Hey, mommies! I was just wondering what challenges you are facing with breast feeding?

Shawn - posted on 03/04/2009

After a couple days of observing Aidan, I think that the issue is that one side was letting down way to fast for him. so I try to let it rest and then he will latch on without problems after a minute or so....

Haidy - posted on 03/04/2009

my little Danny is 3 months & 2 weeks now, from day 1 he prefered the left one more andnow the other one is not producing as much as the left one does and also it is smaller than the left one,lol.

Stephanie - posted on 03/04/2009

don't worry about your husband enjoying feeding the baby, there will be plenty of time for that when the baby eats solids!! I found that after a couple of attempts of baby just spitting the food back out my husband gave up and that was that!  I think there are some men with a romantic view of feeding the baby with a bottle, my dh certainly had but when you mention 3am feed with a bottle...! x LOL just a little thought to share with you ladies!

Caitlin - posted on 03/04/2009

I have been breastfeeding since day one, which has been quite challenging for me, but I was determined since studies say it can lessen the incidence of allergies in children, and I was allergic to almost everything as a child. My milk didn't come in until day 5 after the birth, but amazingly, the baby wasn't jaundiced and didn't loose enough weighht for it to be a concern.



Now my problem is really her food sensitivity to what I eat and drink. Anything with caffeine causes her extreme discomfort due to gas, luckily I never really drank coffee, but have to stop myself from having cola when I eat out, or too much chocolate (one or two is fine ( that is 2 small chocolates or bites of a bar per day).



For the past 2 weeks, she's been wanting to eat a lot more frequently than normal, and i'm assuming it's a growth spurt, i'm having trouble keeping up.. either the purt has stopped or my body has finally adapted to the new demand, It isn't easy to do, but it's worth it. Most mothers I know don't BF anymore, being on demand 24/7 for feedings isn't easy, and I have a heck of a time pumping anything out for spare, or so my husband can enjoy feeding his daughter as well.

Jessie - posted on 03/04/2009

My baby for some reason preferred the left breast over the right for a few weeks, apparently it is pretty common. My midwife suggested using the football hold so that the same cheek is touching the breast and another mom suggested placing baby on a pillow and then sliding them over the the other breast instead of flipping baby around - then they think they are still on their favourite boob.
Ignore any negativity! Breastfeeding is a wonderful thing to do for your baby whether you do it for a few months or a few years. And when in doubt - consult Dr. Jack Newman - he is the best!

Jen - posted on 03/04/2009

Quoting Shawn:

So, to be completely honest...has anybody resumed sexual relations and had their partners sprayed with milk? I know that my husband has always been jealous of giving the breast "away"....

i wouldnt say he was sprayed exactly, but i did leak enough to leave a wet spot on the bed after all bedding was removed...   and it does kinda spoil the moment when you start having your own little milk bath and all your lothes get wet...lol

Mitchie - posted on 03/04/2009

My baby is now 3 months, and due to inadequate milk supply, she was jaundiced for the first few days of her life. I now pump and supplement her with formula. She gets about four 3-4oz bottle of breastmilk everyday, and I feel that this is my gift for her (I can only pump about 2 to 3 oz per 30mins session, and there is only so little time during a day where I could pump while she naps, and when big sister entertains herself).

Stephanie - posted on 03/03/2009

in answer to your question shawn that has cropped up with me and my husband and the luck of shock on his face caused a great deal of hilarity for me and completely spoiled the moment!!! LOL but its not too bad if baby has had a feed within an hour or 2 and i'm lucky that i don't leak between feeds or at all unless i am really full.

I feel sorry for you american moms, things are much better in the UK where you can take up to 1 year off for maternity leave with 9 months of that being paid probably around $250 a week which isn't that much but you can get other benefits if your partner is working depending on how much he earns which can work out to $650 a month or so for our family (2 kids).  It is so much easier to breast feed when you are not torn away from your baby so young, you must all be totally sick of the breast pump!!!

Although i am a firm believer that breast is best for my baby I have tried to give him formula here and there so I can have a break from him its just his choice not to have a bottle at all which is quite frustrating sometimes.  There are some people on here who are quite extreme in their breast feeding views and I think there are some people who think that we are quite strange or even old fashioned to even try bf at all when there are bottles and formula which is so "convenient" although at 2-5am feeds I don't think so!!!!

I also didn't gain much weight with my pregnancies and actually lost weight with my first one and in the second it was only in my third trimester when i actually started to put weight on probably about 10-12lb even though i had a healthy appetite apparently i had a massive placenta and my babies were probably eating all my excess cream cakes...I mean calories!! ha ha.

I sometimes get very hungry whilst breastfeeding but would usually try having a large drink first before I eat something, sometimes its just being thirsty and I would have some orange juice which is good for me and has plenty of vitamins as well as calories.  I am now down on my pre-pregnancy weight .  It helps having two babies to run after though.

Good luck to everyone whatever their challenges are with their little ones (or not so little ones) xx 

Shawn - posted on 03/02/2009

Quoting [no name]:

I agree with you, Shawn. I just know that there are places on the internet that will say you're killing your child if you give them formula. I've read them and it scared the crap out of me and made me feel worse. I'm not saying it's happening here, so I hope that you didn't take it as such. It's good that you made this thread so women can share their stories so they know they're not alone.

I know when I was breastfeeding, I didn't want my husband touching my breasts, cause I said they were 'working breasts'. LOL I didn't have the spraying.

LOL....believe me...he hasn't touched me since LOL....

I was just thinking about something else. I hardly gained "weight:" (although you never would have believed it) with my pregnancies, but it seems while BF I  have a terrible time with hunger and gaining weight. Every book I have read has stated how BF requires more calories than pregnancy, but honesty, I just want to get rid of the baby fat! I have been blessed to have 4 pregnancies in the last 4 years ( 3 children and 1 angel baby) but I am about 70 pounds over what 1 was 4 1/2 years ago. I know dieting isn't good while BF, but this is getting sickening.  How about you all. Are you loosing weight with bf or gaining it? I know that it would be a selfish way to quit BF, but, honestly, I don't know!

Kylie - posted on 03/02/2009

I agree with you, Shawn. I just know that there are places on the internet that will say you're killing your child if you give them formula. I've read them and it scared the crap out of me and made me feel worse. I'm not saying it's happening here, so I hope that you didn't take it as such. It's good that you made this thread so women can share their stories so they know they're not alone.

I know when I was breastfeeding, I didn't want my husband touching my breasts, cause I said they were 'working breasts'. LOL I didn't have the spraying.

Shawn - posted on 03/02/2009

So, to be completely honest...has anybody resumed sexual relations and had their partners sprayed with milk? I know that my husband has always been jealous of giving the breast "away"....

Shawn - posted on 03/02/2009

Elyssa - don't feel bad that your ped recommended formula because he wasn't gaining weight, I am glad that you took him to well child checkups!!!!. before formula...babies would have just died, if their mothers didn't have the supply and it is not your fault that you don't whatever reason it may be. They, formula, have done well to replicate the nutrients in the mothers milk. Sure it isn't quite the same, but I have know many babies who have thrived and survived on formula. I never bF as an infant and was given water and coca cola from a baby bottle....all on doctors recommendations at the time. It is OK!!!

I have never had a problem with BF in public. I do have 2 other challenges (children) that require lots of supervision and needs, so it limits the amount of time spending in public. If my baby is hungry and wants to BF, but the 18 mo old and 4 year old are running crazy, it is not worth it to have 3 screaming children. So I do and do feed him a bottle and not feel guilty about formula.


when I was born, they allowed smoking in the labor room, gave champagne and steak dinners to parents of newborns and pushed formula. it wasn't the end to the human race. Sure, a lot of improvements have been made in those regards, but we are not freaks for breast feeding our children if we can. And We are not freaks for feeding them formula if we can. We are doing what if best for our children and for ourselves. Sure, I agree that you can find a lot of really strong feeling mom's on the internet that bf until their children enter kindergarten (not that I am judgemental about that..I just have't chosen to do so), but I was just hoping to share what we are all doing and being honest about it, not someplace where we are telling each other what we are doing wrong, but to offer support and maybe ideas we can't get somewhere else without being honest about the challenges and trying to support each other. Although I intend to BF as long as I can, I need support among my journey, and who else is the best resource than other mothers.

Shawn - posted on 03/02/2009

Quoting [no name]:

Quoting Elyssa:

My biggest challenge has also been with supply, and it was really heartbreaking for me to have to supplement with formula. (My son's pediatrician said that he wasn't gaining enough weight, and that it was necessary.) I always thought I would be able to feed my child 'naturally' -- what a shock that my body didn't 'naturally' do what I thought it was supposed to! I felt like a failure as a woman/mother for quite a while, and I still do feel badly about it sometimes, although I try not to. The important thing is that my son is healthy and well-fed. Right now I'm combo feeding: bottles and breast. We've had no nipple confusion or problems of any kind, luckily, except that I just don't produce enough milk. I really wish I could exclusively breastfeed, but I guess I'm doing the best I can.

I've also had a lot of comments and unwanted advice from strangers about what I'm doing wrong and what I should be doing instead. SO not helpful. When you're a new mom struggling to find confidence in yourself, it really doesn't help to be browbeaten about why you're not exclusively breastfeeding. I actually find La Leche League to be pretty bad for this.

It's SO good to hear that other moms on here have had similar experiences -- I was starting to feel like a freak!

I had a similar problem, but nobody in particular judged me about my feeding decisions. I just felt so bad because I knew that breast is best, but you do feel a sense of 'failure' when your body isn't doing what it was designed to do. I combo-fed until I went back to work at the beginning of this month, and now I'm just doing formula. My milk was never as it should be, and unless I wanted to spend all of my free time taking pills and pumping to try to get my supply up, I couldn't breastfeed unless I supplemented with formula.

I also think there are other challenges that women face when they're first time mothers that are obstacles to breastfeeding, like lack of information about it. My hospital wasn't the greatest with it, nor is the joke we call maternity leave in the United States. Some women need longer times to work to try to get supply up, and it's really not possible when you only have 6-12 weeks to do it.

The internet is a scary place sometimes where people will tell you what you're doing wrong, but in the end, it's all about the well-being of my child. He's happy and healthy, so the guilt I have is slowly subsiding.

Whatever you continue to do in regards to breastfeeding or formula, just know that you are making the decision that's best for your child.

Also, in regards to BFing in public, if you got the breasts and the milk and if your kid is hungry, let them chomp away. If anyone asks you to go the bathroom or somewhere ridiculous to feed your baby, ask them if they want to go to the bathroom to eat!

Kylie - posted on 03/02/2009

Quoting Elyssa:

My biggest challenge has also been with supply, and it was really heartbreaking for me to have to supplement with formula. (My son's pediatrician said that he wasn't gaining enough weight, and that it was necessary.) I always thought I would be able to feed my child 'naturally' -- what a shock that my body didn't 'naturally' do what I thought it was supposed to! I felt like a failure as a woman/mother for quite a while, and I still do feel badly about it sometimes, although I try not to. The important thing is that my son is healthy and well-fed. Right now I'm combo feeding: bottles and breast. We've had no nipple confusion or problems of any kind, luckily, except that I just don't produce enough milk. I really wish I could exclusively breastfeed, but I guess I'm doing the best I can.

I've also had a lot of comments and unwanted advice from strangers about what I'm doing wrong and what I should be doing instead. SO not helpful. When you're a new mom struggling to find confidence in yourself, it really doesn't help to be browbeaten about why you're not exclusively breastfeeding. I actually find La Leche League to be pretty bad for this.

It's SO good to hear that other moms on here have had similar experiences -- I was starting to feel like a freak!

I had a similar problem, but nobody in particular judged me about my feeding decisions. I just felt so bad because I knew that breast is best, but you do feel a sense of 'failure' when your body isn't doing what it was designed to do. I combo-fed until I went back to work at the beginning of this month, and now I'm just doing formula. My milk was never as it should be, and unless I wanted to spend all of my free time taking pills and pumping to try to get my supply up, I couldn't breastfeed unless I supplemented with formula.

I also think there are other challenges that women face when they're first time mothers that are obstacles to breastfeeding, like lack of information about it. My hospital wasn't the greatest with it, nor is the joke we call maternity leave in the United States. Some women need longer times to work to try to get supply up, and it's really not possible when you only have 6-12 weeks to do it.

The internet is a scary place sometimes where people will tell you what you're doing wrong, but in the end, it's all about the well-being of my child. He's happy and healthy, so the guilt I have is slowly subsiding.

Whatever you continue to do in regards to breastfeeding or formula, just know that you are making the decision that's best for your child.

Also, in regards to BFing in public, if you got the breasts and the milk and if your kid is hungry, let them chomp away. If anyone asks you to go the bathroom or somewhere ridiculous to feed your baby, ask them if they want to go to the bathroom to eat!

Elyssa - posted on 03/02/2009

My biggest challenge has also been with supply, and it was really heartbreaking for me to have to supplement with formula. (My son's pediatrician said that he wasn't gaining enough weight, and that it was necessary.) I always thought I would be able to feed my child 'naturally' -- what a shock that my body didn't 'naturally' do what I thought it was supposed to! I felt like a failure as a woman/mother for quite a while, and I still do feel badly about it sometimes, although I try not to. The important thing is that my son is healthy and well-fed. Right now I'm combo feeding: bottles and breast. We've had no nipple confusion or problems of any kind, luckily, except that I just don't produce enough milk. I really wish I could exclusively breastfeed, but I guess I'm doing the best I can.



I've also had a lot of comments and unwanted advice from strangers about what I'm doing wrong and what I should be doing instead. SO not helpful. When you're a new mom struggling to find confidence in yourself, it really doesn't help to be browbeaten about why you're not exclusively breastfeeding. I actually find La Leche League to be pretty bad for this.



It's SO good to hear that other moms on here have had similar experiences -- I was starting to feel like a freak!

Jen - posted on 03/02/2009

From the start my son has wanted to nurse constantly - so if i nurseed in public i would never get anything done nor get to eat anything requiring more than one hand.... i tried pumping but itdidnt go well so i found formula much easier

Stephanie - posted on 03/02/2009

Quoting Heather:

I have no problems feeding my child in public, everyone else does though. People that have never breastfed or had problems really seem to have a problem with it. I dont let it bother me much. Last night we were at a friends house and I had to feed my son, and some dummy there was like "thats your problem, you choose to breastfed" like it was a disease or something. I said "i dont view it as a problem, but thanks". I mean come on people!

Thats horrible that someone said that to you, it just goes to show how ignorant some people still are regarding breast feeding.  I often breastfeed my son in public and have never had a negative comment so far but its not as if i'm flashing my boobs at someone!!! 

Come on ladies we all know breast is best for us and babies!!! Be proud!  

Shawn - posted on 03/01/2009

Quoting Melissa:

My problem with breastfeeding is that my boy prefers the bottle to my breast! He will start of nursing ok, and nurse for 5-10 minutes before squirming as if he is uncomfortable and delatching. I can sometimes get him to latch back on for a couple of minutes but ultimately when I try to persevere and encourage him to keep feeding, he ends up stiffening his whole body, arching his back and screaming the house down. Not the pleasant experience that breastfeeding is supposed to be - for either of us! However when I feed him expressed milk from a bottle, he happily gulps it down! The La Leche League suggested I take him off the breast before he gets frustrated as he might be associating breast feeding with pain from his reflux - I've tried this and it stops the tears (both of ours!) which is great, but it means I have to keep trying to offer him the breast every 15 mins or so just to ensure he gets enough food!!
Perhaps he is teething and its easier for him to get the milk from the bottle than suck it from my breast? Who knows, it's so hard to tell with these little ones!
I really want to continue to breastfeed for as long as I can, but some time formula feeding sounds so much easier...

Melissa - i have breast fed three children. This last one has been completely different that  the rest, so I can understand your frustration with how long your baby nurses. The other two would nurse on and on and on...at least 20 min to 1 hour. However, with my Aidan, things have always been different. He nurses only for 5 to 10 minutes tops! I agree with the la leche league, at the first sign of frustration...take him off. However, I don't think he may be telling you that it is because of pain. Maybe he is just full. Usually, it means Aidan has a burp and discomfort. He never really latches on again. I too worried about him getting enough food, but it would end up with more screaming and me worrying more. As long as your baby is gaining weight and seems satisfied, it is ok. We BF mothers can't measure in liquid ounces, but we can measure in baby's satisfaction. They maybe suck down a lot more than we think in a shorter amount of time? If he truly seems hungry after pulling off your breast but willl not latch on, offer him a bottle immediately.? or change position? Then maybe you will know? I had a few days where I had to change position, because it seemed he was pulling off and getting gassy. I would get frustrated in make a bottle, only to have him go to sleep. I thought he was still hungry, but he was just tired and full. Maybe as the grow we have to be more aware of their needs in position. Aidan likes to be able to look around more and we are working on the best way for him to do that and still nurse. Just ideas from my experience. Hopefully you can relate to some of them.

Shawn - posted on 03/01/2009

Quoting Melissa:

My problem with breastfeeding is that my boy prefers the bottle to my breast! He will start of nursing ok, and nurse for 5-10 minutes before squirming as if he is uncomfortable and delatching. I can sometimes get him to latch back on for a couple of minutes but ultimately when I try to persevere and encourage him to keep feeding, he ends up stiffening his whole body, arching his back and screaming the house down. Not the pleasant experience that breastfeeding is supposed to be - for either of us! However when I feed him expressed milk from a bottle, he happily gulps it down! The La Leche League suggested I take him off the breast before he gets frustrated as he might be associating breast feeding with pain from his reflux - I've tried this and it stops the tears (both of ours!) which is great, but it means I have to keep trying to offer him the breast every 15 mins or so just to ensure he gets enough food!!
Perhaps he is teething and its easier for him to get the milk from the bottle than suck it from my breast? Who knows, it's so hard to tell with these little ones!
I really want to continue to breastfeed for as long as I can, but some time formula feeding sounds so much easier...

Melissa - posted on 03/01/2009

My problem with breastfeeding is that my boy prefers the bottle to my breast! He will start of nursing ok, and nurse for 5-10 minutes before squirming as if he is uncomfortable and delatching. I can sometimes get him to latch back on for a couple of minutes but ultimately when I try to persevere and encourage him to keep feeding, he ends up stiffening his whole body, arching his back and screaming the house down. Not the pleasant experience that breastfeeding is supposed to be - for either of us! However when I feed him expressed milk from a bottle, he happily gulps it down! The La Leche League suggested I take him off the breast before he gets frustrated as he might be associating breast feeding with pain from his reflux - I've tried this and it stops the tears (both of ours!) which is great, but it means I have to keep trying to offer him the breast every 15 mins or so just to ensure he gets enough food!!
Perhaps he is teething and its easier for him to get the milk from the bottle than suck it from my breast? Who knows, it's so hard to tell with these little ones!
I really want to continue to breastfeed for as long as I can, but some time formula feeding sounds so much easier...

Shawn - posted on 03/01/2009

Quoting Arlene:

Being able to be out of the house for more then 2 hours...lol  :)  jk

I love BF and I am really going to miss it when he stops...

Me, too, I will miss BF...this will be my last child.. you hit it right with being able to be out of the house for more than 2 hours. I can't pump because I have a 18 month at home who will never cooperate with it. So even if you supplement, you get engorged and feel it isn't worth it to be gone. 

Arlene - posted on 03/01/2009

Being able to be out of the house for more then 2 hours...lol  :)  jk

I love BF and I am really going to miss it when he stops...

Heather - posted on 03/01/2009

I have no problems feeding my child in public, everyone else does though. People that have never breastfed or had problems really seem to have a problem with it. I dont let it bother me much. Last night we were at a friends house and I had to feed my son, and some dummy there was like "thats your problem, you choose to breastfed" like it was a disease or something. I said "i dont view it as a problem, but thanks". I mean come on people!

Heather - posted on 03/01/2009

Quoting Becky:

Quoting Heather:

Becky-Where do you find those? I have the same problem with supply while working.

Heather,

http://www.recipezaar.com/Oatmeal-Chocol...

These cookies are yummy, too!!  :)  Hope it helps!

Thanks!!!

Eva - posted on 03/01/2009

you are definitely not alone. (my mother never breastfed but has all sorts of myths, wives tales and opinions to share with me over the phone!) one of my breasts produces more milk, is larger and doesn't take as much effort to let down. therefore, it is the favorite. presently, i have noticed a couple of milk blebs (one on each nipple) they are excruciating! the doc said that these will fade away on their own, as there is no thrush, no real difficulties otherwise. but these blebs on my nipples cause so much pain and worry, that i obsess about my breast health often - as i plan on breast feeding for up to a year.

Sekayi - posted on 03/01/2009

Why don't you nurse in public are you ashamed or embarrassed?

 

Quoting Jen:

My son nurses and uses bottles... sometimes i have to squirt the formula into his mouth for him to latch to the bottle... i use formula inpublic and when i want to go out (as my son is a constant nurser and i believe infeeding on demand). My biggest challenge is hat lately my son likes to latch on to me then throw his head back... ouch! if i stop feeduing him at that point he will start screaming!! i'm not looking forward to teething...

Jen - posted on 03/01/2009

My son nurses and uses bottles... sometimes i have to squirt the formula into his mouth for him to latch to the bottle... i use formula inpublic and when i want to go out (as my son is a constant nurser and i believe infeeding on demand). My biggest challenge is hat lately my son likes to latch on to me then throw his head back... ouch! if i stop feeduing him at that point he will start screaming!! i'm not looking forward to teething...

Sekayi - posted on 03/01/2009

Where  cn i buy those cookies from?

 

 

Quoting Becky:

My son is almost 4 months old (born 11/11), and I plan to breastfeed him until he's a year old.  I work almost full time; so, I have to pump a lot to feed my son during the week.  My biggest challenge was having enough milk to feed him.  I had a real problem with supply until almost a week ago.  That was definately my biggest challenge.  I ended up having to supplement with formula only to discover that my son is allergic to milk.  After dealing with his painful and severe health problems (he had tears in his intestines which caused bleeding and a lot of pain), we discovered that he could drink Alimentum without a problem.  I still felt bad because he was getting more and more formula every week as my supply dwindled.  I was down to only being able to pump 1.5 oz per day (even after I'd been at work).  I was feeling very discouraged and saddened.  I talked to my lactation consultant and she suggested Fenugreek.  I was up to 3 pills 3 times per day, and my supply had barely increased.  I heard some people talking about lactation cookies, and I decided to try them.  Well, I had the first cookies Tuesday night, and I am already producing a lot more milk.  (After I fed my son this morning, I pumped 3 oz - twice what I'd get over the course of an entire day before.)

Anyway, that's my story about the biggest challenge I've faced breastfeeding.  :)

Lauren - posted on 02/28/2009

My daughter won't take a bottle at all! I am having such a hard time with it! I am wanting to go out with the girls for a night and she just won't take one! I bought one of those adiri bottles and she took it the first time now won't! Any suggestions?!

Karen - posted on 02/28/2009

Lindsay hit it right on the mark although we are doing some of the same things individually we all have to figure out what works for our particular situation.  I want to use the football hold, but I just can't get it to work for me as far as keeping Avarielle latched on..although I can use my body pillow and lay her on it while I lay next to her and cat nap while she nurses.  I tried the dark beer thing (Micholob original Lager) and that worked....I just have a hard time keeping it in the fridge because my husband enjoys it too!LOLI didn't know about the oatmeal, but both days I had oatmeal for breakfast the next morning I was engorged.  I'm not usually, so it was pretty nice like I had "extra" those days.  Thanks Shawn for mentioning that!

Lindsay - posted on 02/28/2009

it's good to see that there are people breastfeeding and working through the issues - i live in spain and while you might think that people would be more open and understanding i have NEVER in my life gotten so much unsolicited advice, criticism, and judgement!! the first month was the worst because my mother-in-law was here and continuously told me that my milk wasn't good enough, she was eating too much, too little, that bottles were better, etc etc. now we're switching to bottles by day nursing by night and still the advice, criticism and judgement come rolling in!! there are so many different experiences of nursing, it just seems that whatever is right for each individual is what is right! :)

Shawn - posted on 02/27/2009

Thanks moms for sharing your stories! Let's continue, because I know we can do it. I know that one of the biggest challenges for me is knowing that he is getting enough to eat, especially when you can see it in ounces! But as long as they are gaining weight...they are! I found that my son fusses at lot when he is tired, but I think he is hungry and try putting him on my breast to feed. Not good! That is especially during that last feeding, as karen just said. Or I have found in the last day or two, to turn him around in a football hold so he can still watch his brother and sister running around, he is more happy at any breast Wouldn't it be great if we could see what they are actually taking in and not just sucking??? Then we could plan more for the next feeding...i just feed on demand...how about you? Not necessarily with this pregnancy because it hasn't been an issue...but oatmeal and an occasional beer seemed to increase the feeling of supply in my breasts.

Karen - posted on 02/27/2009

You are not alone.....There are still a few of us out there who are breastfeeding!  My daughter is exclusively breastfed.  I have not even introduced rice yet!  Avarielle over this last week has started getting fussy in the evenings and a little whinny during that feeding, but once all is settled in the evening with the family she is fine and us always down by 10 or earlier and sleeping through the night.  So that's my issue, that one fussy feeding..LOL 

Becky - posted on 02/27/2009

Quoting Heather:

Becky-Where do you find those? I have the same problem with supply while working.

Heather,

http://www.recipezaar.com/Oatmeal-Chocol...

These cookies are yummy, too!!  :)  Hope it helps!

Sadie - posted on 02/27/2009

Mine favored one side from the very beginning - Simply I had one breast that just produced less as when I pumped it literally was half the amount! I think it just frustrated him to have to work for it! Basically, I just had to be sure if he was only feeding one side that I pumped on the other to up the milk production. There are so many reasons he could be doing this down to something silly like the way he is being held. Next week it will prob be something different!

Heather - posted on 02/27/2009

Becky-Where do you find those? I have the same problem with supply while working.

Becky - posted on 02/27/2009

My son is almost 4 months old (born 11/11), and I plan to breastfeed him until he's a year old.  I work almost full time; so, I have to pump a lot to feed my son during the week.  My biggest challenge was having enough milk to feed him.  I had a real problem with supply until almost a week ago.  That was definately my biggest challenge.  I ended up having to supplement with formula only to discover that my son is allergic to milk.  After dealing with his painful and severe health problems (he had tears in his intestines which caused bleeding and a lot of pain), we discovered that he could drink Alimentum without a problem.  I still felt bad because he was getting more and more formula every week as my supply dwindled.  I was down to only being able to pump 1.5 oz per day (even after I'd been at work).  I was feeling very discouraged and saddened.  I talked to my lactation consultant and she suggested Fenugreek.  I was up to 3 pills 3 times per day, and my supply had barely increased.  I heard some people talking about lactation cookies, and I decided to try them.  Well, I had the first cookies Tuesday night, and I am already producing a lot more milk.  (After I fed my son this morning, I pumped 3 oz - twice what I'd get over the course of an entire day before.)

Anyway, that's my story about the biggest challenge I've faced breastfeeding.  :)

Heather - posted on 02/27/2009

My son doesnt favor one, but the past few days when he nurses, the opposite boob kills me, it hurts so bad it almost brings me to tears. I have no idea why or whats going on. I have also noticed that people dont like breastfeeding if they've never done it.

Amanda - posted on 02/27/2009

My little guys prefer one breast over the other also. My left nipple was pierced years ago and there is some scar tissue so the nipple flow isn't as fast as the right side. I start them off on the left side and when they've sucked their little hearts out, I switch sides. I do supplement with formula at night and sometimes they get breast milk that was pumped because it seems like if I strictly breast feed I'm doing it almost every hour and with twins, I'd constantly have a baby on my boob...LOL

Naomi - posted on 02/27/2009

I breast feed my son, he was born 01/11, he is now 4 mths old. I had to stop at 6 weeks, because my milk supply was not adaquate for him, i would have love to still be breast feeding Deacon, i loved that intimate bond we had. I mean we still have it now but i still wish i could have continued. Dont let it get you down, do what is right for you. :)

Stephanie - posted on 02/27/2009

hi there Shawn, first of all there are still some of us breastfeeding at 3 months so don't worry you are not on your own! i have found that sometimes my baby seems to have a preference to one breast but this seems to be that one breast is slightly larger than the other and a lot more rounded and therefore harder to latch onto.  Don't worry too much if you have the same problem, just keep offering both breasts as normal or alternate breasts first at each feed.  if he has problems latching on and your breasts feel full try expressing a little milk off or to hold your nipple in your hand to form a pointy shape with the nipple facing the roof of your baby's mouth after about 30 seconds of feeding you can let go and your baby should be fine after that.

hope this helps and keep posting how you are getting on! x