Well A's water broke last night at midnight and she delivered a gorgeous 9lb 5oz baby boy at 2:11am! I just got to Iowa yesterday, but was still 1.5 hours from where she lives so I did not make it in time for the birth. She ended up delivering in the ambulance as it was!
SO, now its time to really start focusing on the nursing. I have been on the acc protocol for 19 days. I have already experienced some significant changes in my breasts as I posted earlier. Obviously I did not take the Yasmin today and started taking the herbs. I pumped for the first time a couple of hours ago (Christine, the pumping bra idea is the best EVER), and actually got a few drops (yeah!). I should be able to get 5, maybe six pumping sessions in today, and 8 for the next 2 days. A is going to nurse him as long as she is in the hospital ('til Friday). She also said she would continue to pump for me as long as I'm in Iowa, maybe 1-2 weeks. I don't really want to ask her to go longer than that for her own mental health.
I never used any formula with my son, so I know nothing about it, and don't have alot of time for research now. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> I would appreciate any advice that anyone has regarding what kind to get. Also, how long can you have it at room temp (or body temp)? For instance, can I put 4 ounces in the lactaid before I get on the plane and let him nurse for the next 4 hours (When he needs to)?
I appreciate any input that you gals have time for! Thanks a bunch, I will post a pic of him when I can figure out how to shrink them on my father-in-law's computer!
Ameless, WOW I am so excited for you. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Okay my daughter is our adopted child and I had not used formula well in a long time. My oldest was nursed for 4.5 months then on formula but that was 15 years prior to our daughter. SO anyway, I started off with the ready serve stuff. I think it was similac. It was the kind in the plastic bottle with the twist off top. So, I packed a little cooler with the formula in its container made one lactaid and placed it in a cup (tupperware glass) upright. When it was time to feed I used the hot water in the bathroom to run over the filled lactaid and that took the chill off. If the water is not hot enough just ask the flight attendant for some. Be careful the lactaid heats pretty quick. After I used the lactaid I just dropped it back in the cup in the cooler. If I emptied it I rinsed it out and filled it back up with formula, dropped it in the cup in the cooler. Walaa all set for the next feed. I have to say I hated formula, I was a radical breastfeeding Mom who nursed into toddlerhood. I had to get over the fact that she was going to have some formula. Putting it in the lactaid and nursing her made the sting of using formula lessened for me. I can't wait to see pictures. What did you name him?
Laurie~Craig's wife~Mom to 4 blessings nurtured at the breast CJ(24)Travis(21)Beka~adopted(9)Rab(6)
We usually recommned a full 30 days on the accelerated protocol. 19 days is really cutting things short. To be honest 30 days is not a whole lot of time to begin with in the first place. It's really the bare minimum to get things started.
Since the birth mom is willing to provide breastmilk for at least 2 weeks, our recommendation is to do the full 30 days. But start breastfeeding with the lact-aid filled with the donor milk or formula anyway. Then in 10 days you can stop the Yasmin, maintain the domperidone, add the herbs and breastfeed then pump for about 10 minutes after feeds. This will give you the best chance of a decent start to your milk supply.
As for the plane....make sure that you have plenty of supplement available. Between 2 and 3 weeks, babies experience a growth spurt and require more breastmilk/formula. So as Lalle said, be prepared with a cooler on hand. Since this is a newborn, I don't recommend washing the lact-aid out in the airplane sink. Make sure you have several sterile bags with you. Once baby is older you can do the rinse and refresh thing.
A newborn typically requires at least 25-35 oz per day total. Some will come from you and some will need to be supplemented so be prepared for flight delays and so on when you travel. Always take more than you need with you.
When I travel with my son who is HUGE, I always have 2-3 bottles filled with donor milk....about 20 oz total even though he's only taking about 10 oz supplement a day now. I want to be prepared if the plane doesn't take off etc.
Fondly,
Lenore Goldfarb, Ph.D.,CCC,IBCLC Wife to Rob, Mom to Adam aged 13, and Ethan aged 9, both born via GS and breastfed via Regular Newman-Goldfarb Protocol.
Right, on the lact aid with a newborn. I always used a new bag and cleaned out the tubing very well. I only had 2 lact-aid tops at the time. I later ordered 4 more to have a total of 6. It makes life so much easier. So get extras if you don't already have them.
Laurie~Craig's wife~Mom to 4 blessings nurtured at the breast CJ(24)Travis(21)Beka~adopted(9)Rab(6)
Yikes! Well, Lenore, it has taken me awhile to get back to the boards (I've been pretty busy!). So I have now been off the pill and pumping for two days. I guess I will just continue on at this point as we have rearranged our travel plans and will be heading home next Wed. Maybe I can bring in a full supply by the sheer force of my will! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I am still getting several clearish drops at each pumping at this point. Hopefully they will turn milky soon?
We will be heading up to pick him up tomorrow and we FINALLY named him today. August Bryan!
Tomorrow will be my first attempt at nursing with the lact-aid, so wish me luck!
Everyone will have to wait for pictures when I get home, as my father-in-law doesn't seem to have any photo editing software. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />
Just a quick update. I think I probably produced close to an ounce yesterday, and had a nice sized puddle at the first pumping this morning.
Major problem that I am having right now is that I can't get him to latch, so we've been finger feeding mostly. I'm going to see a lactation counselor today (I had to call 3 hospitals to find one that was in before Tuesday). He is getting a mixed bag of fomula and breastmilk from A, and seems to be doing great. Only cries when he is hungry, so if I could get him to latch, we would probably never hear his voice!
Lalle, I have tried with and w/o it. Sometimes he will latch with it, sometimes w/o, but I would say he is latching maybe 1 or 2x a day, and I didn't get him to at all today(we were flying all day though, so it wasn't as if I was able to try very hard).
Now that we are home I will call the lac. consult. that I worked with when I was nursing Sage and I will get this figured out.
The good news is that I pumped tonight and got 3.5 oz!
BTW I've attached a pic of my two boys for those that are interested!
try having it taped to your breast.. make sure he is good and hungry before you try it. Have the lact-aid bag raised high.. Try to put him to the breast as you push on the bag and get the milk flowing out of the tube over your nipple.. with him being hungry and tasting the formula.. he might latch.A boppy on your lap will help.. As you will feel like you need 10 hands.
Adoptive mommy to 4 , Last 2 adopted nursed. Youngest nursed till she was 5! Raising 2 grandbabies, as infants they were raised on donor breast milk
In addition to the great advice above, my 2 cents to help you get him latched is to place the straw at 3 o`clock or 9 o`clock depending on which side he's on (presuming he's in a cross cradle hold) ... you want the straw on top of his tongue/between his tongue and your breast ... this was what the LC that finally helped me get Henry latched had me do. I never could get the hang of the football hold, but you may ... in which case the straw would be at 6 o`clock.
Also, try the cross cradle hold with your hand on the nape of his neck, don't push his head.
Trying to feed him when he is sleepy helps too.
Finally, make sure the weight of the breast is off his chin, usually by "sandwiching" the breast with your free hand.
That is GREAT that your production is going up. Keep up the good work ... it is tiring pumping in addition to caring for baby.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Christina ~ Wife of Henry, Jr. and mother of Henry III, born with the help of our Angel/GS
Thanks everyone for the great replies! Especially Christina for the lesson on placement, that has made a HUGE difference today.
So for the latest. I saw a lact cons. on Thursday. She suggested possibly using a nipple shield since I was having NO luck getting him latched. She made the statement "Don't make the breast a battlefield", and that is exactly what was occurring. I decided to relax a bit and try the nipple shield, and figured since I was pumping anyway, the reduced stimulation with the nipple shield wouldn't be a big deal. Well that seems to have been just the thing! He latched right on to the shield on Thursday and that was the end of the finger feeding. I still offer him the breast w/o the shield, just don't let him get too worked up about it before I switch to the shield. So far this morning he has latched and fed w/o the shield and with the L/A 4 out of 5 times!
Well....pumping has has been a little spotty to say the least. I'd say I've been averaging 5-6 times in a 24 hour period. However, now that I have him latching so well and the feedings are going faster, I'm going to make a point to get in 8/day, and I'll start keeping track of how much. I think that I'm getting anywhere from .5 oz to 1.5 oz at each pumping, but I'll start saving it now and see how much I get in a day.
Amazing how much more relaxed I feel now that he is latching so well. Last time I did not even have to use the tape to hold the tube on! I'm starting to think that I may actually be able to nurse in public again. Now if he would just poop(haven't seen a poop since Tuesday)! I vaguely remember Sage doing something similar, then having a HUGE blowout, but I didn't think he was this young.
Is he getting formula in the lact-aid too or just breastmilk? If he is getting formula that could be the reason he hasn't pooped in a few days. I am assuming he is having plenty of wet diapers, right? Sounds like your production is coming right along. I love the picture of the three of you. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Laurie~Craig's wife~Mom to 4 blessings nurtured at the breast CJ(24)Travis(21)Beka~adopted(9)Rab(6)
Right now he is getting only formula in the l/a, but he did finally poop on Sunday and is now pooping regularly. The REALLY cool thing about the pooping is that most of his poops today look like breastmilk poops (yellow and seedy), rather than formula poops (yucky).
He's been eating like a maniac the last couple of days, so pumping has mostly gone by the wayside. What I am currently doing is nursing him both sides without the l/a, then again with the l/a. He takes maybe 3 oz of formula at a feeding. I'm hoping he will slow down over the next couple of days so I can get more chances to pump to gauge my progress. Yes, I should be pumping right now....but I just had to share the exciting poop news!
Thanks everyone for your support , and Jill if you hit your refresh/reload button you should see my new pic next to my name on the post.
That is fantastic. Love those kind of diapers. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Keep it up sounds like things are going great.
Laurie~Craig's wife~Mom to 4 blessings nurtured at the breast CJ(24)Travis(21)Beka~adopted(9)Rab(6)
Glad to hear things are going better. Nona has a milk donor in Canada ... maybe you are close enough to hook up with her and get the donor milk to use instead of formula to help with the lack of poopy diapers. Formula constipates Henry, too.
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