
#mombassadorchat
Happy World Breastfeeding Week! Please share your breastfeeding stories and tips!
Hi everyone! @kimberlyyyy_the-preemie-mom here. For today's chat we're going to talk about breastfeeding and pumping in honor of World Breastfeeding Week! Both can seem complicated or stressful, but remember you have lots of support here! With my first son I had things going against us for breastfeeding.
I wish I knew back when he was younger that we could have still tried! With my second son I was determined to breastfeed, and even though he was born 11 weeks early I wasn't going to let that stop us from trying to breastfeed! For 7 weeks I pumped every 2 1/2-3 hours on the dot to establish and maintain my milk supply. When your little one is born early they usually need time to master sucking, swallowing, and breathing so I wasn't able to nurse right away. When my son was 33 weeks gestational (so 4 weeks old) we were finally able to latch on, and he did great! By 36 weeks gestational we had successfully started breastfeeding, and today marks 21 months of actual at-breast breastfeeding for us!
I am passionate in trying to help moms-to-be and moms with breastfeeding and/or pumping, but I support moms who choose not to or for other reasons cannot breastfeed. Remember, I mentioned I didn't breastfeed my first son. I understand both sides. Breastfeeding isn't always easy, but I believe it's at least worth trying! Please help me celebrate World Breastfeeding Week by sharing your tips, questions, concerns, product recommendations, or anything else breastfeeding and pumping related!
If you have a question for @kimberlyyyy_the-preemie-mom, please tag her in the comments below! Or share your advice and feeding stories.
@vtowns2kaleb, they will chafe but cocoa butter, Vaseline, or olive oil will help
@halsey11, great job!!!! You look beautiful doing it too!
@aaronica.cole, awesome!!! I hope you have a lot of people signing up for the giveaway. I'll check it out soon. Thanks for the heads up!
@kelseynyc, I pretty much lived off oatmeal for those 7 weeks I pumped. Lol.
#mombassadorchat oats really do help with boosting milk supply! I have 4 months breastfeeding it has been a learning experience, but nothing beats the feeling of bonding by nursing.
Yaaaaay!!!! I just wrote a post on 4 foods to boost your supply and I have a giveaway for Milky Mamas!!!
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@kimberlyyyy_the-preemie-mom, I'm hoping they can do it one day without. I had to use it the whole 9 months with my first because she never would latch properly and it made it painful
@vtowns2kaleb, yeah, definitely talk to them! Idk their hours or anything but if you go during the day someone should be able to help. Or, on your way to the nicu you can stop at the labor and delivery area and ask the nurse's station if the lactation consultant/ specialist is in and talk in her office.
@lugland, we did quite a few practice nursing sessions (non nutritive) before we could do the real thing. Looks good though! And as time goes on they may not even need the shields. I tried the shields with my 40 weeker and didn't have luck, but my 29 weeker tried them and hated them so we were able to go without them.
@kimberlyyyy_the-preemie-mom ok thanks a lot!!! Gonna talk with them tomorrow when I go see my baby...
@kimberlyyyy_the-preemie-mom, thanks!!! I don't do this every feeding since it's new for me, but I try to practice when we can
@vtowns2kaleb, unfortunately I don't know too much about the infections. You should be able to talk to your baby's nicu nurse's about making an appointment with the hospital's lactation consultant. You don't have to be a current patient as long as your baby is still in the nicu. At least that's the way it was at the nicu we were at. You can learn how to hand express. That may or may not be a better option for now.
@lugland, omg they look great!!!! That's awesome!!!
@kimberlyyyy_the-preemie-mom no I settings turn to low after reading the little link u just sent me makes me think I may have an infection or something cause I e been in pain for 3 weeks but still been pumping my baby in the NICU so he's not sucking from my breast I've just been pumping so I might need to see a lacation nurse n notify my dr
@vtowns2kaleb, do you pump with the settings turned up too high? That might cause some nipple pain.
@kimberlyyyy_the-preemie-mom ok thanks yes I've went up on them twice so I'm now using a size 30 so my nipples aren't scrubbing against n they are still sore?
@vtowns2kaleb, hey there. I would first suggest making sure you're using the right size flanges (the cone looking things you put onto your breasts while pumping). Give me a second to find the size chart photo. In the meantime, check this link out for more info.
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@kimberlyyyy_the-preemie-mom I would like to join your breast feeding group & I have a question I've been pumping for three weeks now n my nipples are tender to the touch n upon pumping hurts but onces I get to pumping their ok I've been icing them but nipples still been hurting n I have nipple cream but not helping as well any advice/help with situation pls
@mrs_spectaculus, ouch! I kinda lucked out- Oliver, my little guy, didn't start getting teeth until 14 months old (probably due to his prematurity). What I've done when my son tried to drag and pull the nips or bites is I just say "no!" Or "owww" to startle him and I cover myself up so he can't get the boobs again and I wait a few minutes before letting him try again. Hey, 6 months is great!!
How do you manage with teeth! My 6 month old has 2 on the bottom and she always bites me towards the end of her feeding. Also, she started doing this wierd thing of stretching out my nipple while feeding..its just becoming so painful. Im happy I made it to 6 months bf exclusively @kimberlyyyy_the-preemie-mom
@njackson92ashley, this is so beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing!
By 15 months old I would think there would be foods he would want to eat @smilingwithmyawesome4kids. What do you offer him? Are there any foods he does like?
Baby Mac is 15 months old I want to be able to breastfeed him and have him eat food @kimberlyyyy_the-preemie-mom, #mombassdorchat
@smilingwithmyawesome4kids, I would assume so. Who wants to give up awesome breastmilk for veggies?? 😂 it took awhile for my breastfed dude to try foods. He had no interest for solids for 2 or so months after introducing them. Maybe even 3 months? Now he eats anything and everything and still nurses. It just takes time. I started with the sweet fruits even though it's recommended to start with veggies.
I have done both pump and exclusively breastfed but my son shows little interest in eating regular foods is this normal? @kimberlyyyy_the-preemie-mom, #mombassdorchat
I have been exclusively breastfeeding my son since shortly before he turned 3 weeks old. Before that I pumped. He was exclusively breastfed until 6 months. My goal is to breastfeed until he's one and from there making the decision of: keep breastfeeding or gradually stray stopping. I've been attending months breastfeeding groups and have made some mom friends though the group. 😄
@michellelee1510, @jloop7509, @eashleystrain, @mermaidmeshy, @janaeblount91, @steffaniedexter, @merlinaice, @lexieelovee0329, @c.shanice, @ashleydunn, @mommywynn2017, @momofgirls1517, @mommy2.3ladies, @mama_kat89,
I just wanted to thank you all for participating in my 1st group chat. Thank you for sharing your experiences with me and allowing me to offer some assistance. You ladies are awesome! We all go through different situations but I'm glad we're all a part of this great community. Great job on all your accomplishments mamas!
@kimberlyyyy_the-preemie-mom yes ma'am the 5th makes 7. This is the most proud of myself I've ever been
@jloop7509, thank you!! And I do agree, it is rewarding and I also love the bonding! I feel bad for saying it but the bond I have with my breastfed kiddo is a lot different than the bond I had with my formula baby. It's all different though. Either way, I'm sorry for the delayed response! Lol. Congrats on making it to 6 months (right?) of breastfeeding. 😁
@mommywynn2017, I love your positive attitude!! Your birth story sounds so scary but I'm glad it's over with and I'm sure everything is doing okay now, right? Did you know the amount of milk you get out from pumping doesn't indicate a low supply or that your baby wouldn't be getting enough from latching on and nursing? If you keep doing on demand feeds that might help. You're doing great though! Breastfeeding is definitely a journey and it sounds like you're doing the best for your little one! Keep it up, and keep up that awesome and positive attitude!
@mama_kat89, 4 months! That's awesome! I've been a SAHM and worked, and went back to being a SAHM. When it's financially possible I think it's the best option but not everyone can do it. I've nursed in public and I've never had a bad reaction. Either that or I ignored it. It's no ones business though. All you're doing is providing the best for your baby! Keep it up mama! You're doing an awesome job!
@lexieelovee0329, I think you'll still be able to! When you either do your hospital your (which, I never did that but oh well, lol) or register for the hospital you can talk to the staff about requesting a visit with a lactation specialist/ consultant before or after delivery. I think having someone in person helping you would be beneficial. I think I'm some hospitals someone comes and helps check your latch but I'm sure every hospital is different. You could even ask your OB for info on finding a lactation specialist in your area. 😁
@momofgirls1517, wow, awesome freezer stash! Do be careful with overproduction though. From what I've heard it's not generally recommended to pump that early into breastfeeding (unless you've had a medical reason, of course). Maybe your right breast is the "slacker" boob? My left never produced as much so I had to put the little guy on it more often to help it catch up to my right side. He hated it. But it worked eventually. Lol.
@lexieelovee0329, well, I didn't have much luck trying it with my first. I still had inverted nipples in the beginning with my second but pumping helped bring them out. They make these things you place over your nipples to try bringing them out a bit. I didn't know that they had those with my first but I would think products like those would help!
@eashleystrain, I wish I knew about Kellymom when I had my first son. I think with resources like that I would have been more successful. I gave up after 2 or so weeks of nursing with my first.
See if pumping will draw your nipples out. I think it made a difference for me and it might help for you as well.
@steffaniedexter, how did I not see your comment sooner!? I'm so sorry. But I wish people knew overproduction is a thing, and it's not usually a good thing. It's great to hear you donated your milk! People like you are how my little guy got milk in the first few days of life before my milk came in! You are amazing! And I haven't really had that "oh you're still breastfeeding" attitude from others but you bet your ass I'd shut that down real quick! Breastfeeding past 6 months, a year, 18 months, 2 years is NORMAL and HEALTHY! Even the WHO recommends nursing to two now! People can shove it! Lol. Thank you for sharing!
4 months breastfeeding and it has been really well. My son started to refuse a bottle a few months ago. I decided ehhh eff it and just nurse him 24/7. Im a stay at home mom so it works out. Nursing in public can be a challenge but i always cover up and give ppl the stink eye if they stare 😂😂😂😂 I suggest nipple cream for really sore nips! Especially for teething babies like mine right now! BREASTFEEDING IS WONDERFUL 💜💜💜💜💜💜
@merlinaice, you can still attempt to re lactate. I haven't tried it personally but I've heard success stories. It's a lot of work and commitment but it's worth checking out.
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@eashleystrain, does pumping draw out your nipples enough to get her to latch?
Usually I go to this site called kellymom for advice and stuff. It linked me to this. It might already be info you know, but it might be worth reading.
Do you try nursing before offering the pumped milk? Or after?
so inspirational he looks so adorable feeding... my son was stuck in the birth canal sideways ending in an emergency c-section and his face temporarily being uneven causing him to not be able to fully open his mouth to latch. At two weeks I thought he was latched properly so I stopped pumping but noticed he wasn't getting enough milk and when I went back to pumping my milk had gone down dramatically. Now I am working from step one again, pumping to get my milk back up and bottle feeding it to him. I am grateful he's able to feed at all and still getting breast milk. I am not discouraged I know someday we will be able to feed at breast! I'm so thankful and proud of my son.
Thanks I'll definitely try she loves French fries but she can't live off of that lol yea and she's not a preemie either so it can't be that. Hopefully she'll like something else soon thanks for the support
@c.shanice, breastfeeding is so exhausting! I feel ya! I wish I had more suggestions for getting your little one to try more foods. It took a bit of time for my son to want to try foods too- I just assumed it was due to his prematurity though. You could skip the baby foods and go to things you like- if you haven't tried that already. Pancakes. Fruits. Mac and cheese. These are things my son loves and that are soft. Either way, it sounds like you're going a great job. It's not always easy but you got this! Your little one will find something she loves to eat. Just keep trying to offer foods.
@kimberlyyyy_the-preemie-mom no I'm not nursery. :( I still have some milk but not enough around 5cc
@ashleydunn, beautiful picture! Thank you for sharing. That sounds awful! I've heard so many stories about it. It's great you learned how to hand express though. That must have been a relief. You did a great job!!!
@eashleystrain, oh okay. Yeah, I actually had that struggle with my first son, which is why I didn't nurse him, but don't get discouraged! May I ask why you're using the shield? For me, I used the shield because of inverted nipples. With my second I pumped for several weeks and that helped draw out my nipples so I didn't need a shield. Would you be able to pump during nap times? Do you massage your breasts while pumping? For me personally that makes a huge difference in how much I get out during pumping sessions. It might be a pain but if you can get a general schedule of when you expect her to wake up you could wake up half an hour earlier than her and start pumping. When she wakes up you can place her on breast and that should help boost supply. She might be crabby at first because she might not get out as much as usual but it will signal your body to make more milk.
My daughter is now one year and one month the plan was to breast feed her for at least nine months and get her on solids by one year and well she's still strictly on the breast she eats little things here and there but efforts to get her on normal food are a failure I can't pump because she refuses to drink from a bottle and soppy cup and I work a full time job and am looking into going back to school but I need her on food first I'm just exhausted
@michellelee1510, since he sticks to one side at a time (which my son will never do, lol) you could try nursing him on one side and then pumping on the other. I tried it once I think? But my son wasn't having it. Your little guy is still young so he might be more cooperative for that. I think it's a personal preference thing. You could do both breasts at once during nap time if that's easier. He will still be able to get the milk he needs. Milk production is supply and demand.
@lexieelovee0329, medela pump in style, if if you can get your hands on a spectra. I haven't used that one personally but I hear great things about it and it's hospital grade. I rented a Medela Symphony and that's a heavy duty hospital grade one. It was my favorite but I highly doubt insurances give those out easily. They're really expensive. But you could rent those through babies r us or I think most hospitals would have them.
@merlinaice, of course! Are you currently nursing? If you are, just start with a couple pumping sessions here and there. Maybe one when you wake up and one before bed until you can incorporate more throughout the day. If you're not currently nursing there's ways to re lactate.
@kimberlyyyy_the-preemie-mom yes I feed on demand. Do I pump one breast or two? Will I still make milk when he needs it? He typically only drinks from one breast (alternating each feeding) per feeding.
@mermaidmeshy, I love that picture! I agree with the pumping bra thing, or, you can make your own with a cheap sports bra if you're cheap (or broke) like me! 😭 I'm sorry you're unable to do feeds at breast but you're doing an AMAZING job pumping! That's still your breastmilk helping your kiddo thrive! Pumping is definitely more time consuming and tougher to do (in my opinion). You're doing great!
My breastfeeding story: I have been EBF since birth. Lana took straight to it. I was over producing milk which caused a lot of spit up but she also had reflux (which was confirmed by a CT scan of her tummy). I donated 180oz of breast milk to the Florida milk bank. I would have done more but once my period came back, my supply dropped.
I am still breastfeeding because my daughter has a dairy / nut / egg allergy.
Sometimes people say: are you still breastfeeding? And when I say yet, they give me that 😳face.
Yes it's tedious to continue or pump, but it's what my daughter needs. So I'll take the looks anyway
@anacort, I see the ovulation tests but I'm unsure it related to breastfeeding. Feel free to explain it to me so I can try helping.
@eashleystrain, hey there! I would need to know why you think you have a low supply. Is your baby growing steadily? If you're seeing only small amounts being pumped, especially after already nursing that wouldn't be a sign of low supply. Reply back and I'll see if I can help you more.
@michellelee1510, hello! Are you doing on demand feeds? I would recommend pumping after each nursing session, or every 3 hours (whichever comes first or is easier). If you are able to pump after nursing you should be able to get he hindmilk out, which is generally fattier. I also recommend massaging your breasts gently to help the milk come out. It might take a little bit of time for your breasts to respond to the pump. For bottles, trial and error is the best way to go. We started my son on Dr Brown's bottles and he responded well to those bottle nipples. I hope I helped! And there's a site called kellymom.com that should be able to help more or if my suggestions don't work for you and your little one.
@kimberlyyyy_the-preemie-mom thank you for your story! You're a very determined and strong woman and I your baby is so lucky to have you as his mama. It took me about 3 months to finally get the hang of breastfeeding and it's been the most rewarding and binding activity
@kimberlyyyy_the-preemie-mom I am about to start pumping. We've been ebf from birth. Any tips on when to pump, how often, and how to get him to eat from a bottle
Yesterday I went out with my boyfriend went to watch a movie, me and him don't live together yet. but point is yesterday when he was dropping me off his like sleep over at my house witch the mom and dad lives. I said no,
his response was why is everyone deciding or making choices for you and their going to do the same with the baby, when I know that's not true. what he thinks is that my mom tells me not to sleep over. So he left all mad. and I felt in my heart that he went on and cheated on me...

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@michellelee1510, @jloop7509, @eashleystrain, @mermaidmeshy, @janaeblount91, @steffaniedexter, @merlinaice, @lexieelovee0329, @c.shanice, @ashleydunn, @mommywynn2017, @momofgirls1517, @mommy2.3ladies, @mama_kat89,
I just wanted to thank you all for participating in my 1st group chat. Thank you for sharing your experiences with me and allowing me to offer some assistance. You ladies are awesome! We all go through different situations but I'm glad we're all a part of this great community. Great job on all your accomplishments mamas!