Congrats to berrypie, janice and all those who just started 3rd trimester. It is an exciting trimester with bb arrival. Enjoy the last trimester every time [IMG=http://www.singaporemotherhood.com/forumboard/clipart/happy.gif]
Evelyn, Twink, Shjean
I wd give it a try and try ur methods like preparing the night before, marinate in advance and see how it goes. There are just hb and dd in house so it' more like having to prepare for dd' meals and our meals can be more flexible. On days when im not up to mark or no mood, then tabao. If not then try tingkat.
Bm storage bags/ Frozen/ Fresh BM
Yes frozen milk taste horrible and metallic. It is a matter of getting used to it. I usually express and feed within the same week. BB wont complain but if u offer fresh milk for sometime, then they may choose. If they are used to frozen milk, then it is ok as it is still best for them. Only thing is that frozen milk need to need stored right inside the freezer and chiller. If we do open the fridge doors often then the lifespan of milk wd be shorter than the recommended 3-6mths in freezer and a few days in chiller.
I prob wd buy a smaller pack for the 1st 2month of bf to store milk for bb. Once supply is steady, wd do tbf. Nicer to drink for bb [IMG=http://www.singaporemotherhood.com/forumboard/clipart/happy.gif] But if i work then i wd pump and freeze in fridge when im home to continue the supply.
BF
The 1st week of delivery, we literally have no real milk. It is colostrum and bb will lose wt in 1st wt if no fm or glucose water is being given to supplement. It is normal. BB needs to learn to suckle, an art they will acquire to fill their tummy.
I remember the 1st 2-3 weeks, milk can be as little as 10ml despite pumping for 20mins per side after bf. Later on abt 3 or 4th wk u will realise milk supply comes. Some moms have milk faster than others like 1 or 2 wks later, some may be later but it will come. Food intake and liquid intake also play a part on the quantity of milk produced later stage. It is good to drink warm water b4 and after every bf.
Bf mom eat alot as we get hungry easily esp at night. It is very tiring for all new and experienced moms esp the night shift when bb wake up every 2hrs to drink bm. A good pump will ease ur stress of bf initially, as it helps to stimulate ur breast and u dun wan to feel pain, helpless etc.This is on top of ur bb suckling to stimulate milk glands.
It can be a mental and physical challenge and only moms experience that. U have to battle with ur moms n mil abt ur stand in bf if u wan to do it. Bb can cry for no milk in the 1st -3rd week at night. for example, u bf bb for gd 30mins, the moment u unlatch, bb wd resume crying non-stop in 5mins -30mins later. U can do that for a few hours with no real sleep. No milk coming and bb is hungry, what are u going to do. U have to use ur instinct to tell if we have milk, if really no milk, u can supplement nite feed with some fm. Really wd be ur call on what u plan to do. That time my mom was doing confinement so not easy esp bb cries for milk esp at night. Night shift can be very hard for moms when mil or ur moms ard as they sure wan to interfere as they are experienced. U may experience post-natal blues. I have mild post-natal blues as hb was overseas and im only in the room w bb coping. Already my mom is doing everything yet emotional it can be a challenge.
The learning curve for bf moms 1st time can be steep but if u can get over it in the 1st 2 months of bb' lives, u will succeed. so give yourself 2mth b4 u decide if u want to bf or use fm. Last time i was a 1st time mom and din know the milk supply learning can be as long as 2month some as short as 3 weeks so depends on individual body and food intake. Milk really start producing visibly after 1 week/ 5-7 days later after bb birth but quantity from 30ml to 110ml per side of breast can take between 3 weeks to 5 weeks to come then u know all is good.
Besides bf, most asian bb have jaundice. Then u have to cope with that, learning to carry bb, bath them, make them sleep can also be difficult for some moms. So we take each step at a time and try to cope as we learn. Some have blues, some dun. But these are normal and part of being a mother.
This time round, i wd standby fm for nite feed if i have too little to start in the first few weeks of bb' arrival. When milk supply stabilise then i wd resume tbf for 6m then introduce solid food with fm. Plan to do it for 1 yr of bf.
Hope 1st time moms are mentally prepared for what is to come from my personal sharing. Now u know, u wont be so scared/afraid of what u can and cannot do [IMG=http://www.singaporemotherhood.com/forumboard/clipart/happy.gif] Just do ur best. If can give bm, if cannt nevermind, ur love to bb is more important. My niece now 20m started fm since infant and she is doing well. She doesn fall sick easily as well. In fact she slept better at nite w fm since bb. My dd only started to sleep thr the night now that she is 3. So before that every nite i wd wake up for 2-3x either for bm or night terror or cant soothe herself to sleep. Even now still a challenge but most kids dun have my dd' habits.
Some moms have it easy w their bb, some harder but we will do fine. My bb is difficult to manage even now. She is such a handful at home compared to school and outside.