Marco, Maria, and I went into Bellingham for Maria's first doctor's appointment. She is doing great. She's got just a touch of jaundice. The last weight they took at the hospital she was 6lbs 8oz. Today she was 6lbs 8.5oz. The goal is to get her back up to her birth weight by next Monday, which will be her 2 week checkup. She cried and cried the whole time, she really didn't like that whole get naked for the weight thing (she was also a little hungry).
I'm still trying to figure out the whole breastfeeding thing down... I've got the mechanics down, but the timing i'm not so great at.... I'd like some kind of a schedule, if only for my own sanity. I've heard of people who feed whenever the baby is hungry for as long as the baby wants to eat.... then there's the other end that i've heard of, only every 4 hours and for 30 minutes only. I'm just wondering what other mothers out there have done... trying to find something that works for me, without having to learn totally by trial and error. Advice anyone?!?
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Soooo...I'm pretty passionate about NOT putting such a young baby on a schedule. You'll get all sort of advice, Mairs. It all comes down to how you want to parent/what you're willing to do. My girls were fed for as long as they wanted as often as they wanted. I didn't nurse very well-didn't know about nipple shields and all the stuff I know now. But I pumped for each of them for 3-6 months. And good grief Scharae ate a ton, but I didn't feel like it was my place to tell her "you're not hungry", ya know? I could go on and on...but yeah. If you can handle it, you might just get to be a human pacifier (unless you find a binky she'll take!) for awhile. And at 2 weeks there's a growth spurt, again at 2 months, 4 months, etc etc...it's not easy but it's sure worth it! Oh, and according to MY mom, YOUR mom is the booby-mama. Did you ask her for advice?
I say feed her whenever she seems hungry until she is done. After 2 weeks, the doctor told me to do a schedule and only feed for 15 minutes b/c anything longer and 'he was using me as a pacifier', and then after that, pretty much my milk stopped. He was hungry a lot and I didn't feed him b/c the doctor told me not to. After a while they put themselves on a schedule, you just gotta be patient. Breastfeeding is the best ever though, I still really miss it.
So, I was one of those moms that feed when the baby was hungry. Not all cries are "I'm hungry". You'll get to know your baby pretty quickly and know when she's hungry and when she just wants to be held. Look for hungry signs, making the ooo face, or tries to eat her hand. My kids got on a schedule of their own pretty quickly. Jake was the worst. He wanted to eat about every 2 hours until he was 4 months old. Zoe was easier and would go about 4 to 6 hours between feedings when she was older. Leo, he was perfect. about 3 1/2 hours between each feeding. I dried up with all my kids ( 9, 7 and 5 1/2 months respectively) so it's easier and harder with the bottle. If you have soreness, get this stuff in a purple tube (Lansilk I think). It's great and helps and is safe for baby to digest. Also, a hot pad before you breastfeed and a cold one after will help with the soreness also. If you want to use a nipple shields, go for it. But use them for long. Once you stop hurting at each feeding, ditch the shield. It's not good for the baby or the their teeth. But most of all, don't give up. It's going to hurt for about two weeks. Try reading a book about breastfeeding. Or ask the breastfeeding nurse at the hospital. Or your mom. There is a great group called La Latche. It's all about breastfeeding and helping new moms and stuff like that. Good luck!!
so the best advice i ever got was, dont listen to others advice, you know you kid better than anyone else. that being said...
i was a mom that fed Lils whenever she was hungry and she used to take FOREVER nursing so i did 20 min on each side...then she got speedy and it got better. soon they make their own schedual, Lils at every two hours until i quit nursing. and i am so greatful for the binky, sometimes they just wanna suck, so if you have just fed her, and shes acting hungry, try the bink and if she takes it...glorious. bottom line, they make the rules.
Congratulations Meredith!!
Like everyone else said you need to do what works for you and most importantly keeps you sane. With Macey my goal was to make it at least 2 hours between day feedings at first. We didn't always make that, but I tried really hard. I think it's pretty much impossible to get a new baby on a schedule and you'll drive yourself mad trying to.
Good luck with everything!
Congratulations!!! She is beautiful!
So breastfeeding with my first was so not easy, in fact Jackson was a good 3 months before we got things figured out...and then he nursed until he was two...totally crazy when I think about it.
I say feed when she is hungry and for as long as she needs. She will eventually get her self on a schedule. I have learned not to stress about feedings and schedules, just enjoy her as it goes way too fast and before you know it they will be going to kindergarten and you will be left wondering where the time has gone!
Alright, so this is just my opinion but when they baby is so young it just takes a little while to figure outk, but usually you'll find that at first they will eat every 3 to 4 hours usually 3hr for the first 4 months. and I've also read that the majority of milk comes out in the first 10Min on each side, but I was bad at doing that. She is only two weeks old and since she is so small she may need more feedings just for awhile and until your milk fully comes in. Good Luck.
Congratulations Meredith! I bet you're an awesome mommy :)
I nursed my girls on demand, I guess, but it ended up being about every 2 hours. It'll take less time once she's able to stay awake during feedings and you both get the hang of it. Oh, and as an alternative to cotton nursing pads, my DR advised me to cut a panty-liner (yeah) in half and stick it to the inside of your bra. This way the pads won't stick to you as milk dries between feedings :)
ditto to all that. You can't spoil a newborn, so I think the whole idea of scheduling a new baby is somehat ludicrous. Rooting is a fairly obvious way to tell if they are hungry too. Most of all, don't stress. I believe they can pick up on that and it just makes things worse. You know your baby best of all and you will figure her out and get to where you can tell what she wants from the tone of her cry when you are down the hall and around the corner from her. For clarification, the breastfeeding advice group is called La Leche, and another name for the stuff you can put on if you get sore or crack is called Lansinoe. They probably gave you some in the hospital though. Congrats again, and good luck! "Just keep swimming!"
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