I am wondering if anyone here has fed their baby only pumped breastmilk at any point? I am still having to wear the shells (nipples still get sore if I don't wear them from bra material) and wondering if I am going to be able to continue once DD starts teething. I know I have a while to go before then but like to be prepared in advance.

Our nutritionist advised me to continue for another 6 months beyond one year if it was going well for us at 12 months, but as you know from previous posts, it has not been a consistently smooth experience for us! I really want to be able to continue to give DD the benefits of the breastmilk as well as experience the benefits of breastfeeding myself, but still not sure we'll make it a year and trying to figure out if pumping can work. From some info I read on the Kelly Mom site, it sounds like it can work if you have a good pump.

She is still young, so don't go thinking things won't get better...give it some more time before you start thinking that far in advanced (unless you are wanting to do this, then by all means you do what you want) As for teething, she will bit you once or twice but as long as you nip it in the bud the first time they learn not to use their teeth. Once mine bite I pull their face into my boob to cause them to release from not being able to breath and *loudly* say OUCH that hurts mama! It only takes once or twice and then they learn. Now for pumping and feeding it back, I did that early with my first and it was such a pain. Everyone I know who has done that for an extended period of time has not enjoyed it and either gave up or got the baby to the breast for good. thats just been my experince and those around me...you might be different. With my 2nd I recieved frozen banked mother's milk for a couple months and that wasn't bad but then again I wasn't tied down to a pump.

Because of my flat nipples I exclusively pumped with first Dd and pumped when second Dd was diagnosed with gerd. I did have a good pump but even with one don't count on being able to keep up your milk supply for very long. My experiences have been that once I start doing that my supply dries up fairly quickly. It still takes weeks but it doesn't stay up long.

Sorry you are still having issues. I feel for you girl. Me too. My goal right now is to make it to 3 months and then re evaluate everything. I refuse to feel bad if I can't make it longer than that. I won't use formula. Goat's milk is better if it comes to that. But I won't feel bad because flat nips are horrific to work with. Hoping it does get better for you sweetie.

It's twice the work to pump and then bottlefeed. It's definitely a lot less time consuming if you are able to make direct breastfeeding work.

Hugs to you and hang in there! [hug]

Thanks everyone.


Sorry you are still having issues. I feel for you girl. Me too. My goal right now is to make it to 3 months and then re evaluate everything. I refuse to feel bad if I can't make it longer than that. I won't use formula. Goat's milk is better if it comes to that. But I won't feel bad because flat nips are horrific to work with. Hoping it does get better for you sweetie.

Thank you, and yes, they are. Horrific is a good word. It seems like it's getting better, and then she'll start pulling/tugging or do something that makes it painful for a little while again, like maybe not latch on really well. And like I said, still can't go without the shells yet. I hope to eventually, but I'm starting to have my doubts. I think you're smart to set a goal like that and then re-evaluate. Margi said in another thread... take it a day at a time, which is definitely good advice, too. I'd like to get to 6 months... almost to 3 now (2 months was Friday). Yes, hope it gets better for us both. :neutral:

I am curious if you have bfed without the shield? She may be tugging because of the shield. I know it's hard to wean a baby from the shield after you have started using one, but it can actually hinder your supply a bit too....
I understand painful bfeeding...I had literally EVERY thing go wrong that could except mastitis. These are all with Em within the first few months, but she ended up nursing for 30 months! I had a HUGE crack completly through my whole nipple...it's still there, just healed. I had clogged ducts, ductal yeasts that took FOREVER to get rid of, Renauds Phenomenon (the blood vessels would contract in my nipple and cause it to turn white...very painful and hard to treat) and to top it off I have PCOS which caused my breasts to not develop totally normally so I have issues with supply that requires I take Domperidone to be able to actually feed my babies!

I wanted to encourage you with this post. If I could keep on nursing...and I ended up not having to supplement and Em was a VERY chunky baby....most woman can successfully bfeed!
It does get better with time...I know that is so cliche, but it is so true! I would see if you could wean your little one off the shield so that your nipple gets use to nursing and toughens up. It does take a while...but it does happen.

I also agree that pumping can cause your supply to drop. Even the best pump just cannot give you the stimulation that your baby can. I LOVED my Medela Pump in Style. I loved how it had the let down setting...so it was a bit more like real nursing. I have pumped for both girls because of working...and if I could have NOT pumped a day in my life, I would choose that, but it was necessary for our life at the time..KWIM?

I hope you can find something that works, but like a PP said.....do what you can and if you choose to pump only, or supplement a bit or just completly go to formula...that is your right as a parent to choose. I may not agree...but that is the wonderful about being the parent. The Lord put you in charge of this sweet little one's life..and He trusts that you will make the best choice for your family!

Bessings,
Amber

I am curious if you have bfed without the shield? She may be tugging because of the shield. I know it's hard to wean a baby from the shield after you have started using one, but it can actually hinder your supply a bit too....

I wanted to encourage you with this post.

Thanks, Amber. They are actually shells, not shields. I wear them between feedings to protect the nipple from materials, which aggravate the soreness. I had gotten to the point where I was dreading the next feeding and knew that I could not go on like that. I admire you tremendously for enduring what you did, but I do not have a high level of pain tolerance!! I have been wearing the shells for weeks now and when I try to stop wearing them, my nipples start feeling really sore again between feedings when they're rubbing against my clothes. The pain during feedings is pretty much gone, just some isolated times now. So it has definitely gotten a lot better in the past couple of weeks, and I hope it continues to only get better.

I do want to continue, ideally to 18 months, as my nutritionist recommends, but if I'm not able to make it that long, I want to get at least 6 months, but hopefully a year. I think this is possible with the shells. I just hate having to continue wearing them. :(

I'm thinking if I get to a point where I think I can't do it anymore, maybe at that point I could start pumping in addition to feeding her from the breast and build up a certain amount of a frozen supply of breastmilk before starting to feed her that way. Hopefully it will not get to that point, though.

I do want to continue, ideally to 18 months, as my nutritionist recommends, but if I'm not able to make it that long, I want to get at least 6 months, but hopefully a year. I think this is possible with the shells. I just hate having to continue wearing them. :(

I'm thinking if I get to a point where I think I can't do it anymore, maybe at that point I could start pumping in addition to feeding her from the breast and build up a certain amount of a frozen supply of breastmilk before starting to feed her that way. Hopefully it will not get to that point, though.


I found that as long as I keep wearing a nursing pad and using nipple cream that it prevents them from rubbing on my clothes and causing soreness. The shells may cause your nipples not to toughen up. They are great for allowing healing but not much more.

Also good idea to build up a supply in the freezer. Hope it doesn't get to that point. But better to be prepared.

ahhh...shells are different than shields...;-). I am sorry you have such sore nips. I do wonder if you just need to go without for a week or so....maybe see if you can get some of that nipple cream that has some topical pain meds on it and see if you can make it through. Personally I have not had to deal with my nips being sore from just touching my clothes while bfeeding. I hope you can find something that helps them not be so darn sensitive...that would be hard to deal with all the time.
I think I made it through because I am very stubborn and was TOTALLY against supplementing Em. I actually almost fainted and cried when I bought my first can of formula at the health food store with Mak when she was 3 months old....but she received a little formula here and there along with my breastmilk and lived. LOL! She actually refused more than like an ounce or two in about 4 to 6 ounces of breastmilk, so that was nice that she knew the difference....:-D

I think it's a good idea to get a little freezer supply....nothing toughens up nipples like pumping...seriously if you have never pumped you will be AMAZED at how big your nipples get at the end of the pumping session....but they go back down quickly. I think my nips became SO desensitized that I could have my pump on the highest suction and actually went in to have my pump measured because I thought it wasn't sucking much. Come to find out it was as strong as a hospital grade one...heeheee.....um that was embarassing!

I would try pumping once every few days starting soon to get use to it. Some women take a long time to get use to the pump and getting let downs. Then I would increase it to once a day, Lord willing you will see a decrease in your sensitvity. (do you get letdowns pretty fast because you are so sensitve? that would be nice!!! )

Keep it up Mommy.... you are doing a great job. Remind yourself that every now and then...you need to hear it and believe it!!!!

Blessings,
Amber

I found that as long as I keep wearing a nursing pad and using nipple cream that it prevents them from rubbing on my clothes and causing soreness. The shells may cause your nipples not to toughen up. They are great for allowing healing but not much more.


I was wondering if that might be the case with the shells. I noticed they feel tougher after nursing and then softer after being in the shells again. Thanks for the tip about the pads/cream. I use the same cream you use but haven't used it much since using the shells. It would be SO nice not to have to use them anymore... I'm going to try this.

(do you get letdowns pretty fast because you are so sensitve? that would be nice!!! )

Keep it up Mommy.... you are doing a great job. Remind yourself that every now and then...you need to hear it and believe it!!!!

Thank you!

Since I have nothing to compare it to, I'm not sure, but it seems like I usually do. I think the first usually starts in a few seconds?

Yeah, that is pretty fast...for me at least. I can get a letdown with a pump right away because I have trained my body to know that I only have about 15 min to pump as much as I can....but when baby is at breast my letdowns usually don't kick in for a few min. This can make baby fussy if they want it now and are impatient...but I am stubborn and keep them at it! LOL

Keep us updated on how things are going. I will keep you in my prayers!!

Blessings,
Amber

Yeah, that is pretty fast...for me at least. I can get a letdown with a pump right away because I have trained my body to know that I only have about 15 min to pump as much as I can....but when baby is at breast my letdowns usually don't kick in for a few min. This can make baby fussy if they want it now and are impatient...but I am stubborn and keep them at it! LOL

Keep us updated on how things are going. I will keep you in my prayers!!

Blessings,
Amber

Thanks, Amber. It's probably more like 20-30 seconds or up to about a minute, but yeah, it's not long. I'm wondering if it is making DD fussy. Sometimes I guess it's coming so fast, I've noticed if she comes off or take her off, the milk is squirting out in a tiny stream. Lately nursing sessions aren't even pleasant, with the soreness and fussiness. She starts fussing, turning her head back and forth, sometimes tugging, flailing her arms almost like she's grasping at the air, kicking her legs. It's almost like she's frantic about something. I don't understand what's causing it.

I'm guessing it's different things at different times. Sometimes it seems like it's when the milk lets down. Sometimes it seems like it's when there's not enough coming. Sometimes it seems like she just doesn't want to nurse anymore or she's really tired (having a hard time to get her to nap this week, with the reflux... at least after the Chiropractor visit Monday now she will nap in her swing sometimes, too... so it's either that or the Moby). I can't seem to read her, and it makes me feel terrible sometimes. I would think if she didn't want anymore, she would refuse the breast, but when she gets like that, sometimes if I just take her off and comfort her, start walking her, she's fine. Nursing her has mostly been frustrating instead of pleasant. [sadashamed][sadashamed][sadashamed]


Quote:
Originally Posted by His butterfly
I found that as long as I keep wearing a nursing pad and using nipple cream that it prevents them from rubbing on my clothes and causing soreness. The shells may cause your nipples not to toughen up. They are great for allowing healing but not much more.
I was wondering if that might be the case with the shells. I noticed they feel tougher after nursing and then softer after being in the shells again. Thanks for the tip about the pads/cream. I use the same cream you use but haven't used it much since using the shells. It would be SO nice not to have to use them anymore... I'm going to try this.

So I took the shells off and am wearing pads. Do you just use the cream after nursing or do you also use expressed BM? The LC told me to only use that, but I started using the cream also. After nursing, I pat the nipple dry, express a few drops of BM and then add the cream. I'm not sure how long I should give the soreness to subside? They're pretty sore but not getting worse with time like before when I did not use the pads. I guess they are a lot softer than clothing material.

So I took the shells off and am wearing pads. Do you just use the cream after nursing or do you also use expressed BM? The LC told me to only use that, but I started using the cream also. After nursing, I pat the nipple dry, express a few drops of BM and then add the cream. I'm not sure how long I should give the soreness to subside? They're pretty sore but not getting worse with time like before when I did not use the pads. I guess they are a lot softer than clothing material.


I mostly use the cream but I do use BM sometimes too.

Thanks, Amber. It's probably more like 20-30 seconds or up to about a minute, but yeah, it's not long. I'm wondering if it is making DD fussy. Sometimes I guess it's coming so fast, I've noticed if she comes off or take her off, the milk is squirting out in a tiny stream. Lately nursing sessions aren't even pleasant, with the soreness and fussiness. She starts fussing, turning her head back and forth, sometimes tugging, flailing her arms almost like she's grasping at the air, kicking her legs. It's almost like she's frantic about something. I don't understand what's causing it.


I've found my LO doing that here recently. Come to find out he has thrush and I have a yeast infection in my breasts. Other causes for fussiness like that, especially with a fast let down (mine are fast too) could be excess gas. When milk comes that fast they generally get a lot of air too. When she does that see if taking her off and burping her helps. It helps my LO.