Just to share my breasfeeding journey, I've seen almost all the lactation consultants you can name in Singapore!!! TMC
, GE, KKH
, Doris
. I was DETERMINED to breasfeed my no.1 though nobody in my family has prior experience to share with me, my mum don't, my SIL didn't manage to survive through it. No.1 was delivered via cesarean, hospital (GE)wasn't that helpful then. I tried latching after I got home, didn't work, went back to GE, also no use. I tried latching and pumping for 1 weeks, supply still cannot make it. 1 of my friend SMSed to check on me, she has advised me to go TMC for assistance, I'm glad I did, Mrs Wong has helped to latch my forever not latching girl successfully for 1hr at 1st attempt!!! I've followed her instruction on latching, pumping and resting and managed to fully latch her from 2½weeks onwards. My supply only really kicked in around 6weeks, fully latched her till 9+months when she started to teeth. I carried on to pump till 10½month when I was down with stomach flu, vomit and LS till no milk to pump out. I was using a local Medela PIS at home and I bought a 2nd hand PIS original from US for office as too much of hassel to lug up and down. Standard set comes with the 24mm funnel, usually, we'll need 2 sets of accessories to facilitate the frequent pumping. I got the bigger funnels too. For this time, I'll use the sterlization tablets instead of steriliser during the initial few months. I've used the tablets when I went back to work full time in office, really convenient and easy to use. Electric Sterilizer will be essential when I go back to work and baby needs to be bottle-fed. I've sold all my pumps away, need to get new set this time, will get from US. 1 more thing to share on Medela, if you are using the US set, you may use with a Medela local adaptor and you may get the adaptor from Medela Singapore with a local warranty card, this was what I learnt then.
<u>Breastpump</u>
I would suggest those first time mummy to try out at TMC ParentCraft then get it locally or oversea, bookmark those websites first.
Manual pump, Philips Avent is good, I used that as stand-by if I need to go out and time overrun.
<u>Nursing bra</u>
Essential to invest in good nursing bras. Mothecare has good selection. Easily, we can use 4 pieces a day!!! Thanks for Cheeky for the link to Mums and Babes, I got the Emma Janes from them. I can't believe that they are still good after 4years in the wardrobe!!!
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Breastmilk shell</u>
Essential to have this because when you are latching on 1-side, the other side will be dripping.
http://www.philips.com.sg/c/avent-accessories/6-pcs-scf157_02/prd/
<u>
Breastmilk storage</u>
MUST have if you intend to let you baby do full breastmilk. Many options, bottles, glass bottles from hospital, storage milk bags. You need to learn about storage and warming up too. I've learnt a good way to store my milk flat, neat and tidy for the freezer area, let me go dig my photo folders to find the link.
<u>Bra-extension</u>
I saw at John Little Marina Square, Lingerie cashier, 1 hook, 2 hooks, 3 hooks, many colors.