hello expert mummies, just starting (or stucked...) with my bf-ing after delivered my bbgirl last friday via ceaser (last minute head tak engaged and bb overdue)...

want to ask.. can I actually express the milk and keep at room temp for a few hours.. then use back the same container to express it the next session? coz I only got a few drips damn stress..
been drinking fluids, soups for these few days.. but still when i look at the milk.. damn stress..

some more bb showing sign of relunctant to latch on since hosp they bottle feed her .. haihz...

i tried to use manual pump - medela.. but it seems quite painful on the pumping mode.. or maybe because i have cracked/bleeding nipple since bb was latching on incorrectly for the past 2 days.

help!

thanks ladies..
the first few days were so tough. only drips until i so stress everytime wanna pump. >.<
now baby doesn't want to latch on coz i guess she already had nipple confusion. too slow. tried to sooth her with it also cant, she can detect it's not the milk bottle when I tried to latch her on. sigh.

now pumping exclusively. pump then hand press some times can get up to 3 oz if i'm lucky (for both 'tank').. but take longer hours.. about 1 to 2 hours some times.. is this normal ar?
bad times sometimes 1 hour only 1 oz.. nurse came to see me and tell me not normal.. coz not enough stimulation..
the only stimulation I got is when looking at baby, then the milk will come.. but still in dripping form ... haih..

trying hard not too stress, drinks lots of water too... hopefully the next coming days will be easier.. now day 8 already...

sorry to chip in hor, another question.. my baby has been nursing lesser than before.. before she could take 3.5 oz of milk but now reduce to 2 oz.. is this normal? she's 5 weeks now.

also.. normally we try to let her sleep through the night without waking her for milk.. currently she can sleep 5 hours straight with the last feeding of 2 oz.. is this okay ar?

hie hie ladies,
wanna ask about EBM. I noticed the EBM smells different compared to the "fresh" milk.. like foul smell..i tried to mix fresh + EBM but still the smell is weird.. to me .. normal kan?

also, normally thawed EBM in fridge need to be consumed within 24 hours right?

btw, do we have any food that has to be avoided during breastfeeding period? or anything also can makan?

hm.. i cant avoid curries.. >.< "


i'm not too sure about the cabbage thing but I do eat also... the smell of EBM is really... speechless. not sure why the smell is like that.. i thought we zip lock and frozen them, hence should retain the original flavour?

i remembered my confinement auntie say eat fish = more milk. but i'm not sure if fish does affect the smell. I eat chicken also sama smell eh.. hm..

btw, how long can we keep at room temperature if baby couldnt finish her previous feeding (that has been warmed up before)? I don't think we should re-warm again the milk if we are to continue the previous leftover right? wouldn't the milk be "cold"?

thank you ladies. I tried to keep more than an hour (about 2.5 hours max) because it's painful to throw them away. But of coz I do check whether it turns funny before giving them to my baby lah.. keke..

now thinking whether to get a warmer a not.. because sometimes I do feel using warm water to warm the BM is a lot of work.. and maybe can ease the bbsitter a bit.. do you ladies use warmer to warm up milk ar?

i think it's normal for people who say no milk. coz at first the milk or colostrum is really really little. and the pain.. if cannot endure the pain and determination, then very easy to give up.

I nearly gave up as I was so stress up every time i get a few drips for the first week. plus I knocked down twice of my milk after all the hard work.. i was so depressed. now think back also feel happy for myself for the determination that I have.

So I believe is all that is up to the mothers to do what's best for your baby. if you really really really cant endure the pain and no determination, we cannot blame and say no milk.. if you have enough rest + eat well, the milk will start flowing in no time.

nickit, boleh add me.. kaka .. but I'm still very new. BF since April 2011 but not direct, pumping exclusively

If I knew that earlier, I would go to the class too even though I need to travel from penang. Too late.. maybe the next round? hmm

actually hot water bath (with the use of shower head - the sprayer) also helps other than massage.

hahaha, your reply made me laugh.

multitask i think most mummies can la.. can FB some more. just one hand support the bottles from falling, the other hand clicking the mouse.. keke

iiii !!
another quick question, how long do you mummies pump per session?
just wanna know coz I know some mummies can pump for 1.5 hours..

what flashmob is that? lol

qarezma, sorry. I don't think I can help on the direct latching part since I get f9 in that.

Anyway, I would think for now you can try hand press to get the milk out and bottle fed him? seems like he is not fussy when taking fm might because of the milk flow from the bottle teat. why not try to give bm in milk bottle instead?

Also, our initial bm is more on the colostrum side (i think), thats why baby gets hungry easily so would need to fed like 1 hour once. last time my daughter use to cry after like 1.5 hours after her milk...

BTW, I don't take fenugreek during the confinement month. to boost up milk supply, i take lots of fluid like hot soups (big bowl ya) and lots of rice (have to stop thinking to slim down - take this off the list first) and lots of warm water (not normal temp water). You'll be able to see the milk increasing from time to time..

As for fruits .. i take those not in the fridge one... keke.. try to take like not so windy/gassy type of fruits for the time being. And for clothing, I don't wear sweater too, and I don't wear socks either since it's so hot. just wear normal loh, sarong and t shirt. hope this helps ya

if can don't sterilize your medela breast shield coz can change shAPE and spoil later . When use manual, I pump about 15 mins each side depending on the way and speed you pump.

Btw, 2 oz is a lot during confinement.

lol nickit, wan so big size for wat ? I wan to size down if can, coz alot of top either to tight at the top, or too loose at the bottom. haihz

anyway, been MIA for so long here. but I think it's a good to share knowledges and support to each other. imagine 5 months ago i was struggling here, and thanks to you mummies my girl is still on bm all the way

btw, to boost milk supply, i think the most important is that do not starve yourself or skip meal. and also lots of fluid, like 2L of water at least everyday.. the milk will sure start pilling up in no time

just curious ya, do any mummies here have plug ducts/engorgement all the time? haih. i always get it even though i pump on time...