**Breastfeeding Support Thread**

**triplespiral** · 02-02-2012, 08:10 PM

How do you girls know when to switch sides (if you do)?

**science_gal** · 02-02-2012, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by triplespiral

How do you girls know when to switch sides (if you do)?

Sorry no help here, but if I did I would switch if I felt the one boob was quite "soft".

Are they any faster drinking from a bottle??

**science_gal** · 02-03-2012, 12:58 PM

I have an appointment with a lactation consultant this morning! Curious what she has to say.

**.hilary.** · 02-03-2012, 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by triplespiral

How do you girls know when to switch sides (if you do)?

I still haven't figured this one out. A couple times when she has seemed really hungry, I let her go on one side until it feels really soft and I don't see much milk pooling in her mouth anymore. At that point she might be starting to pop off and get a little fussy too. Then I try the other side which is sometimes what she wants, sometimes she just stays fussy

Elle let us know what the LC says! I'm curious too.

**Starryblue702** · 02-03-2012, 04:20 PM

Originally Posted by triplespiral

How do you girls know when to switch sides (if you do)?

Trystan will pull away when he's done with that side.

**science_gal** · 02-03-2012, 04:32 PM

Ryan fed for about 7 minutes at the clinic and he ate 3 ounces in that time! So I suppose he is just a really fast nurser. The LC said that usually around 2-3 months they become really fast and can easily drain a breast in 10 minutes. when I tried to put him back on sure enough he refused and got upset. The LC said to just pop a paci in his mouth and distract him by walking, holding him or cuddling etc, and sure enough he settled. I guess when he's done he is just done. She did not think the crying indicated pain but rather being unhappy about what was going on (being forced to eat when not hungry). She didn't know about the blood but said that if there's no infection or anything and he's gaining fine not to be too worried. We've been alternating formula and pumped BM since yesterday and his poop has been fine so far. We will see. This makes me feel a lot better though.

**.hilary.** · 02-04-2012, 02:23 AM

Sounds like you got some great help!!! I am so glad to hear it, and relived for you too. Do you still need to stay on the eliminate diet?

Also you have eased my mind too about using the paci after feeding

I had to do that after pretty much every feed today and was really unsure about it. Glad to hear that an LC said it was fine to do

Sorry for spellingmistakes I am trying to edit but my iPad won't let me

**science_gal** · 02-04-2012, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by .hilary.

Sounds like you got some great help!!! I am so glad to hear it, and relived for you too. Do you still need to stay on the eliminate diet?

Also you have eased my mind too about using the paci after feeding

I had to do that after pretty much every feed today and was really unsure about it. Glad to hear that an LC said it was fine to do

Sorry for spellingmistakes I am trying to edit but my iPad won't let me

Yes she said the paci was fine. She said babies have a strong need to suck and it's apparently good for their brain development. But when they are done eating especially if they are fast eaters, they still might want to suck but they get upset when milk comes out because they are full. So they start crying and pop on and off. They might even clamp down on the nipple to try and stop the flow, and Ryan sometimes licks my nipple (weird!). She said if they were still hungry they would continue crying.

I am staying on the diet for now to see if the blood comes back or not. We have him on 2/3 breast milk and 1/3 formula for now, slowly transitioning out the formula to see if the blood comes back. I gotta say I am not sure how much longer I can last on this though. It's really getting to me and I am getting a stomach ache from it. Ugh.

**.hilary.** · 02-04-2012, 02:07 PM

Lol Elaina licks me too!!! Haha, it's so weird!

You have some serious dedication to do that diet. I honestly don't think I could stick with it! I really hope the blood issue clears up soon and you can start eating normally again. Hang in there

**beccasweet** · 02-09-2012, 07:21 PM

Elle- I just got time to finally read through this thread and so much of what you say sounds like Claire, minus the bloody stools. I've been trying to be dairy free but I didn't realize it was hidden in so many things and its been hard while moving. I wonder why it takes 2 weeks of the diet tho, anyone know? Did you find the dairy & soy free diet online? I'd like to try it. I'm glad you seem to be getting some answers and have to say awesome job sticking with BFing thru all this. I'm sure it hasn't been easy.

The licking thing is very interesting! I've noticed Claire does that at night right before she falls asleep. I figured it meant she was done but she cried if i detached her so i just let her do it. (She wont take a paci)