The breastfeeding journey of a new dairy cow mother

As a young "little cow mom" who is only 24 years old, weighs less than 90 kilograms and is 170cm tall (no one would believe that my daughter was exclusively breastfed if I told others, but I raised her to be plump and white), my breastfeeding journey did not seem to be as painful as that of many mothers. I did not have too many dietary taboos, and of course there were many small episodes.

Photo 1: On the second day after Cooky was born, the nurse helped him take a bath.

Newborn

Cooky is a little angel who was eager to come to the bustling world to accompany me, probably because she knew that I was too lonely resting at home during my pregnancy. 37W+1, she was born in the delivery room in less than an hour. But she was born with a weight of only 4.8 catties and a height of 47 cm. She is a full-term baby. Coincidentally, her birth weight is exactly the same as my weight that year.

On the first night after she was born, Cooky was almost always in a deep sleep and didn't suck much breast milk. I fed her every two hours, but she still didn't suck much. I didn't have that much breast milk at that time.

The next night, breast milk came, and it came earlier than other mothers. However, Cooky had not yet learned to suck properly, especially because my right nipple was flat, which made it more difficult for her to suck. She mainly sucked on the left side, but this was actually not good, so her milk was very swollen at the time.

On the third day, I was discharged from the hospital and returned home. That night, my breasts were swollen and painful, and Cooky was not very good at sucking, so I had to rely on the confinement nanny to help massage the breasts to clear the milk, and then apply raw potato slices to relieve the pain of swollen breasts. During the confinement period, Cooky was not very good at sucking, so I used a breast pump to suck out the milk and feed her, sucking 3-4 times a day.

Postpartum care

In the first 10 days or so, Cooky was still not used to sucking my right breast milk. Her small appetite was usually enough to drink from one side. But I also let her suck on the right side. She had a hard time drinking. Occasionally, she could drink, but she usually cried too sadly because of hunger. I couldn't bear it and let her drink from the left side. Most of the time, I used a breast pump to suck out the excess breast milk on the right side. I didn't choose to refrigerate it. Half of the colostrum in the first seven days was given to my husband.

After about 2 weeks, Cooky grew up slowly, her sucking ability also improved greatly, and the frequency of drinking breast milk from the right side also increased slowly. Remind mothers with flat nipples, don't feel bad, just let the baby keep sucking more, and the nipple will be sucked out naturally.

When he was one month old, Cooky weighed 6.6 catties and was 50 cm long. He was only the average birth weight of a baby, but I was very satisfied with him.

Photo 2: When Cooky was 2 months old, he sat on the lap of the confinement nanny and drank the breast milk I expressed.

Second Month

Cooky went to get a vaccination shortly after she was released from confinement. She is a strong baby. She hummed twice and shed a tear, but it stopped in a few seconds and she went back to sleep. She really loves to sleep and is very well behaved.

When Cooky was about 40 days old, he sometimes couldn't suck the breast milk on the right side quickly. A breast pump is really a must-have for breastfeeding. It accompanied me from the confinement period to the second month. I used it 3-4 times almost every day. I always felt that one set of accessories was not enough, and the steam sterilizer did not drain the milk quickly after sterilization.

When I went out occasionally during the second month, I would express fresh breast milk on the same day and store it at home for the confinement nanny to feed Cooky. Cooky loved Avent's PA bottle the most. I thought she would not be used to bottle feeding because she was used to breastfeeding, but I didn't expect that she was very good at bottle feeding.

During the second month's physical examination, Cooky's weight had increased to 9 catties and her height had increased to 53 cm. The doctor praised her for her great growth this month.

Photo 3: The baby feels sad after getting the vaccine.

The third month

Cooky grew up slowly, and could sleep for 6-7 hours a night, which is close to the sleeping time of an adult. When she was more than 2 months old, she loved to eat candy fists, and she also liked to chat with us and loved to laugh. During the transition period from the second month to the third month, Cooky's demand for breast milk suddenly increased. It was summer, and my appetite was particularly poor. My weight kept dropping. At one point, I was only 43kg. My breast milk seemed to be in short supply, but I still insisted on breastfeeding exclusively. I insisted on drinking a lot of water every day and often used a breast pump to suck, so the amount of breast milk was relatively more. This month, I would get up in the middle of the night to use a breast pump to suck milk, refrigerate some breast milk, and at night before going to bed, I would breastfeed her first and then feed her with a new Avent bottle to ensure that she was full and could sleep until dawn.

During this month's checkup, Cooky already weighs 10.2kg and is 59cm tall. However, the doctor said that her weight gain this month is not as fast as the second month. This is also related to my poor appetite and lack of breast milk.

Photo 4: The 100-day photo that I took and then photoshopped myself.

Fourth Month

Cooky is now 4 months old and weighs 12 catties. My appetite has improved recently. I can basically eat a bowl of rice at every meal, and occasionally have a midnight snack. Although my weight is still maintained at 44 kg, my breast milk is increasing. If she doesn't drink milk for 3 hours, I can usually use a breast pump to suck out about 120 ml of breast milk from one side in 8 minutes. I freeze the sucked breast milk in the refrigerator, so when I go out on weekends, I don't have to worry about Cooky having no milk to drink.

Photo 5: Frozen breast milk stored for 21 days after Cooky was breastfed every day for more than 3 months.

Breastfeeding experience: I usually drink fresh milk, supplement with British Vitabiotics calcium tablets, lactation multivitamins and fish oil (see my overseas shopping notes), Swisse collagen oral solution, and try to drink 1.5L of water a day. I basically don’t have any taboos, and the food variety is more than that during pregnancy. Baby eczema is actually not closely related to the mother’s eating habits. If the baby is not allergic, mothers can eat it boldly. I eat seafood every day after the confinement period. I occasionally eat crayfish, skewers, ice cream, spicy hot pot, etc. Cooky is still chubby and healthy and cute. In my opinion, the most important thing for mothers with less breast milk is self-confidence, and give yourself psychological hints to believe that you have enough breast milk to feed your baby. A mother as light as me can become a little cow, and everyone can do it too. In addition, you also need reliable feeding "little helpers". Breast pumps, bottles, milk warmers, sterilizers are all indispensable. Here I will introduce several products that I have been using and think are good. I think I am really a fan of AVENT.

Breast Pump

Avent Natural Double Breast Pump SCF303

Price: 1799 yuan

Introduction: I use the Avent Natural Series Double Electric Breast Pump. I also have a Medela at home, but I don't want to use the Medela anymore because it's too comfortable. Avent is a maternity and baby brand under Philips. It is very popular in the UK. I have always liked the brand's maternity and baby products. It is also a maternity and baby brand recommended by my cousin.

I have only started using this breast pump in the past month, but it has received a lot of positive reviews. Let's first appreciate its appearance. The white and round body and the light blue flowers dotted on the breast pump complement each other and are particularly warm.

You may say that it is just good-looking, but the technology is not up to standard? There is no need to worry about this. I saw on the official website that it has won the Red Dot Design Award and the iF Design Award internationally, so there is no need to worry about the feeling of use. It is particularly worth mentioning that its alternating breast pumping mode allows you to suck on one breast while resting on the other side. The double-sided design alternates breast pumping, which is very relaxing and fast. You should know that the most important thing about breast pumping is relaxation. If you pump on both sides at the same time, you will be very nervous and it is not conducive to milk production. At the same time, it also avoids the situation where the other breast always overflows and stains clothes when you pump on one side.

The feeling of sucking milk is very similar to that of Cooky's sucking. If nipple cracks occur due to improper sucking of the nipple by the baby, you can use it to replace the baby to suck the breast and feed the baby with the matching bottle. Mothers no longer have to endure the pain of nipple cracks repeatedly.

Another humanized point is that it has 4 optimized lactation modes and 4 breast pumping modes. You can choose the appropriate massage intensity and suction according to your needs. I usually use the fourth gear, which has the right intensity and sufficient suction. When the lactation mode is turned on, milk will come out soon after a while. It is really a magical tool. In addition, I have to praise that the matching breast-carrying bag is also very practical. The design is simple and generous. It can hold all the accessories. It is very convenient when going out and does not take up space. For working mothers who carry breast milk, the comfort and portability of the breast pump are very important.

In addition to the good looks and technology, the material of the breast pump is also a point I care about. The material used by Avent does not contain bisphenol A, and unlike the hard plastic bra of ordinary breast pumps, it also comes with a soft and comfortable flower massage pad. For me who is afraid of pain, I will not feel pain when using it to pump milk, and it can also stimulate milk secretion more gently. The feeling and comfort are still very high.

In addition, there are many thoughtful little designs, such as backlight mode, low noise design and memory function, which make people have to say that Avent is really in place. The memory function means that the breast pump will automatically remember the suction strength you chose last time, and you can turn it on and use it next time without adjusting it. The backlit petals are also very beautiful and can be used as a night light. When I pump milk at night, I usually put the breast pump on the bedside table in advance. When I am half asleep in the middle of the night, I don’t need to turn on the light, just plug it in, press the switch, and I can sit by the bed and pump milk directly. This is simply the gospel of lazy people. With it, Cooky can sleep for 7 hours at night, and I don’t worry about the vibration noise and bright light of the breast pump waking up the baby.

Experience: Having said so much, in fact, my personal experience of breastfeeding can be summarized as sucking more. When the baby has just started to have milk, try to let the baby suck more breast milk. The baby is the best breast pump in the world. After full sucking, the mammary glands will be unblocked quickly and the milk supply will slowly increase. In addition, regularly empty both breasts with a breast pump, and the milk production will be more than when the breasts are not emptied. I usually empty them once a week. Try not to have engorgement, otherwise it is easy to return milk and the milk supply will decrease. You should also keep a happy mood during lactation, so that you can have more milk. Husbands and family members should be more considerate of breastfeeding mothers. It is not easy for us to breastfeed, so don't be angry with us.

Bottle

Avent Natural Series Glass Bottle 240ml

Price: 129 yuan

Introduction: This glass bottle is equipped with a soft nipple. The silicone is very soft and more suitable for the curling and licking movements of newborn babies. I like its novel spiral and petal patterns. The nipple is not easy to collapse when the baby is feeding. During the confinement period, the confinement nanny tested Cooky's appetite and used this bottle to feed her. Unexpectedly, she drank very well, faster than sucking breast milk. The anti-flatulence design of the bottle will not discharge air into the baby's stomach. The streamlined waist of the whole bottle is ergonomic, more convenient to grasp and not easy to slip.

Avent Natural Smooth PA Baby Bottle 9oz/260ml Price: 79 yuan

Introduction: The new PA bottle is an upgraded version of the classic PES bottle. It is made of Swiss materials and imported from the UK. It does not contain bisphenol A or bisphenol S. Mothers who are worried about this can rest assured. The entire bottle is super transparent and looks exactly like glass. Its nipple is very close to the shape of breast milk. The baby does not resist every feeding, and the transition to bottle feeding is easy. The nipple also has spiral and petal patterns, which is not easy to collapse. There are air holes on the side to discharge air into the bottle to prevent the baby from drinking air and causing bloating and discomfort. Compared with the original glass bottle, this one is lighter and easier to carry when going out, and there is no need to worry about it slipping and breaking.

The nipple of the bottle can be replaced according to the baby's needs. The wide diameter of the new Avent is unified and can be adapted freely.

Cooky is now more than four months old. She drinks the slow-flow pacifier for newborns just right. She doesn't feel anxious or choking on the milk. I recommend this product to new mothers who are stocking up during pregnancy. The baby is more receptive and doesn't feel tired when sucking.

Experience: In order to prevent the baby from not liking to drink from the bottle after weaning, mothers who breastfeed should feed the baby with a bottle early, put the expressed breast milk in the bottle, and let the baby drink from the bottle 2-3 times a week. On the one hand, it can test the baby's recent appetite, and on the other hand, it can cultivate the baby's habit of sucking the bottle so that he will not reject the bottle. For example, after two months, I let Cooky drink from the bottle 3-4 times a week, slowly let her adapt to the bottle, and like to drink from the bottle as much as she likes to suck breast milk. After weaning or when I have to go on a long trip, I don't have to worry about her being hungry.

Milk Warmer

Avent Constant Temperature Milk Warmer

I bought this in Hong Kong when I was six months pregnant. I chose Avent bottles during my pregnancy, so I also chose Avent as my milk warmer. This milk warmer has four modes: thawing mode (for thawing frozen breast milk), milk warming mode (this mode is divided into two types depending on the amount of milk), and liquid food heating mode (for heating liquid food).

It takes a long time to thaw breast milk, but the time required for the warm milk mode is very short. It takes basically 3-5 minutes to heat up the refrigerated breast milk. Mothers can squeeze it on the back of their hands to feel whether the milk temperature is appropriate, and then they can give it to the baby.

Sterilizer

Avent 3-in-1 Steam Sterilizer

I have an old model. Now there is a new 4-in-1 sterilizer, which is more beautiful than the old one. Sterilize in two layers, with bottles on the bottom layer and nipples, breast pump accessories, etc. on the top layer. I personally prefer steam sterilizers, which I think are safer and more reliable than UV sterilizers. UV sterilizers are more suitable for sterilizing baby toys, but not for sterilizing bottles. After sterilization, just buy a drying rack to dry.

Note: Both the sterilizer and the milk warmer must be sterilized with mineral water or purified water. After sterilization with natural water, there will be black residue at the bottom.

At the end of the article, breastfeeding is a super happy thing. Although I can't travel far away with friends, and I can't sleep until dawn, but watching my baby grow up every day, watching her become more and more cute and healthy, I am still very satisfied. The cute look of the baby getting up in the middle of the night to suck breast milk and the parent-child attachment to the mother are probably something that mothers who feed with formula cannot deeply understand. Thumbs up for every breastfeeding mother.