Heather MacLean,RN,CBC,BS has 15 years experience as a Registered Nurse, is a Certified Breastfeeding Consultant, and has her Bachelor of Science in Family Health.read more

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Sign In to Ask a Question Page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12   lactation expert   Thread Posted by Replies Views Date   menstruating while nursing Question I have been exclusively nursing my 3 month old from day 1 I have gotten my first mentrual period a few days ago with a pretty heavy flow Is this the norm I was always under the impression that mothers who exclusively breastfeed do not menstruate Does this mean that I am ovulating as well Answer irjohnson 1 333 2/1/08 5:01 pm   my breast as a pacifier Question Hi I'm a first time mom and have a 5 week old baby girl I'm currently breastfeeding and going well The problem I have is that I feel like my baby is using me as a pacifier to go to sleep After feeding her she is content but gets fussy about half an hour to an hour later because she wants to go back on the breast to go to sleep And this is the only way she'll sleep  I've tried using different pacifiers but she won't take them  Any advice   Answer valzekezoey 1 365 2/1/08 1:06 am   spitting up after breast feeding Question not every time but more times than not she seems to spit up after taking the breast IS this normal I thought breastfed babies didn't do that Answer anxiouslywaiting 1 377 1/25/08 7:01 pm   Pumping Question I am due to have my second baby anytime now   With my first I breastfed for a year and was happy to never give my baby any formula   However I would like to be able to pump with success this time   With my first I didn't pump at all until about 5 weeks and I rarely got more than a half an ounce per side   I would like more freedom to leave my baby if necessary and have him still get breastmilk   Is there anything I can do to help my breasts respond better to pumping so that I can express more per time   Any advice is greatly appreciated thanks Answer Keegansmomma05 1 430 1/15/08 10:17 pm   weightgain to quickly??? Question thank you for your time my baby is now 6 weeks old he was 7 2 pounds when he was born normal weight the first check up after 3 weeks he already has gained 2 pounds but now i think he is getting really chubby in only a few weeks we going for another up in 2 weeks im a bit worried they might tell me he is to big i breast feed only no other supplements and he eats every few hours sometimes more if he is upsett but also spits up a little if he had enough do i feed him to much to often and also when do babys develop there eyecolor Answer mandy 1 329 1/20/08 9:49 pm   Gas EVERY morning around 5:00 AM Question Hi Heather First off thanks for your help   My 6 week old gets gas nearly every morning around 5:00 give or take an hour   It is clearly very painful for him and prevents him from sleeping   Last night I wasn't hungry and didn't even eat any dinner and he still had gas at the same time so I am lthinking it was my lunch   What is the normal or average time after I eat something that it will get into my milk and then bother him I have tried eliminating various foods from my diet without success Once the gas passes he is fine again we would really like to find out how to prevent this though Answer newmom 1 369 1/17/08 3:28 pm   Freaking out Question I just read about IBC and it is the same symptoms as mastitis and can come on during pregnancy or lactation I saw my doctor 3 days ago because I had flu like symptoms and a fever with an achy and red breast She said I had mastitis and gave me an antibiotic and vicodin for the pain the redness has pretty much gone away but it is still a bit painful (although not as much) and bumpy in there when should I expect this to go away with the antibiotics Should it be gone by now if it is mastitis If it is absessed do I have to have surgery to drain it Can they just give me a local anesthetic or do I have to go all the way under Thanks Answer Lisa777 1 343 1/16/08 8:39 pm   Question Question I think I have mastitis I stopped breastfeeding a week ago (very unhappy about it but it was so painful) I had a fever last night and achy body plus my right breast aches and is lumpy on the side My fever is gone today does that mean I don't have mastitis I was going to see a doctor today but if I don't have a fever I don't really thing it is necessary my breast is still sore though what should I do Answer Lisa777 1 344 1/14/08 3:13 pm   Supply and Weight Gain for 8-mth Question Hi   I have an 8 mth old for whom I have strictly breastfed no pumping or formula   However   my breasts rarely feel full as they did when I first started breastfeeding   Is there something wrong   Also my baby weighs a mere 16 lbs (granted he was sick for a few weeks)   Is this low for a breastfed baby and are there differences in weight between a formula and breastfed baby Answer pub2007 2 350 1/14/08 2:25 am   food?? Question what foods should I watch out for when I'm breast feeding I usually try to seat fibera dn protein cereal once a day to keep me regualar can I continue to do that Answer anxiouslywaiting 1 346 1/13/08 4:19 pm   Macrobid Question Hi   I was prescribed Nitrofurantoin or Macrobid due to a bladder infection   The dr and pharmacist said it was okay to breastfeed while taking this   My son is only a week old and in the directions for the medicine it said it could have undesirable effects on babies this young   I am frusterated because I just got him to latch on again after I had to let my nipples heal   I have been feeding him breast milk from a bottle and have been trying to pump like crazy to get enough milk to last while I have to take the meds but I'm not going to have enough and I need to start taking the medicine   I don't want to give him formula but I don't know that I have a choice   What are your thoughts on taken this medicine while breastfeeding Answer lyndon7034 1 333 1/4/08 9:34 pm   back to work and pumping Question THANK U FOR TAKING TIME TO READ AND ANSWER MY QUESTION I WANT TO GO BACK TO WORK ONLY ONE DAY A WEEK  FOR NOW I ALREADY PUMPED SOME MILK AND FROZE IT BUT WILL I HAVE TO PUMP EVERY 2 HOURS BECAUSE MY BREASTS ARE FILLING UP OR IS THERE A WAY I CAN LIMIT T PRODUCTION OF MY MILK THANK YOU Answer mandy 1 356 1/9/08 8:56 pm   milk production Question so i was sick between christmas and new years had a 101 fever for 3 days the only medicine i took was tylenol to break my fever well n ow i have no milk my baby will be 8 eeks on monday up until getting sick i had more milk than i knew what to do w/ and now i have about 10 i am pumping like a fool and i pit baby on my breast whenevr he is hungry but he is starving cuz he's n ot getting anything from me what to do thank you my email address is doyle07 mac com Answer doyle07 1 391 1/5/08 6:28 pm   duration time for milk Question I am wondering when does the mother's milk dry up my baby is threeand half wieeks old now i regret not feeding him any breast milk                                                           p s is it possible to still feed him                                                                       Thank You in advance                                                                                alijahsmom Answer alijahsmom 1 370 1/6/08 7:58 pm   3week old Question My baby is 3 weeks and 3 days   She can go about 3 hours in the day without eating as long as she is asleep   When she is awake she wants to eat every hour and a half or so if she stays awake that long Sometimes if she has been awake for a while she wants to eat very often but sometimes she gets ild in her mouth and she spits it out and fusses   THen after some fussing she goes to sleep   But at night she is up like every hour and a half to eat   And then she wants to be rocked for like a half  hour   I get very little sleep   How can I fix this   Is it just normal   Answer baby2 1 372 1/3/08 7:40 pm   Being prepared, the second time around. Question Hi I am 17 weeks along in my pregnancy This will be my second child   I really want to breastfeed my baby My first baby (a boy) was is the NICU for a while he ingested some of the meconium at birth and was started on formula while in the NICU Once he came out of the oxygen tent I started breastfeeding and when he came home we stopped formula all together Then unfortunately my mom became ill and passed away when he was just 5 weeks old With me being at the hospital a lot we used my supply of milk up (from the freezer) and my own supply eventually lessened (I still pumped while at the hospital for all the long hours but probably not enough) So before we knew it my son was back on a combo of breast milk and formula and even eventaully came to prefer the bottle as a result So when my son was 7 mos my supply was so low I just decided to stop all together I feel I did the best I could considering all that went on But I am hoping to have an easier time and make this work for me with baby number two I do work part time so eventually I will have to pump again But I really want to start with breast feeding solely  I am also concerned about how I will manage my time having an infant that I am trying to breast feed while I have a toddler at home(my son will be 26 mos when this baby is born)  My question to you is can you recommend any literature or anything I can do to feel less overwhelmed and to help me feel more comfident and prepared I know it is early still but I figure the sooner I start the more time I have to gain confidence and knowledge Thank you for your advice Answer Rizzo19 2 344 1/1/08 3:12 pm   breastfeeding and getting nails done Question I am 32 weeks pregnant and I am going to breastfeed I was wondering if it is safe to get my nails done and hair after I hve the baby while I breastfeed What are the limitations when breastfeeding Answer higprincess 1 566 12/19/07 3:10 am   formula Question Hi Heather My son was born on 12/10 and since then I started breastfeeding Each time he eats just around 8 10 min on one side and enough and the pattern is 1 hour interval Anything wrong with the pattern I heard that breastfeeding should be 2 3 hours interval and 20 30 min each time Do you have any suggestion on our situation Hence sometimes we need to go to the doctor and it spends the whole day if I feed him with formula on just one day do you think that it will change his habit and he will no longer interested in my milk What is your suggestion Thanks   Answer Jennifer 1 533 12/13/07 11:19 pm   breastfeeding Question i am on levotyroxine 50mcg on even days and 25mcg on odd days since 2 years is it safe to give breastfeeding to my baby due on jan 12th Answer 123 1 603 12/9/07 1:36 pm   nursing bra Question I am 32 weeks pregnant and am planning on nursing I wanted to go aheead and buy a nursing bra for teh hospital Before preg I wore a 34 B which was really to big and I am still wearing it since my breasts haven't changed but I really should go up to a 36 B since I am getting bigger around What size nursing bra shoudl I get 36C and what about underwire Answer anxiouslywaiting 1 454 12/7/07 12:51 am   Asking a question Question I don't want to sound rude or unpolite but what is the point of asking a question if a month later you still don't have an answer It loses it's point Answer sancha 1 457 12/1/07 1:08 pm   increasing supply Question My daughter is seven weeks old When she was 3 days old the pediatrician said to supplement breastfeeding with formula I had difficulties get her to stay latched on correctly in the hospital She would latch on for one or two sucks and then let go I had cracked and bleeding nipples that hurt severely but I kept trying to breastfeed The lactation consultant recommended I use a breastshield filled with milk by syringe to get her to stay latched on which worked 75 of the time I had a c section and when I went home the pharmacy was closed and I could not get my pain meds I was in so much pain from the surgery and my milk coming in I became overwhelmed and gave up breastfeeding for the next day After that I decided to only pump However my milk started decreasing over the next 2 days So then I have began alternating between breastfeeding with the shield and pumping each feeding For the first month she was getting half breastmilk half formula However over the last couple weeks her demand is increasing but my supply is not I am breastfeeding at each feeding and only pumping overnight  She now eats between 6 8 oz at each feeding which is every 3 4 hours and every 6 8 overnight However I only produce 2 3 oz combined every 3 4 hours I am worried that because she requires so much formula after I breastfeed her that she goes for longer periods of time without eating so my milk is not increasing  I still have trouble with her staying latched on she continues to give a couple sucks and let go We both are growing increasingly frustrated I thought after 7 weeks that we'd have the hang of it And I know breastfeeding is not supposed to hurt and it doesn't sometimes but a lot of the time I do end up with pink irritated nipples that continue to burn long after I stop breastfeeding And also she pulls my nipple through the holes of the shield a lot and that can be painful too I want her to have the benefit of the breastmilk and the bond between us but I am wondering if it is worth it when my supply is not increasing it is painful most of the time and it is such a laborous process to use the shield and put milk in it each time Answer jmartel6@hotmail.com 1 408 12/1/07 12:01 am   formula Question I still breastfeeeding but sometimes I can tell I don't have a milk Baby is acting like he is sucking and nothing there Sometimes milk is leaking sometimes I don't have any Is there some rules why is like that I drink pleanty of water one coffee a day Do I suppose to drink something special I don't want switch to formula but what if I have to You alreay help a lot can you give me advice in this case Thank  you Barbara Answer barbara 3 480 11/1/07 6:32 pm   ??? colic! Question What is the best for colic My baby is no gassy anymore and he can't make a stool He cries a lot I can tell he try to do it Is it colic Please help Answer barbara 3 483 11/1/07 6:37 pm   how to start breast feeding again Question Hi I delivered a baby 31/2 weeks back through C section breast feeded for a week but found out that I had urinary infection so was treated for it with antibiotics So i was told not to breast feed and put the baby on top feed but now I'm fine so i wanted to know How should I start breast feeding again Answer femme fatale 2 505 11/6/07 3:20 pm   loosing hair Question Hi Heather I'm sure that most of the moms who are reading right now have the same problem Few weeks after giving birth I started loosing hair like crazy I am breastfeeding and people say it is more common in moms who do that SO is there something I could take for that or just wait till I stop breastfeeding and it will go away Thanks Sancha Answer sancha 1 402 11/7/07 5:03 pm   please,help Question He usually spill up after I fed him Now I have different problem My baby boy couldn't make a stool The last one was not even soft just like chewy What can I do if he has problem like taht Please let me know how can I help him   Also I gave him formula last night maybe this is a reason he has problem right now Please help Thank you Barbara Answer barbara 1 403 11/1/07 6:07 pm   Partial Breastfeeding Question I had a baby in the NICU for a very short time and she was premature   The nurses advised against breastfeeding  so we would know she was getting food because she was small   I wanted to nurse but they weren't accomodating and wouldn't get me a breast pump to even help the milk som in   They wanted her on a higher calorie formula as well   When we went home I tried nursing but my baby preferred the bottle   I did eventually get a pump and start [umping for her but once she started need 3 4 ounces I couldn't produce that much   I was on magnesium and had the placenta removed manually and was told by the doctor that these two would slow down my supply I had to supplement with the high calorie formula   I wonder if the 2 3 bottles a day of breast milk is of any benefit to her and if it would just be better to stop all together or should I continue with what we're doing Answer pookbu 2 462 10/29/07 4:38 pm   gassy baby Question my 7wk is gassy after every feeding it doesn't seem to matter if i nurse her or give her my BM in a bottle we have tried 7 different bottles she is very uncomfortable & we are frustrated Should i change my diet no dairy gluten free i don't want to give up BF  but i hate to see my daughter so uncomfortable Answer babyo 1 480 10/23/07 7:41 pm   I am worried Question Hi Heather Thanks for help about breast feed my baby   He still eat a lot but after last three feeding he throw up some and he got diarhhea His stool looks like water Did I eat something bad for my baby   Do I need stop give him milk from me I am really worried Maybe something wrong with my milk   Yesterday I went to doctor for exam everything was fine Last night and today he is not doing well Please help me   I am sorry for my english if is not correct but I am from Poland and still learn   Also I need to tell I was pumping up my milk but I stopped Maybe this can be reason that now he is eating more often and looks like he is full every time But he throw up after every time I fed him What is the best if his stomach is upset Thank you Barbara Answer barbara 1 428 10/23/07 5:35 pm Page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

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