Breastfeeding: Troubleshooting

Increasing Supply

• GET ENOUGH SLEEP
• STAY HYDRATED
• Fenugreek (take slowly because don't want oversupply which can lead to clogged milk ducts)
• Be cautious with exercising. Exercising can make you more tired which can affect supply. Running especially can cause problems because it can cause milk to be frothy making it hard on baby's tummy and harder for baby to get enough milk.
• Seek to relax. Stress is not helpful.

 Round Two

• Oatmeal: 1 cup steel oats to 4 cups water or milk
• Recipe: Bring two cups milk and six cups water to a boil.  Watch it closely so it doesn't boil over.  Reduce to medium and add two cups steel oats, two apples (peeled and diced) and a carrot (shredded using a grater).  Stir frequently until the liquid is absorbed (normally takes 20-30 minutes).  Once done add two teaspoons vanilla, almonds and any other fruit that sounds good (strawberries are specially good).

Sore Nipples

• Use lanolin!  Especially the first month.
• Express a little breast milk to rub over nipples at the completion of each nursing session then allow to air dry for a few minutes.
• Make sure you are changing out your nursing pads frequently enough to breasts dry.

Engorgement

• Hot showers and/or warm compresses on boobs. 
• Use hand to express a little milk to relieve some of the pressure.  How to Hand Express Breastmilk: Has diagram and written out description with link to video.
• Don't pump because it will increase milk supply.
• Watch out for clogged ducts!
• Round Two: Way less of a problem than round one.

Clogged Ducts

• If boobs are achy and are past the initial engorgement a clogged duct could be starting.  Use a hot compress on it and massage tender area with fingers to try to push it down towards nipple.
• If feel knot/marble can do as already mentioned or try putting an ice pack on it to freeze and crack the knots.
• Pumping can be helpful to try to pull it out but be careful not to pump too much extra or it will encourage milk supply increase which will in turn exasperate the problem.
• ONLY THING THAT WORKED: If can handle the pain the strength of the baby sucking to nurse is the most effective way to pull the clog out.  Lay baby on back with face up to nurse.  Get on hands and knees straddling on top of the baby and then have baby nurse from clogged boob (gravity helps).  Super painful and you feel like an idiot but it works!

Breastfeeding: Nursing Supplies

Boppy

• Don't Buy Used
• Barely used for nursing in both round one and two.
• Per lactation consultant: the bigger chested you are the more useful it is to help prop the baby.

Breastmilk Storage Bags

• Best Deal I've Found

Burp Cloths

• Can't ever have too many :)
• Prefold cotton cloth diapers seem to work best.
• Tutorial 1 on how to make prefolds into pretty burp cloths.
• Tutorial 2 that is supposed to be best for babies with acid reflux.

Nursing Bras/Camis

• No underwire!  Underwire can encourage infection and clogs.
• Removable foam cups for lining and modesty are helpful.
• Have a minimum of two bras for the day.
• Night time bras are ok once supply figures itself out.
• Best Nursing Bra Ever :)
• DIY Nursing Cami  Liked but ends up being lower cut than I would like so can't really wear as undershirt.  Great to keep rest of me covered when out nursing.  Use camis that don't have shelf lining.

Nursing Cover

• DIY Instructions
• Super important to have the stiff neckline!
• Consider making one out of the muslin swaddle blankets to make it more breathable.

Nursing Pads

• Went through super quickly!
• Really liked these!
• If don't change out fast enough they'll start to smell bad and the smell passes onto nursing bra.
• Make sure you change out the trash frequently because rotting milk smells horrendous.
• Make cloth nursing pads next round with baby once milk supply settles in... 1) DIY Contoured Nursing Pads  2) Second Tutorial  3) Third Tutorial

Tracking All Things Nursing Related

• Baby Feeding Log App  Available to time each feeding, keep track of what side nursing on, bowel movements and sleep times.  Personally found it to be overwhelming so would just do ten seconds for breastfeeding on time so it would remind me when to next nurse at the three hour mark.
• Round Two: Used this for the first six weeks or so because you can set a timer.  Next round will probably just use my timer on my phone because the app timer silences pretty quickly.
• Used to keep track of bowel movements only and made sure diapers were regularly wet.
• Bowel movements are especially important because they prove the baby is receiving nutrients.
• Also used to keep track of baths and had reminder go off every two days but needed to bathe every three days at latest.
• LactMed App to use as a reference next baby.  Allows you to look up drug and see possible side effects with breastfeeding.
• Cute ways to remember which side you last nursed on: Mammary Minders or DIY Ribbon Reminder
• Never ended up making and using.

Breastfeeding: The Basics

ANY PROBLEMS GET A LACTATION CONSULTANT!

• Breastfeeding initially hurts, is exhausting, exasperating and rewarding.
• Nurse one side per feeding to bring in the richer milk.
• You need way more nursing pads than you ever would have thought.
• Make sure to burp between and after feedings.  Initially took 1/2 hour for Baby C to burp.
• Felt completely parched every time Baby C latched.
• Nursing Checklist: 1-2 burp cloths, water bottle, and pillow/boppy
• Skin to skin with nursing is great.
• Do your best to be rested and hydrated.

LATCHING

Tickle side of baby's mouth to encourage the baby to open it wide.  If baby latches onto tip of nipple break the latch immediately!  It will hurt like crazy.  Have baby come towards nipple from below nipple, angled up and want it to basically swallow the entire nipple.  Support breast with one hand to help scoop it upwards to angle nipple up so baby can open and swallow coming down onto it.

• Latching Diagram 1
• Latching Diagram 2
• Latching Diagram 3

Breaking the Latch

DON'T pull the baby away without breaking latch using your finger.  Insert finger into the side of baby's mouth and slide up and down to break the latch before removing baby.  Do a sort of hooking motion with finger to break the latch.

• Break the Latch Diagram

POSITIONS

• Positions Diagram

NURSING RESOURCES

• The Nursing Mother's Companion
• Baby at Your Breast: The Basics
• Breast Feeding Support Groups are available at most of the hospitals (under Events & Classes)

HOW TO STORE BREASTMILK

• Most Helpful Link