I am by no means an expert on this topic, but I've been doing this exclusively for the last 7+ weeks and here are some useful items you may want if you're heading this path..
🔘A breast pump. My insurance provided an Ameda Purely Yours, my friend gifted Medela Advanced Pump In Style, and my wonderful lactation consultant got me Medela Sympony (free of rental charges for 2 months)
🔘Storage system for breast milk. Since I liked my Medela pumps, I invested in their Medela accessories. I made sure I had enough bottles and caps.
🔘Extra pump accessories. I went on Amazon and purchased two more sets of flanges so I always had at least a set of clean ones to use. Also make sure you have extra membranes!
🔘Nursing bras. I had one for everyday of the week because sometimes I'd need to change my bra midday
🔘Nursing pads. I really liked the Lansinol newborn pads because they're so soft!
🔘Nursing bras/ tops. Like breastfeeding, you need easy access to pump.
🔘Baby bottles. I like the Dr. browns bottles. I have it in 2oz, 4oz and a couple 8oz when Noah grows older. I've used Avent but it was a bit hard to use, although I do wish Dr. brown bottles have less parts...
🔘Bottle sterilizer. Any would do, but I use the Dr. browns sterilizer steamer.
🔘Breast milk storage bags. I used Medela and Lansinol and I love the Lansinol one. The Medela bags were too messy to transfer and thaw.
🔘Happy well fed baby
The thing you have to consistently purchase are the bags to store breastmilk in your freezer. When storing the bags, put it in gallon sized zip lock bags to organize the newest from oldest milk.
Sunday, September 10, 2017
Thursday, September 7, 2017
Feeding in the city p2
Nobody said exclusively pumping was glamorous. It's tough. Motherhood is tough.
In the very beginning, I had a feeding schedule in which I followed with pumping afterwards. If I was lucky to have help, a family member would feed Noah for me while I pumped. But of course, there are times when I have to feed first then pump. Noah isn't that patient enough for me to do the opposite.
It was so hard...
I felt like I was trapped at home with baby and the pump. If I went out, I had to make sure i checked my list twice!
Diaper bag ✔️
Car seat / stroller ✔️
Baby ✔️
Pump bag plus accessories ✔️
Make sure I'm going somewhere with an outlet and privacy ✔️
Mummy pumped ✔️
Baby fed ✔️
All those factors have to be in place for a smooth outing. Who knew a baby needed so much "stuff"? After getting the hang of things, I decided to change my pumping schedule around so I wasn't on Noah's exact schedule. It worked well until he decided to sleep earlier hence waking up earlier and getting into the middle of my pumping session.
Finally when I visited my OBGYN at 5 weeks, he gave me the OK to drop a pump (from 8 to 7)! I literally heard the angels rejoice! There, I scrambled my schedule around yet again and kept the schedule for another 3 weeks. I'm counting down the weeks until I can drop another session.
When things are just going, I decided to toss a curve ball. At 8 weeks and 2 days, I decided to breastfeed again. I wanted to try. I wonder if he'll latch correctly..,,
In the very beginning, I had a feeding schedule in which I followed with pumping afterwards. If I was lucky to have help, a family member would feed Noah for me while I pumped. But of course, there are times when I have to feed first then pump. Noah isn't that patient enough for me to do the opposite.
It was so hard...
I felt like I was trapped at home with baby and the pump. If I went out, I had to make sure i checked my list twice!
Diaper bag ✔️
Car seat / stroller ✔️
Baby ✔️
Pump bag plus accessories ✔️
Make sure I'm going somewhere with an outlet and privacy ✔️
Mummy pumped ✔️
Baby fed ✔️
All those factors have to be in place for a smooth outing. Who knew a baby needed so much "stuff"? After getting the hang of things, I decided to change my pumping schedule around so I wasn't on Noah's exact schedule. It worked well until he decided to sleep earlier hence waking up earlier and getting into the middle of my pumping session.
Finally when I visited my OBGYN at 5 weeks, he gave me the OK to drop a pump (from 8 to 7)! I literally heard the angels rejoice! There, I scrambled my schedule around yet again and kept the schedule for another 3 weeks. I'm counting down the weeks until I can drop another session.
When things are just going, I decided to toss a curve ball. At 8 weeks and 2 days, I decided to breastfeed again. I wanted to try. I wonder if he'll latch correctly..,,
Wednesday, September 6, 2017
Feeding in the city p1
After taking all the baby classes offered by my hospital, I learned breastfeeding was the way to go. I happily told my OBGYN I'm breastfeeding. I check, NO.. double checked the box for exclusively breastfeeding when my bundle of joy arrives.
Fast forward to my labor and delivery room to the very second when I met my baby. He barely latched on me and I had so many new mommy emotions but I needed to hide the loud shatter of my heart when he didn't take my breast. My nurses told me not to worry and they'll have nipple shields for me to use when I'm upstairs in my postpartum room.
The piece of plastic. Was. What. Ruined. My. breastfeeding. Bonding. Experience.
It was difficult to use. Baby Noah had to work extra hard for milk. When the lactation consultant came in, it was a miracle with a million angels singing as Noah latched on and happily filled his tiny tummy. But after she's gone, all hell broke loose. I learned to hand express 10ml of milk into a sirange but it seemed so little....
But wait, it gets worst! After getting discharged, it was just the hubby and I plus my mom who came by to help. Noah barely slept at night because I couldn't produce enough milk for him. I felt like a failure. I wanted to do all I can for my toothless love but I couldn't. The hubby and my mom both insisted to supplement with formula. I refused because I didn't want Noah to pick formula over me (selfish huh?) Finally, on Noah's 2nd night at home, I gave them the green light to supplement. The hubby and my mom were so glad I changed my mind.
We seemed interventions. We truly did. I talked to Noah's pediatrician, my OBGYN, schedule several appoinments in person and on the phone with a lactation consultant and nothing seem to help. That is until my breast pump from my insurance showed up and a hospital grade pump (no rental fee from my lactation consultant) I decided to pump inside of breastfeeding. I made up my mind in no more than a week of my son's birth to exclusively pump.
Stay tuned to find out what happened!
Fast forward to my labor and delivery room to the very second when I met my baby. He barely latched on me and I had so many new mommy emotions but I needed to hide the loud shatter of my heart when he didn't take my breast. My nurses told me not to worry and they'll have nipple shields for me to use when I'm upstairs in my postpartum room.
The piece of plastic. Was. What. Ruined. My. breastfeeding. Bonding. Experience.
It was difficult to use. Baby Noah had to work extra hard for milk. When the lactation consultant came in, it was a miracle with a million angels singing as Noah latched on and happily filled his tiny tummy. But after she's gone, all hell broke loose. I learned to hand express 10ml of milk into a sirange but it seemed so little....
But wait, it gets worst! After getting discharged, it was just the hubby and I plus my mom who came by to help. Noah barely slept at night because I couldn't produce enough milk for him. I felt like a failure. I wanted to do all I can for my toothless love but I couldn't. The hubby and my mom both insisted to supplement with formula. I refused because I didn't want Noah to pick formula over me (selfish huh?) Finally, on Noah's 2nd night at home, I gave them the green light to supplement. The hubby and my mom were so glad I changed my mind.
We seemed interventions. We truly did. I talked to Noah's pediatrician, my OBGYN, schedule several appoinments in person and on the phone with a lactation consultant and nothing seem to help. That is until my breast pump from my insurance showed up and a hospital grade pump (no rental fee from my lactation consultant) I decided to pump inside of breastfeeding. I made up my mind in no more than a week of my son's birth to exclusively pump.
Stay tuned to find out what happened!
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