Breastfeeding- starter kit and points to know!

Friends of mine asked me this question: “What are the basic props we need to start pumping?” So here we go:

Start thinking after delivery, absolutely everybody wants to breastfeed the baby directly, but…..if until the second day, the milk won’t let down (the baby will be fine without any food until 2-3 days-depend on the condition as well)…buy the pump to stimulate the milk as quick as possible if not the hospital will offer you the formula hiks hiks hiks. I suggest you to use manual pump because you can control the suction; send me email at mumtomums@gmail.com if you need to know the brand.

If you have problem with the nipple, consult with the lactation consultant (you can find them in certain hospital) whether you need the nipple shield to pull the nipple out or you need to do something to prepare yours to breastfeed the baby.

Pumping the milk means you need more bottle, if you have abundant milk supply then you can store them in the fridge (last for 24 hours) or in the freezer (last for 3 months). If you just put it outside until the next feeding time it will last 6-8 hours and if the weather extremely hot it lasts only 4 hours. Just smell it before you give it to the baby if overdue.

When you put it in the fridge or freezer and you want it simple then you need bottle warmer or if you don’t want to buy it then just put in the warm water until the temperature of the bottle as warm as the water (it takes time definitely). DO NOT SHAKE the MILK just SWIRL it! Why????? Read the article I attached in the blog archive.

Brush and liquid soap special to wash the bottle and the small bucket to put the dirty bottle in. You may also need bottle container to put all the bottle in.

Of course the next is sterilizer for the bottle-so simple! I love simple as I use a lot of bottle in a day and I don’t want to waste time sterilizing by boiling them for 10 minutes!

Breast massage can be useful- you can find it how in links I have on the right side of my posts (just find it somewhere hehehhehe) or to stimulate more let down milk, cover your breast up before you pump with warm towel.

You need to relax when you do this not in a rush, watching TV or listening to the music while pumping also make you relax.

To increase the milk supply, pump it consistently, e.g. every 3 or 4 hours.

Good luck!

Sleeping pattern-success!

He is almost 5 months now and FINALLY....he can sleep on his own box! Praise the Lord..

Here the story from the beginning....He has been sleping on his tummy since he was 1 week (our pedi. recommended this style as he has breathing problem). Never work to let him sleep on his tummy until now! Anyway, the advantages of sleeping on his tummy are he could lift up his neck on his first month, he is an expert to turn his head right and left while sleeping, he is no longer have breathing problem.

I experienced carrying him until he fell asleep and when i put him on his bed, he cried and we started the process again. Sometimes I slept with him on my lap....it's so tiring huhuhuhu. It made me do nothing all day long!!!

Next step was I needed to carry and rock him until he fell asleep and then I will super slowly putting him on his box and he would sleep....this style hurt my back a lot!!!! Sometimes it takes 30 minutes (if i'm lucky) until 2 hours!!!!!!

I read some method to make the baby sleeps by himself, such as after good night kiss then leave him alone (I've tried this and he still didn't sleep until an hour and still crying!) or other similar method but it just didn't work!

Finally...he is 6kg now and I will break my back I believe if i do this everytime he has to sleep, so I talked with my cousin and she said......just put him on the box when he shows sleepy signs and if he doesn't want to sleep just play with him on his box until he falls asleep. If he cries, ask him to play again or we can leave him crying for 30-45 minutes for 3 days and then he will get use of it. but must be under your supervision if he really need to be carried. Well I've tried this and it doesn't really work for my sweet baby!

With some changes, finally it works!!! so when he shows sleepy signs, put him on the box, if he doesn't want to sleep, i used to ask him play on his box (I sat next to his box)--> it's not working, he will then play and cry and play and cry for 1-2 hours. So...I will carry him and ask him to play on my bed until he rubs his eyes several times and become fussy a bit, then i'll put him on his box, he will cry for 15 minutes or less and then sleep (the beginning), now he will cry for 5 minutes or less!!! or if he showed the signs already but still crying just feed him, it usually work well!

I will not set the time for his napping, but at night I usually put him on his box at 8pm or less if he shows the signs already.

For nap time, if he sleeps less than his common hour, I usually give him pats on his back or pick him up and rock him a while and put him back on his box or feed him...if they just don't work then it's time for me to play with him hip hip hoorayyyy

I assume that baby knows when he needs or wants to sleep desperately so why do we wasting time asking him to sleep while he wants to play still.

My tips for mums is remember, different child different style.....don't force your child to one method, know your child better! Trial and error absolutely needed!

pacifier...dummy...binky...whatever!

I avoid using this soothing things for my baby boy since the first time.....until I went to my pedi (another pedi to have second opinion). She looked at my baby and asked about his sucking hobby, she saw when he finished his milk and still eager to suck. She asked whether I give him paci or not...I said confidently...I won't use it and make it as bad habit!

My pedi said....who need or not need it? is it the parents or the baby??? OK.......that's a hard question to answer! My pedi remained me that as parents we have to fullfil his need, that's it! It's not about parents, it's about the baby! Huhuhuhuhu That's 1000% correct! Where am I????

So.....I started giving him the dummy when he showed sucking motion but refused to drink. It did help! and if you know........dummy is just addicted! not to the baby but to parents! It's like a safety boat in emergency situation....

start crying......dummy's coming...
hungry but the milk not ready yet....dummy's coming...
on his box and he's crying....dummy's coming....

I read some articles that mention it's safe to use dummy until 4 mo as it won't affect the jaws or teeth position.....some say it's ok until 6 mo....and baby will have less willingness to suck his dummy after 4mo......another great fact is it's easier to wean a dummy than a thumb...

So here I'm with 4 mo baby and it's true that dummy not his favourite any longer....so dummy now is really not a help anymore hooorayyyy

My tips for mums are becareful using dummy too often, the best period is only 2 hours a day.....because when he cries and you force the dummy in, you don't give him time to express his feelings. Dummy might be a great soother for the baby, so be wise to decide whether your baby need it or not. Remember it's about the baby's need not what the parents want.