Pop-Up: Breastfeeding Support Live Q&A

Awesome job Breastfeeding mama!

Many moms start weaning from the daytime pumping/nursing and successfully continue to nurse in the am and pm as you describe.

Remember, as you reduce the amount you empty your breasts, your body will get the message to stop producing as much. Every mama is different on how much milk they can make if only emptying 2 times a day. For some they produce enough for a "full feed" and for others they need to supplement. That being said, many moms and babes are happy to continue nursing on this schedule for a long time. There are so many awesome reasons to continue that if it works for you!

I think it would be hard to wean from pumping at work during week but try and continue Breastfeeding around clock on weekends. Of course, you can offer the breast on weekends but just know baby may need additional supplement for nutritional/hydration purposes. Make sense?

Re what baby will drink instead...yes, many babies transition to whole milk (cow) but this is also something you can discuss with your baby's doctor.

Hope that helps! Let me know if you have additional questions!

Sure, mama! Whatever works for you and your baby!

Oh good! I was worried that she should be breastfeeding first. Thanks!

I'm not one for very strict rules. As long as baby is getting what she needs + it's working for you guys, I say go for it.

👍

Hi Kristen! Thanks for asking our first question today! Happy to try and help. A few quick clarifying questions: what's in the bottle breast milk or formula? And...how often are you taking a break to burp? Lastly, what size nipple is in bottle?

She recieves breast milk from the bottle. My husband feeds her the bottle and he burps her every few minutes. The nipple is the newborn size with the slowest flow. He had tried paced feeding but it did not seem to help.

Interesting! All things I would recommend :) at first I thought perhaps she was uncomfortable and needed more burping, but it sounds like you guys have that covered! Transitioning to occasional bottles for a breast-fed baby can sometimes take a little practice. I have found that using freshly pumped milk helps at the beginning (if that's logistically possible). Ive also found that it's more successful when we hold baby in a very different position than she's used to while nursing. So, make sure not to sit in the same rocking chair and lie her on the Boppy and that sort of thing. In fact, try to change up the hold and environment completely. Hopefully that will help. I'm curious if baby is hungry very soon after the small bottle? What happens if you re-offer it (if it's within the hour)?

Hi Jomole - what time is baby going down to sleep? I find sometimes baby gets fussy and cluster feeds (eats often) because they are overtired! Could this be the issue?

There are many different ways/strategies to help baby sleep longer through the night - At Tinyhood we also have awesome sleep consultants to help too!

At 6 months, my gut (assuming baby's weight gain is good and there are no complicating issues like reflux,etc) is that baby can last a bit longer than three hours without eating at night. But, this also means baby needs to getting enough calories in during day. So, we have to consider her schedule over full 24 hours.

One thing to try first is to see if you can soothe baby back to sleep without feeding. For example, try patting, reassuring, offering a pacifier if you use one etc. If someone else can go in and soothe baby instead of you, sometimes that helps too!

Also, How long do you let baby fuss before feeding? Some mamas try letting baby "complain" a bit before rushing to feed. This depends on your own comfort with this.

Hi, Christina -- The pediatricians I've worked with aren't too concerned with green poop as long as baby is content and acting normally. [Note - pediatricians do want to know about red, black or white poop so call your doctor if you ever see these :)]

Green poop may be from something you've eaten. But, you are correct, it could also be from a lot of "fore" milk versus "hind milk" so, you are right to try and offer first breast until drained and then offer second. You can also try and do some breast compressions (squeezing breast) to keep milk flowing and baby actively drinking at breast when baby seems to slow down. This may help get some more of the hind milk.

If it's just a color concern, I wouldn't sweat it! Keep up the great job breastfeeding, mama!