At the end of March, as the pandemic really took off, I sat down for my son’s two month appointment. I did not get to sit with the pediatrician I interviewed and “chose.” Our pediatricians office shuffled all the providers around in order to ensure well visits weren’t covered by a doctor who had been helping sick kids.
This pediatrician asked me how nursing was going and I confessed I was struggling with an oversupply. Note this oversupply was well beyond a “peace of mind” milk surplus. “That’s a great problem to have!” he said. I definitely was thankful to no longer be concerned about a low supply but wouldn’t consider our situation “great.” I was very uncomfortable and so was my son. He struggled with feedings even when I tried to lean back or take all the advice.
My Story at the Hospital
My birth story did not go as planned to say the least. Despite the circumstances, I was elated to finally have my baby in my arms. Having had a c section, I would be there for three night minimum. By day 2, it was clear my little one was sleepier than usual and losing weight more than typical babies. He lost about 10% of his weight and I had to develop a plan.
I met with a lactation consultant and it was recommended that I nurse for 15 minutes each side, then pump while my husband fed our baby my expressed milk. Triple feeding as some call it. I kept focused and determined to feed my baby and help him get over his jaundice issues.
I was so determined that I never even thought to ask how long this would be our “plan”…
My story after the hospital
After returning home, I continued triple feeding as our firstborn started to gain weight. His bilirubin levels were still above average at his first pediatrician appointment, but started to come down as he gained weight thankfully. I continued to triple feed because that was our plan!
I did not continue triple feeding at night, but the whole situation left me concerned that I wasn’t producing enough milk. As a first time mom, my lactation consultants were absolutely wonderful. Aside from the recommendation to triple feed, I didn’t really have a reason to believe this, but I continued without knowing when to stop.
Postpartum doula
I hired a postpartum doula to help me a couple weeks after my son was born and my husband went back to work and expressed how concerned I was about my supply and discussed our “plan” from the hospital. I pumped about 1.5oz right after a feed and she said the most reassuring thing to me. She said that was a beautiful amount to pump after a feed. Postpartum doulas are so sweet.
We talked a little more and she reassured me that triple feeding did NOT need to continue and as long as I fed on demand, there was nothing to indicate that I wouldn’t produce enough for my son. Genuinely triple feeding was a tool to use while my son struggled with jaundice. If I kept this up, I might confuse my body by “demanding” more milk. Unfortunately at this point, the damage was done for me.
Milk is “Supply and Demand” and What That Means
“Milk is supply and demand.” I heard that OVER and Over again. But what does that really mean? Personally I feel like that is an over simplification of milk supply at this point. I think its not only important to make the “demands” (ie milk removal) match what you *actually* need. I have found it is important to try to make sure you’re as empty as possible after a pumping session. For me, this meant I should hand express after a pumping session.
When I translate this to my “plan” in the hospital, I was signaling to my body that we had TWO babies to feed rather than just one. When I fed my baby and continued to pump and hand express afterwards, my body worked to feed my baby I nursed and “feed” my imaginary baby that my pump mimicked after every feed. Bodies are amazing.
I tricked my body here. I should have stopped signaling the “demand” to my body once my baby was over his jaundice and gaining weight effectively. My baby was able to signal the appropriate “demands” to my body once the jaundice subsidized. Personally, I didn’t need anything fancy to help me be effective at feeding my baby.
The Questions I Wish I Had Asked
Looking back on my experience and knowing what I know now, there is one question I wish I had asked at the time:
How do I know when to reassess this plan?
Maybe it would have been scheduling an appointment with a lactation consultant a couple of days after discharge. Maybe once we hit a certain weight? If I were giving myself advice now, I would have advise to stop pumping after feeds once he wasn’t eating those extra bottles you pumped. Better yet, I’d recommend meeting with a lactation consultant. Anytime you’re advised to triple feed, its not sustainable for long term. If you’re fortunate enough to have the support to make it work, you’re potentially setting yourself up for an uncomfortable oversupply. An oversupply IS NOT a good thing when it is way too high.
Breastfeeding at the Hospital Conclusions
As a first time mom, advice on ALL things gets thrown out. You’re sleep deprived, in pain, and managing visits from all sorts of medical professionals. While I tried to take notes on my phone and do everything right in the hospital, I wish I had asked one question about all breastfeeding advice I was given. “How do I know when to reassess this plan?” I hope this helps on whatever your journey looks like! Any other questions or advice to first time moms breastfeeding in the hospital? Share in the comments!