Breastfeeding/Pumping/Bottle Feeding/Travelling With Milk/A Post About Boobs
If my brain activity were illustrated in a pie chart about 80% of it would be consumed by thoughts of milk production and breastfeeding. It would look like Pacman. Is she getting enough? Is my supply low? Is that a clogged duct I feel? Why is she making a clicking sound when she nurses on the left side? Breastfeeding for me has not been easy with either baby; in fact a lot of the time, it's been a downright struggle.
I had a hell of a time trying to breastfeed Bea. Terrible pain and extensive damage from a bad latch coupled with supply issues got us off to a rough start. I tried everything to make it work – every supplement, every prescription med, every home remedy from every corner of the Internet. Lactation cookies, cabbage leaves, nipple shields, pumping around the clock - you name it I tried it. No matter what I tried, it just didn’t work.
I was beyond dejected.
I was determined to try again. But this time I promised myself I would not to go to those same lengths. I wouldn't put so much pressure on myself to protect my own mental and emotional health. Something we all know is extremely difficult to do when you have a newborn baby.
I would however see about bringing in some more professional help. The "Big Guns" and they say.
About a month before I gave birth I met with Taya Griffin I.B.C.L.C who came highly recommended from my friends at Toronto Yoga Mamas. She came to my home one afternoon and filled me with so much information and confidence that I called Randall immediately after and declared that I was going to "nail breast-feeding this time". It was like being visited by an angel. Or maybe a fairy. A boob fairy.
Marigold, like her big sister, cluster fed on night 2, which was our first night at home. I was an exhausted wreck after giving birth and not having Randall home (he was still in the hospital). I was feeling very emotional and scared and alone. And I just didn't have the wherewithal to make sure we had a good latch, I was in survival mode, just trying to sooth this new baby and make sure she was fed. The morning after her 8-hour non-stop marathon eating fest I woke up to a sight I knew all too well. Damaged, cracked and excruciatingly painful nipples. It was happening all over again and I was crushed.
I called Taya, and she came back to visit that very night and spent a couple hours refreshing my memory and making sure I was getting a good latch. She showed me again how to tell if the baby was actually drinking not just sucking, as well as showing me some new breastfeeding positions to lessen some of the pain and damage I had already done. I honestly cannot recommend hiring a I.B.C.L.C enough. It would be the #1 piece of advice I’d give to any expecting Mom who hopes to breastfeed. Without her expertise and compassion I’m certain I would have given up.
It hasn’t been an easy road, but we’re still at it almost 8 weeks later. My sweet Marigold is growing wonderfully and I’m doing what I can to keep us on track.
Pumping on a break during Oscars weekend
I went to LA for the Oscars when Marigold was about 4.5 weeks old. I shared my pumping journey on Instagram and got a ton of questions about pumping, bottle feeding, storing and travelling with breast milk. Here’s some of what worked for me:
Taya knew I was leaving for a few days, so she recommended I started pumping on day 7-9 to give myself a chance to build up a stash of milk in the freezer for when I was gone. I tried to pump at least 3x a day, often getting the best result after Marigold’s first morning feed. I managed to store enough milk for the 4 days I was gone. She gave me this link for reference to have an idea on how many oz or ml I would roughly need to have.
We gave Marigold a bottle for the first time around day 10 just to get her used to it. It took a couple of tries to find the right nipple that was slow enough for her. I found these Philips Avent Natural Glass Bottles with the “0” newborn nipples to work the best. I gave her one bottle feed a day until I left to make sure she was comfortable with it. We’ve had no issues with bottle-feeding which has been such a relief. I also love this bottle warmer because it not only warms bottles quickly but it’s a sterilizer as well. Products that pull double duty and are easily transportable are always a winner for me.
While I was away, I set an alarm and pumped every 3 hours around the clock to avoid affecting my supply. And yes, that meant pumping on the plane as well! I had a small cooler pouch and milk storage bags in my carryon, and asked the flight attendant for some ice to keep it cold until I arrived at my hotel. I called ahead of time and arranged for a fridge in my room (breastmilk is good for 6-8 days in the fridge). I also ordered a small cooler and had it shipped to the hotel so it was there when I arrived. In my suitcase I packed packing tape as well as this sign to stick on the cooler when I checked it with my suitcase. I picked up some dry ice at a local grocery store and that’s what kept my milk cold the whole way home! Once I got here I popped it all in the freezer where it’s good for 6 months.
Some of the milk stash that I brought home.
Cooler all packed and ready to go
If you’re interested in some of the products I’ve been using to support our breastfeeding journey I’ve broken it down below.
Nipple Damage:
Dr. Newman’s All Purpose Nipple Ointment (APNO). This is a compound that needs to be prescribed by a doctor and mixed by a pharmacist. It’s amazing at healing cracks and damage. HOT TIP: Get this prescription from your OBGYN during one of your visits and have it ready to go for when you give birth. In my experience it’s better to start healing any damage as fast as you can to avoid it getting any worse, and waiting to see your doctor to get this RX is not time you want to be spending postpartum.
I found these Silvertte nipple cups when doing my breastfeeding research and THEY WORK. I love that it’s a simple, all-natural product. Silver is naturally antimicrobial, antifungal and antibacterial that also contains anti-inflammatory agents. I have worn these every single day and my damage is all but gone!
Pumping:
The Medela Freestyle Flex is the best pump I’ve tried. My old pump made this sound that will haunt me until the day I die. This one is whisper quiet, lightweight, compact, rechargeable, easy to clean and works so well at drawing the milk out.
Supply Issues:
I felt like I had a dip in my supply about week 2, and on Taya’s recommendation I picked up Milk Aplenty and Goat’s Rue from Rumina Naturals . After a few days of taking these tinctures I noticed a boost in my supply. Marigold was fuller for longer and I was able to produce more when pumping. Like the nipple cream, I’m glad I had these on hand so I could use right away at the first sign of any issues.
Breastfeeding Pillow:
I love my Nook nursing pillow from West Coast Kids. It’s comfortable and supportive and allows me to get a good latch. Marigold also loves chilling on it after we feed and Randall uses it to feed her as well so as to have one hand free to work the remote. Or a beer. He's a big fan. (Of the pillow! Not the beer). (Okay of the beer too).
If you have any more questions, leave me a comment and I’ll help if I can! I’m in no way an expert, but happy to offer any tips I have. Big love to all the Mamas out there feeding their babies however works best for you.
You are all warriors.
Danielle
Marigold chillin’ on her Nook pillow after a feed