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I'm back... and a question!
| Fri, 03-23-2012 - 6:13pm |
Hi All-
I'm Kara. I have an almost 4 yr old, and finally can say #2 is on the way in late Sept.
I have been lurking for a few days but wanted to say hi because I received SO MUCH help and support from Kathy, Dana and others with my son. He nursed for almost 3 years, weaning on his own gradually. He is still a super cuddly little monkey who kisses the "nummies" good night every night! :)
I am looking forward to nursing #2 and have been lurking to look for advice on things I can do now (if anything) to make sure I don't have any issues with milk coming in -- or supply -- for #2. I realize I am a little early
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Hi-
Sorry I missed this somehow!
No, we plan to have the baby room in with us. I am jsut being overly neurotic. :)
Hi Teresa-
This little one will definitely be rooming in! My first did and they were fine with it. The issue was that he was crying all night the 2nd night, and was not happy even after nursing. I swore no formula so they brought the lactation consultant who made them bring the pump in... But after not sleeping for 2 nights (I was very sick the first night!) they finally insisted i sleep and DH went to nursery with DS while they did pedi checks. He cried in there and they insisted he was hungry and needed to eat, so DH consented to them giving him a bottle. It didnt really set us back much... My son went on to exclusively nurse (he would NEVER take a bottle. even if I pumped... he wanted to use a straw at 6 months :))...
I probably will say something when I get there and on my check-in notes. I have already asked if I can "sign up" for an earlier spot with the lactation consultant so I dont have to wait over 24 hours to see one...
In terms of the shields, I was not using them for myself... my nipples are totally flat and he could not latch on for anything. After about 2 hours of trying the lactation consultant brought them back and said to use them. I don't plan to use them this time around unless latch is a problem again...
I might also put a sign on the door that tells visitors to leave their negative comments about nursing and co-sleeping OUTSIDE... I dont care to hear my mother say 655 times in one day "there is always formula!" or insist on shoving that damn pacifier in... nor do I care for the cracks everyone is already making about where will this one sleep!
The sign is a good idea, if the baby is not 24 hour rooming in.
If your milk took a while last time you may want to pump a little between nursings when you can just to speed things up a bit :-)
I'm looking forward to getting pregnant again just not yet :-). I hope pregnancy is good to you. Other than the fatigue the first trimester, I LOVED being pregnant. I remember all those late night tap dancing sessions and miss them to this day. I guess the daytime monkey business makes up for it ;-)
Ha! You sound like me! I already have the nipple shields ready (I was able to stop using them with DS after the first 8 months or so, which was nice because it makes nursing a lot less discrete when you have to sit there and fiddle with that thing! :))
I am also tempted (and DH says this is overboard... but I may still do it) to make a little notecard for the bassinet that says "No Formula! No pacifiers!" The nurses are often so quick to just shove the bottle in and then plop that pacifier in, and I think with my first I didnt have the gumption to stand up to them and tell them no... This time around I will!
Last time they brought me a pump in the hospital and it stayed in my room with me. I did it every 2 hrs but not a drop came out for the first few days. I am hoping things start "flowing" sooner this time!
The best tool in your arsenal is your experience which will probably help your new nursing relationship get off to a good start. I had a LOT of trouble getting DD to latch and ended up pumping for the first ten weeks with her before getting her back to breast. (Her first birthday is next week and we are going strong.) I know when number two gets on the way I will be tucking my pump in my delivery bag just in case. The hospital had two pumps for the unit and it was challenging hunting them down with baby in tow every three hours. I have short stubby nipples so I'll also tuck my nipple shield in the bag just in case. If you had a smooth start to BFing your son, you probably won't need any of this. I just aim to leave the hospital with a BFing baby next time and would bring everything including the kitchen sink if I thought there was the slightest chance it could help lol. Congrats again and good luck!
Beyond that, if you can get to a La Leche League meeting in the months before the birth, sometimes it helps to listen and bounce issues off other moms. Be prepared when you go to the birth, with a support person who knows your wishes. And relax, you did it once, it's often easier the second time around!