How I manage my expressed breast milk for my caretaker to feed my baby

As a new mom before going back to workforce, I have progressively trained my body to pump during working hours and breastfeed during the hours where I expect myself to be at home with baby.

Since my baby is the first grandchild ever in my father-in-law's family tree, you can imagine that they could not bear to hear the slightest cry from my baby. Certainly, they would like to ensure that my baby can be fed right away once she is awake.

In order to demonstrate to my family that feeding breast milk is easier, faster and more convenient, I have put some thoughts into how my mother-in-law can prepare the breast milk and feed my baby as soon as possible. Here is the practice I am currently adopting:

Items required

1. Storage bottles (Bumblebee standard size)
2. Teats (Hito silicone slow flow standard teat - breastlike)
3. Electric hot water dispenser
4. Timer

Preparation the night before

• My storage bottles are my baby's feeding bottles. 
• I will ensure that each storage bottle is filled with 3 - 4 oz of breast milk. This is my baby's intake per feed. 
• Since I will be away from home for 12 hours, I will prepare 5 storage bottles (4 feeds + 1 stand by feed) in the fridge. 
• I bought extra teats and prepared the teats in advance. Since I have quite a number of storage bottles, I took out some of the bottle caps and fixed the teats into the ring. I will leave the teats with ring in the sterilizer. 

When my baby is up for feeding time, what my mother-in-law will do is:

1. Take out the readily available breast milk in the storage bottle.
2. Fill some hot water into a cup using the electric hot water dispenser.
3. Warm the milk by placing the storage bottle into the cup filled with hot water.
4. Set timer for 5 minutes [We have timed earlier that milk is warmed in 5 minutes using 98 degrees hot water].
5. Once time is up, take out the bottle cap and replace with teat. 
6. Feed baby.

How do I find this method?

• When my mother-in-law set the timer for 5 minutes, she can still hold and play with my baby while waiting for times up. At least she doesn't need to rush to mix milk powder into warm water at the right quantity and test the milk temperature, while my baby gets cranky and cry out loud. :-)
• Since the storage bottles are the feeding bottles, it means my mother-in-law doesn't need to transfer the milk into special feeding bottles. This will save time in milk preparation, avoid unwanted spills, and save the time spent in washing feeding bottles. :-)
• Of course, I will need to invest a little more time every night to make sure that all the items are well prepared. 

How do you prepare your breast milk for your caretaker to feed your child?


- underweight mom

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FTWM BF Journey Ep1 Pumping Schedule

WORRIED THAT BOSS MAY NOT LIKE IT THAT I TOOK UP A LOT OF TIME PUMPING.

Thats what most of the mummy worried about... Started work and finally I settled with my awesome pump schedule :)

Always committed with my midnight pump because it helps to maintain my milk supply and hopefully do some wonder by increasing it.

• 2am (30mins)
• 5am (15mins)
• 9am (10mins)
• 12nn (20mins)
• 4pm (15mins)
• 7pm (20mins)
• 10pm (20mins)

As you can see, I will need to pump 3 times in my office at least if I do not work overtime, Therefore, I will settle back with about 10 to 12oz . Each pump time I will take about 10-20mins depending on work schedule.

Sometimes if i am too busy I will move the 9am to 10am then continue with 2pm then 6pm. These days I will pump only 6 times per day.

Have a nice day!

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What is in your breastmilk? - new mother diary Ep5

What's in your breastmilk?

smile emoticon heart emoticon

Daphne Lee-Yang, HypnoBirthing Certified Educator

What's in your breastmilk?
Part 2
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In part one, colostrum was mentioned. Essentially, what is colostrum and why is it so important?
It does sound a bit strange for many mothers who does not know that there is colostrum before milk.
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Healthy mothers will produce colostrum in the beginning during pregnancy and continuing through the early days of breastfeeding. This special milk is yellow to orange in color- a bit thick and sticky... It is low in fat, and high in carbohydrates, protein, and antibodies to help keep infants healthy. Extremely easy to digest, and is therefore the perfect first food for your baby. However priceless it is, it is low in volume (measurable in teaspoons only- hence even if you were to express, you might get only drops. However, you will need to keep in mind that a baby's stomach is very small, whatever you make is whatever that is needed by your baby. It is always enough.), but high in concentrated nutrition for the newborn.
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Colostrum also has laxative effect on the baby, helping him pass his early stools (meconium), which aids in the excretion of excess bilirubin and helps keep jaundice at bay.
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When you keep latching and latching your baby on, your breasts will begin producing mature milk days after within the week. Then volume will start to increase. In those first few days it is extremely important to breastfeed your newborn at least 8-12 times every 24 hours. The more often the better. This allows your baby to get all the benefits of the colostrum and also stimulates production of a plentiful supply of mature milk. Hence this also fits to say that your baby is designed to behave that way- to increase your supply, to make sure that their body has enough to expel bilirubin at the same time.
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Inside colostrum, are living cells- it defends the baby against harmful agents and immune factors are always higher in colostrum than mature milk. Many experts also name it to be the 100% safe vaccine for babies. I mentioned before it contains IgA, this is the instrument that protects against germs, namely the mucous membranes in the throat, lungs, intestines and more.
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Colostrum also has an especially important role to play in the baby's gastrointestinal tract. A newborn's intestines are very permeable. Colostrum helps seals the holes by "painting" the gastrointestinal tract similar to shellac which prevents foreign substances from penetrating and possibly sensitizing a baby to foods the mother eats. There's high concentrations in protective white cells, used to destroy disease-causing bacteria and viruses.
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Amazing isn't it? Liquid gold.
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All you need to do is just keep feeding, whether you "see" or don't "see" your milk coming and you're on the right flight. 

Sharing by Daphne Lee-Yang, Certified Hypnobirthing Educator

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What is in your breastmilk? - new mother diary Ep4

What's in your breastmilk?
Part 1

Bonjour everyone! Am gonna spread some goodness about breastfeeding today.

Back to basics: How does breast milk protect your baby from falling sick?
That is indeed the million dollar question, how? Not that simple when you think about it again really. Mommy has gotta maintain her supply, must ensure that she eats well enough and what not, but, it is totally worth it.
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Breastmilk is like a living complex substance, similar to blood. It has a long list of health-promoting and active germ fighting ingredients. Hence it protects little ones from all kinds of infections, common and not so common ones.
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A drop of breastmilk contains around one million white blood cells, called macrophages ("big eaters"), they gobble up germs. It is also power-packed with immunoglobulin A (IgA), which coats the lining of babies' immature intestines, preventing germs from leaking through. By coating the intestinal lining, it acts as a protective paint, it prevents molecules of foreign foods from getting into the bloodstream to set up an allergic reaction.
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Colostrum (breastmilk from first few days after birth), is especially rich in IgA, appears at the time when the newborn is first exposed to the outside world and needs protection from germs as well as foreign substances entering his body. Think of colostrum as your baby's first important immunization... Amazing isn't it?
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The contents of breastmilk is always tailor-made. Custom-designed to protect babies. Mommy will produce antibodies to fight a specific germ when baby's in contact with something new and bad. Hence when mommy falls sick, best is to continue to breastfeed.
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There's also this myth I constantly hear most parents say. 

-When I am sick, I shouldn't breastfeed. *shakes head*

It is the total opposite of what you should do when you're sick really. I'll talk about this another time.

Sharing by Daphne Lee-Yang, Certified Hypnobirthing Educator

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Every mother have milk, enough milk, produce sufficient for baby need - new mother diary Ep3

Supply = Demand = Supply

Have Faith because you have MILK!

It is tough, tougher as I thought because my milk is not kicking in and I am in depressed with a crying baby and unsupportive CL. CL who tells me I do not have milk and my breastmilk is not good enough. 

When you are already in this depression mode, what you can do is, find a support group or someone to motivate you. Gina is a certified LC and a mother of four. Very experience and big heart to share, she write this as follows that I want to share it out to you. 

Read this many many times and print this into your heart..

Love,

Hot MaMa

Give me a like at my FB to keep me sharing <3

___________________________________________________________________________________________

By Gina,

What's the #1 worry for pregnant mommy in TBAN? Worry of not enough milk right? Do you know our ancestors (from about 100 years ago) never have this problem/worry? Because there were no Formula milk! With the creation of FM, and with its unethical marketing gimmick, they have successfully convinced mothers in the past 100 years that modern mothers would most likely not have enough milk! Our grandmothers and our own mothers are victims of this!.

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And today groups like TBAN are spreading the awareness that human beings are born to be breastfed, that ALL mothers will have colostrum and only a very small percentage (about 1%) might have difficulty producing enough milk. It really does not help the new anxious pregnant mother to receive advice to “supplement first la, it’s ok to top-up, don’t let your baby starve, don’t so insist on DL DL DL DL, don’t  put stress on the new mother". 

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Just because you did all those things and you ‘turned out ok’ does not make it ok. Your ‘turned out ok’ case may be because you were lucky.

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Research has proven that the BEST way to increase supply is to DL DL DL. And because you didn’t DL all the time and still manage to fully BF and it ‘turned out ok’, please don’t go telling people that DL is not so important, because for the majority, they will have problems when they don’t DL. Do you want to be responsible for a new mother who took your advice, do not DL all the time, pump and let CL feed, and then eventually have to struggle with her supply. Or the mother who pump often and ended up with plugged ducts and mastitis because she did not DL all the time? 

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Your experience is just your experience. It’s just ONE case. Lactation consultants and breastfeeding specialists have the opportunity to encounter hundreds and thousands of cases, and we are able to see and understand what work or don’t work for the ‘majority’. We also understand that there is no ‘one size fits all’, but there are certain natural laws that hold true most of the time ie the law of gravity is true and real, unless you are on the moon! So the laws of breastfeeding and milk production are true and real unless you have ‘special conditions’ (which affects only about 1-2% mommies). 

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But what should a new mother do to ensure that she’s really doing her best? 

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First and foremost – Be strong and determined to breastfeed. LEARN about breastfeeding BEFORE baby’s arrival. Learn about normal baby’s behavior! 

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Secondly : when in the delivery ward, review all you have learnt about breastfeeding newborn. Many people actually forget what they have learnt because they attended one class when they were 7 months pregnant, and then never seek additional info on breastfeeding after that.

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3rd : seek help immediately from the right people especially if you are breastfeeding  non-stop, and cant even get to sleep. Be willing to get out from your comfort zone and out of your house to seek help. If your baby is sick, will you go to the doctor or do you call the doctor to come to you? Do you think breastfeeding your baby is important enough to seek help even if it means going out during confinement?

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4th: know what to expect ie poo and pee, and if your baby is not giving you the adequate amount, seek help!!! Don’t say things like “I was so determined to breastfeed until I cause my baby to be so dehydrated and have to be hospitalized etc etc etc. That’s why I think we shouldn’t be so nazi about breastfeeding”. Before your baby got so dehydrated until need hospitalization, there are tell-tale signs already, and you have to seek help.

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5th : shop around for breastfeeding friendly doctors and hospitals. Insist on this. You are the paying customer!

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6th : don’t let your CL / old folks etc bully you or spoil your breastfeeding dreams! You got to be strong and determined for your baby’s sake. Your baby depends on you to protect him.

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The newer threat today in the guise of helping mothers is the BREASTPUMP, misleading mothers to think they absolutely must pump their breast as early as possible to get more milk. Or using the pump to determine if a mother has milk or 'letdown'. This is utter nonsense! The pump can never replace the effectiveness of a baby suckle. Sure, breastpumps does have its benefits, but if someone encourages you to exclusively pump instead of helping you direct latch, or simply waving off direct latching as impossible due to whatever condition, ALARM BELLS should ring! Stay away from this person and seek help from a more experienced and knowledgeable person with good track record for helping mothers direct latch.

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Do you really want to breastfeed? Then breastfeed!! And arm yourself with the right info and knowledge! Do whatever it takes!

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DL DL DL DL DL DL DL DL DL DL DL DL

All the best.

Give me a like at my FB to keep me sharing <3

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How much breastmilk should my baby drink - drinking enough? - new mother diary Ep2

How much breastmilk should my baby drink?

This is a very common question that a mother would ask. Let me tell you, the answer is, nobody knows - exactly. 

Back to the equation that I always talk about, breastmilk supply = demand = supply. Therefore, how much you baby should be drinking is actually up to your baby! If you ask any, any paediatric, there isn't an absolute answer. Then of course you will ask, how the paediatric know my baby is drinking enough?

The indication? Baby weight. 

As long as baby is gaining healthy weight then it is all right. In fact, baby stomach is very small in the first few days of their life. Have you thought of the size?

Source: www.theperfectlatch.com

However, there is a rule of thumb that my LC told me (if I am feeding formula milk) which is 2.5ounce per pound of baby weight. Therefore, as you baby grow, the feeding will be more.

Let me share with you 3 indications that baby is drinking enough taking the rule of thumb aside because I do not really believe in that.

1. Baby is continuously gaining weight after 10th day. 
2. Baby looks satisfied after each feed.
3. Baby have at least six to eight wet diapers a day.

During my confinement, my CL have been nagging and nagging persistently that my baby is not drinking enough. The baby could not sleep well because my breastmilk is not thick (fats) enough, my breastmilk supply could not satisfy my baby need and etc.

And to the extend, she asked me to pump and show her much much in ml I am producing at that point of time. Well, if you have already read my "myth breastfeeding" and "breastfeeding tips" you knows by now, ALL THIS IS TOTALLY RUBBISH!

So people, stay calm and feed.

Love,
Hot MaMa

Give me a like at my FB to keep me sharing <3

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Are you ready for Breast-feeding? Prepare emotionally and physically - new mother diary Ep1

Breastfeeding

when you think you know it all..

When I was first pregnant, I thought I knew it all, I thought breastfeeding is a natural thing that just come with the baby. As it is supposed to be a natural thing, taken it for granted, never ever in my life I would have thought to do research on it.

Baby was naturally vagina born. She is so beautiful and everything just fall into place like my desired birth plan. My gynae was very co-operation on my hypnobirthing and it is just... so beautiful...

I am ready to give my baby the first feed. Nurse put her lying on my chest and my baby just latch on. Thank god. She have the most perfect latch ever. The nurses just could not stop praising how smart my hours born baby is. The latch is just so awesomely-perfect. Baby was then carried away to the baby room and I am allowed to rest. 

The second feed came not much longer after that. I let her latch on and baby just keep sucking and sucking. For a few minutes she fall asleep and I then put her to the baby cot. Third feed came again not much longer after that and it continues with shorter and shorter interval.

Ok. Something is not right.

Next day, baby start crying after a sucking for a while. Panic mum button is on! Why? What has happened? Nurse asked a LC to came over for consultation. During the consultation, LC gave me some pointers that every new mum should know about breastfeeding or at least prepare themselves for it. Well, it is very much vary from individual but it is do apply for me, personal experience.

• Milk do not come immediately after birth. In the initial stage (1-3 days) only colostrum are produced. I call it the first gold milk. Colostrum is the best (full of antibiotic and immunoglobulins) and it is sufficient for your baby's demand. Read more here.

• Milk supply equal demand. Every mum would have sufficient supply for their babies. Supply = Demand = Supply. Read more here.

• There are a lot of old people saying (myth) about breastfeeding. Believe in yourself and believe  always believe that breastmilk is the best milk for a baby. If anyone else tell you otherwise, ask them talk to WHO. Read more here.

• Breastfeeding is NOT the cause of jaundice. Jaundice is NORMAL among new born babies. Read more here.

• There is no best pump, there is no best milk booster if you do not latch. Only with latching, breastfeeding journey can be a sustainable journey. But of course, some of us would have reason of why she could not DL. However, if it is possible do keep on DL. It helps you in every way and of course it is one of the reason why you want to breastfeed? DL is the best bonding time.

• Tips of success.

• Diet of a breastfeeding mum.

Keeping all these, I went back home and begin my confinement journey. Read my trouble confinement journey here.

Love,

Hot MaMa.

Give me a like at my FB to keep me sharing <3

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