Tools for surviving the painful first weeks of breastfeeding

The first few days of breastfeeding are usually the most nerve-wrecking. It’s when we experience anxiety (When is the milk coming? Is baby getting enough?), pain and soreness (from all the latching and trying to get a good latch), engorgement issues (when the milk finally kicks in), and also tiredness (after the laborious task of giving birth).

Thankfully, Joshie and I have gotten past that phase and are now pretty much in auto-pilot mode. For the first two days in hospital, I just focused on latching him well, rousing him to be awake enough to feed properly, and drinking as much fluid and soups as I could get into my body. This being number 3, I find that it gets easier with each time…a bit like the body already knows how to do its thing. ;)

Here are my favourite tools to help get through the initial weeks of breastfeeding.

Medela breast shields - I’ve used this since Vera days. It not only helps to save milk from those sudden letdowns that occur in the first few months when your breasts are full. You can wear them when your nipples are sore as they allow your nipples to breathe, which helps to alleviate soreness.

Medela purelan - I’ve always used this sticky gel substance to help me get through the painful (sore) first week of breastfeeding. It helps to lock in moisture and soothe nipples and the small tube is sufficient because once you get through to the second or third week you’re fine.

This time round, I also started using Mustela’s nursing comfort balm and I find it soothing too, with a cooling sensation upon application and a nice fruity scent.

Cold cabbage - This is the best remedy for engorgement which generally happens when milk kicks in on the third or fourth day. Once you feel the hardening don’t wait, grab some chilled white cabbage, pluck the largest leaves and wrap it on yourself. (Most hospitals keep cabbage in stock for new mums who experience engorgement during their hospital stay.) “Wear” them for two hours or until no longer cool to touch, and change new leaves. Do this until you feel your breasts soften.

Fennel tea - this non-caffeinated herbal tea is said to stimulate milk supply. Since I can’t drink milk (baby is lactose intolerant) I’ve given up my usual teh-si and am taking to the taste of fennel quite well. You can get this at most Cold Storage supermarkets in Singapore.

Papaya fish soup - supposed to stimulate milk supply as well.

Tips:

  • After every feed in the first week, squeeze some milk and dab gently on nipples. This acts like a natural balm as well.
  • You’ll usually experience soreness on one side first. So when it gets too sore to bear, let that side rest and have baby feed more /longer on the other side. But remember to still feed normally on that side once you can, as you don’t want to let it rest for too long. If you really can’t feed from one side, you can tandem pump from that side while feeding baby on the other. This helps to save time and still stimulate supply from the sore breast.
  • To help ease soreness, you can try changing positions for instance from cradle hold to football or side-sleeping position. This is because different positions provide different points of pressure from your baby’s suckle.
  • If it’s too painful, try pumping instead of latching directly for a couple of feeds. Then feed the milk to baby using a small deep spoon.
  • If you’re not pumping much milk (especially if it’s your first few tries and your body is not used to the pump), try to be in a relaxed position and think loving thoughts about baby. This helps to stimulate letdown. You can also hold a hot water bottle to your chest. Always remember to massage well as this helps to get the milk flowing and preventing blockage.

What other tools / tips have worked for you? Please share it here!

Booby tricks: Tips for successful breastfeeding

I gathered a few breastfeeding advocates from the Singapore Mom Bloggers‘ group, and got them to share their tips and experiences on breastfeeding.

Here are their tricks and tips to common issues that breastfeeding mums face.

Issue #1 - I don’t know how to latch!

Get help

Zee: Look for a good lactation consultant and a pro-breastfeeding confinement nanny. My confinement nanny gave me practical tips on breastfeeding and helped with the latching-on. May not be as pro as a lactation consultant but definitely helped on a day to day basis. She also reminded and encouraged me to pump.

My lactation consultant gave me a very good tip. When baby’s mouth opens slightly upon teasing, you have to be decisive and push the baby towards the boob. It shocked me at first because it was a little rough but it helped the baby take most of the areola and latch on correctly.

Mary: For my #2 and #3, I drank papaya and fish soup, faithfully massaged breasts before feeding, drank lots of water etc. I also got in a private lactation consultant to my place. They work like magic. In an hour, they are able to get baby to latch on and feed. Money well spent!

Editor’s note: Keep practising in the hospital, and ask to see the lactation consultant. Don’t leave the hospital without being confident of your latch.

Issue #2 - Engorgement, blocked ducts, and sore nipples = PAIN!

Massage

Zee: I had this amazing Malay lady who helped me with post-partum massage and who also helped to massage my boobies to ease engorgement and blocked ducts. Definitely helped to make breastfeeding less painful for me.

Editor’s note: Here were my three weapons: Nipple cream (I used Medela Purelan), a good lactation consultant (when I could not clear the blocked ducts myself), and air (yup air those nipples when they’re sore, it helps.)

Issue #3 - I don’t have enough milk! How do I increase my supply?

Feed on demand

Baby Hiroshi: Start as early as possible, feed exclusively and on demand.

Cindy: Feed and feed on demand, and when not on demand, pump! This demand-supply econs theory works well for me. The outcome of breastfed babies also largely depends on the food that we eat during the period. I remember pumping one side and holding a milk bottle on the other because when there’s a let-down, both sides let!

Hai Fang: During the first month I pumped after every feed to increase the supply, frequently massaged to prevent clogged ducts. After that I was too lazy, just fed on demand. I think the law of demand and supply works.

Eat well

Baby Hiroshi: Fish & green papaya soup and lots of sashimi worked for me.

Adora: I took organic nursing tea from Origins Jamu Massage called “Sacred Tea for Nursing Mothers”. It’s $25 per pack. Having a pro-breastfeeding PD and GP helps too. I have friends who have been told “You have carpel tunnel syndrome and the only cure is to take steroids, which means you’ll have to stop breastfeeding”. Check out this list of breastfeeding-friendly doctors in Singapore.

Sarah: My secret ingredient is fenugreek. It really worked. My American friend convinced me to try it when she told me how she took it and lactated even though she wasn’t pregnant! She did so that she could breastfeed her adopted baby.

Sharon: I breastfed my first son by pumping exclusively until he was 12 months. For my second son, I had an over-supply of milk, but I also pumped and fed him breastmilk exclusively until he was 12 months. I drank lots of soup, milk, and milo, but fenugreek didn’t work for me.

But note that exclusive pumping sometimes creates blocked ducts, so it helps if one is able to locate the “hardened duct” and give it a gentle press from the side. When the milk shoots out, the duct is cleared.

littlebluebottle: Take lots of warm fluids, lots of rest, lots of encouragement even when you pump out pittance.

Invest in a good pump, and…pump

Zee: Invest in a good pump. Some people think its better to establish supply first then spend money on the pump. But I think a good pump is key to establishing good supply. Because baby may not latch on as often as you would like to increase supply so got to rely on pump. And if you’re using a hand-held one, chances are you will probably want to give up because of sheer tiredness.

Pamela: To increase milk supply, latch on one side and pump the other side AT THE SAME TIME! That’s my secret to fully breastfeeding twins to 18 months!

Editor’s note: This worked for me too. I would usually pump about 1 oz. from the second breast while baby fed on the first. Then when he’s done, I would let him have the second breast. This made sure my supply was always a few steps ahead of his demand. I only did this for the first 3 months, and only during the morning and evening feeds, as these are the usually the first feeds to increase when the baby goes through growth spurts.

Sarah: Invest in a good quality pump like Medela or Ameda. Pumping was what helped me really bring on the milk for #2. He was hospitalised on day 5 for breastfeeding jaundice and my milk supply then wasn’t too great. As I stayed with him in hospital I used their Medela pump, which helped me increase my milk output from like 20-30 ml both breasts to 90- 130 ml in a matter of 2 days. Within a week, my onetime output could reach about 180ml. For my #1, I used a not so good pump and after a year only averaged 100 ml.

Editor’s note: I’ve used both Medela and Ameda electric pumps before, and I must say Medela worked better for me. ;)

Susan: Start pumping as soon as you can. Learn how to massage boobies to relax and also get the flow going.

Winnie: Drink lots of water, have a relaxed mind, and think of baby when you pump.

Cheat, just a little

Zee: I actually listened to someone’s advice and gave Aly formula the first few days before my supply came in. This has always been controversial but I took the view that if I’m not so stressed dealing with a crying baby my milk would come in more quickly. And although I had to supplement Aly with formula in the first two weeks, she has been on total breast milk ever since.

Editor’s note: Agree that this is controversial, but I did the same thing for Vera. I supplemented whenever the baby was hungry and I did not have enough, and spent the following days pumping and resting to help my supply increase. It did!

Issue #4 - There’s so much negative talk around me. I feel like giving up!

Believe in yourself

Nadia: Never ever have a tin of formula at home as “back up”. Trust yourself that you’re producing enough fluids for your little one. Once you get that tin, you’ll always see it as an easy way out.

Develop selective hearing

Selena: Develop selective hearing. Believe you will have enough, agree with those who agree with you and support you, ignore those who have less than positive impressions of breastfeeding. Decide for yourself what you’re comfortable with (feeding in public or not, how long to feed for, etc). Because at the end of the day, you know breastfeeding is a good thing!

Zhenzhu: You must be stubborn…Because no matter how ‘good’ we are at producing milk, there are always dissuading voices around. So, be stubborn and ignore everybody.

Stay positive, find support

Baby Hiroshi: Have a positive mindset, surround yourself with supportive family members / friends, and arm yourself with correct information about breastfeeding.

Set your own goals

Mama J: Been feeding non-stop (one kid after another) for 3.5 years. Main thing for me would be to have a goal on how long you want to feed. I had numerous quarrels with my mum who said I was starving my kid when I had supply issues, but having that goal helped me to stick with it through all the problems.

Thanks everyone for sharing your breastfeeding experience!

imakemilk

This post is dedicated to my closest bunch of girlfriends, many of whom are expecting at this present moment. I’m so excited for you mums-to-be, and I’m praying for the best for all of you! :)

Read also: Breastfeeding basics

Breastfeeding and dreams of Cherry Garcia

I’m in my tenth month of breastfeeding baby J, and while I must confess I’ve got it quite cushy this round, I feel my goal of breastfeeding him till 18 months is slowly slipping away.

Reason? Well, baby J can’t take dairy, which means I can’t take dairy. Yup, no cow’s milk, no yoghurt, no cheese, no ice-cream… I haven’t had my favourite Ben & Jerry’s for what seems like a lifetime. Okay 10 months, but still, that’s even longer then it took to grow a baby in the womb!

Most days, I feel like there’s an internal battle going on.

<<- Go on, just take a sip of that cup of teh-si (tea with evaporated milk), you know you want to. And while you’re at it, down some Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia.

->>June, you know that’s a no no — baby will keep pooping and it’s not the kind of poop you wanna be cleaning at 3am in the morning.

Yes, it’s like a tug o’ war in my head, but still I’m determined to press on.

Well, there are lots of good factors that I can dwell on. After all, Javier is a pretty good feeder. He learnt to latch on well since the early days, which helped a lot in getting those nipples ‘seasoned’ without any bleeding or cracking. (Of course Medela Purelan cream was my best friend during those first few weeks.)

At first I was worried that he would develop a reliance on nursing to get to sleep (like Vera) but it turned out that he is quite different - he never fell asleep without finishing his feed.

I had virtually no blocked duct episodes this time, well…at least nothing so major that I could not clear by myself anyway. During my first breastfeeding journey, that was a major sore point and I remember running to my lactation consultant many times, each time with tears shed due to frustration and helplessness (sister Kang at Mount Alvernia was such a blessing during those times).

Then of course, there is that precious, irreplaceable feeling of being needed by my little baby. (I secretly think this is really what keeps me hanging on anyway). You know that part of you that just doesn’t want to let go? (Yeah, silly me, I know.) One of the highlights of breastfeeding for me is that it never fails to chase away the blues and worries of the present.

I know deep down that I really have nothing to complain about. After all, it’s just sacrificing some calorific ice-cream and teh-si, right? Okay, there’s still the tight schedules and disciplined routine I’m bound to — you know, expressing milk at work, a self-imposed 10pm curfew just so I can make my date with the baby. But really, I am thankful that we’ve been able to enjoy a smooth breastfeeding journey thus far and I hope that at the end of it, I will still be able to say: “I wouldn’t have traded this for anything else in the world.”

If you’re a breastfeeding mum, I hope you’re enjoying your journey as much as I am. If you have any success stories or struggles to share, please do so in the comment box. Meanwhile, if you need some tips on breastfeeding do check out these posts:

8 tips for breastfeeding success

10 essentials for breastfeeding mums