lactation consultant visit

I met with the lactation consultant on Wednesday to go over best positions for possible fast flow, to discuss Will’s spitting up and to have Will weighed.  She came to visit when we were having problems with Noah gaining weight.  Will was weighed wearing nothing but a clean dry diaper and he was 9 lbs. 12.4 oz. (which is nearly the same as what Noah weighed at his 2 month checkup)!  That is an increase of just under 2 lbs. since his 3 week pediatrician visit which she said was very good.  We talked about Will spitting up and she said since Will is gaining weight well and seems content otherwise it sounds like it’s just a laundry problem (she ain’t kidding, we now run a load of laundry at least every other day – there aren’t enough burp clothes in the world with this kid!).  She weighed Will again after he nursed on the right side and he had taken in 3.7 oz. of milk and then weighed him again after he nursed on the left side and he took him 0.4 oz. of milk.  I then pumped for about 10 minutes and produced an additional 2 oz.  No supply issue here!  She said babies need 2.5 oz. of milk for every pound that they weigh each 24 hours.  At about 9 lbs. 12.4 oz., Will needs about 24 ounces every 24 hours to maintain growth.  That is about 3 ounces every 3 hours.

She recommended starting Will on one bottle a day from here on out and that I should pump when Pete gives him the bottle.  We should start with 4 oz. from the freezer and then whatever I pump at night will be used the next night.  She also suggested that I build up a milk stash in the freezer (for when I go back to work) and aim for approximately 80 ounces (I had no idea how much I’d need since I didn’t have to go back to work when I had Noah until 8 months).  I already have about 9 ounces saved in the freezer.  To build up the freezer supply she said I should try to pump once a day or every other day after a morning feed.

I mentioned that my HR person at work wasn’t sure where I could pump, but offered the upstairs bathroom as an option.  Michelle said there is a law that requires employers to provide a room other than a bathroom (with a lock) for pumping for up to a year after the baby is born.  I’m not sure if my company falls under that law though, as there are only 13 employees.  Definitely worth asking!  Here is a possible work/pump scenario Michelle and I discussed and it would mean I would only have to pump once at work (though I’m sure every day will be different and I will undoubtedly have meetings I can’t avoid, Will may need to eat after 2 hours instead of 3 and at different times of day, and this would require me to pick up and drop off the boys which might be a pain in the ass):

8:30AM: drop off Will at daycare & nurse

11:30AM: drive to daycare & nurse for an early lunch

2:30PM: pump at work

5:30PM: pick up boys at daycare and nurse Will at home

Overall it was a good visit – I’m glad I had her come.  She charged $225 for the visit and apparently since the affordable care act was enacted this is now covered by our health insurance plan – yay!  I also was able to get a brand new breast pump prescribed by Dr. Carusi at the hospital which is also covered by my insurance plan.  So I now have a brand new hasn’t been opened pump and a pump that I used for only about 6 months with Noah.