Breastfeeding

I kind of go by the closed fists is hungry and open fists are full. But I also let him nurse whenever he wants. I'm trying to create over supply for work purposes.

There's a setting that's faster and less suction, that's the let down mode. That is like baby suckling at first. The regular setting after that is the longer, stronger pulls. Use that one after a minute or two of the let down. The spectra shuts off automatically after a full session I believe.

If you don't want to create over supply I would hand express until you get comfort. Pumping and emptying yourself will tell your body to create more.

We don't regular until like 6 weeks after baby is born. Hopefully any of that is useful

I feel like she always has fists up 😂 like she’s ready to knock someone out.

I want to try the pump out but I feel like I won’t try it out till she gets a bit older as she’s only going on 3 weeks old. My S12 is very convenient when she’s done nursing and I need to get more milk out. 🥲

We are only doing 2 bottles a day to get her used to a bottle because she’s to the point that she only wants me and I need a break sometimes like when I shower or run errands lol but she gets boobs whenever she wants them.

The LC and her doctors are telling me to give her vitamin D drops?

Haha right? Dean will even coco his hand back like he's thinking, "Woman if you don't bring that boob back right now!" I've tried to stay away from bottle feeding being too afraid he'll get used to over eating and not being able to keep up. I've used a paci here and there to try and get him used to the rubber feel of a bottle. He has taken a bottle a couple times. Crazy how much we're afraid we're gonna mess things up!

I got the Imani 2 from Legendairy Milk. It's hands free and actually really impressed. I haven't tried it in comparison to the Medela I have though. I should soon, just to see.

Luckily I have a baby scale and I'm able to weigh Dean and monitor his weight. He had lost 6 ozs by 4 days old. Which is normally for them to lose weight, but didn't help me not freak out he wasn't getting enough. Luckily a few days later he had gained all that back.

It's the best way to monitor that they're getting enough. That and plenty of wet and poopy diapers!

I feel like once my milk came in, he did a lot better!

Vitamin D supplements are really important. Formula is fortified with Vitamin D and Breast milk isn't. I live in WA State and we get like ZERO sun. I also work at a doctor's office and most of our patients are deficient in Vitamin D. So I'm sure baby would lack some too with breastmilk.

I hated the medela pump I got through insurance. Maybe it was just because incorrect flange sizes or what, but it wasn’t my cup of tea which is why I bought the spectra s1 pump because everyone swears spectra is great.
I was only wanting the portables so when we go out and when I go back to work but I’ve used them like a regular pump. 😂

So I saw the LC yesterday and she told me to introduce her to bottles. She had a list of bottles to use that are good for breastfed babies (evenflo, lansinoh, mam, dr, browns), she even told me to introduce pacifiers and we have, but she is not amused. 😂

She was 9.1 at birth, when we left, she was 8.13, today she’s 9.4 so she’s gaining but I don’t know, I feel like it’s just not enough.

Yes to vitamin d. Don’t worry if they don’t like pacifiers. My son was introduced in the hospital but he doesn’t care for it like that. I use it for soothing but he’s like if it ain’t milk coming out don’t give it to me.

To help with baby being all on you and getting used to dad or other close family. Have them hold her while you bathe or take a break. I used bottles since week 1 with him and my daughter, no nipple confusion at all. You can pump and have dad bottle feed her. Use a bouncer while in the shower or washing dishes