Hello Dear Boobjuicers and Friends!
This is a really good video about pumping technique, aimed at moms of preemies but useful for all who will be pumping at any time.
http://newborns.stanford.edu/Breastfeeding/MaxProduction.html
A couple of quibbles - the Hind milk is not "most nutritious," it's highest in fat. Which is very, very important, but so are the yummy vitamins in the foremilk. Also I don't know anyone who massaged their nipples while preparing to pump but if yours aren't hurting it's probably harmless and who knows, might help. Just be sure your hands are clean, which of course you did because you are pumping in the first place. Recall my ridiculously detailed description of one pumping session:
http://suzisboobjuice.blogspot.com/2009/12/bessies-dance.html
Totally concur that one should NOT feel compelled to up the suction on the pump to where it is uncomfortable. I had some not terribly helpful person in the hospital just automatically turn the pump to maximum. Ouch. Wanted to kick her. I think I used the pump on the lowest level much of the time, or close to it. As the manual says, turn it up to where it is slightly uncomfortable and then back it off until it is not uncomfortable. And as a side note there are all different kinds of folks in the Lactation Consultant world and if you aren't hitting it off with the one in your maternity ward or the one your girlfriend referred you to, by all means, find another. Some fancy mama/baby stores have one on staff and they are often very generous with their time on the phone, I have found. (Read: free advice! but to help them keep it free I advise buying something from their store when you have the chance.)
They have you massaging with the pump off after pumping - I'll try that next round should I be so blessed as to have another one. I tended to just leave the pump going while doing the hand expression at the end, out of sheer laziness, but who knows, maybe the rest is helpful. And of course if the shields aren't in your way you could turn off the pump but leave your band on to hold the bottles in place.
Remember you can single pump with a dual-electric pump by blocking one hole with the plug provided.
I think this video really calls attention to the importance of a good pumping band. I tried the one seen in the video and found it didn't stay up well - might work better on more buxom women. I liked this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Hands-Free-Breast-Pump-Halter/dp/B000HKYKT0/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1292837795&sr=8-11
Not the softest thing in the world but highly adjustable and stayed up well because of neck strap. Amazon has a new one up with different colors which looks softer but less adjustable - might find yourself buying a second size, which isn't the end of the world but we don't all have limitless funds to be throwing at pumping bras...
http://www.amazon.com/PumpEase-Hands-Free-Pumping-Support/dp/B0034ISZ5W/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1292837819&sr=8-4
If one of you has that one, let me know how you like it.
Alright, back to bed soon. Boy are my sleep patterns jacked up.
Much love,
Suzi
Monday, December 20, 2010
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Travel Stories, Part II
Hello Dear Boobjuicers and friends!
Here we have the next installment of Boobjuice On the Go, from Mama Emily. She kindly shared her story with me and has agreed to let me share it with you. I hope you find it helpful and encouraging as I have!
Much love,
Suzi
When Kiddo was three months old I went to a conference overnight for two nights. I shared a room with three other women and was so excited about the prospect of sleeping through the night that I didn't set an alarm or anything. First night I woke up sometime in a totally soaking wet bed and clothes and in some serious pain. I had to take a warm shower and sit in the corner with my pump for a long time to relieve myself. Next night I made sure I got up a couple of times to pump in the dark corner. Crept away from conference all day long to pump. I think at that point I had a little store at home for Kiddo to have when I was away...but he probably got a little formula too, which ended up happening at least once a day when I went back to work because it seemed like no matter how much I pumped at work, I was always one bottle short of what he wanted during the day.
I'm really hoping this next one I'm having nurses well! I kinda miss it...Kiddo stopped around 20 months...I was about 4 months preggo and it started to hurt like HELL to have him nurse. I couldn't hack it. He was only nursing to go to sleep then, and I explained what was going on and he was totally fine...I think he asked to nurse about two times after that but was never upset about it. Guess he was ready! He's totally obsessed with my gigantic preggo boobs right now though. He's constantly "massaging" them and sticking his hands down my shirt. We're talking a lot about how the next baby with be getting "Mommy's milk" to prepare him. I think he gets it, but I'm prepared for a *little* (I hope) jealousy.
Here we have the next installment of Boobjuice On the Go, from Mama Emily. She kindly shared her story with me and has agreed to let me share it with you. I hope you find it helpful and encouraging as I have!
Much love,
Suzi
When Kiddo was three months old I went to a conference overnight for two nights. I shared a room with three other women and was so excited about the prospect of sleeping through the night that I didn't set an alarm or anything. First night I woke up sometime in a totally soaking wet bed and clothes and in some serious pain. I had to take a warm shower and sit in the corner with my pump for a long time to relieve myself. Next night I made sure I got up a couple of times to pump in the dark corner. Crept away from conference all day long to pump. I think at that point I had a little store at home for Kiddo to have when I was away...but he probably got a little formula too, which ended up happening at least once a day when I went back to work because it seemed like no matter how much I pumped at work, I was always one bottle short of what he wanted during the day.
I'm really hoping this next one I'm having nurses well! I kinda miss it...Kiddo stopped around 20 months...I was about 4 months preggo and it started to hurt like HELL to have him nurse. I couldn't hack it. He was only nursing to go to sleep then, and I explained what was going on and he was totally fine...I think he asked to nurse about two times after that but was never upset about it. Guess he was ready! He's totally obsessed with my gigantic preggo boobs right now though. He's constantly "massaging" them and sticking his hands down my shirt. We're talking a lot about how the next baby with be getting "Mommy's milk" to prepare him. I think he gets it, but I'm prepared for a *little* (I hope) jealousy.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Solo Mama Week - Holy Tired, Batman!
Hello Dear Boobjuicers and Friends!
I write to you from lovely, snowy Indiana! It's really coming down outside, but luckily my mother-in-law likes to keep the kitchen stocked as though she will be hosting a dinner for 25 five nights in a row at all times. Kiddo, like the California-born child he is, did not care for the snow, and demanded "Up!" every time we stood him on the lawn, despite being wrapped in coat, gloves, scarf, mittens, and awesome waterproof boots. Ah well, our fault for making him a West Coast boy.
We are visiting to help out and cheer up Grandpa, who had half his liver and all of gall bladder removed as part of his battle with metastatic colon cancer. Grandpa is recovering nicely. Hubby came out before and during the surgery for over a week, and I used up some of my use-or-lose leave to stay home with the kiddo.
Holy crap is that hard work.
Which is weird because often I was just sitting or standing still, watching Kiddo do something totally harmless like play with his toys or torture the cat. But one isn't totally relaxed unless Kiddo is asleep, and even then one is as likely as not to be madly doing dishes, cleaning up, moving the laundry along, or trying to (gasp!) sit still in front of the computer for five minutes trying to communicate with some grown-ups.
I got lonely and cranky on day 2, because I had set up tons of playdates and activities, but starting on day 3. That's how I kept myself at all sane - we went out a LOT. Just chasing Kiddo around the apartment seemed like the surest way to go stark raving mad. I even went to a drop-in mama group in hippier-than-thou Northeast Portland, which was a nice break. Turned into snack potluck which was funny - all the mamas had brought snacks, and all the kiddos wanted to try everyone else's snacks. Worked well. Kiddo got VERY used to being stuffed into his carseat by the end of the week! And we made a new friend, out in an ex-burb of PDX with lots of trees and mountains and even a creek in her neighborhood. Plus she made totally killer scones, with tons of butter and whole cream. This is my kind of lady. Her four year old did a great job sharing his toys with my Kiddo, whom I basically just watched running from the play schoolbus (about half the size of my couch) to the Elmo Kitchen (which is freaking hilarious and slightly scary) for three hours. Clearly playdates are the key to the sanity of the stay-at-home parent. That and prioritizing - I decided I would not cook all week. I made lentils the first Sunday but after that it was all packaged tortellini, takeout, and similar fare.
On Wednesday I had a meltdown and yelled at Kiddo. I immediately realized it and apologized, but he had this shocked look on his face that just broke my heart. At nap time I called Hubby and whined and whined about what a wimp I was. Not slightly hard on myself, at all. Nope.
I very much enjoyed all the time with Kiddo, and I'm not sure I have ever been so happy to see my husband as when we picked him up at the airport on Sunday. I refused to be even slightly helpful in the kid department for like the next 24 hours, I think. Everyone find a solo parent this week and give them a huge hug and a standing ovation. PHEW!
We also started our cloth diaper experiment while Daddy was away, which is going really well. Up to this point they just sounded like so much more trouble than disposable, despite all these mamas insisting that no they were not. Well, they clearly are more work than just opening a sack of disposables, but oddly they don't feel like more trouble. I sort of like doing laundry, which probably helps, but it also just becomes a very easy routine. Even dumping the solids in the toilet doesn't seem like that big of a deal - before it was all, "Eeeeew, carry the poopy diaper to the bathroom???" but you know, it's also, "EEEeeeew, a pail full of poo sitting in Kiddo's room?" and after one or two of these transits it just doesn't seem like a big deal. I think I want one of those toilet sprayers for getting the last bit off the diaper so I don't have to go at it with toilet paper, but still, it seems pretty easy. Plus Kiddo clearly likes them better, and his skin is happier. Which makes it all worth it.
So now Hubby and Kiddo are napping, I am baking oatmeal raisin chocolate chip hazelnut cookies (supposed to be walnuts, oops), and life is cozy and pleasant. I do advise against getting colon cancer though. It's a bitch.
Be well all! More travel stories soon!
Much love,
Suzi
I write to you from lovely, snowy Indiana! It's really coming down outside, but luckily my mother-in-law likes to keep the kitchen stocked as though she will be hosting a dinner for 25 five nights in a row at all times. Kiddo, like the California-born child he is, did not care for the snow, and demanded "Up!" every time we stood him on the lawn, despite being wrapped in coat, gloves, scarf, mittens, and awesome waterproof boots. Ah well, our fault for making him a West Coast boy.
We are visiting to help out and cheer up Grandpa, who had half his liver and all of gall bladder removed as part of his battle with metastatic colon cancer. Grandpa is recovering nicely. Hubby came out before and during the surgery for over a week, and I used up some of my use-or-lose leave to stay home with the kiddo.
Holy crap is that hard work.
Which is weird because often I was just sitting or standing still, watching Kiddo do something totally harmless like play with his toys or torture the cat. But one isn't totally relaxed unless Kiddo is asleep, and even then one is as likely as not to be madly doing dishes, cleaning up, moving the laundry along, or trying to (gasp!) sit still in front of the computer for five minutes trying to communicate with some grown-ups.
I got lonely and cranky on day 2, because I had set up tons of playdates and activities, but starting on day 3. That's how I kept myself at all sane - we went out a LOT. Just chasing Kiddo around the apartment seemed like the surest way to go stark raving mad. I even went to a drop-in mama group in hippier-than-thou Northeast Portland, which was a nice break. Turned into snack potluck which was funny - all the mamas had brought snacks, and all the kiddos wanted to try everyone else's snacks. Worked well. Kiddo got VERY used to being stuffed into his carseat by the end of the week! And we made a new friend, out in an ex-burb of PDX with lots of trees and mountains and even a creek in her neighborhood. Plus she made totally killer scones, with tons of butter and whole cream. This is my kind of lady. Her four year old did a great job sharing his toys with my Kiddo, whom I basically just watched running from the play schoolbus (about half the size of my couch) to the Elmo Kitchen (which is freaking hilarious and slightly scary) for three hours. Clearly playdates are the key to the sanity of the stay-at-home parent. That and prioritizing - I decided I would not cook all week. I made lentils the first Sunday but after that it was all packaged tortellini, takeout, and similar fare.
On Wednesday I had a meltdown and yelled at Kiddo. I immediately realized it and apologized, but he had this shocked look on his face that just broke my heart. At nap time I called Hubby and whined and whined about what a wimp I was. Not slightly hard on myself, at all. Nope.
I very much enjoyed all the time with Kiddo, and I'm not sure I have ever been so happy to see my husband as when we picked him up at the airport on Sunday. I refused to be even slightly helpful in the kid department for like the next 24 hours, I think. Everyone find a solo parent this week and give them a huge hug and a standing ovation. PHEW!
We also started our cloth diaper experiment while Daddy was away, which is going really well. Up to this point they just sounded like so much more trouble than disposable, despite all these mamas insisting that no they were not. Well, they clearly are more work than just opening a sack of disposables, but oddly they don't feel like more trouble. I sort of like doing laundry, which probably helps, but it also just becomes a very easy routine. Even dumping the solids in the toilet doesn't seem like that big of a deal - before it was all, "Eeeeew, carry the poopy diaper to the bathroom???" but you know, it's also, "EEEeeeew, a pail full of poo sitting in Kiddo's room?" and after one or two of these transits it just doesn't seem like a big deal. I think I want one of those toilet sprayers for getting the last bit off the diaper so I don't have to go at it with toilet paper, but still, it seems pretty easy. Plus Kiddo clearly likes them better, and his skin is happier. Which makes it all worth it.
So now Hubby and Kiddo are napping, I am baking oatmeal raisin chocolate chip hazelnut cookies (supposed to be walnuts, oops), and life is cozy and pleasant. I do advise against getting colon cancer though. It's a bitch.
Be well all! More travel stories soon!
Much love,
Suzi
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