First of all, congrats to you!

Kasumie, Its difficult to have 'enough' supply if u depends on the breast pump. EVen a very expensive breast pump could not imitate the suckle of our own babies. Of course there is a difference.. imagine all the closeness and bonding u would get when u let baby suck instead of a machine..

Trust me, u would feel like a cow forever lugging a breastpump everywhere and pumping non stop to keep up with baby.

Its not easy to supply, express, store and feed. U would have to pump 12 times in the initial days for about 2 months. U would have to wash storage bottles, pump parts ( a double pump have around 8-10 small pieces to wash), Sterilise, Wash milk bottles because of feeding. and when u go out, u would have to bring your pump, find a place to pump, chill your milk, etc etc.. Its harder to be exclusively pumping.

Do find contacts of breastfeeding lactation consultant and peer support counsellors and keep the contacts handy when u just delivered. If anything, give them a call, or leave a msg here.. EVeryone will help u...

p/s: Why am i so sure of the never-ending washing days? Cuz i tried. Immediately regretted thAT i did not let baby latch on frequently.. Got a feeling of unwanted..

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Added on February 12, 2012, 4:10 pmHi. Congratulations on your newborn. To get your baby back to the breast, u must really presevere and not offer the bottle at all. Latch baby on 24-7 to make him get use to the latch all over again. Your baby is still little and its very easy to lure him back to the breast again. Do contact a LC like Dr Koe or breastfeeding peer counsellors for help on latching and supply issues.

" Almost wanna give up db and feed with ebm liau. Got difference? Just that I am not sure I will have enough supply to feed him this way. Each time I pump, I only get about 1oz from both breat only. then would have to sumpplement with formula. "

You and Kasumie asked the same question.. hehe.. Of course there is a difference. The more u pump, the more u will feel that u have not enough. Bottle feeding will overfeed a baby.. Today u get 1oz, but baby need 2oz. tomorrow u get 2oz, and baby need 3oz. u will be forever chasing your baby intake.
What u can do now is to boost up your milk supply while continue latching him on. Fenugreek, papaya soup, himalaya supplements.. and all other wonderful milk boosters around..

Eat like a cow, don't pump like a cow.. latch your baby on!

This post has been edited by sbux: Feb 12 2012, 04:10 PM

Way to go! 0.2kg.. meaning he is getting enough la.. Don't worry.

How old for baby to latch on his own ar?
I think nickit and phythia can answer your question. Cuz i was exclusively pumping and yes i regretted it..

If at night, u should let her go back to sleep.. don't make any eye contact with her and pat her back to sleep/sarung/whichever method u use to put her to sleep.

During the day, can play with her for a bit for some brain stimulation. bright colour rattles and so on...

This is also to train her to differentiate between day and night.

Hi. Congratulations on ur newborn! don't worry, we are here to help.

during the first 3 days, ur baby only need a few ml of milk to fill up their small tummy. that is also why we would see baby 'non stop crying asking for milk'. your breast will produce something so precious called Colostrum and u can see it by pressing your nipple.

Are u staying with your parents? Who is taking care of u and baby? First, u will need to get support. Ask hubby to support u. Bring him up and say he wants u to bf and cannot give FM. Thats the best weapon.

Why baby reluctant to latch?
Because latching on require much more energy to get milk rather than feeding on a bottle teats. For example, Avent teats. With just little sucking motion, your baby would be able to have milk where else, sucking from human nipple requires much more effort. that we call it Bottle Confusion.

What to do now?
I understand the pressure from family. Feeding formula is not wrong but then, the more u feed, the less baby take from u. the less baby take from u, the less milk u produce. Its a demand-supply thingy.
What breastpump are u using? How often do u pump?
u will need to pump 8-12 times a day to stimulate supply. Do not skip the midnight pump. Pls wake up every 2-3 hours to pump. that is the most important timing in a day!

When u say u still have no milk supply, do u mean that u don't even get one drop? Or there is little milk? If there are little milk, even less than 1oz, CONGRATULATIONS! your milk have come in. just continue pumping to stimulate more supply. Its harder to catch up with a pump compare to direct latching.

How much fenugreek are u taking? Have u tried the other milk boosters? Papaya soup etc etc..

Your baby is still a newborn so its not hard to get bb to learn to latch on again. Try latching on before u give the bottle. With determination, it can works but then u need to kaotim your family first.

May i know where are u from? Do u know who is Gina Yong? U could get her to help u.

Plz update us on ur progress ya! We would be glad to help u.

Aiyaya... there is a lot of breastfeeding friendly medication. What causes her fever? is it a throat infection?

If not, try some natural remedies and take paracetamol only.

hi strawberrygirl! Congrats on your newborn..

Re best cream for nipple crack, the answer is - YOUR OWN BREASTMILK. just squeeze out a little, apply around nipple, and air dry. repeat as often as possible.

Do check out your latch. maybe baby's latching is incorrect thats why ur nipple crack.

Strawberrygirl, I think u should really check your latch cuz its definitely no right if ur nipple is bleeding. Are u staying around KL? Perhaps u can go and see Dr Koe in OUG.. I heard she is a very good lactation consultant.

And also, great job u have done there! Continue to persevere. It will be easier.

Strawberrygirl,

Breastmilk will adjust accordingly for your baby's growth that is why u find that its getting thinner. And sometimes, when the weather is hot, it will be thinner as a thirst quencher for your baby. Don't worry about the texture.

About anmum lacta, try the natural remedies first like fenugreek and make sure u drink more soups or water.. After confinement sure u eat and drink less already right? But no, u must continue to eat like a cow to be like a cow..

Alright. first of all, ditch the bottles and formula. Continue latching on aka direct feed your baby. The best breasts pump is ur baby.

To relieve engorgement, use hot compress. I use a hot hanky and also use hot shower to spray on the area of the lump and then bf immediately. My baby manage to clear my lumps.

About slow flowing milk rate,

Your milk rate is not slow. Its just the right way a NB baby should feed. They should feed slowly and not fast which would cause indigestion.

U know when we eat slowly, we tend to feel full faster? Same logic.

about Pumping,
I pump every 2 hours. If i am not feeding baby, I would pump when baby wake up to feed. Eg,
8am - Direct feed
10am - Bottle (I would also pump when baby taking bottles)

I see that u did your homework and are quite familiar with the theory of breastfeeding. Demand = Supply. The more your baby suck, the more u produce. Just keep latching on whenever ur baby need a feed.

Also, taking milk boosters does not work for everyone. U should also increase ur fluid intake. If like me, sick of water, i take milo/horlicks, red dates drink, soup, tong sui, ... etc etc..

My motto: To feed like a cow, u need to eat like a cow!


This post has been edited by sbux: Jul 16 2012, 03:06 PM

Let me say again, Baby is the best breast pump! Even though u cannot press out any milk, baby will be able to suck.

Sucking from the bottle is easy. Without sucking, milk would flow out as well. But sucking from the breast would be hard work. I guess your baby has a preference for the bottle already. Thats why a lot of info from the internet or books would tell u to NOT use the bottle during the first month no matter what.

What u can do is, latch your baby on first. Wait till he finish his feed.. If he cry, try topping up 0.5oz per serving. Baby cries doenst mean they are hungry. Maybe they need a burp, or they want to be carried.


About pumping, what pump are u using? I pump every 2 hours for 20 minutes each. I am using a mid-grade double pump.
Frankly speaking, a lot of people tell me their breast dried up after a month or two. After a few questions, most of them told me they did not pump frequent enough. 4 hourly isnt a good gap. Baby usually feed every 2 hourly. U must mimick the feeding pattern of ur baby to have more supply.
The more u feed/pump, the more u get. Most importantly, DO NOT skip the midnight pump. During midnight, i pump at 12am, 3am and 6am.

If u r tired, sleep when baby sleep.Feed ur baby, leave the burping, diaper changing to the CL/hubby.

I know its easier said than done but then, i have been through it so i understand.

U are doing a great job!

Re food that will boost or lower supply,
different people have different reaction. try stopping dong gwai entirely and see what will happen. I heard cabbage also reduce it. I took a lot of dong gwai during my confinement as well so i guess maybe that is why my supply is not much. forever ngam ngam for my girl.

I am not familiar with medela pump but then, i heard medela is one of the best pump. If it cause sore and tender nipples, there must be something wrong. I heard they have different sizes for breast shield. Maybe u can change it and see?
Breast pump should not cause soreness.

and why do u need to pump for 1-1.5 hours? as long as feel ur breast is soft, that should be enough.

Hmm.. I think ur baby prefers the bottle already. A lot of babies are like that. Being an exclusively pumping mum is going to be much much more tiring. So if u wanna get him to like your breast again, just continue latchcing. try and try...

If u rest more, pump and feed less, the supply would go down hill. So i don't think it will be okay for u to bf after confinement. U will feel that u r forever chasing after your boy's consumption.

Do join this group on FB. Wonderful support group for breastfeeding.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/128537811172/

ok. maybe u wanna called Gina Yong? she is a popular lactation consultant. Heard that she provide advice over the phone.
I will get u the contact number tomorrow ya.. hang on there..