Breastfeeding/nipple shields

I was an overproducer for the first week and you really only need maybe 3 oz every time they feed or when you pump. I use a little breast milk to help the nipple shields stay as well as lanolin on my nipples to help with the chaffing I lost some skin on mine the first few days. The first few feeds were painful and I think it’s just your body getting used to it. But this is my second kid and with my first I was lucky to even get an ounce of milk in a session. I would take your time and relax and don’t be hard on yourself at all ❤️

I use them but also pump and supplement with formula. we almost ended up in er a day after leaving hospital because his blood sugar was so low. So my routine now is to breast feed with nipple shield for about 5-10 minutes, until he gets too fussy really then feed pumped breast milk which is about 1 oz. Then offer formula. He usually takes about .5 oz of formula but sometimes up to 2 oz

@Patrice thats so scary, how did you know his blood sugar was low? i just got done with an hour feed, 30 mon on both sides thankfully, i used lanolin and shields, but im pretty sure he's getting enough? i am probably gonna make a formula run tonight just for my peace of mind in case i need to supplement over night. i already messed up and gave into giving him a paci bc after 5-10 minutes of his nonstop crying and it isn't gas anymore or dirty diaper or need to feed i just worry about him stressing himself out too much and i stress then and i cry lol. i have a 9 year old and i feel like a new mom all over again with a newborn, its so hard to remember the beginning with such a huge age gap. I wasn't successful at breastfeeding my oldest for long unfortunately

@Zoe I highly recommend having formula and bottles ready to go. If we didn't have them we would've been in er. I texted a video to his pediatrician at 4 am and sent him a video of his breathing. I asked if I should go to er because he's been breathing like that for hours. Luckily my text woke him up and he called me right away. He said it seems like he is worked uo because he isn't getting enough milk and that I should give a bottle and see the response after 15 minutes. His breathing calmed down so much. So the next day the doctor came by and tested his glucose levels and they were low. Still in normal range but low to have just eaten 2 hours prior. So we checked his sugar before each feeding for 3 feedings to make sure this wasn't an ongoing issue. I'm just paranoid now that he doesn't get enough. So being able to measure it out has given me peace of mind. Also breast feeding is work for baby so they lose calories as they work to get milk. Which I didn't really think about.

@Zoe and yes I was in tears the first few days home. He was screaming and I couldn't figure out what he needed and I didn't want to give formula and I also was just so unsure of how much he needed and how yo know if he was full. He's a week old today and every day gets better