2004-09-03
my breastfeeding story! a long one!
Yes, I am a freak and obsess with this breastfeeding thingy. When I discover I am pregnant, I set up my mind that I wanna BF my baby till I can, or to the max. I know it’s going to be hassle but still I wanna put it a try.
So, as time goes by, I prayed hard to God, get my milk supply to be sufficient. I am so hoping that I do can get my dream realised. So, on the day khilfi was born, I first tried to bfeed the moment he popped out to the world but to no succeed. Not yet, but I just out him to latch even no milk coming out yet. Untill the next 12 hours, late evening, few drops coming out, the colustrum. And thank god, he knows how to latch without failed. Alhamdulillah.
The next day, my gynae and paed came over. I raised up my worriedness on my inability to produce milk yet, they said just continue, the baby can still sustain with no food yet in his body. So I just keep on putting efi to latch on it with still few drops only, those yellowish liquid still which was very pekat one. Then by evening on the 2nd day, my milk starts pouring out. And khilfi was attached to me like almost 2 hours latching in. Man, that was very exhausted. I’m so like is this how its going to be, but its too early to give up. So the feeding began.
Time to settle back at home. He was a demanding baby. He wanna be at feed every time his awake. Being a first timer, I could not stand the pressure, luckily MIL and hubby keep on motivating me. My dad always called to continue giving his words how good bfeed is, no one seems ever put the ideas of stopping. At one point, I had a sore nip*le. Damn, that was hurt big time. And there was time where I feel my supply is not enuff, there’s a tot of start mixing formula. My dad was totally against it. And the nurses said it should be sufficient. I enroll myself for the home nursing visits, so every 2 days the nurses will monitor my breastfeeding technique by 1 week, em kind of settle into a routine and I dun find BF is a taxing job anymore. I’m kind of grew with it and happy with the task already.
When my son fall asleep, I will pump my milk for stocking. You know when u are in confinement, have to do urut ah, tungku and so on, so during those time em not available. So, need to have stock to feed khilfi. Luckily he did not reject the bottles. There was a time when he did not like the teat of the bottle, so the search begin again, until I found one which he likes so much and stick to it till today.
So for the 2 months time of confinement, I started my stocking about 2 weeks before I get back to work. Managed to have like only 8 bottles for a start on my first day at work. Susah jugak nak stock in fact coz khilfi is like “bergantung” with me like forever. So, the only time I can stock his milk is at night. Luckily he sleeps throughout the night, so those milk supply goes for stocking.
Okay, day 1 at work. My new routine begin. Early morning, subuh, I will pump, and get 1 stock. My 1 stock is equivalent to 4-5oz of milk, depends on the bottle. If MC bottle will be 5oz, if avent bottle will be 4oz. Then before I left for office, I will fed him direct. I will do my first pump around 10, I will get about 1 ˝ bottle. Then after lunch another 1 ˝ bottle and the latter will be before leaving the office another 4-5oz. So all together I will have about 4 bottles at the office and plus 1 which was done in the morning. SO I am 5 bottles richer per day. And yes, the rule of supply and demand applies here. We breakeven everyday, coz the bottles out will be 5 bottles as well from khilfi at home. So, I stressed out myself, must continue pumping at weekend too, so that will have extra bottles in stock. So the routine continue.
I have my low tide season too. AT one time I can just pump about 12 oz per day. Damn, and khilfi was drinking about 20 oz and that was pressure. But alhamdulillah I still managed coz so far I always will pump whenever I have the time.
And remember when all my milk turn sour, 17 bottles. That was a disappointing horrible moment in my life. To start back all over again was not something great. Letih. I was almost dying ajer doing the stocking again and all, alhmaudlillah it went well till now.
These days, my milk supplies does not running like previously. IT started to lessen out maybe because efi also drink less during daytime. He sucks it all out at nighttime maybe. I only managed to pump about 8-12oz daily. Luckily when I was temporarily unemploeyd that day, I continue to pump and can have more stock available that explain why I have about 40 bottles in my freezer now.
I no longer fancied putting it in my avent and MC bottle.Tak mampu ah nak beli all the bottle byk and no point, byk sgt no use jugak lah. So all those rm5 bottles will just do, all those baby kiko, anakku pigeon starts to come into picture.
Anyway, for the last 6 months I am proud to be one of the mother who fully bfeed her son. I guess Jolie, dezie and few others as well has been doing the same. And I know there are those who cant do the same but I tell you what, insya allah the next baby, it will works on you too. I keep my prayers for you guys.
Tips on sustaining or at least not to drain you milk, like my case, I live by having at least 9 plain water daily, have a potion of oats serving, horlicks and milo in day. I also starts on my lobak putih regime these days. I do soup, curry, veggies, or whatever with my lobak putih in. So far it shows miracle sign. At least the milk still flowing. And soy bean too will help.
I am not very sure whether there is a rule of thumb on this. But I am still looking for a real boost on getting my milk supply to sustain. I so far will try whatever tips as within my reach to sustain it.
So to all mommies, I wish u guys all the best with this bfeed thingy. Its my personal opinion on this matter, not intent to condemn or what on anyone. Things happen for a reason and everyone entitled for his/her view kan. SO far, khilfi is healthy, you can see him at my fotopages, how berketak he is now. He falls sick once due to the viral infection which was so strong, but other than that, not even any visited him yet. May it stay away from him ever.
He is a very good boy, sleep throught the nite, not fussy and alhamdulillah mmg piece of mind. He eats all veggies that I introduce to him and now starting on chicken and fish porridge with spinash. Ahaks. So people, em off now. Have a nice weekend. I am on my bottle hunt again this week coz em running out of bottle now.
Toodles.!!
P/s: anyone wanna donate bottles to me???
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kaezrin at 10:24 a.m.