Sade, hahah... me no expert to give BF advice lah... but can share what I've learnt so far (which most of you may already know too).
1) Drink plenty of fluids and get as much rest and nutritious food as possible.
2) Latch on baby on demand if possible. Baby is the best pump!
3) In theory, demand = supply. We need to stimulate the breasts by latching/pumping to tell our bodies that we need to produce milk. The more we stimulate, the more milk we produce.
4) Hence, some suggest pumping after latching to signal to our bodies that we need to produce more BM if you want to increase supply.
5) Try to latch / pump every 2-3 hourly to establish supply in the first week. Once supply is stable then can slowly stretch out pumping time. Latching will prob still depend on baby's feeding needs.
6) Drink warm fluids, use hot towels and massage breasts before and during BF / pumping to encourage easier milk flow. Can also try supplements like Fenugreek and Mother's Milk tea to help with supply (though response may vary with individuals).
7) Our nipples need time to get used to the demands of suckling. Expect sore or even cracked nipples in the initial days or even weeks. But know that there's light at the end of the tunnel. Once they're used to the suckling and toughen up, BF won't be a painful affair as long as baby latches on correctly. If need be, can use nipple cream and nipple shields to help tide over the painful phase.
8) Monitor baby's pee and poo output to gauge whether he/she is getting enuf BM.
9) Ensure that baby latches on correctly and has the areola in his mouth rather than just the nipple. Incorrect latching will only frustrate baby and mummy. Have BF helplines and lactation consultants' contacts on hand so that you can seek professional help where necessary.
10) Find the BFg position that you and baby are most comfortable with. This will take trial and error. You might want to invest in a BF pillow to help support bb's weight while nursing. This is useful esp when bb gets older and heavier.
11) No matter what, do not let other pple's comments abt your BM supply get to you. Find a source of support because that is crucial in helping us maintain our sanity and positive spirits.
12) Last but not least, believe in ourselves and know that we are doing our best for our bbs. At the end of the day, it's all right even if we don't seem to have enough supply for baby as long as we have tried our best. Be proud that we are giving baby as much as we can.
Jiayou sisters!!
