Nursing and Pumping...

My breastfeeding journey so far has been smooth, my baby came into this world with an open mouth looking for a boob, she had a perfect latch on the first try.  Her birth weight decreased by almost 10% in the first week and the doctor gave us 10 days to gain it back....she did it in 7 days and has been gaining steadily ever since.  So far we have not had to supplement but if the need arises then we will cross that bridge.  For the first three weeks she ate every two hours day and night.  Until 7 weeks we went every three hours during the day and four hours at night.  And from 8 weeks we feed on demand but it averages about every three hours.

My breast feeding essentials:  The original boppy (my favorite now that she is bigger) and the My Brest Friend pillow (perfect for small babies used until she was 7 weeks old), Bamboobies day and night breast pads, and Bravado nursing bras.  I also love these from Champion sport bras from Target.

It's really hard to do this and work.

I don't want to give up.  I've told my husband that I need support and he has taken over all bottle washing, pump part cleaning, and bottle preparation.  He usually feeds her bottles if I can't nurse at home, she does not like to take one from me.  Our current schedule - I pump in the mornings and R feeds her a bottle because it's quicker than nursing, I pump three times during the work day 9:30, 12:30, and 2:30 - it works best for me.  I nurse in the afternoon, at bedtime, and at least twice during the night which is why we end up cosleeping a lot.   I usually pump at least once before bed or in the middle of the night.

I own the Medela Pump in Style Advanced.

Before work I pack my pump bag while R packs nugget's bottles.  My pump bag essentials:

• Lansinoah Hands Free Pumping Bra
• extra Medela line set
• extra Medela membranes
• Two sets of disposable breast pads
• Lansinoah Lanolin cream (I've not needed this but it's nice to have)
• Plastic freezer bag - I use this to put my flanges in after I use them and usually I store them in my lunch bag in the clinic refrigerator
• The Medela cooler with 4 collection bottles and ice pack
• extra batteries for the battery pack

I also find it useful to have a space heater in my office while I pump...it gets a bit drafty when I'm only wearing my pumping bra. Every morning I quickly rate any outfit ideas in level of difficulty to pump...that's why I usually stick to easy pieces that will not show milk stains.  Lovely visual.

Ava has her own lunchbox for daycare - we include an ice pack and 3 bottles - she takes anywhere from 9-12 ounces during a typical workday.  We love Tommee Tippee bottles, these dishwasher proof personalized labels and matching date labels, and Enfamil Tri-vi-sol for her first morning bottle.

I think we have hit our groove for now, especially with our new work/daycare routine.  Babies nutritional needs don't change much until six months so I'm hoping that it will be smooth sailing.  Weekend and evening nursing is key to keeping up my supply...that and eating enough calories.  I'm not dieting and I take care to eat a variety of clean foods, protein, and fluids.  I'm hoping to update my blog through this journey as Ava and I learn to do this together.