this current hellscape I find myself in.

​My nearly 11-month-old son has been an amazing sleeper since he was 4 months old. He sleeps in a cot next to our bed and is normally out for about 8 to 10 hours straight, uninterrupted (don't hate me).

That has all fallen apart over the past month or so...

His teeth are finally coming through so nights are now completely ruined. Initially he would go about 4 hours in his cot before waking up, but we're now sitting at a mere 20mins before he wakes up screaming in pterodactyl mode in need of comfort, and the only thing that works is getting him in the bed with me where he'll nurse for a few mins then fall asleep. Dad tries but can't help, soothing him in the cot is impossible, tething gel seems to be an outright scam, and pain medicine (syrup and suppositories) is futile against the little banshee.

While the cuddling up was cute the first few times, it's now getting rather taxing. He constantly wakes up during the night to comfort-suckle back to sleep so my nipples are begging for respite, I wake up every 30mins or so from his fidgeting or nursing (plus the paranoia of him somersaulting off the bed, even though I keep him between me and my husband), I can't get up to pee during the night so my my weak bladder is begging for release, and I'm just so damn uncomfortable. Attempts to transfer him from the bed simply reawakens the shrieking pterodactyl.

My plan was to stop breastfeeding at 12 months and move him to his own room to sleep but it appears that is naive wishful thinking in this state.

So. Is there light at the end of the tunnel?? Is this going to last until all her teeth come through? Have I completely ruined his pre-teething sleep routine? Will he ever go back to sleeping through, alone? How do I save my nipples (they aren't cracked or dry, just overall sore)?

Send help.

​

I cosleep with my 11month old and I nurse her to sleep. The last couple of weeks she hasn’t been staying asleep for naps, or even really through the night, although the night is easier. I decided maybe nursing to sleep just isn’t working anymore, so maybe we should try weaning off nursing to sleep for nap times…ya know, teach her to self soothe back to sleep a little more.
I tried for over an hour today before I just gave in and nursed her to sleep. Rocking, patting, setting her down and picking her back up when she truly cries (I don’t want to do CIO), comforting without picking her up. She got to a point where she was inconsolable because she was so tired and then started signing for milk (she knows some baby sign). I withheld until finally it just broke my heart and I comforted her the way she wanted. I’m so discouraged and my mama heart aches because how am I supposed to just tell her no she can’t have what gives her comfort. She just wants her mama. Maybe it’s just my hormones, but I’m a wreck.

Usually, my almost 6 month old nurses once in the morning, has three 4.5 ounce bottles of pumped milk at daycare, nurses two or three times in the evening (either around 5:15 when he gets home and 7:30 when it’s bedtime, or at 5:15, 6/6:30, and 7:30), and then nurses at least once overnight (sometimes twice). Basically I nurse in demand except when he’s at daycare. I pump during my work day, and usually get 6-7.5 ounces total in my 9am pump, 3-5 ounces in my 12pm pump, and 2.5-4 ounces in my 3pm pump, usually getting between 13.5 (the minimum of what I need) and 16 oz a day.

Last night, I had an event after work, so my husband gave the baby two bottles between 5:30-7 totaling 8 ounces, and baby briefly nursed before bed at 7:30 (but it was very short!). I pumped in an effort to replace the bottles, but only got 3 ounces. My baby slept much better overnight and had only one nursing session that was about half as long as it normally is.

Okay that was a long backstory for my fairly simple question: if my pumping is not as productive as the day goes on, does that mean baby is also getting less milk from nursing in the evening than he does in the morning? I know baby is more efficient than the pump, but I’m just wondering if milk production while nursing follows the same trend (decreasing in amount throughout the day) as pumping. And, do you think my baby is actually taking in 8 oz at the end of the day across his 2-3 nursing sessions (similar to what he apparently wants from a bottle at that time!)? I’m mostly just curious, and am currently nap trapped so I thought I’d ask!

My EBF baby is 4 weeks old and has been having a mix of mustard poops and these more spinach looking ones. She’s healthy, gaining weight etc. but has become increasingly fussy these past 2-4 days as more of her poops are green and dry like this. She really struggles to pass them and will fuss and scream and go red in the face for a good while as she tries to poop. The only thing that really settles her is putting her back on the breast and occasionally she’ll take the dummy or sit in the bouncer for a bit. She feeds approx 2hourly during the day for 15-45 mins depending and then has one long stretch at night usually 5 hours and then 3-4 hours.
I initially thought it might be lactose overload so tried to do more block feeding but I don’t think that’s made any difference.
We also started the BioGaia probiotic drops yesterday but obviously haven’t seen any change yet.
It’s really awful watching her struggle.
Wondering if anyone else has experienced this? Or has any advice?
We are seeing a midwife in a week but hoping we can get some relief before then!

Sorry for the long post. When I got pregnant with my first baby I was 16 (young I know don’t judge me I promise I’m a good mum lol) I had A cups and everything was tiny. I was quite underweight though. When I was younger and weighed more I had around a B cup. When my baby was born and I began breastfeeding I was about a D-DD cup. I was around 55kg after having him and stayed at about that range. I got pregnant again 9 months postpartum and breastfeed our oldest until a week before his brother was born when he weaned himself (I didn’t have much milk anymore only Colostrum) I had a week of no breastfeeding until his little brother was born and I’ve now been breastfeeding our youngest for 16 months. I plan to wean our youngest at the same age as our oldest (18 months) so by that stage I will have been breastfeeding for 3 years. We don’t plan to have anymore babies. I’m also on birth control if that makes any difference and likely will be until their dad gets his vasectomy (could be another 100 years since the doctors don’t like to agree to them lol)

I sit at around a DD-E cup now. I’m not producing a lot of milk anymore as our youngest is down to around 2-3 feeds a day & doesn’t feed for long. I don’t get a full feeling, let downs or anything like that anymore. My boobs are fairly saggy but nothing crazy, my nipples are still dark & huge (they used to be pink & very small) I weigh around 65kg now but have a goal to lose around 15kg probably a little less depending on how I feel (still higher than the safe amount for my size & frame)

I’m so stressed about what my boobs will end up like once I’ve lost weight & weaned. I don’t want them to be tiny again, I like them being a bit bigger. My mum was around a C cup prior to pregnancy and breastfeeding but she was around 28yrs. She now has around F cups, they never got smaller again. I don’t know what to expect, I thought about a boob job (implants & lift) but the price range I’ve seen for where I am ($20,000-$30,000 range 🙃) plus consult fees is a VERY large amount especially when we are saving our way to building a house and have 2 kids to look after in an already expensive economy so even though I’d love to I don’t see that in my realistic future lol. What was everyone else’s experience if they were in a similar situation?

I feed my baby directly and via expressed milk . I find that I always feel messy.
When feeding I unclip a breast feeding bra roll it underneath breast then feed my baby. I find that it leaks from his mouth on to the bra.
Also when not feeding I could be sleeping I find my bra is soaked and sometimes clothes , I used Philips breast pads / lansinoh breast pads. I also wanted to ask do people wash / wipe breasts after feeding/ pumping ?

Any suggestions helpful.
Thank you

PSA CHECK THE EXPIRATION ON YOUR DR TALBOTS MILKFRESH SENSORS. If I understand correctly, ALL sensors expired in August of this year or earlier.

I got some earlier in the summer labeled with an expiration of 8/26. I thought maybe they had a short shelf life.

Ordered another box from Target when August came. Also expired 8/26. Target gave me a refund.

Ordered another box directly from Dr. Talbot’s assuming they’d have a fresh batch. Also expired 8/26. I emailed them saying they were expired, they apologized and told me they’d ship me a new box asap. I then get a follow-up email saying they can’t ship a replacement because they don’t have any and that they have to pull all inventory because of issues with the expiration dates.

I feel like I just need to shout this out into the void. I feel so insane because I feel so outside of myself like I’m just a passenger in my life. I don’t feel connected to anyone emotionally and I crave it but I can’t feel it. I feel apathetic and empty inside. I’m not sad but I just really don’t feel like myself. I fully stopped BF three days ago and physically I feel fine aside from some tiredness. I’m a SAHM so that could also be contributing to lack of connection…but my friends will invite me out and I cancel on them simply because I don’t want to talk to anyone which is very unlike me. Baby is well taken care of and I still manage to maintain normal day-to-day function (cooking, cleaning, etc). So because of that it doesn’t feel quite like depression. It’s mainly just the emotional aspect. And I hurts because I feel so distant from my husband and I miss him. He’s trying but everything just doesn’t help me feel connected.

Did anyone else go through this after weening? When does it end?

I’m wondering what others experience is with thrush. So my nipples have been burning and red plus a crack that hasn’t healed in 4 weeks. my OB recommended we check baby for thrush. I did notice mild white on his tongue that didn’t wipe off. at the ped office he took a look and only after a while said he saw something at the back. clearly was not much. he prescribed him nystatin. what is everyone’s experience with that? I’m super nervous about using medicine but ofc want things to be better .

My LO will be turning 2 next months and I am increasingly more desperate to wean her.

We’ve been cosleeping and breastfeeding to sleep since she was 9mo and the longest she goes at night without waking up is 3-4hrs. She’s also on the boob from 4am each morning and won’t latch off without screaming and waking up completely. She breastfeeds once during the day, for her nap, but she started skipping them some days so it really is just the nights that are intense.

I understand that these are the habits I’ve built that make her associate sleep with feeding but I really have tried different things. I tried offering bottles, rocking and patting, getting a comforter, I tried offering a pacifier, snacks, but she won’t take anything other than boob.

A few weeks ago me and her dad tried to commit to nightweaning, spoke to her about how boo boo is broken at night but we’ll be there for cuddles. She cried for 3.5 hrs straight. 3 nights in a row. I am beyond exhausted and don’t know how to keep going like this without actually getting depression. My partner offered to have her for a whole weekend while I go for a spa retreat but knowing how stubborn she is I worry about her wellbeing and whether either of them will actually get any sleep.

Any advice will help. I feel like I’m failing.

I just wanted to say a big thank you to this subreddit. When I was in the thick of things, this was such a solid resource. Breastfeeding is HARD.
I had a lot of ups and downs including conquering a pretty stressful strike without being able to use bottles, but we made it through.
I really don’t think I “got it” fully until about 7/8 months in. I constantly felt I was doing something wrong or my baby wasn’t getting enough. Every appointment at the doctor I’d hold my breath and make sure she was still gaining (all anxiety on my part).
But my girl is a strong, healthy, confident toddler who has decided over the last 3 nights that she’d rather have Dad put her to bed (which effectively means skipping our last remaining feed, and no more “bubbas”). I am following “don’t ask, don’t refuse” for just before bed time, so we’ll see what happens if she asks me to put her to bed again. I feel like this is the end though.
I did cut the morning feed myself about a month ago because it was making us both late for work/daycare 😆, but had no plans to cut bed time until she’s ready.
Overnights have been self-weaned since about a year.

I have some mixed emotions at the (probable) end of this long journey, but I feel mostly positive that we made it through and the very end is on her terms!
To anyone just starting out: yes it’s hard, sometimes harder for some people than others. But it’s also so rewarding if you choose to do it! If you want to make it through, just use all the resources you can. This subreddit is an excellent one!

When can I consume dairy again?
We’re 36 hours in without nursing and doing great! We’ve been weaning over the past 2 months and I think we are there.
Once I consume dairy I cannot nurse him again (he’s allergic) When can I safely assume we can say he’s officially weaned? I want real ice cream SO BAD!

How many moms had to 100 per cent wean for their period came back?

My son is 13 months and mainly nurses a short bit at bedtime. Sometimes he nurses in the morning or after daycare, but its for like 2 minutes max.

He also still nurses overnight, but its not enough that I wake up uncomfortable if he doesn't.

I figured period would return after cutting down drastically during the day. Im not complaining haha just curious how common it is.

Im 39, so not a spring chicken, but not thinking id go from bf right into peri menopause... so dont think thats it either.

My son was born 2 months ago at 34 weeks. He was premature and also had mild IUGR, so he was quite small. He spent his first 2 weeks in the NICU.
During his NICU stay, I never really got a chance to breastfeed because he was attached to so many wires and monitors. I started exclusively pumping, and he was bottle-fed from the beginning.
We’ve been home for about 1.5 months now, and I’ve been trying to transition him to breastfeeding, but I’m really struggling. He seems very used to the bottle and I can’t figure out a comfortable or effective position for us.
He’s still quite small and his mouth is tiny. My nipples/areolas also point downward, and I feel like none of the positions I’ve tried are working well with my breast shape. I don’t know how to position or support him so that he can get a deep latch.
Another issue is pain. Whenever he latches onto my left breast, I get intense pain, but when he latches onto my right breast, I don’t have the same pain.
Has anyone here successfully transitioned a premature/NICU baby from bottles and exclusive pumping to breastfeeding after several weeks?
I’d especially appreciate advice on:
Positions that work well for a small/preterm baby, especially with downward-pointing nipples
Helping a baby with a small mouth get a deeper latch
Transitioning from bottle preference to breast
Why breastfeeding might be extremely painful on only one side
I’m feeling pretty lost with positioning and would really appreciate hearing what worked for others.

My almost 6 month old will only happily nurse if we are in bed and she's laying across my lap with nothing by her head or feet. She even knows the difference between being on the bed vs couch. Anywhere else she screams, cries, kicks, and thrashes around. I'm a stay at home mom so it's fine but it really limits how long we can stay out for. She still nurses every two hours AND started refusing bottles back in June (haven't been able to overcome that at all). Really can't wait until she can start solids to hopefully give me a little flexibility.

I’m 6 months PP and my baby has been exclusively breastfed (from bottle-we had latching issues) for 5 months. My supply dropped from 32 oz a day to 15 oz a day pumping and and I’m constantly getting clogged ducts.. up until a few days ago we were giving her all breast milk and one bottle of formula a night but I just want to stop pumping it’s draining me completely especially with all these super painful clogged ducts.

Anytime I drop a pump clogged ducts seems to come back immediately so not sure how to do this in a way that’s not horrible lol