I'm due in about 7 weeks, I have my mind set on breastfeeding, the only thing is I'm in college, I'm only able to take 2 weeks off from school, I was told that you're supposed to pump every 2 hours or else there's painful soreness in your breasts, the problem is that I have 4 classes, meaning I have 4hours at school and only 10 mins between each class. Someone also told me that my body will regulate when it makes milk/how much it makes, but how long does that take?
Is there any way that I'll be able to breastfeed? Any advice would be helpful and very appreciated!
2007-09-12 17:21:21 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Oh & I forgot to mention that I'm having him around the time that finals will be coming up...so I don't know how that'd work..
2007-09-12 17:32:06 · update #1
Your body will start regulating once you and your baby have been nursing for about four to six weeks. That is when you will have a good milk supply established and this is only done if you nurse your baby on demand. So my advice to you is choose what's most important to you. I personally would take the sememster off so that I could be successful at breastfeeding and really enjoy that time with my new baby. If you do this and read up as much as you can on breastfeeding you will be successful.
2007-09-12 17:27:23 · answer #1 · answered by mamaofone1 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
You'll have to talk to your professors and teachers now and garner their support. Most highly educated parents understand the risks of formula feeding, so it should be an easy sell. I'm not completely sure why you would need to pump every two hours. You don't need to pump at all while your baby is with you, and while you're in class, you pump every time baby takes a bottle. You'll feed right before class begins, pump between classes sometime, then feed immediately after school. Resist the temptation to stay late! (take my own advice, I know)
Those first few weeks, you'll do everyone a favor is you actually put your baby into a sling and take him or her to class with you. You can breastfeed in the sling and if baby fusses you can walk around the back of the classroom. Just talk to your teachers and let them know that you want to be there for your tiny baby because he needs you. Spend the next 7 weeks being the world's best student and ask if you can take finals early. It will be hard, but I think it will be worth it! You can do it!
Milk production regulates (it doesn't stop unless you use formula) between 6 and 12 weeks, give or take. Keep your confidence up after you stop feeling engorgement--you'll still have plenty of milk even though you can't feel it.
Major kudos for breastfeeding while in school. You'll be making yourself smarter while making your baby smarter. You're brave and I think you're doing a great thing.
2007-09-13 08:36:17 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well you have a few options. You can breastfeed whenever you are with baby and pump when ever you get the chance which will keep the milk supply going, 10 minutes is better than nothing. Or you can breastfeeding when you are with your baby and have someone formula feed while you are away, you milk supply will adjust and you won't have the pain and if you do you can hand express milk enough to release the pressure. Your body will make how much milk it thinks it needs so if you are only breastfeeding in the morning and at night then your milk supply will adjust according to that.
2007-09-12 17:29:18 · answer #3 · answered by momof3boys 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Don't stress out about it. You will be able to breast feed normally once you get into a routine. The worse week is going to be the first week you go back to school. What would probably work best for you would be to supplement with formula when you are in school instead of trying to pump. Since you don't have time to pump between classes this would much easier for you. Breastfeed whenever you are home and have the baby take a bottle when you are away. Pumping can sometimes be time consuming especially for a new mom.
What would be easier on your body is if you breastfeed you baby during the hours you are normally with her and then bottle feed her during the hours you are normally away for school. This way you won't produce too much milk, you will have a couple days of discomfort but you will adjust quickly.
2007-09-12 17:32:14 · answer #4 · answered by Nyx 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
When you breastfeed, every woman is different when it comes to how long you can go before the breasts become painful. For me, 4 hours would have been a long time to go. My breasts would have gotten hard and they would have started leaking and I would have been really uncomfortable. It is a lot like having to tgo to the bathroom. You kind of feel this pressure there that you really want to release. And when it wants to come out, it will come out. And when you are so engorged, just thinking about your baby will make the milk release. And my breasts never really did regulate. I think that is different for everybody too. That is a shame you have to go back to school right away. If you do decide to breastfeed, I would invest in some good nursing pads. Good Luck!
2007-09-12 17:30:59 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It takes about a week after your milk comes in, so you should be ok!
There's plenty of times where my 2 month old goes 4 hours without eating, and I make plenty of milk for her! If you need to, take a portable pump and use those breaks to pump one side for 5 minutes, then the other side! They take longer than 4 hours to start hurting, I promise. It takes mine at least 6.
Pump as often as you can at home and build up a frozen stock so someone can feed the baby when you're gone (you'll probably only need 1 or 2 bottles of about 4oz. each), and feed the baby frequently at home so you can keep up your supply!
Good luck, and congratulations! Good job in wanting to give your new little one the best start in life!
2007-09-12 17:29:39 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
How far do you live from campus?
This question is right down my ally!!! I breastfeed my 9 month old daughter and I just graduated in May from college. I attended college for one entire semester and one month of a semester while breastfeeding. I lived maybe a block from campus. I set my schedule up with my husband and he and I had opposite class times (he's also a student)... I'd come home and breastfeed her and rest and then go back to class. It worked great this way. I took 12 credits (I think) which was much much less than I usually took at 17 credits, but it worked great! Once I had her I never wanted to leave her. She is the most precious thing to me. I never wanted to part with her when I had to go to class. So it was great to be able to come back and cuddle her and love her. :) Make your schedule flexible, shape it around your baby. You should never have to put your baby second to your college schedule. Your baby should always come first. If you have on campus childcare (which I didn't unfortunately) then this could be made easier. You can easily come to the childcare between classes and feed your baby.
I had a friend named Melanie who was in a similar situation. She was going to school for Business at the same time. Her baby on my baby's birthday, too LOL! Anyway, she always took her pump with her to classes and pumped between classes in the lady's restroom (or if you have a great female prof who would let you use her office, that works great, too!) She stored her milk for her baby to drink while she was gone. Take advantage of your lactation consultant at your hospital. Talk to them, come up with ideas and tips. They are absolutely awesome. Breastmilk can be safely stored in the refrigerator for (not sure on this you can look it up) 24 hours or so... you can look it up online, my point is that you can have a cooler in your car that can keep your milk cool or take an insulated lunch pail with you to keep your milk in until the end of the day. You can also ask if you can keep it in the freezer at the faculty lounge. My school was relatively small so they were very happy to let me do these things. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Breastmilk is absolutely the best thing for a growing baby and in my opinion the best thing for mama, too. I cannot describe how wonderful the bonding time has been with me and my daughter!!! This is a wonderful thing that shouldn't be passed over.
I wish you luck and congratulations!!!
Gus
2007-09-12 17:36:48 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
well you can b/f while your at home then when it's time for school to start back you might have enough to pump out.
but you won't be over flowing with milk either.
You can pump or feed before school then you should be okay til you get out, then you will need to pump as soon as possible, your breast will adjust to that schedule. but always be sure to have plenty of extra nursing pads with you in case you do leak, also maybe an extra shirt. you can do it don't worry, you can also discuss this with the lactation lady who will talk to you after delivery. good luck and that's the best choice for you and the baby.
2007-09-12 17:36:32 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are some women who can work like a horse and produce milk for several children.
Others need lots of sleep and a very balanced life.
Even being gone for four hours at a time your body can adjust to the schedual. You might get engorged. but pump at least once. Tall your teacher about it. Get a doctor's note or something.
Your baby will probably nurse more in the evening. and nights.
Eat healthy. Drink lots of water.
Enjoy
2007-09-12 17:29:48 · answer #9 · answered by clcalifornia 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You'll only be skipping one feeding by going to school- if you plan on feeding every 2 hours. That's not really a big deal. I'm assuming it's 5 days a week that you're in school. I'd pump a little just to relieve my breasts so that I wouldn't leak. But it doesn't seem like too much to worry about to me. But I'd try and breast feed- it makes night feedings A LOT EASIER!!!
2007-09-12 18:50:46 · answer #10 · answered by jose migel 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋