Club Breastfeeding Mums

[autumnbronze]

Hi Terry,


I'd like to add on to what all the mummies have mentioned here. You might like to request for motilium if your milk supply IS low. These are pills that will boost your milk supply.

I took them for a while as DS2 was hospitalized and after he was discharged, to ensure that he gained back his lost weight fast. My PD recommended the pills. I am currently taking fenugreek pills.

Anyway, for me personally, pumping has increased my milk supply, but I only saw the results some time after DS2 turned 6 weeks. I was also advised by the PD to pump 1 side while nursing him with the other if possible, and not to give him the bottle until after 6 weeks. Don't be put off by the initial meager amount. Once you establish a three hour routine,
you will notice that your milk supply will increase. I started with 1 ounce and now can pump up to 4 ounces from 1 breast. One thing to take note is that milk supply may not be so great in the afternoons. Mornings and nights are the best .... for me at least. This is so much different from when I nursed DS1 cuz I never pumped then except for a short period of time before and when I went overseas for a short holiday. With the first child, I always felt that my milk supply was never enough even with the fenugreek pills. He fed often and cried often too.

This time, I made sure that I enlisted the help of lactation consultants from the hospital who taught me to massage my nipples before nursing DS2 to
open the pores so that the milk would flow out, so that DS2 would not have to 'work hard' to get the milk flowing. Then a private consultation eradicated the nipple soreness I was suffering from. It seemed that the baby was not latching on properly and I was advised to use the 'football hold' when direct breastfeeding. After that, no more sore nipples. And oh yes, I found the breastfeeding pillow very useful while nursing. You might want to consider that ......

Please DO NOT give up. I thought it was the end of the world when the
doctor insisted I introduce formula to DS2 when he was losing weight at the hospital. I thought he would reject my breast, but he didn't. In fact, I do
believe he didn't like the formula, as it always took him about an hour to finish the bottle. Within 2 weeks after being discharged, he went cold turkey on the formula and we have not looked back.

You can also read Gina Ford's The New Contended Little Baby Book. It talks about settling babies into a routine and she also advises how one can increase breast milk through routine breastfeeding and pumping.

You need to eat and rest well, among other factors, for your milk supply to increase. On the days that I do not sleep well, my milk supply when I pump is not very high.

Just my 2 cents .... hope you find them useful

[linden2000]

Hi Terry. Saw your posts here and just wanted to cheer you on. i know how it feels like because i also very nearly gave up breastfeeding. Similar circumstances to yours, my bb won’t latch on, sore nipples, doubts abt whether enough milk. But persisted and now i’m still breastfeeding my toddler. Things may look tough now but it will become easier later on once you cross the first few hurdles.


Think the other mommies have given you great advice. Totally agree with them- don’t let anyone tell you that you don’t have enough milk. The supply is actually very much a function of demand, so the more bb nurses, the more milk there is. So hang in there, things do get easier!

[omgmum]

patntee:

CayennePepper, omgmum, you are amazing to breastfeed for so long. Sometimes I regret going on that path for my DS when he behaves so addicted to latching. It's embarrasing when we are outside and he wants to pull up my top and makes a big fuss crying and screaming when he doesn't get his way. He is only 15mths now. Did you face similar problems before? If yes, how did you manage?

Sorry for the late reply. I have a nursing bib for emergencies. If can't find nursing room, then nurse in car. I've never been brave enough to nurse in public cos dd will pull up the bib.

I make sure that dd is well- fed and pack snacks for her. If I can sense her wanting to latch, I'll pass her to someone else. After a few times, dd got the message that we only nurse when we're in private. But yes, just recently, she tried to pull my top up, in front of my male friends! :yikes:

Usually, we just hurry balik kampung when dd gets cranky.

[omgmum]

Hi Terry, what all the mummies say is true. Wah, that tmc hotline is really lousy! What right on earth does the lc have to tell you that you don't have enough milk? Especially on the phone, without a personal consultation. Be aware that not lcs are good, choose those with certification and who have personally breastfed their babies. I always thought that lcs who have never breastfed, especially those without certifications, are like driving instructors who do not drive! Most importantly, look and seek advice from ppl whom have done it and who tell you you can succeed.


Babies are the best pumps, and just because you can only express out 40 ml, doesn't mean that you are only producing 40ml. It just means that the pump can only get 40 ml out. Many things can affect output, like whether the funnel is of the right size, whether you are relaxed enough to have a letdown etc. When using pumps, do start with the smallest setting, esp if your nipples are sore, before slowly increasing the strength. You should not
feel pain when expressing, only a gentle pull on the aereole.


As for sore nipples, what I did was to survive on 8 normal panadols a day and keep using lanai oh nipple cream. Both nipples were sore and bleeding cos I have short nipples and dd couldn't latch properly. But I was worried that dd would go hungry so I didn't unlatch her when I felt pain. Big mistake! You have to stop once you feel pain. You can go to http://www.drjacknewman.com for latching videos. Personally, I find it most comfortable when dd gets more of the lower half of the breast and and most of the aerole. Her upper and lower lips have to be flipped out like fish lips, and I do it with my fingers if they are not.

The other mummies are right about the marmet hand expression. I used it when I was having v bad sore nipples and engorgement. It really helped to loosen the blocked ducts and was so painless, compared to the painful kneading from mt e and tmc lcs that left me all bruised and raw. And using the technique, I could express more milk than when I was using the pump.

Do pls try the hand expression technique.

Pls don't let anyone tell you that you don't have enough milk. I'm really quite flat chested and I mean really, but I've managed to produce enough to breastfeed dd exclusively for 6 months and after that to supplement her solids with bf till now.

If anyone tells you you don't have enough milk, ask them how they know this since there are no markings on your breasts and they are not drinking from you. These ppl really irritate me!

Lots of hugs and kisses. :hugs: :snuggles:

[terry]

Hi all,

Firstly, thks so much for rallying around me, spending time to type out ur advice and sharing ur experiences.

Just nw, I latch on for abt 45mins and tried to settle bb to sleep. He fell asleep at my breast. But he zz only for abt 15 mins and woke up crying and fussing after many attempts to re-settle him. He was rooting, looking for nipple. But I dun hv any milk, so gotta gv him ebm. He slept for straight 3 hrs plus.

Mummies,
Really appreciate all ur support and encouragement.
After talking to some frends,I hv decided it's best not to stress myself. I wanna enjoy my bb and spend gd time with my ds1. I do not wan to put so much pressure on myself that I become a monster and start snapping at ppl around me. They are all stressed out trying to help me.
I missed a feed and pump out and the qty is 1oz. It is not enough for bb, unless like what some of u said, keep latching nonstop.

I'm afraid I'm gg into post natal depression. I juz join this forum not too long and I did admit that I'm not the typical mother type. For my 1st bb, I was in depression as well and when I told my mum I'm trying for 2nd bb, she did warn me abt it but I wanted a sibling for my ds1. Thru out my pregnancy I keep thinking if history will repeat itself and did as much as I can to prepare myself. I knew that 1 of the issue was BFg. And I told myself if hv I will gv, if not then I wun force it. I know breast is best and it will always be a regret that I can't do it well. But by forcing myself,I will go mental. And my family members worry abt me.
Unless I hv my confinement in the comfort of the hospital with nurses and LC on 24 hrs standby.

The night feeds are killing me. I dun hv to describe it. I'm sure all of u know what i mean. I missed my ds1 nw staying with my mum. But when he comes back, I feel so pressurized with bb. All I wan is to spend time with him with I did not do so for the past 3 hrs of his life cos of work. But nw, instead of being with him, I'm stuck with the bb on my breast, in bed, ALL THE TIME. I know itz suppose to be LIKE THAT. But I can't take it anymore.
I was actually looking forward to balloting today cos it gvs me an excuse to get out of the house!can u imagine???

Thanks to all of u who spent time to gv me such support. Im very TOUCHED that such a short note for help can garner such strong reaction frm so many of u. I'm afraid I dun hv such conviction as all of u. Some still BFg till kids are toddlers and beyond. Really fantastic and I wish I hv such patience and perseverance.

:thankyou:

[autumnbronze]

Terry,


Give Gina Ford’s book a try. Like you, my bb was crying a lot and woke up many times for night feed. I was neglecting my elder boy because I had to catch up on my sleep.

After reading the book and tweaking some parts of her advice, my DS2 has settle down to some sort of a routine. I am able to express milk and leave him for short periods of time with my in-laws as I step out for a while to run errands. With expressed milk, I am able to spend time with my elder boy at home too.

Basically I only direct feed him in the afternoons and at night before he goes to bed.

Take care and good luck!!!

[SAHM_TAN]

Dear Terry, do what is good for you and be at peace with that.

[terry]

Thks every body!


For not being so judgemental.

[linden2000]

Hi Terry. Hey no worries. Everyone’s circumstances are different and only you know best what’s best for yourself and your kiddo. Take care!

[autumnbronze]

terry:

Thks every body!


For not being so judgemental.

Hey, this is what this club is for :rahrah:

Yes, at the end of the day, you know whats best for you and the baby ... The most important thing is that you must be at peace with yourself, then you will be able to take care of your baby.

Take care and all the best