Thursday, February 08, 2007
Milk on the Brain...
I was doing some reading about pumping last night on KellyMom. I can honestly say I have NO earthly idea what I am getting into or how long it will last. I mean, I was seriously a milk FOUNTAIN last time and can't fathom how filling a few 4-ounce bottles several times a day would be a problem. But apparently it's harder than I think it is.
What I also want to know is how to keep the St. Joe's lactation nazis OUT of my hospital room (seriously, they have an evil reputation... ask any of my friends who delivered there and breastfed). The problem is I think I will want/need to pump at least SOME in the hospital, both so the baby can have it and so I can forego the whole painful "strap the girls down with a sports bra" situation. I wonder if I can do that without involving the LN's? And then I think I'm sure I'm going to totally sabatoge the whole pumping thing from the beginning because I don't plan on telling the L&D nurses that Too can't have formula in the nursery...
Don't mind me, just thinking outloud here. You see, what started out as just a whim to try and eliminate some discomfort has turned into me entertaining the idea of actually trying to give the baby the milk for at least a little while. I mean, it's there... why not?
What I also want to know is how to keep the St. Joe's lactation nazis OUT of my hospital room (seriously, they have an evil reputation... ask any of my friends who delivered there and breastfed). The problem is I think I will want/need to pump at least SOME in the hospital, both so the baby can have it and so I can forego the whole painful "strap the girls down with a sports bra" situation. I wonder if I can do that without involving the LN's? And then I think I'm sure I'm going to totally sabatoge the whole pumping thing from the beginning because I don't plan on telling the L&D nurses that Too can't have formula in the nursery...
Don't mind me, just thinking outloud here. You see, what started out as just a whim to try and eliminate some discomfort has turned into me entertaining the idea of actually trying to give the baby the milk for at least a little while. I mean, it's there... why not?
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You can avoid the evil nurses. Just have a friend come to the hospital and show you how to use the pump. At GBMC the have a pump in every room, so maybe St. Joe's does too. This way you can avoid asking a nurse.
Luke's mommy
Luke's mommy
i say go for it! as you might not enjoy it but atleast you have tried to give the baby the best!
atleast you can say you have tried!
atleast you can say you have tried!
How can you tell us about these "evil" lactation nurses and not give us the hard and fast evidence off their evilness? Tell, tell! Hopefully you won't need them around to show you how to use the pump.
Of course I have never given birth at your Baltimorean hospital. Based on my experience at two different hospitals, they should ask you before they feed the baby formula...right?
Of course I have never given birth at your Baltimorean hospital. Based on my experience at two different hospitals, they should ask you before they feed the baby formula...right?
Well one of the friends who had a bad experience there was Amanda (theredheadedmommy). With her first, she was breastfeeding and having trouble... the lactation specialist pretty much abandoned her for the first two days (if I remember correctly, Amanda please correct me if I'm wrong) and then was just RUDE and mean and impatient when she DID finally come in. I have also heard the rude, mean and impatient stories from several other friends who have given birth there... I hear better things about my other hospital choice... but I'm already commited to (and otherwise love) the hospital where I had Benjamin.
Also, as for asking me if the baby can havqe formula, I don't remember being asked with Ben. But then again, I had checked a box on a registration form months before that said I would be bottlefeeding. (the options were breastfeeding, bottlefeeding or undecided/ "Let our friendly Lacation Nazi's manhandle your nipples and force you into it!!!!") Kidding about that last part... ;)
It was amazing how different things were with my second child. I never pumped until I got home from the hospital with Beaux, so I am not very much help. There was some group of "exclusively pumping' women on whatever moms board we began on.
I think the pumping thing won't be as bad as you think, especially if you were a fountain the last time around.
That being said, it may be hard to pump in the hospital if your milk doesn't come in right away. You might be outta there before the nursing nazis get to you.
I say get some pre-education from a friend on how to use the pump, then have that friend visit at the hospital or when you get home to help you figure it out.
That being said, it may be hard to pump in the hospital if your milk doesn't come in right away. You might be outta there before the nursing nazis get to you.
I say get some pre-education from a friend on how to use the pump, then have that friend visit at the hospital or when you get home to help you figure it out.
Mrs Belle, there are a few of those women still on the board we all migrated too. They have been a wonderful resource.
Katie, good point about the milk not coming in at the hospital. Mine didn't come in until my second day home (so like... day 4 or 5 postpartum) last time! Hrm...
Katie, good point about the milk not coming in at the hospital. Mine didn't come in until my second day home (so like... day 4 or 5 postpartum) last time! Hrm...
They say that usually with a second baby your milk comes in sooner. Mine came in after about 36 hours this time! And it wasn't until day 5 with Rece.
My milk came in sooner with Jacob, and boy was he adamant about helping me with that task. The kid wanted to nurse literally every 45 minutes around the clock until it did.
This is completely premature, and I have no idea what is bringing this to mind, but in case you do decide to pump, and for when your nipples get sore...my mom turned me on to vitamin E capsules. Not for eating, but for breaking open and rubbing on the affected areas. They're not harmful to the baby and they speed up the healing like nobody's business. Everyone will tell you to use lanolin, but for me, the vitamin E capsules worked better and faster (and cheaper!).
This is completely premature, and I have no idea what is bringing this to mind, but in case you do decide to pump, and for when your nipples get sore...my mom turned me on to vitamin E capsules. Not for eating, but for breaking open and rubbing on the affected areas. They're not harmful to the baby and they speed up the healing like nobody's business. Everyone will tell you to use lanolin, but for me, the vitamin E capsules worked better and faster (and cheaper!).
Claire, I need to know these things! What else would I need? I already have the Gerber ice/hot packs from last time and the absorbent pads.... (because I needed THOSE like nobody's business... good lord)
I think I'll make this a whole separate post. I'm actually starting to have anxiety dreams about this that I don't have anything I need. Last night, I dreamed I was hand expressing into a Pyrex measuring cup because I didn't have anything else!!!!
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I think I'll make this a whole separate post. I'm actually starting to have anxiety dreams about this that I don't have anything I need. Last night, I dreamed I was hand expressing into a Pyrex measuring cup because I didn't have anything else!!!!
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