Medela Supplemental Nursing System

I did some research and I bought Medela SNS from Amazon.com. few weeks ago. Finally it's here.


Supplemental Nursing System - Helps mothers breastfeed adopted babies, helps with relactation, and is useful with premature babies or low milk supply. With an SNS, the baby is supplemented at the breast, maintaining the important physical contact while stimulating your breast to increase your milk supply.


Why it's useful:

1. baby receives formula as she nurses
2. nursing stimulates milk production
3. formula satisfies baby, so she continues to nurse

I'm unable to starve my baby enough so that she is forced to take my breast. I can't bear to see her wailing in hunger but yet I want to give her my milk as best as I can.

I have nothing against formula milk (and I'm still giving). Just that I think breastmilk is the best for baby.

I really should have gotten this way earlier when everyone was telling me that I don't have milk instead of giving baby a bottle. Quote from this site - "Because bottles can weaken the baby’s suck reflex and even lead to early weaning".

I have just started using it. Baby is okay with this, just that in 30 minutes, she merely finishes about 20 ml of milk and keeps falling asleep at my breast. Because FM can only tahan for 1 hour, I have to quickly transfer the remaining to a bottle and let her finish her milk. On top of usual pumping, I am using this SNS in the day time, which means feeding time is lengthened. More things to wash and sterilise and lesser resting time.

 - - - I found one very useful link here on extra tips on how to use the SNS. Haven't read in detailed yet. But perhaps it can explain why baby is drinking so slowly even with the fastest flowing tube.

Yesterday, baby seems to be confused. When I bottle feed her, she keeps turning her head towards my breast and sometimes, pushing out the bottle teat and turning her head left and right (seems uncomfortable or uneasy). She also cries a little when drinking milk from a bottle from time to time. Is that what they call nipple confusion?

To avoid this is not to let mommy bottlefeed her so that when baby comes to mommy it is only latching. But I am unable to resolve this because I am the 99% caretaker of baby. If hubby is around, he manages to help for 1 feed in a day.

I did cup feed and syringe feed baby when she was 1 month old. It was too late when I implement it and has caused her much misery. She would yell down the house. She'd rather be hungry and yell than to take milk from cup or syringe.

That is why... there is this warning on all infant formulas to say that if you want to breastfeed, don't introduce bottles to baby and World Health Organisation recommends total breastfeeding for a period of 6 months. That's also the reason why all milk companies don't give free samples for babies less than 6 months old. Even online purchasing of milk is for 6 months and above. They seem to make it less easy for people to buy milk powder for infants online.

Ok shall stop here, lest I go into the emo mode again.

Baby Signs

Baby is 10 weeks old now. I've just started signing to her, esp after Evon gave me the signing book (see earlier photo). These are some of the words that I've signed and also asked my Hubby to do the same. [bath, happy], [milk, more, finish], [change], [love], [daddy, mommy], [sleep/bed]. Will start with 10 first and then increase slowly.

Some youtube videos here - http://pandielammieluvs.blogspot.com/2011/04/baby-sign-language.html?zx=783a06d7bef35cf3

Someone blogged about it here too - http://www.askelaine.net/baby-parenting/baby-sign-language/

August Moms and Babes Gathering

7 weeks old newborn

My newborn is 7 weeks old now.

I have been building my supply close to a month ever since CL left. I thought it would be easier now that I am at my own place. Well, different issues arised.... eg whether or not to shower baby on a rainy morning, finding out the reason of baby's crankiness, FIL kept asking us to give pacifier, my mom kept feeding her when it's not time to drink etc. Tension was building up at home somehow or rather. I also could never enjoy a meal properly and be on the lookout for any stirring or cries, whether it's time for feed, how come baby is sleeping so much and so on. I've learnt new skills like speed-eating, speed-showering, speed-shitting. Everything fast. LOL.

Just last week, I still cried and blame myself for all that have happened, for not insisting to latch on baby, for letting people fed my baby bottle etc. I think I should not be so harsh on myself and give myself some credit. From zero latch, I have 3-4 latches a day. Now everytime after baby showers and just before the midnight feed, she will have to latch on me otherwise she can fuss for an hour. Anyway, all in all, whether my milk increases or not, I am just going to give her the best that I can and know how.

I love latching on baby. It's a priceless precious moment and bonding time with her. And sometimes even after latching, I pump out too, to totally drain out all milk. It's so much washing and backache and wrist pain. It's a tiring moo-moo career but I'm enjoying this process for as long as it lasts.

On top of calling several breastfeeding helplines, I need to specially thank some online friends, Jaz, Joanna and also Annabelle, for encouraging me, teaching me and bringing positivity on this topic on breastfeeding. Whenever I feel lazy, feel like giving up, I just think about what they've told me and it gives me strength to carry on for another day, another day and another day. 

Also thanking people like my sis, Looying, Shufen, Baoli, Shulin, Michelle, Adeline, Jac, Jess and Elin (in no particular order). They care alot about me and keep telling me to relax, don't feel stressed out, jiayou and that I'm doing fine. 

Yes, even though baby will have to wean off the breast sooner or later and go on total FM sooner or later, that's a problem I will face eventually. And I will worry about it later. 

Yesterday, while holding on baby upright around my neck area, she ee ee eh eh and wanted to struggle free from my arms. I wanted to see what she does and where she is going. She wriggled to my breast area and opened her mouth really wide to get the nipple. I LOL at this special moment. How will I bear to wean her off now? 

One last pic that made my day. Baby was grabbing my boobies during feeding like eating a hamburger. And she actually looked at the camera. :)

my bunny ;)

Breastmilk and Re-lactation

Saw some mommies in the facebook group giving away breastmilk. They have too much until their fridge can no longer contain them. I am SO VERY KEEN to take from them but Hubby and mom didn't think that it's a good idea.

I have been and still am eating confinement food even now. Been ordering tingkat confinement food and will continue until next week, since I can't go out to get food and my house downstairs only has tze char and they open after 4 pm daily.

I'm also still eating my multi-vitamins, Anmum Lacta milk, calcium pills, chicken essence on top of the soups that my mom and grandma brewed specially for me. I also didn't take any junk food, fast food, cold drinks at all. Every drop of breastmilk that I give to my baby is solid and nutritious. If only, I have that much for my baby too. Sigh.

I realised that being stressed up or unhappy also affects the quantity of milk. The days when I am quarrelsome with Hubby, I have little milk.

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Re-lactation

Quoting from Alisa (the website below)


Relactation, the rebuilding of one's milk supply weeks or even months after lactation has stopped, or induced lactation, the production of milk from where there was none (as may be the case with adoptive moms), are both viable options for any woman eager to breastfeed.


But under these circumstances, the making of milk is a time-consuming undertaking likely to be fraught with moments of heartbreak, frustration, and worry—but many more, and more lasting, moments of joy, tenderness, and pride. 


Look for other encouraging signs of success, including fuller, more tender breasts, nipples changing color, increased thirst, and changes in menstrual cycle or libido.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gjxZHZuWI0&feature=related

http://www.alisaikeda.com/Clients_Clips/Relactation/body_relactation.html
http://www.kellymom.com/bf/supply/decrease-formula.html