mommy diaries

INCREASING MY BREASTMILK SUPPLY WITH MARIAN’S LACTATION BOOST

October 10, 2018 by Little Miss Honey 3,381 Comments

When Baby Zeke reached 4 months and a half, I noted my breastmilk supply significantly dropped. I aimed to breastfeed Zeke, even if it’s mixed feeding with formula milk, up until he turns 1 year old. So I was ecstatic to collaborate with Marian’s Lactation Boost who is one of the lifesavers to my depleting milk supply. Marian is a homebaker who focuses on baking lactation goodies to help mommies in their breastfeeding journey. She bakes yummy lactation boosters brownies, cookies, muffins and ice cream delivered in your doorstep to address mommies’ specific breastfeeding issues. Marian would ask for the mommy’s usual amount of milk pumped and how much the baby is drinking.

I had my lactation boosters delivered in my home one Saturday morning. It includes chocolate chip muffins, Oreo muffins, chocolate chip cookies with walnuts and Australian Milo ice cream. It came with a regimen for me to follow to help boost my milk.

Morning: 1 pc muffin + 200 ml Oats Milk + 400ml water

Cookies: 2-3 pc when hungry

Tea Time (4pm): 1 pc muffin + 400 ml water

2 hrs before bed: 2 pc cookies + 1 full cream milk/ 1 cup water

There are 11 diff types of lactogenic foods in the boosters, and it is safe and healthy for both adults and kids. However, there should be a limit to 1 muffin per day for kids because the ingredient may be too potent for their young digestive systems. But the ice cream can be given a little bit more to kids.

These are the main ingredients for boosting that was used by Marian which are mostly organic:

-Brewer yeast

-wholemeal oats

-steel cut oats

-wheat germ

-ground flaxseed

-flaxseed

-home made oats milk

-virgin coconut oil

-chia seeds

-coconut flakes

-ground fennel seeds

I enjoyed the delicious muffins and cookies. You can taste the healthy goodness of the ingredients that would help in increasing my milk. Eating them in scheduled hours of the day has been my favorite new habit. On weekends, my 2 toddlers, Naj & Fynn, and I indulged in the Australian Milo Ice Cream. Together with Marian’s Lactation Boost, I also upped my water intake and do power pumping on weekends. I make sure I would unli-latch Zeke when I am home and I would pump after breastfeeding Zeke. I also drink a pack of soya milk together with my lunch.

After 2 weeks, I did notice a huge improvement in my milk supply. Previously I would just collect 2 oz per pumping session. Now I can collect 4 to 6 oz per pumping session and Baby Zeke is definitely very happy with my milk output. No need to supplement with formula milk at night. He doesn’t cry at night because his milk is adequate.

For those breastfeeding mommies like me who wants to boost their milk supply or having breastfeeding supply issues, you can check out Marian’s Lactation Boost Facebook or Instagram.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Marian’s Lactation Boost. All opinions are my own. Regardless, I only recommend products which I personally believe will be good for my readers.

MY BREASTFEEDING JOURNEY

August 27, 2018 by Little Miss Honey 1,126 Comments

Before August Breastfeeding Month will be over, I wanted to share my breastfeeding journey as a mom who breastfed all her kids and is still currently breastfeeding my 4-month-old infant. I wanted to document my different experiences breastfeeding my 3 boys.

When I was pregnant with my 1st-born, my goal was to breastfeed him exclusively. I love what I read about the benefits of breastfeeding for the baby plus I wanted to save money. Formula milk can really be heavy on the budget. I was glad that during the time I decided to become a mom, the breastfeeding advocacy is loud and strong. I was glad that I found a community of breastfeeding advocate mommies that would help me in my journey. I was ready. I was really ready. I thought I was…..

Naj

I delivered Naj through emergency caesarean section on the 29 June 2014. I bought a Medela FreeStyle BreastPump, which was a bit on the pricey side for me, to prepare for my breastfeeding journey. Naj had to stay for 1 week in the hospital because of neonatal pneumonia. So I was at home, not being able to provide for him unlimited latching to ensure a good production of milk. So I kept pumping and pumping for half an hour at home but no milk is coming out. It frustrated me. My breasts finally got engorged with milk by Day 3 postpartum. I tried pumping but I felt the pump wasn’t strong enough to remove the milk from my breasts. It was agonising. When Naj finally came home, breastfeeding him was so painful. I feel that I didn’t have enough milk for him to be satiated. He got frustrated. I got frustrated. My breasts would be raw, tender, bruised and bleeding with scabs. I really wanted to exclusively feed him with breastmilk but I seems impossible. I was on my wit’s end. I was devastated. It was partly because I has crushed that my goal to be an exclusively breastfeeding mom seems dim at that point and I get this nagging pressure & guilt from advocates of breastfeeding that I am doing the wrong thing to hand my newborn child a bottle of formula milk.

When it was my time to go back to Singapore, I was heartbroken that I couldn’t bring Naj with us because he hasn’t received his passport yet. I didn’t have enough breastmilk stash so I have no choice but to allow him to be fed with formula milk.

When I was in Singapore, I would diligent pump every 3 hours and create a good stash of frozen breastmilk in our fridge. I would pour on over articles online on articles on how to increase low supply breastmilk. I would join Facebook Breastfeeding Groups and check on techniques & suggestions in how to increase my supply. I would buy galactogogues medications and foods hoping this is the answer to prayers. I learned how to store milk properly and how to thaw them when I freeze them. I even bought another breastpump, Spectra M1, which seems more stronger than the Medela Freestyle. I also added a manual Uminom Breastpump which I hardly use.

Finally, my hubby and I were able to get Naj to bring here in Singapore. I was the happiest being reunited with my son. I was determined that I will exclusively feed him until he turns 1 year old. He would latch on me when I am home and fed him with my expressed milk. I still felt Naj frustation that he wanted more milk and he didn’t feel like he was full with my milk. Stubborn that I was, I carried on exclusively breastfeeding him.

At that point, I enjoyed our bonding moments when I would breastfeed Naj. Breastfeeding wasn’t as painful as before. I managed to sleep through the night because we co-sleep and he would just latch through the night. But I was already supplementing him with formula milk because my milk wasn’t just enough to create an adequate stash when I am at work and I had a hard time at work to pump every 3 hrs.

But at 6 months mark, I noticed that Naj was gaining weight. He was very thin even when I introduced solids. My milk supply got even lower by 7 months. So by that time, I stopped breastfeeding Naj and he was exclusively on formula milk.

Fynn

This time, I told myself that my next baby. I don’t mind mixed feeding my baby because I don’t want to make the same mistakes I did before by pushing breastfeeding to the point that my son was not having adequate milk to nourish him.

Fynn was an excellent latcher. He is an expert at Day 1. He is a voracious milk monster. He can perfectly empty my breasts. The problem is, he doesn’t get satisfied with both full breastmilk. He needed another 4oz of formula milk. And with that, he was such a healthy chubby boy. But I did suffer a week of painful bleeding nipples at the start. It got better after awhile.

I have found medications that would help boost my milk supply. I learned the art of pumping anywhere, in bus stops, MRTs, while doing groceries. Yes, I can! I do it with my trusty breastfeeding apron and one pump on one breast with my hand holding it while I have one hand free.

As always, breastfeeding gave me this bonding moments with my baby and I get to sleep through the night without me leaving the bed because I was breastfeeding.

Fynn was a very easy baby to take care of. By 7 months, I have stopped pumping milk at work but I still got to continue breastfeeding Fynn until he was 1 year old. I stopped breastfeeding when he started biting my nipples. He preferred to play with it rather than drinking milk so breastfeeding him ended as he turned 1 year old.

Zeke

For my 3rd baby, I was armed and ready for my breastfeeding journey. I wanted a steady supply of milk but I wouldn’t be too strict. I don’t mind supplementing with formula milk, if needed. And I must say, this time around, I believe I had enough experience in breastfeeding and it made it so easier. I am so surprised that I have more than adequate supply of breast milk. I didn’t suffer from any crack and bleeding nipples. I feed Zeke 90% breastmilk and 10% formula. He prefers feeding from my breasts rather than my expressed milk or formula milk.

It helped that I had two sessions with a very good lactation nurse when I gave birth to Zeke. She taught me techniques in successful breastfeeding. She even supervised me how I breastfeed Zeke and corrected how I hold him or position him. It was so helpful. I would like to impart to breastfeeding moms out there some things I have learned from my experience to establish good milk supply.

How to Establish a Good Milk Supply

1. Take Malunggay Capsules a week before you deliver and continually take 1-2 tablets 2x or 3x a day.

2. Schedule an appointment with a good lactation consultant

3. Massage breasts while taking a warm shower to unblock ducts

4. Do unlimited latching with baby at home

5. Do skin-to-skin contact with baby

6. Pump both breasts for 15mins every 3 hours

7. Pump breast for 10-15 mins after feeding baby to empty breasts

8. Make sure baby latches correctly

9. Drink lots of water

10. Get a correct size breast pump flanges. (I realised my Medela Freestyle work just fine.

11. Make sure that the breast pump flanges are positioned correctly at your nipples to allow proper flow of milk

12. Lean a little forward when pumping

13. Do power pumping

14. Take galactogogues foods like salmon, oats, almonds, etc.

15. Babywear your baby

I just love breastfeeding my kids. I totally recommend it for all moms but I am not going to force the issue that all moms must exclusively feed their child. I do supplement my kids with formula too. I do love breastfeeding but I believe fed is still the best.

I don’t know if my breastfeeding journey would stop at Zeke. But I am sure when the time comes that I will stop breastfeeding, I will surely miss those days of bonding with my babies.

Share with me your breastfeeding stories too!

MATERNITY LEAVE IS NOT A PAID VACATION

July 17, 2018 by Little Miss Honey 1,365 Comments

My friends would message me when I was on my maternity leave how lucky I am that I get to rest from work and relax all day at home. I do feel lucky I get to spend more time with kids. However, I may have rested from office work but juggling 2 constantly fighting toddlers and a fussy newborn can be challenging. We all know how tired a mommy can get be with a new baby while recuperating from child birth, and in my case, caesarean operation. Though I feel blessed and happy that I was given opportunity to spend extra amount of time to be with them but I hope people would not easily assume that my maternity leave was like a fully paid luxury spa trip. I need it to allow my body to regain its energy from my 38weeks of being pregnant. I need it so my body can recuperate from child birth and allow my painful caesarean tear to heal nicely. I need it to spend time to bond with my new baby. I need it to give extra play time, constant hugging and story time with my two toddlers so they wouldn’t feel like all my love attention is now only for their new brother. I need it so I can breastfeed my baby, do unlimited latching and constant skin-to-skin contact to encourage good breastmilk production. I need it so I can get some extra time to experience how it would feel to be a proper housewife by waking up my husband to work, making his breakfast, cooking dinner and happily filling him up on the funny cute things the kids did for the day when he gets home with both of us lying in bed to rest before we eat dinner. I need it so I can tutor my firstborn who is going to school and go for parent-teacher meetings. I need it so I can organised our home and our files & paper clutter which I can never do when I was working. I need it so I can create a daily routine for my kids which my helper would follow when I start working. I need it so I can see my eldest boy off to school when his school bus fetch him at home. I need it so I can get to have funny conversations and tickle fest with my second-born. It is wonderful and challenging at the same time. It is still work in a way. But a work that I wouldn’t mind doing and it is definitely worth it. Yes, like most jobs you would still have to do time-management, practice patience and resilience, must multi-task, learn negotiating skills (especially to a strong-willed toddler), conduct captivating presentations (like storytelling and leverage on your other talents like cooking, singing, dancing & drawing.

So no, it is not a luxury spa or a paid holiday. Mommies also put in loads of work (and loads of laundry) during maternity leave. It is not an easy breezy phase in a mom’s life. That is why she needs to take a break from her current livelihood to work on just this – “Being A Mom”. And don’t scoff on that “Being A Mom” statement. All mommies would agree that it is the hardest work out there.

I believe that it is essential for all mommies who just given birth to have an adequate maternity leave to just concentrate for the next few months to be just a mom. (But please don’t neglect your husbands too. Be a wife too. That is as important as being a mom. Because you need to care for your partner to build good building blocks to nurture your kids.) If you don’t believe me why maternity leave is so important. Go watch Ali Wong’s Hard-Knock Wife on Netflix. She is on point and so hilarious.

Despite its bits of struggle and agony, I still wish maternity leave would last for 6 months. Some even advocate maternity leave to be as long as 1 year.

My maternity leave has ended and I started working this Monday. I am entitled to 8 weeks maternity leave (which includes weekends & public holidays) as a foreigner employee. I added 3 more weeks to stay home with my boys, using my annual leave. I learned that in the United States, under the Family and Medical Leave Act, you are entitled to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for the birth of your child. In France, as long as you are covered by the French social security system, you can take 16 weeks of maternity leave with full pay, and up to 26 weeks if you are having your third child. In Denmark, parents can receive a total of 52 weeks of paid leave per child from the government. In the U.K., paid maternity leave can extend to six months. I learned Oman expats are given 50 days paid leave.

I couldn’t bare to part with my kids just yet inspite my body’s occasional quiet screaming for a break or an alone time. Those days of me as a (temporary) stay-at-home full-time mom were blessings to me. I enjoy being with my 3 little boys. I love to seeing their happy faces when they wake up and see me still lying beside them in bed. They would often give us a cheerful “Good morning Mommy & Daddy!” or sometimes if they are still quite sleepy, they would snuggle closer to me, to give me a hug with a smile on their faces. (Yes, we co-sleep our 3 boys. I might get scolding from those who are anti-co-sleeping. But this works for us so please let us be.) It is nice to have time to be with my kids. I get to play with them, talk to them, watch movies with them, tutor Naj in his school work, breastfeed Zeke the whole day, nap with Fynn and get unlimited hugs & kisses through out the day.

On my first day of work, when my eldest got home from school at 3:30 PM, he hurriedly ask our helper, “Is Mommy home already?” I left early to work with them sleeping and I got back home & they were already asleep. (My workplace is so far away from our home.) Yesterday, I managed to get home earlier than my 1st day back to work. My two elder boys saw me from the glass window of our unit and they were screaming excitedly like their Super Hero character in the flesh, “‘Mommy! Mommy!” They ran to the front door to open the door for me. Upon getting a hug and a kiss from Naj and Fynn, I took Zeke who is squirming from my helper’s carrier. I learned Zeke does not like my expressed milk or formula milk that much. So I breastfeed him automatically, before I did anything else at home. Awww, my boys are adjusting too with me going back to work.

Maternity Leave is a necessary leave that should be given to mothers to provide adequate attention for her newborn (& other kids) and allow adequate time a proper recuperation & for mothers to regain back their strength that was lost during pregnancy and delivery. But no, it is definitely not a paid luxurious vacation.

Expat mommies around the world, how long are your paid maternity leave entitlement?