Tips & Tricks: Breatfeeding & Travel

Planning a trip is fun:)  I was so excited to be heading out on a weeklong vacation with my sweet hubby but had yet to think about all the details that needed to be taken care of before we left.  Beach, sand, and sun clouded my mind.  We didn't actually plan and book our trip until July (to leave the first week in September), but we knew we wanted to go somewhere late summer, so I started to prepare myself around the first of May by pumping and freezing as much milk as I could.  From the time the girls were born up until that point I was only able to pump as much milk to provide for them that next day.  In hopes to increase my milk supply to be able to start storing, I added in another pump session before bed every night.  In the beginning I was only getting a few ounces- maybe 2 or 3.  Within the end of the month I was pumping enough to be able to store some for while we were gone. 

 

By the time we were set to leave for Mexico I had stored 240 ounces of milk. That was enough for each baby to have 4 ounces in each bottle, 5 times a day for 6 days.  This meant that the girls would be getting 2 ounces of formula in each bottle to make up for what I was lacking in the stored milk.  I ended up purchasing Gerber Good Start  and the girls tolerated it well! They haven't had formula since they were 3-4 weeks old when we were supplementing while my milk supply was coming in, so I was nervous on how they would react to the change.  If I could have saved a 6 ounce storage bag of milk every single day I would have ended up with plenty- but its not a perfect world and I was only able to save a handful of bags a week.  Nothing wrong with a little formula supplementation when needed:)

 

Although I was ready for some time away, I became so stressed about making sure I was able to provide enough for the girls while I was without them, as well as pumping and traveling.  I started researching and reaching out to other momma's in my community (if you have an Instagram account- I highly recommend following @askthemamas.  They are such an AMAZING community of women that offer advice and answer questions that so many of us have.  I submitted a question about pumping and traveling with my expressed milk and got a lot of great feedback.)

 

Finally I came up with what I thought was a great plan for while we were away.  Making a list (actually multiple lists..) kept me sane when planning for all that I was taking along with me.

• Pump (duh..)
• Storage bottles: 4 (8-ounce) bottles and 6 (5-ounce) bottles
• 2 (32-ounce) water bottles (like this one)
• 2 sets of pumping accessories (valves with membranes and breast shields)
• Ice packs (I brought 2 and kept them in the freezer part of the mini fridge in our room)
• 1-2 cooler bags  
• Nursing cape for pumping in public (I totally forgot about this one!) 

*Note: The 8 ounce bottles will hold up to 11 ounces and the 5 ounce bottles will hold up to 7 ounces when filled to the spout.  The 32 ounce water bottles will hole up to 35 ounces when filled to the spout. 

 

I also brought some of the pump wipes for quick clean up after a pump session.  The water in Mexico is not potable, so I made sure to rinse out my pump accessories and bottles with bottled water provided.  

 

While we were away I pumped 4 times a day: first thing in the morning (7am-8am), lunch time (anywhere between 11am and 1pm), before dinner (between 5:30p and 6:30pm, and last before bed (around 11pm).  Since I knew it was not realistic to save every last ounce of milk I expressed, and as much as I hated the thought of 'wasting' the liquid gold I had produced, I pumped and dumped twice a day.  Occasionally I would have a couple drinks during the day while we were laying by the pool, so I opted not to save that milk.  I know that I am able to drink and still provide safe milk, but since I would have more than one drink over the course of a couple hours, it wasn't worth it to me to save it.  Plus- I didn't come with enough space for storage of 400 ounces of breast milk! SO- it was my justification for pouring it out and feeling ok about it:)    

 

For reference: If you're going to enjoy an occasional alcoholic beverage, keep in mind that it takes two to three hours for your body to eliminate the alcohol in one serving of beer or wine. Specific time frames depend on your size and how much you drink, but the more you drink the longer it takes your body to get rid of it.  Like some would think, alcohol isn't stored in breast milk – instead, the level increases and decreases just as it does in your bloodstream. The rule of thumb: If you have an alcoholic drink, wait at least two hours before breastfeeding your baby.

 

The milk I did store, I poured into the sports bottles first and then started to fill the smaller bottles.  By the end of our trip I was able to store about 200 ounces of milk. 

 

Before heading out of town I checked to confirm the standards for traveling with breastmilk/formula on the TSA website.  You can find the TSA standards for carrying on breast milk (formula and juice) to the plane here.  In the states, parents flying with, and without, their child(ren) are permitted to bring breast milk in quantities greater than three ounces as long as it is presented for inspection at the security checkpoint. Additionally, empty bottles and ice packs are permitted under these conditions. 

Even though I was confident with what the website stated, I felt less that confident as we approached the security check point in Cancun.  I came to realize very quickly that even though the TSA website said I could travel with my milk onto the plane, Mexico's airport security was claiming differently.  The security attendants continued to asked me where my babies were and why I was carrying milk if I wasn't traveling with them.  I was so confused and for half a second I thought they were going to make me dump all 200 ounces of milk I had packed to bring home.  There was a terrible language barrier, but finally they allowed me to walk out of the line and head back to luggage check to have them stow my milk under the plane. 

Realizing that there was no way my milk was going to be safe for consumption after being under the plane for 3 hours, I asked a vendor in the air port for some ice- and the employee graciously obliged my request! Such a blessing!

Since the milk was in an actual cooler bag, I purchased a bag from a little convenience shop and then had the Secure Wrap man do his work to keep the cold in as long as possible

..and then I checked my little blue ball-o-milk. 

After explaining to the baggage attendants what the dilemma was and why I needed to check another bag.. and please don't charge me for my second checked bag, they were very nice and allowed it, no questions asked.  As stressed as I was for about 10 minutes- everyone was so very helpful and didn't mind my requests for assistance one bit.  They could probably tell the desperate look on my face- and to not upset this mama bear. 

headband // Jameson Monroe * t shirt // J.Crew Factory * cardigan // Loft * watch // Fossil

pants // Loft (last season) * sandals // Loft

One last pump before boarding the plane!  I completely forgot to grab my nursing cap before heading out of town and was thankful I tend to carry a cardigan everywhere I go.  There was an outlet in an empty terminal, so I took advantage of the semi-private area before getting on a 2 1/2 hour flight home.

The milk made it home safely, intact, and COLD!  Thank you Haagen-Dazs man! The girls drank this milk for the week after we were home (it is good for 8 days in the fridge).  I started with the first pumped milk and ended with the most recent pumped.  Anything I pumped that week after we got home I stored in the freezer for another time. 

I have not noticed a drop in my supply or anything like that because we were gone.  That was probably my biggest fear in planning a trip away from the girls.  I was also fearful that they would forget and have no interest in nursing after being away from them for 6 days. 

Nope- my girls picked up right where we left off a week earlier:)

Postpartum: 5 Things They Don’t Tell You

I’m 7 ½ months into this new life as a mom and totally loving every minute of it.  These girls are my whole world.  In these last few months since becoming a mother, I’ve become a wise woman (not) and learned many a-things along the way.   During pregnancy I read all about what’s happening to my changing body and growing belly-  how the bab(ies) are growing, what new developments they have this week, and all that jazz. I also read up on birth and all the different types of methods there are- normal births, c-sections.. and then, if you are like me, you end up on bed rest with about a million hours of daylight to kill, and scouring Pinterest and blogs finding that anything remotely related to pregnancy and motherhood seems interesting enough to read.   Yet, for some reason, no one ever prepared me for what happened to my body afterwards. Maybe because it isn't pretty and probably nothing that one would want to talk/blog/exploit here on the world wide web.  Ok, so not that terrible, but definitely surprised me.

Your hair might fall out. I know. Don't you feel pretty now? Here I was all excited and swooning over my luscious locks while pregnant- I could wash it once a week (I know) blow dry and curl it, and it looked amazing, even after sleeping on it (I know).  Perhaps it looked so good the next morning because I didn’t actually sleep on the regular (pregnancy insomnia got the best of me).  But, when Dr. Walsh gave me 20 minutes to shower and clean up, I obliged.  So, it was all too good to be true to be able to ‘fluff’ and go when I needed to.   Well, sorry Cinderella but the party is over and the hair fairy wants her glass slippers back. Lame.  This is one of those wonderful hormone side effects that can come with giving birth.  Around 5 months postpartum I started losing my hair. This is normal, as any doctor will assure you, but it sure is a lot. In the shower, my hair seems to fall out in chunks, and then after blow drying, I literally have to sweep my bathroom floor and counter top to remove the layer of hair left behind.  Even still, at 7 ½ month postpartum, I’m losing my hair.  Much less of it, but I still notice it on a daily basis. To be honest, I have had three people in the last week ask if I've cut my hair.  February was the last time I had it cut.  Apparently this hair loss business can happen for up to a year. Yikes!

You might be hot. No, not good hot. Gross and sweaty hot. Thank you, hormones. Once again they may be to blame for giving me these hot flashes and causing me to wake up more than once a night in a sweat (like drenched-change-my-clothes sweaty).  Nothing says sexy like a woman who's losing her hair and walking around like she just ran a 5K..because I only can attest truth for one of those things, and it’s not the running one.  I was once very cold-natured, carrying a sweater everywhere with me, and now I practically die of heat at least once a day.  Typically I break a sweat after pumping while at work.  I know- so awesome.      

You might go blind {as a bat}.  There is good reason for why they don’t recommend getting your eyes checked while pregnant.   Changes in hormones (always the culprit!), metabolism, fluid retention, and blood circulation can all affect your eyes and your eyesight during pregnancy.  Usually these are small changes, but it could affect how well your glasses or contacts correct your vision.  Most women experience minor if any noticeable change. But, no.. not me.  I cannot see the television guide while sitting 5 feet from the screen.  I can’t read street signs.  I can hardly drive at night with confidence.  I have completely given up on reading a digital clock that is outside a 1 ½ foot radius. Completely ridiculous.  In most cases, these changes are temporary and will reverse themselves within several months of delivery.  Here I am 7 ½ months out and still waiting for my vision to return from vacation.  I think I need to make an appointment. 

You might starve.  Or die of thirst.. whichever one comes first.  I thought this would gradually come to a halt as the months went by, but oh no.. still got it.   I am exclusively breast feeding my girls (in addition to cereal, fruits, and veggies) and pretty much graze all day long.  I feel like I’m dying of hunger at least twice a day.  I am starved especially just after nursing (or pumping if I’m at work).  The hubby always makes sure to have a snack and beverage ready for me when I get home because I’m usually walking in the door to feed the girls.  Good news is that all these calories are actually being used when breast feeding to keep energy levels up as well as to keep my milk supply at its peak. You need an extra 400-500 calories for a singleton, and 800-1,000 calories when nursing twins.  I can tell in my supply if I haven’t had enough fluids or healthy fats in my diet.  I usually drink plenty of water throughout my day, not to mention the little extra I get from fruits and veggies.

You might be forced into time management.  I’ve learned that with twins (and I’m sure with a singleton baby, too!) I am the last person on the list to get ‘ready’ and out the door.  These girls have got to eat, get a clean diaper, dressed, and loaded up.  Getting into the car takes at least 10 minutes.  I’ve learned to do my once 2-hour routine (don’t judge me) in all of about 25-30 minutes.  Hair, make-up, and fully clothed.  I have been known to forget my shoes and last minutes run inside to grab them.. but I always have my earrings on!  My new shortened routine has been especially helpful in the mornings before work when sleep seems so much more important than wearing makeup.. but then I realized I speak and counsel people for a living and probably should look presentable.  Hence the make-up routine in less than 12 minutes, and most often my hair is dirty.  What matters is that I’m able to get somewhere on time (for the most part) and typically being/seeming put together myself and toting happy-fully-bellied babies. 

So there you have it.  5 things I currently deal with and have come to accept in this new role as momma.  Even though it’s been almost 8 months, I’m still humbled on a daily basis the many blessings that have been placed upon me.  So.. even if my hair is falling out.. or my grocery budget is through the roof, or my newly sweaty-nature produces even more laundry to do, I don’t really care/mind. 

Being a mom to these two is totally worth it.  I mean.. seriously.

Can I get an AMEN.

How Does She {Breastfeed Twins}

“Breast feeding twins is pretty much impossible so I would get used to using formula for your babies.”

 – pediatrician hospitalist

On the day of discharge post c-section and the birth of my twin babies, the pediatrician attending to my girls during their stay came by to make his final examination of them before their release.  I had just gotten through tandem feeding my tiny babies and he nonchalantly made this statement to me, leaving me completely speechless.  Really?  Thanks for the support and encouragement, sir. 

When I was pregnant with my twins many people expressed skepticism that I'd be able to breastfeed both of my babies. I'm one determined Momma though and wanted to do all that I could to make that happen. Our journey hasn't been without some trial and error though so I thought I'd share what I've learned with my girls in the hopes it might help other Moms struggling with the early days of breastfeeding.

Formula Supplementation

At birth, my little girls were pretty petite at just 4 pounds, 8 ounces and 5 pounds 14 ounces.  The main focus became making sure they were getting enough and gaining weight.  The smaller baby, Jolie Grace, missed the NICU for her weight by just 49 grams (a just about a tablespoons worth), so I became determined to keep her weight up so that they both could come home with me when I was discharged.  In the beginning while my milk was still coming in and weight was of major concern I supplemented with about 1-2 ounces of formula or if I had pumped enough, breast milk, after each time they ate.  I would nurse for just 15 minutes at a time so that they wouldn’t burn too many calories working to get the milk.  The bottle was much easier of an effort and after 15 minutes at the breast, I would offer the bottle and they would eat just a little more. After the first month the girls improved at feeding, my milk supply became efficient, and my life got so much easier.  It was tough feeding them once, and then feeding them both all over again.

To some breast feeding mothers, formula isn't ideal, but until you start producing enough milk for your baby or babies, it might just be the only option. That was hard for me to accept, but finally I came to grips that it wasn’t about me at all- it was all about making sure my babies had enough to eat and grow. With this realization my confidence increase and my anxiety levels dropped and I knew they were getting enough and that's all that matters.

Breastfeeding: Using Your Resources

If you are having difficulties with breast feeding, my number one pieces of advice- don’t stop offering the breast. The desire is that eventually your little one will get the hang of latching and in hopes to successfully breast feed, the baby needs that familiarity of nursing versus bottle feeding.  That will not only stimulate more milk, but can be practice and encouragement for your little one, too!  I was lucky that neither of my girls had an issue with latching, but I knew what to look for in an incorrect latch and quickly attempted to correct it.  Which brings me to my next tip: Be sure contact your hospital lactation consultant and see about going in for her to help you. From the moment I arrived to recovery I started asking for my lactation consultant.  I was really lucky for the support I had in the hospital from those LC's. At my request they came in every day I was there for at least an hour to help me learn what is a correct latch and what to look for and change if I started having troubles with feeding. They totally prepared me for when I was at home- and I was thankful because, even as prepared as I thought I was, I was still clueless.

The Pump

The greatest increase in demand comes from pumping.  I was hooked to that machine 8-10 times every day during the first 6 weeks or so. Because the girls’ mouth were small and were not successful in emptying my breasts during a feeding, I had to make my body think that they were so that the supply and demand theory would kick in and increase production. Eventually my body figured this out and started to produce enough for both girls and I didn't have to supplement with formula any more.  Pumping soon after a feeding will help your body think that you still need more milk and, again, more milk will be produced. There are a ton of theories and ideas out there for how long you are supposed to pump.  I've heard to pump 5 minutes after you notice the 'last drop', some say to pump at least 20-25 minutes and no less, others say just 10-15 minutes is enough. Personally, I would make sure to pump for at least 20 minutes, or until your breast feel soft and empty. Even though pumping so often in the beginning seems terrible, it's not forever. If I am at home, I pump just once a day in the morning after their first feeding.  I can get anywhere between 5-8 oz after feeding them. During my work week I pump three times in my 8 hour day and express about 30 ounces total.  There were times in the beginning that I would cry because I wasn't even getting 1/2 an ounce during a pump session. I worked so hard and couldn't get results to save my life. It's important for your body to believe you 'need' the extra milk and the stimulation from the pumping will promote more milk to be made.

Increasing & Maintaining Milk Production

Some things I've tried that didn't do much:

·         Mothers Tea- To me it tastes and smells horrible.  I didn't seem much change at all in my milk supply.

·         Fenugreek- smells of maple syrup (it is the additive that is actually added to pancake syrup) and I didn't see too much of a change in my milk supply. I was taking 4+ pills a day and decided after finishing a bottle that it wasn't worth it to purchase again.

What works for me:

·         Multi-grain Cheerios. No joke! I eat a bowl of Cheerios every night before bed and notice a huge change in my milk supply for the next day. There are studies that say oatmeal is helpful and since Cheerios are and oat based cereal I can see why it works for me.

·         Stay hydrated. I can tell in my milk supply when I don't drink enough throughout the day. I try and drink at least 100mL/day of water alone. Not counting the water I get from fruits, vegetables and other food sources. 

·         Eating a balanced diet.  Occasionally, a mother’s calorie or fluid intake can affect milk production.  Excessive dieting can reduce milk supply, but sensible dieting is generally not a problem.  I have read that it’s best not to do anything consciously to lose weight until after the second month. This gives your body enough time to successfully establish a healthy milk supply that is less likely to be adversely affected if your caloric intake is restricted. I had no problem dropping the baby weight, but I wasn’t doing so with effort. 

o   Breast feeding a singleton baby you need an additional 300-500 calories/day.  Breastfeeding twins  you need upwards of an additional 1,000 calories/day  

o   There are no foods that you should avoid simply because you are breastfeeding. It is generally recommended that a nursing mother eat whatever she likes, whenever she likes, in the amounts that she likes and continue to do this unless baby has an obvious reaction to a particular food.

The main thing needed to maintain an ample milk supply is simple –The more often and effectively your baby nurses, the more milk you will have.

My girls are eating more and more these days. They now eat between 5 and 6 ounces at each feeding. Between the two of them I need to pump almost 40 ounces while I’m at work.  I cannot help but have a twinge of anxiety every time I increase each feeding amount.  I am fearful I won't be able to keep up, but so far I haven't had any problems.

I expect that there may come a point that I'll have to supplement with formula and I'm okay with that. But, I'll still give them what I can of breast milk.  What matters is that I am giving them what they need whether it be from breast milk or formula.  Either way they are healthy and growing the way they need to.   That’s definitely a success in my book.