Mommy Talk : Breastfeeding

After my first post, I keep wondering what should I blog about for my second post. I eventually decided to talk about my breastfeeding experience.

I just stopped breastfeed my daughter Olive a month ago. She got exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months, and continue breastfed until she's 18 month. I have to admit it's not only Olive miss her mommy breasts, but mommy also miss the breastfeeding moment. I miss holding her in my arm and watching her laugh and giggle when I put a silly face. I miss her little hand holding me, playing with my hair or touching my other nipple. I really miss the bonding moment of breastfeed.

The beginning of my breastfeed is not a happy elegant experience just like what we see in commercial. The first 3 days after I delivered Olive, the milk haven't come out. I cried a lot at the hospital I think I'll win the most crying mom award. Just a couple of hours after delivery, my baby already cried for milk. She's so hungry but could not got any milk. She cried so loud every 2-3 hours and it's so stressful time for both of us. Day 2 at the hospital my baby was dehydrated and got mild jaundice. I was so sad and keep blaming myself for not able to produced breast milk for my baby, and eventually I let the nurse gave her formula so the jaundice won't get worsen. I think I can't call it exclusive, let's say Olive had a semi exclusive breastfeed since we fed her formula several times.

After I discharged from hospital, the milk came out, but it's still not enough for Olive. She thrown tantrum every night crying for more milk, yet she kept resisting formula. Yes, I did try to fed her formula again, when you see your baby cry out loud for more milk but you could not provide enough for her, your heart will waver and all you want to do is give her something that will make her full, stop crying and be a happy baby.

The situation is still mess but gradually getting better as breast milk came out more and more until it completely became fast flow at around 1 month. After one month she can get enough milk to satisfy her appetite. Full baby, happy baby, happy everybody. Hip hip hurray....

Now as I look back at my breastfeeding experience, I can get several things I did and did not do that in my opinion could help through breastfeeding.

Eat a well balance and healthy diet
You need to eat well not only to make your breast produce milk for your baby but also to improve your health and stamina after delivery.  Forget about diet or counting calories. I'm so blessed to have my mother in law cook for me. My everyday menu is chicken or pork soup (angkak chicken soup or red bean pork ribs soup), pork feet stew, along with rice, some vegetable and fruit.

Breast Massage
I start massaged my breast when I was 5 months pregnant and kept doing it until 6-7 month after delivery. I did it twice a day after shower using breast lactation oil. In my opinion this massage stimulate your breast to increase milk supply and help to prevent your breast from getting mastitis. If you want to do breast massage please be aware to use a safe, natural, and edible lactation oil. I always clean my breast before breastfeed my baby and wash it with lukewarm water. Below is a picture of hand expression which I follow when I did breast massage.

Clean Clogged Pore
This is the step that I did not do and I will definitely do if I get pregnant again. At the beginning of my breastfeed, I experience sore nipple. My nipple got some clogged pores and become swollen and hurt so much I almost cry every breastfeeding time. I have no idea I have to clear the clog pores until my cousin tell me. After the clogged pores cleared, the milk got the way to come out and not hurt anymore. Again, please use a safe, natural, and edible lactation oil if you want to clean your nipple.

Got support from husband and family
My husband is my #1 supporter during breastfeeding. He always encourage me that I can breastfed our baby not only verbally but also by doing. So does my family, they always so supportive. That really help me through the hard time and make me determined to keep going on my plan to breastfeed.

Positive thinking and do not stress
This one is something that I did not do during the first couple of days after delivery. I was too confused and overwhelm with the hungry crying baby and there is no milk came out. It's important for a mommy not to stress because it will affect the milk flow, so don't be like me, you have to relax and stay positive.

Hand Expressing
Instead of using breast pump I prefer do hand expressing. In my experience hand expressing did help increasing my milk supply. I don't mean that breast pump is not useful, but the first time I pump using my electric breast pump, it hurt so bad.  So I stopped after a couple of time using it. The breastpump I bought actually got a very nice review by many people, but it's just not work for me at that time. Doing hand expression also need a couple time practice before I could got the right way that work and comfortable for me. I'm sure you could get more information about hand expressing from your midwife.

All information written above is my personal experience which I think is useful to help me through  my breastfeeding time. Please bear in mind what work for me may not work for some other people and vice versa. Always consult with your obstetricians, midwife and your pediatrician to find the best that are most suitable for your condition and health.