Breastfeeding Question

How many of you have gone on to successfully breastfeed (post-op) after not being able to breastfeed the first time around (also post-op)  

I attempted to breastfeed the twins, but I never produced enough and had to formula feed.  I am going to try and breastfeed Maryn.  

I breastfed my daughter but I didn't seem to make enough at first so she was breastfed and then I would offer her a bottle if she ate then I know she didn't get enough. but after a while I got more milk in... then once she got teeth I couldn't do it I thought she was gonna rip my nips off...lmao I don't know how I am gonna do twins.. of course I will try and if it don't work then so be it but I hope it does.

Just to let you know, babies (espcially before 8 weeks) have an automatic suck reflex, when you put something in their mouth they will suck on it, so just because a baby sucks down a bottle of formula after breast feeding it does not mean that they are hungry or that they did not get enough breastmilk. The only way to tell if a breastfed baby is really getting enough is by their output and weight gain.

Here is my standard advice on breastfeeding. Drink a ton of water. 120 oz or more a day. Nurse on demand the first 6 weeks. Even if it was just 30 minutes ago that you fed her, if she makes a peep, feed her again.

I seem to produce more in my left breast and after 6 weeks would always start with that one. If they were still hungry I would do maybe 5 minutes on the right. Riley still nurses and will say all done if I feed him on the right because there isn't much there.

Get a good baby scale and weigh her before and after feeding. Don't keep any formula in the house and don't be tempted to use it. For every drop of formula she gets it is a drop you won't make, at least for 6 weeks. I also recommend not pumping at all the first 6 weeks. Pumping isn't an indicator on how much she can get out.

I will not tell you how much liquid I drink on a daily basis.  I'll just go hide under a chair instead.  LOL  

Seriously, I'm lucky (and I have tried for years to up this amount) if I get in 40 oz.   I have discussed this issue with all of my Dr.'s and no one seems to be concerned.  Well that's not true,   my GB surgeon takes issue with it, but the rest of my Dr's don't seem to think it's a problem.   I throw up when I try to push huge amounts of fluid.    : (    

Try drinking 2 oz every 30 minutes in addition to whatever you are drinking normally. One way to ge****er in too is to eat salty foods like pretzels or chips. With Reagan I drank Diet Coke Slurpees from 7-11. I could drink a 44 oz one in about an hour LOL. Plain water is hard for me to drink so I drink 80% tea, 10% water, 10% hot cocoa or coffee.

You may find that you are very thirsty and naturally be able to drink more. I was ravenous while nursing at first. At one year I wasn't as starving and began to diet. I still have tons of milk despite only eating 1400 calories a day. It is because of the fluids I drink and the vitamins I take in my opinion.

Good luck...Oh and your amniotic fluid is replaced every 3 hours. If you drink more you will have better fluid.

Question... do you just do one breast at each feeding ?  
Thanks.  I'm really nervous about BF.  I tried with my first and gave up 2 weeks into it because the peds  had me so stressed withhis slow weight gain and I was scared he wasn't getting enough.   I"m really determined to be successful this time around.

Jennifer's advice worked for me!
Pumping has never worked for me and as I was told by the lactation specialist  your baby is the best pump and never suggested a pump, it is hard in the beginning and very time consuming so I prepared myself for that and still struggled a bit because it was often every 30 minutes but it worked and he is a thriving chunky monkey and is a great nurser and I think by nursing so much is what helped me to have a good milk supply and I still make sure that I am drinking something every time I nurse.
Hope you have good luck this time around!
Beth

Although I only have one child, I did breastfeed here almost exclusively for 5.5 months.  I had to supplement a little when I went back to work.  (Stupid jobs, they always get in the way)  I think Jennifers suggestions will help a lot!!  When I would feed Libby I had a glass of water by my side.  I would just sit there and dedicate my time to feeding Libby and drinking water.  Wow, it made a huge difference.  I tried to do that when pumping at work, as well.  Any time Libby got the slightest bit fussy the boob would come out.  My left also made a ton more milk than my right, that boob is also bigger than the right so I am not sure if that had anything to do with it.  I would start her on the left one time and the next time I would start her on the right.  I wanted to make sure the right was getting fair treatment.  :-)  When I was in the hospital I would let her suck on each side for 20-30 minutes.  I didn't care of she was just playing, it helped bring in the milk and she got used to eating that way.  I did give her some bottles in the hospital, but only because I was so tired and I had a c-section and was out of it for a while.  It didn't hurt one bit and she still took to nursing and nursed like a champ.
I hope it all works out for you.  I absolutely loved being able to breastfeed, even if I did complain about how time consuming it was!

You already got some really great advice, so I don't really have anything to add. I just wanted to wish you luck.