Breastfeeding Support Group

stylobb, it happened to me a few times too but that was coz i was too 'ganjiong' and so was not able to stimulate a letdown from both breasts. if it occurs to just one side, it could be blocked ducts. you will have to massage the lumps regularly and when you reach home, place a hot towel on the affected breast and then pump consistently to get the milk out.
 


hi babe,

milk supply will increase after 6wks if proper latch on? if wait till then to store up supply for start work will it be too late?

my boy is 5wks old n had been on 100% latch on. for this wk i have tried to pump out some milk using avent manual pumo to store as i m afraid not able to store enough milk before start work. i also tried tandem pumping n it is really effective to draw out milk due to let-down. within 15min i can get 40ml from one breast. will need longer time if i pump during other time.

hi mel,
dun be discouraged. continue to let baby suckle to build up supply. my MIL always doubt my milk supply n want to supplement baby with formula. got once she made formula milk for baby n he rejected! i was so happy then coz MIL will have no choice n ask me to feed baby
happy.gif
my effort put off. my baby was 2.9kg at birth. when i went for 1st mth jab a few days ago, he has gained 1kg. PD even commented the wt gain is good. i din take papaya soup or anything to boost up supply. but i eat fish n meat everyday
 
Hi Jas and stylobb

both of you are here. I happen to look around and saw this thread.

Hi Mommies
The Tandem method is interesting. But how can I do it without a manual pump? Is like so hard.

Moon
 
babe,

can share what is the reward u get from breastfeeding ur son for so many mths? my hubby n MIL dun see the need to breastfeed for so long as he feel tat as long as baby has 2mths of breastmilk is enough. he cant see the long term benefits of breastmilk. he felt that nowadays formula is comparable to breastmilk n can easily give baby formula.
 
hi babe,
can i know how you switch from one pump to the other?? i m triying to switch from ISIS to Lactaline but realised i cannot achieve letdown. wats the trick??
 
hi mini babe
my MIL also don't see the need to BF so long, worst she felt it is not necessary at all! she has 4 children and all no BF and she think they all grew up healthy.
 
<font color="aa00aa">Stylo</font>,
How was it yest? Managed to pump out? If it's not prob w e pump, u may have blocked ducts, if u dun feel any hard lumps on ur breast, e block could b at e nipple. Have u managed to seek help from LC? U have to clear a blocked duct asap, best within the same day, else it may lead to mastitis if left untreated for too long.

<font color="aa00aa">Mel</font>,
Wat I meant is from day1 to (between 4-6) weeks is very critical. I feel u shouldn't intro bottle to ur bb now at ur bb's yound age. If u r not confident w the latch on, have an appt to 'demo' ur latching, u have to get the latch on correct as soon as possible, dun delay further.

On breastpump, it depends on your own preference. If u ask me which one is better, I'll tell u Ameda. Less tiring on hands, u can relax while expressing and it empties breasts well. w dual pumping, u can usually express more milk than switching w a single pump. However, if u r thinkin of bringin e pump to work, be prepared dat Ameda is not as portable compared to Avent.

I've extracted an article from www.askdrsears.com, I believe it will provide u a lot of valuable info to benefit u:

IS BABY LATCHING ON AND SUCKING EFFICIENTLY? HOW TO TELL
Latch-on and sucking checklist:
You see the pink of baby's lips. This tells you that baby's lips are turned outward rather than tucked tightly inward.

There is a tight seal between the baby's mouth and the areola. Baby has a good mouthful of breast.

Much of the areola (at least a one-inch radius) is inside baby's mouth. As the baby is sucking, you do not see the base of your nipple, but only the outer part of your areola.

Baby's tongue is between the lower gum and your breast. If you pull down gently on baby's lower lip, you should be able to see it. With a good latch-on, baby's tongue extends over the lower gum, forming a trough around the nipple and cushioning pressure from the jaw.

Baby's ears are wiggling. During active sucking and swallowing the muscles in front of baby's ears move, indicating a strong and efficient suck that uses the entire lower jaw.

You hear baby swallowing. During the first few days after birth, baby may suck 5 to 10 times before you hear a swallow. That's because colostrum comes in small amounts. You may have to listen carefully to notice swallows. After your milk has "come in," swallowing will be obvious. After the baby's initial sucking has triggered the milk ejection reflex, you should hear a swallow after every suck or two. This active sucking and swallowing should continue for five to ten minutes on each breast.

Milk does not leak much from the corners of baby's mouth. Baby swallows the milk instead.

You don't hear clicking sounds, which would indicate that baby does not have his tongue positioned correctly and is latched on incorrectly.

You do not see dimpling (the middle of baby's cheeks caving in) during sucking. This would indicate that the baby has a poor seal on the breast and is breaking suction as he moves his gum and tongue. Pull baby off and try latching on again.

Eventually, you will know that your baby is latched-on and sucking efficiently by the way it feels. If you have a lactation consultant helping you, (which is a must for a first-time mom) pay close attention to how your nipple feels after the two of you have gotten the baby latched on correctly. There should be no pain. Also pay attention to how the sucking feels on the areola. You will actually feel a tingling sensation as baby draws the milk out of the milk sinuses. There will be no doubt that your baby has a solid and secure connection to your breast.

When baby is not latched on securely to the areola, the painful sensations in your nipples will register "Red alert! Lousy latch-on." Do not persist with an incorrect latch-on. Take your baby off and start again. Be sure that you wait until baby's mouth is wide open and the tongue is down and forward before pulling baby onto the breast. Rushing the latch-on results in baby gumming just the nipple. You'll get sore and baby won't get enough milk.

Be patient. Take a few deep breaths, calm baby down, and stay calm yourself. It takes a week or two for most mothers and babies to become skilled at breastfeeding.

What to do if you just can't seem to get it right
With prompt attention, latch-on and sucking difficulties can usually be fixed within a few days. Here's what to do:

Get help right away from a lactation consultant if you're having trouble latching your baby onto the breast or feel that your baby is not sucking well. A lactation consultant will show you how to get baby to latch on better. She can also show you how to teach baby to suck correctly. Some newborns need to be taught how to suck more of the areola and with the back of the tongue instead of just sucking on the front of the areola with the front of the tongue. Incorrect sucking also causes sore nipples

Make certain that your baby is getting enough to eat. The first rule in solving breastfeeding problems is to feed the baby. Keep track of baby's urine and stool output to determine if he is getting enough milk. After your milk has "come in," baby should have 4 to 6 wet diapers a day (6 to 8 if you're using cloth) and at least 2 to 3 substantial yellow, seedy stools. Some babies have a stool with every feeding. (The frequency of bowel movements decreases after the first month, as babies intestines mature.) If your baby is losing weight and is not having an adequate amount of wet diapers and bowel movements, talk to your doctor about supplementing your baby's feedings until either your milk comes in or your baby learns to latch-on efficiently.

If supplementary feedings are necessary, avoid using bottles. Supplements can be given with a cup, spoon, eyedropper or feeding syringe, or a nursing supplementer. Using one of these will prevent the possibility of nipple confusion, caused by feeding baby with artificial nipples. (See Alternatives to Bottles)

You may need to use a breastpump to keep up your milk supply until baby becomes a more efficient breastfeeder. The milk you pump can be given to your baby. To establish and maintain a milk supply for baby who can't yet nurse very well, you need a high-quality electric pump. These can be purchased or rented. (See breast pumps for more information on specific types of pumps.)

Don't be discouraged. Breastfeeding does not come naturally to most breastfeeding pairs. Moms need to learn how to help their babies latch-on correctly and babies need to be taught how to suck correctly. This takes time and lots of committment, like any worthwhile goal in life. Remember, it does get easier. Don't give up!
 
hi mini,
This are some of the benefits of breastfeeding. I will continue with formula vs breastfeeding later.

BREASTFEEDING IS BESTFEEDING. Nursing for even a day is the most precious gift you can give to your baby. How long should you nurse? These guidelines may help you decide.

IF YOU NURSE FOR JUST A FEW DAYS, he will have received your colostrum, or early milk. Packed with nutrition and antibodies, it helps get your baby's digestive system going and gives him his first and easiest "immunization". Breastfeeding gives your baby a great start and helps your own body recover from the birth, too. Taking time to relax and nurse is a lovely way to get to know your baby.

IF YOU NURSE FOR 4 TO 6 WEEKS, you will ease him throught the most critical part of infancy. Breastfed newborns are rarely sick or hospitalized and have few digestive problems. It takes 4 to 6 weeks to establish your milk supply and a good nursing relationship. Your body will recover naturally from childbirth. Remember - nursing mothers usually lose weight more easily! As an added bonus, prolactin, the "mothering hormone" that is produced every time you nurse, will help you and your baby form a special bond.

IF YOU NURSE FOR 3 TO 4 MONTHS, baby's digestive system will have matured a great deal, and he will be much better able to tolerate the foreign substances in commercial formulas. If there is a family history of allergies, though, you will greatly reduce his risk by waiting a few more months before adding anything at all to his diet of breastmilk. And giving nothing but your milk for the first 4 months gives strong protection against ear infections for a whole year.

IF YOU NURSE FOR 6 MONTHS, you will supply all your baby's nutrtional needs for the first half year of his life. At this point, he may be ready to try some other foods. Nursing continues to ensure good health by providing antibodies to all the bacteria and viruses to which you or your baby are exposed. One study indicates that continued nursing reduces the risk of both childhood and some adult cancers.

IF YOU NURSE FOR 9 MONTHS, you will have seen him through the fastest and most important brain and body development of his life on the food that was designed for him - your milk. Nursing for at least this long will help ensure better performance all through his school years. Weaning may be fairly easy at this age... but then, so is nursing! If you wanat to avoid weaning this early, be sure you've been available to nurse for comfort as well as for food.

IF YOUR NURSE FOR A YEAR, you will have saved enough money to buy a major appliance! Your baby is now ready to try a whole range of new foods. This year of nursing has given your child many health benefits that will last his whole life. He will have a stronger immune system, for example, and is less likely to need orthodontia or speech therapy. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends nursing for at least one year to ensure the best possible nutrition and health for your baby.

IF YOU NURSE PAST ONE YEAR, you will continue to provide the highest quality nutrition and superb protection against illness at a time when infections are common. A toddler picks up everything! he is eating a variety of table foods and has had time to form a solid bond with you - a healthy starting point for his growing independence. Together you can work on the weaning process, progressing at a pace that he can handle. A former U.S. Surgeon General has said, "it is a lucky baby... who continues to nurse until he's two."

IF YOU NURSE UNTIL HE OUTGROWS THE NEED, you can feel confident that you ahve met your baby's physical and emotional needs in the most natural and healthy way possible. In cultures where there is no pressure to wean, children tend to nurse for at least 2 years. The World Health Organisation and UNICEF strongly encourages breastfeeding through toddlerhood. Your milk provides antibodies and other protective substances as long as you continue to nurse. Families of nursing toddlers often find that their medical bills are lower for years to come.

Children who were nursed long-term tend to be very secure. Nursing can help ease both of you through the tears, tantrums, and tumbles of toddlerhood, while illnesses are milder and easier to handle. It is an all-purpose mothering tool that you won't want to be without! Don't worry that your child will nurse forever. All children eventually wean, no matter what yo do, and there are more nursing toddlers around than you might guess.

WHETHER YOU NURSE FOR A DAY OR FOR SEVERAL YEARS, the decision to nurse your child is one you need never regret. And whenever weaning takes place, remember that it is a big step for both of you. If you choose to wean before your child is ready, be sure to do it gradually, and with love.


(C) Diane Wiessinger, MS, IBCLC 136 Ellis Hollow Creek Road Ithaca, NY 14850
 
er...isn't it a little strange to have a 3-4 yr old toddler latch onto a woman's nipples?

Is it really necesary to do that? I think nurse until 6 month or 1 yr old is good enough rite? Even 2 yr olds seem a little old to be sucking from a breast, no?
 
hi mini,
This are some reasons you can use to convince Y formula is not as good as breastmilk.

http://www.cs.colorado.edu/~kolina/advantages-of-formula.html

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/articles/12156-2.asp

http://www.infactcanada.ca/breastfeeding_and_intelligence.htm
http://www.breastfeedingtaskforla.org/ABMRisks.htm

http://www.lalecheleague.org/cbi/biospec.htm

http://www.geocities.com/dsm_rnc/breastvsbottle.html

For me, the rewards of still nursing my 15 month old son is that. He is very healthy compared to alot of other kids, he does not fall sick easily, compared to some of my friend's non bf kids who needs to see doctor every month. Even he gets sick or catches the bug from us (so far in 15 months only 1 major flu), he becomes well within days compared to us and other non bf kids, who take more than a week. And you do save alot on milk powder.
 
HI hopeac and lea
Wow you are both wonderful mothers! you have bf your bbs for so long butI wonder how you 2 cope? Have your bbs started to go on solid? What do you do when you go out with bbs? How to bf? My hubby always said like quite troublesome to bring bb out if you bf them. Any good suggestions and tips to bf for long? I have not actaully read all the postings here. What kind of breastpump you use?
Sorry for so many questions.
happy.gif


Moon
 
hi helen,

sorry for the late reply, was really busy at work. yes, if you keep on pumping regularly, you are sending signals to the brain that there is a cosntant demand for milk.

sorry mummies,

really want to respond to some of your questions, but so busy at work and today my son has a slight fever and not feeling well, so won't have time to stay on the net. have to take care of him. hope to get back into discussion next week then!
 
Babe
Thanx. You know what? I tried again yesterday to massage and pump without success, in the end, I took urgent leave, went home, waited for my bb to wake up and have him suckle and it solved the problem...thank God. The LC called me when I was home and also suggested the same solution: massage br, then let bb suckle. Thankfully it just happened and not serious. She said it was probably a clogged duct which I also thot so.

Jas_mum
I guess the length of time to b/f really depends on individuals. I do know of some people who b/f till their children are two years old but for myself, I am aiming for six months only.

Moon
Yeah, am here cos interested in this topic and better to discuss it here. I am ok as my bb helped me to ease the engorgement. Thanx for smsing me. Can you imagine how frus I was when I could not express anything?
I tried tandem pumping this morning, since I can't feed my right side for the time being anyway, but I use electric pump. Have you tried expressing your bm already? Is bb still resisting the bottle?

Mel/mini
It's up to you to decide since it's your bb. For the confinement, you can latch on since you will be with bb. It will be tiring but things settle after 6 weeks. I fed bb one formula at nite and at that time, I would express hence building up my supply. After the two months you can pump and have your mil feed bb the bm. I was also getting all sorts of comments that time..most of the time I just ignored becos I read the benefits of b/feeding. I think most impt is that you want it and you make it happen. My bb is a healthy bb.
 
Hopeac and lea
Do you work? I find it's not easy for working mum to continue b/f esp if offices are not 'b/f friendly'. Some mummies have to give up cos there is no place for them to pump bm, or have a fridge to store their bm. For me, I still manage to pump, store and freeze since my office has the amenities.

Hopeac
For tandum pumping, does it mean then that we will have to latch on bb for a longer period of time one side? Thanx.
 
Does anyone feel a 'high' or 'feel-good' sensation which baby is suckling milk? I'm a new mother who has been BF my baby for couple of month (not solely BF, I alternate with formula sometimes), and I know this should NOT be happenning, but sometimes(most of the time actually), I feel that kind of 'high'(I don't want to be too explicit, so I think you know what I mean) halfway through suckling and by the time baby is finished with her meal, I am actually 'switched on'. I'm not sure if its because of my sensitive nipples, but just want to find out if this is normal? I think its the sucking action that stimulates and triggers this? Anyone else feel the same? Any comments? Is this normal??
 
Hi stylobb
I have been expressing every night once when bb sleeping to stock up. I wonder how to do tandem expressing when bb is drinking? I am using a manual pump. I womder how to express with one hand. My bb still resisting the bottles. Not sure is he resist or he does not know how to suckle. Cos yesterday tried,, can see he tried for very long but I think no milk comes out if he does not know how to suck properlt so end up frustrated and cried.
sad.gif
Aiya I also don't know how.

Moon
 
<font color="aa00aa">Mini</font>,
From exp, if u managed bf well right from the beginning within 1st 6 weeks, u would have established a good supply already. However, it is still possible to increase ur supply after 6 weeks with an increased demand.

U can start to stock up earlier if u r concerned. However, try not to intro bottle to ur bb before 6 weeks as a general guide. U can con't to nurse and do tandem pumping, I believe u should be able to collect a good amt with these efforts.

e 1st pump in e morning usually yields the most supply. Whenever u pump, u should empty both breasts.

When using a single pump, u can try expressing 2 times from each breast.For eg, u start w 1st breast, then 2nd, then return to 1st breast, then 2nd breast again.

When using a dual electric pump, it's easier, can try holding on to e pump even after u feel ur breasts r emptied, sometimes, it could stimulate a 2nd letdown, and u could collect more milk then.

On bf benefits, u can read the articles here:
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T020100.asp.

It provides elaborate info on:
WHY BREAST IS BEST
1. How Breastfeeding Builds Brighter Brains
2. Breastfeeding Benefits from Top to Bottom
3. 3 Little Known Benefits of Breastfeeding
4. 7 Ways Breastfed Babies Become Healthier Adults
5. How Human Milk Protects Babies From Illness
6. 7 Ways Breastfeeding Benefits Mothers
7. Nutrient by Nutrient Why Breast is Best
8. Comparison of Human Milk and Formula
9. How Your Breasts Make and Deliver MILK

I believe u well be equipped with tonnes of valuable info after reading thru' e articles to convince your MIL and hubby .

If u ask me why I want to carry on bf, well, it's an enjoyable experience for both me and my boy. My hubby calls my boy a "breastfeed addict", he goes ga-ga whenever he knows I'm preparing to latch him. He can always be comforted when I breastfeed him, there are instances when he woke up from a bad nitemare, he was comforted immediately once he's at e breast. U may want to know dat some bbs may experience feeding problems, esp. when they are sick or teething, I believe it pains all parents' heart if their bb dun feed well, but with breastfeeding, most bbs will still be able to feed well when they are cuddled by their mothers, feeling comfortable and secure. There are a lot of times when we are so glad dat I am still breastfeeding my bb. I love bf a lot since it's really v convenient too, I dun have to pack heavy baby bags with vacuum flask of warm water, formula etc whenever I bring my bb out, I jus need to bring myself. I can't imagine lugging a sterilizer, bottles and formula if I want to bring my bb for a short trip away from home. At nite, if our bb cries for nite feed, we dun need to get out of e room to prepare formula, juz need to nurse him will do, so convenient rite? e one other benefit dat I realise is the savings on formula. I have been told by parents of formula fed bbs dat I've saved a lot of $. Every week, they easily spend $20 on formula alone, if I work the sum out, I have easily saved $600 over todate. Frankly, if I have to feed formula, I'll be at a lost, cos' I dun think there'll be one dat is even close to bm, how to choose? e other impt benefit is of cos' e antibodies, my boy is pretty strong, there was once when e whole family was down w a strong flu virus, but he wasn't affected at all. I believe the benefits of bf extends all e way to adulthood, my hubby was bf till toddler, his siblings, all bf, r more healthy then most ppl and they are all veri close to the mother today.

<font color="aa00aa">Serene</font>,
U can do tandem pumping w an electric pump, it fact, it's easier n more comfy. U need a single pump though. e Ameda pump dat I'm using provides e option to serve as a dual or single pump.

<font color="aa00aa">Karen</font>,
No trick, juz have to use ur new pump for a few times to let ur body adjust to letting-down with it.
 
Hopeac &amp; Babe,

thanks for sharing the valuable info on breastfeeding. Both your effort to breastfeed for so long encourages me.

babe,
thanks for sharing your rewarding experience
happy.gif
the strong bonding between baby and u is something that cannot find elsewhere.

currently what i am doing is usually pump one breast only and let baby latch on on the other breast. after that let baby latch on on the pumped breast. dun dare to pump both breasts as afraid baby wont have enough to eat. so if say i empty both breasts just short while(say 30min) before feeding time will i still have enough for baby to latch on?

my hubby dun like the idea of storing milk in freezer. he said wait baby has stomachache. my mum also has this thinking too. dunno how to make them overcome this.

all breastfeeding mummies,
since 2days ago my boy tools is abit dark greenish yellow. not sure what is it due to. it happened after he has his first mth jab. wondering is it due to the injection? my MIL always suspect it is due to the food i ate. but then i have been eating the same food, nothing special. for these 5wks, she will always suspect the food i eat. when baby tools is watery she will say i dun eat heaty enough n asked my mum to add more ginger n sesame oil. all these are nonsense as nothing wrong with baby tools being watery.
 
Hi to all breastfeeding mummies,

I am giving my 3 month old baby expressed breast milk. I thought I'm giving him the best and he will grow up healthly. However, since his birth, he had been to the pd for 3 times and each time he will need 1-2 weeks recovery period. Recently, he has flu and cold for two whole weeks and still haven't recover.

Am I doing anything wrong? Why is my baby always sick? It is because of my food intake?? Appreciate all your advise!
 
babe hope
what is lactation consultant? where can i get one? And what does it mean by blocked duct?

babe
it's impossible not bottle feed her cos she will cry cry when she gets hungry and rejects my nipple! Help!
 
Hi mummies
Look like we all have different types of problems.
Linda
Your bb ok? For me and desert, our problem is we dun much enuf milk, no matter what we try,the ss is the same. Drank soup, eat fish, eat fenugreek, tuna oil capsules, direct latch, pump, drink lotsa fluids...still like that.. no increase..sigh. All we wanna do is give bm to our bbs!! For me, worse, this week, ss dropped, dun know if becos of work stress. I had the pimple problem one side, clogged duct the other side, then have to lug the travel bag/pump to and fro just becos I want to maintain my pumping schedule for the sake of giving bb bm...
consolation is bb is growing well and still latching on.

mel
You can call your hospital and ask for the LC. Blocked duct means the bm is stuck and cannot flow out...hence making the br hard and lumpy...gotta be careful. Best solution is for bb to suckle.
 
Hi Mel,

Dont be discouraged my your mil... mine kept telling me that she had so much milk that it sprayed on her son's face.. but she bf for only 2 wks..

I persisted on not giving any formula milk to my boy but make sure I latched him properly and was feeding him abt 1&amp; half hr intervals ... even into the nights.. for the 1st month I was like a panda.. and guess what by my 2nd month, I had enough to feed my boy who was drinking 150ml at 2nd month &amp; also build up enough supply to last my boy for 5 day's feed. My mil even "sponsored" my milk for her sis's grand daughter who is 10 days younger than my boy.

Guess what, I bf my boy till he was 8 months.. had to stop after my chicken pox as the milk supply dipped tremendously.

I was also quite discipline with my pumping at work. I will express 2xs a day at work. Cld manage abt 300ml per session.

As mentioned, it is never too late especially to build up your ss. Mel, when any bb is too upset, they will reject both bottles &amp; nipple.. we have to calm them down before offering them either.

Mini - bf bb's stools are more watery than those on formula.. and if you are concern you can always ask the PD

Mummies.. stress will affect the ss too so don't stress &amp; have enough rest. I can only speak abt the wonders of bf... my boy's immune sys is much better than his cousin who is on formula.. he was born small (2.7kg) but at 10months.. he is around 10kg. Guess what , when I had chicken pox... he did not catch it... Pple can see the diff b/w bb on bm or formula... when I go out with my boy... the sales gals in the bb shops will ask if my boy is on bm .. they say there's a difference and i am total in agreement.
 
<font color="aa00aa">stylo</font>,
So glad for u dat u managed to clear e ducts. I think u would agree dat our bb is the best breast pump. To avoid having blocked ducts, try to give ur breasts a good massage before expressing, esp when ur breasts feel really full or engorged.

On tandem pumping, I'll let my bb decide how long he wans to be on the breast, but I always hope he can be at it longer so dat I can extract more milk from e other side. If he stops nursing before I empty the other breast, I'll let him be, and con't pumpin w e other, then I'll come back to pump from e breast dat he nursed to extract more milk.

<font color="aa00aa">clockwork</font>,
do u mean 'turned on' when bb latches on? Not everytime rite? Should b ok if it happens occasionally. Actually, when bb suckles, we release the prolactin hormones which makes us feel v relaxed, not sure if u r talking abt. this experience.

<font color="aa00aa">Mini</font>,
I've emptied both breasts, then proceeded immediately w nursing my bb, I believe there will be enuff bm for him. I'd like to believe dat my bm supply is an ever-running tap as long as my bb latches on.

I use this method when I am confident that my body is already used to breastfeeding and can manage the supply well as and when there is demand. For this matter, I encourage u to oni try this method when ur system is already geared up for breastfeeding, rather than during the trying phase when u r still trying to get your body used to breastfeeding.

As for ur mum n hubby's concerns on frozen bm, I think it may be a bit tough for u to convince them. If I am in your shoes, I will bring my mum n hubby along when I bring my bb for assessment at e pd/doc, then intentionally ask e doc his views on frozen bm as if it was my concern, but in actual fact, I'll let e doc's professional advice convince them instead. Dunno if this will work for u, but u must do ur homework and make sure u find a doc who is pro-breastfeed, best to find a breastfeeding mother. If u need recommendations on a gd doc who bf, I can give u the contact.

My son experienced greenish stools before too. But it was ok shortly after dat. Dun think it's due to e food u take. I read in books dat it could indicate underfed, but not sure how true is this, cos' I dun think my boy was underfed then. Mebbe it's normal to have greenish stools occasionally.

<font color="aa00aa">Linda</font>,
Dun feel disheartened. U r definitely giving the best to your bb. Well done for bfing 3 months
happy.gif
hmm, I dun think it's anything dat u have done wrong. It is common for young bbs to be weaker, mayb it's e environment dat he is exposed to. Anyway, these days, so many pple are down w flu n all, even us adults r victims.

Besides continuing w bm, u can try to help build up ur son's immunity. If u wan to bring him out, go to open areas, try not to go air-con places as e air is trapped there, so r e virus. If ur family member is sick, ask them to avoid getting too close to e bb, we always try to wear a mask when we are not feeling well at home. Also, open more windows and door at home when possible, let e air circulate n let e virus out, esp if ur bb sleeps in air-con rooms.

<font color="aa00aa">Mel</font>,
A lactation consultant can help us with breastfeeding. I got lotsa help from TMC's senior LC. If u delivered in TMC, u can still approach them for help even after delivery, it's part of the service.

"Blocked or plugged milk ducts are just what they sound like ducts, or channels, where milk flows through, that have become blocked, inflamed, and sore." U can read more abt it here: http://www.babycentre.co.uk/refcap/8494.html

Besides using bottle n teat, there are other ways to give ur bb ebm. In e hospital, they do cup feed, but I personally find it not easy to master e skill. Can try syringe too. I would prefer to use spoon feeding though, seems easier to manage. U can use Pigeon spoon, they sell a set of 2 spoons (green for liquid, yellow for solids). Takes a bit of practice and patience, compared to bottle feeding.

For more tips on e alternatives, u can refer to: http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T026000.asp
 
hi babe
I tried to spoon feed her just now, but she keep crying. think she is too hungry to wait for each spoon of milk to reach her...in the end no choice, have to feed using bottle again.

thx for the website, found many useful information. I called up my hospital LC just now too. Going for her morning talk tml about breastfeeding. Really hope it will help.

sparks
it is already the 10th day, starting to get frustrated with myself. I felt so useless, not being able to produce milk.

styloBB
my problem also not able to produce enough milk. Only 20ml-30ml for the whole day. I bet you can produce more than that. So dun feel discourage!
 
Hi Babe
How old is your bb now? You still tbf? Have you started on solid with your bb? Your hub supportive of you bfing for so long?

Hi Mini'
I read that you do tandem pumping also, is it with manual pump? I think manual pump can't do thhat right?
moon
 
hi moon

yup, i tried tandem pumping using manual pump. while baby latch on 1 breast i use the manual pump to pump the other. its not easy as one hand has to carry the baby n the other hand has to hold the pump. i managed to pump out 50-60ml from 1 breast within 15min. am so glad able to pump out more milk. 2days ago only managed to pump out 40ml.

hi mummies,
need to check with u all how much ur baby is drinking in his/her 2nd mth n 3rd mth? need to store milk but really dunno how much to store for each feed. all along baby latch on n i have no idea how much he is taking. my baby is now 5wks old n i plan to go out 1wk later. need to store milk for my mum/MIL to feed.
 
babe,

thanks alot for your advice! think anr way for hubby n my mum to overcome the frozen EBM is seeing my boy still healthy after drinking.

think my supply has more or less establised. has been trying to pump more milk beside latch baby so as to signal my body to produce more milk. sometimes my breasts still feel full after baby latch on.
 
Hi Stylobb,

Ryan is still having a flu. I have stop letting him sleep in air-con room and as a result, I do not have enough sleep!

Hang on there!! You are doing great as you are very determine. My supply is not enough for Ryan as he increase his intake to 180ml. I have to dig into my freezer for those fozen milk everyday. I'm hoping that it can last till Ryan start on solid.

Sometime I hate myself for giving up on latching on so easily. So pat yourself on your back for still hanging on when you have run into so many problems. I agree that demand=supply keep plumping!

Hi Bade,
Thank you for your advise. It is very disheartening when people remark "My baby is on fomula and he does not fell sick as often as your son. So why are you still insisting breastfeeding is the best?" It is moments like this that make me feel doubtful. But of cause, I'm still expressing out my milk and giving it to my son and like you, I'm hoping that I am able to do it as long as possible.
 
moon, i'm using the avent manual pump (i have 3 of them!). i've tried tandem pumping when bb was younger and i was still building up my supply but i found it a bit difficult to co-ordinate between balancing the baby and pumping at the same time. when i bring bb out, i'll try to feed him in the car and also visit shopping centres with nursing rooms. it's quite easy actually coz there's no need to bring along bottles, hot water and milk powder and he'll just latch on as and when he's hungry. started him on solids at 6 months so he takes porridge mostly twice a day.

stylobb, glad that you managed to get the milk out. yes, i'm a working mum. my office has a nursing room and a fridge so that makes it easier for me to pump and store the milk.

hopeac, nice to see other mums around who practise extended b/fg.

mini, every bb's milk intake is different. you may wan to try pumping out your milk for a few feeds and feed using the bottle so you can have a better gauge of how much your bb is drinking. i think my bb took abt 100ml every 3 hourly when he was abt 1 month old.
 
Hi Helen of Troy!

How are you?

Is your supply building up?

Hope you have more milk for your baby now.
 
Hi Ladies,

I am breastfeeding my 5 week-old baby. All along, I only give him my expressed milk but 2 days back, I tried to latch him directly. Because of this, I am not sure how much he drinks. How do I know if he's got enough. At least when I express my milk, I can check the amount.
 
Hi mini
I think not easy for me to pump and feed at the same time. Cos bb quite heavy already 3 mths. But maybe I will try. Your bb 5 weeks old so your confinement just over. Lucky for you now so hot right?

Hi Helena
I do latching on also. I think when they are full they will drop out or loosen their mouth on their own and have a satisifed look. THat is what happen to my bb. I guess if they have not enough they will cry for somemore.

Hi lea

So yourr already more than 12 months old already? So good your workplace so nursing friendly. But as times go by bb will demand more right? So do we need to increase our supply? All along you have been using avent manual pump? WHy you have 3 so many?
After pumping your milk how do you sterilise your pump at the office?
Sorry for so many questions cos I am going back to work soon. After pumping do we put in the freezer or just the llower compartment can already?
really appreciate your answers.
Thankyou
happy.gif

Moon
 
Hi Helena!

I was told to look at the baby's output to determine if baby is getting enough. If baby is producing at least 6-8 wet cloth diapers of urine (light yellowish, not dark) a day, 3-4 bowel movements a day and nursing at least 8-12 times or every 2-3 hours, then baby is getting enough milk.

When my baby gets enough, her sucking becomes very weak (just sucking for comfort). She will let go after a while. If not, I will break the latch (don't want her to get the habit of sucking to sleep).

My baby does not wear cloth diapers now. However, I checked the 'volume' of urine in her disposable diaper at each diaper change during the first few weeks. When I see her gaining weight, I am assured that she is getting enough milk from me.

Hope this info helps.
wink.gif
 
i think i can't take the stress anymore and broke down today...

went to the LC today and she told me to stop bottlefeeding totally and BF my baby every one hr. I did as i was told even though i know my baby will still be hungry despite the hourly feed cause my milk is really pathetic, but i hard-heartedly did as what the LC told me.

I was actually very confident at first cause the way the LC say it is like very easy. I was hoping by the end of the day the milk will increase at least a bit with all the hourly stimulation..but it remained the same. Baby's sucking did not improved either. Was feeling dishearted and very tired by night and was feeling even worst when my MIL came to know about it and say some very nasty things at me.

I locked myself in the room and cried and cried non stop till whole face so swallon that i did not dare to step out of the room to go toilet...I did not want to let 'that woman' see she is affecting me.

In the end the baby cried so much i have to give her formula. She looked so contented and happy after the feed I was so relieved and i wondered to myself y make things so difficult for me and baby...just feed her formula, she happy , i happy, eveyone happy.......
 
Dear Serene and Sarador,

My bb suckled for 1.5 hours last evening! Isn't that a bit too long? He looked satisfied after half an hour and didn't cry but when I offered him again, he continued with it.

He then cried half an hour later and my mum had to pacify him and rock him to sleep. He's really making me confused.

Btw, how much milk should a 5 week-old drink? When I expressed my milk, I gave him 90ml and he was okie with it but my friend said it should be 120ml.
 
Sparks,

How did you manage to express so much at a time? Is it normal to achieve only 20-30ml after my bb has suckled? All along, I get the impression that the more we express or the more bb suckles, the more milk we can produce.
 
Hi! Got a problem with my boy, can someone help me. So far he has no problem switching between breast and bottle. But yesterday, when I fed him formula outside, he refuse to drink and kept on crying. My hubby tried and the same thing happened. In the end, he drank and cried, drank and cried. He din even finish half his feed.

Stylobb
My boy cried badly again last evening. I came back late and bath and fed him later. So he fuss very badly again. Next time, I must come back earlier.
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Mel
Dun give up, I share with u my experience. Ur LC is rt, u must latch on more. I also had the same problem as u in the 1st mth. When I pump out, it was like 20ml during the 1st mth. My boy was demanding milk like every hr. During tt time, I was really tired and depressed. But I tried to delay introducing the bottle, coz some babies will not want to bf after they are introduced the bottle. They need less effort to suck at the bottle. When he was 2 wks old, I ended up giving him one formula for the nite feed and he managed to sleep slightly longer at nite then. H/w, try not to feed him too much formula or ur milk ss will be affected. U try to check out for 2 things, is his latch correct, are u getting at least 8 wet diapers every day. If so, he is doing fine, u just need to wait for ur body to adjust.
My boy is 2.5mths now, My milk ss is still not a lot, but I manage to tbf my boy with one feeding of formula in the evening now. For that formula, I dun give him his full feed, coz I let him suckle at my breast after tt. The reason why I hv to feed him formula now is more because of his evening fussiness, as he refuse to latch on properly in the evening. In addition, I sometimes feed him formula when we go out during the wkends.
Its really tough in the beginning but it will be better when ur milk ss stabilise at ard 6-8wks, b4 tt u must latch on ur baby to build up ss. I am still facing problems but it is really a lot better than the 1st mth.
Continue to latch on ur bb, U won't see the results in one day. Hope u can persevere on. Get ur husband support, I wanted to give up then, it was my husband who encourage me to keep on trying.
 
hi moon,

my boy is 15 months now and i've been using the avent manual pump since his birth. the reason why i have 3 pumps is becoz i find it very 'lay chay' to sterilise the pump in the office so i bought 3 (i try to express thrice a day in the office). my cols who also express milk in the office use 1 pump so they will wash it under running water or hot water after pumping. another alternative is to put the pump in the fridge before your next use. i put my milk in the lower compartment instead of the freezer as i'm worried that the milk will thaw in the cooler bag on the way home.

as bb grows, he will demand for more milk but it'll be fine because as his demand goes up, our supply will also go up. also, when they start solids, their milk intake will be lesser than before.

how old's your bb now? you took extended leave to take care of your bb? i saw a photo of him previously (from the bb gathering) ... he's so round and cute
happy.gif
 
desert
it makes my heart pain to see her go hungry. And she has not pass motion for the whole day. Is it ok?

Do you mean your baby is only drinking 20ml each feed for the first two weeks? Enough mah? My Baby demand at least 90ml of formula at each feed, the sudden decrease in the amount is really upsetting her. I felt so bad, letting her go hungry.
 
Helena,

my baby also 5wks old. yar, sometimes he also suckle so long in the evening. during his 3rd wk or so he always suckle more than an hr in the evening. got once even 2hrs! now we realise if he suckle for more than an hr it is becoz he gets fussy n tired. so we will just carried him away n rock him in sarong. he will fall asleep shortly. when he had such a long feed, he can sleep really long period. the next feed is usually 5-7hrs later. last night i fed my baby from 750-835pm, then who noes at 855pm he cries for milk again. then offer my breast n he sucked until 940pm. after tat he slept n the next feed was 350am. wow..tats abt 6hrs without milk. by then both my breasts had leaked quite some amt of milk till whole breastpad n bra wet. read that baby will have growth spurts ard 6wks..so mayb our babies are preparing for growth spurts by demanding more milk? since ytr my baby always seem hungry even after 30min feed.
 
Hi Mel!

I think your breasts will take a few days to respond to the demand (created by your baby's hourly sucking) and your milk supply will probably go up in a few days' time (not on the same day).

A few days ago, I shared my experience about me supplementing each feed with a bit of formula for a few days when my supply was really low. I supplemented with only a bit of formula. Like your baby, my baby was still hungry after sucking for 10-15 min at each side. I gave a bit of formula for her to TAHAN for a while. So about two hours later, she was hungry again and I latched her on to suck. If you want to follow my suggestion, do remember not to supplement too much, lest your baby gets too full, sleeps longer and sucks less at your breasts (thus not stimulating your breasts enough to make more milk). What your LC said is true. The BEST is DON'T supplement and feed on demand. But I had a big baby who was over 4 kg at birth (her appetite was big) and if I had let her go hungry, her blood glucose level would be affected. In addition, I could not stand her hunger cry and the fatigue from feeding hourly. Like you, I was also very tensed up and depressed at first. I also had those thoughts you are having now ('if baby takes formula, she's happy, i'm not so stressed, afterall mothering is not all about breastfeeding...'). A few times when I was about to give up, things got better! And I continued to breastfeed. I set short-term goals for myself - try for another week... breastfeed for another 2 months etc...It's easier that way.

Keep on trying. Don't give up. Things will get better.
 
hi sarador
wow! your baby really very big. Mine only 2.85kg at birth...

My nipple suppose to be enlonged after the baby's sucking right? But mine no leh. Her sucking is very weak like sucking pacifier, and she doze off after 4-5 sucking. Haiz...i wonder if she really getting any milk from me...
 
Hi Mini,

Wow! Your bb can go without milk for that long. Mine can at most tahan 3 plus hours. I don't know why. Mebbe he's big, that's why so he's being greedy.
You should express your milk when your breasts are full and milk is leaking.
Sometimes I get really frustrated when I can't express much. I am using both the Avent manual and Mandela mini electric. I really think the latter is useless. I do not see much spurts when I use it.
 
Hello Mel

Did your LC check whether your baby is latching on properly?
 
hi sarador
ya, she checked. But she only monitor the sucking for 1 min and assume that she is latching on well.
 
helena,

my baby is greedy n want to feed often like 1.5-2.5hrs interval in the day. then in the evening to before he sleep he will demand more milk. think he tank up supply for the night n can sleep longer. he is like tat since his 3rd wk.
yar, should express the milk but sometimes lazy to wake up to express. sometimes i will express but after tat will be too awake to fall asleep. end up tired in the day.
u mentioned abt expressing only 20-30ml after feeding baby right? thinks that normal coz i also collect ard the same amt. if want to get more milk can try tandem pumping. i am using avent manual. not easy to do tandem pumping as one hand has to carry baby n the other hand has to hold n press the pump.
 
Sarador and Dutchess,
I have been pumping every 3 hrly for the past few days and tried tandem pumping. I am producing more milk now though it is abt 60ml -- 90ml per session. I pump about 6 times a day and latch my baby on directly. I hope to increase more milk per session to at least 100 mo now. Sometimes after feeding my baby I pump lesser.
 
Mini,

I wish my baby is like yours so at least I can sleep throughout the night.

Last evening, he drank 100ml of expressed milk and then cried so hard half an hour later. Only stopped when I latch him on. I could actually tell that he was still hungry as milk going down his throat could be heard distinctivey. Mebbbe it's the growth spurt you were talking abt.
Anyways, is it normal for him to suckle vigourously in the first few seconds and then slow down later? When he slows down, I can't actually hear the milk going down his throat so I begin to wonder if he is taking in enough.

I don't know how sparks can manage to express so much. I hope I can too.
 



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