I have a 6-weeks girl and she is now in fully breast-feeding. In her 5th weeks, she was feed 6-7 meals per day and each time she suck both breasts (one breast in 15 mins and another breast in 5 mins.). Each meal can last for 3.5-4 hrs and I think it is prefect. Her weight gain is good (first month gain 2.2 pounds).
Then I went to Health Centre when she was 4 weeks old for injection. Since I will be back to office very soon and I have to go trips very often (1 weeks out of HK in every 2 months, at least) so I ask the nurse what can i do...she said I should try to feed the baby in one breast only(as she took 5 mins for another breast only, so i should jx let the girl to suck for one breast to stimulate more milk). Also, I must get a pump and pump when i feed the baby. So start from this week i keep my "inventory" by feeding one breast and pumping the other breast.
Then I realised the baby cry more often and I have to feed her every 2-3 hours. Why it happen? Is it cos' I pump to often and I don't have enough milk?
Each time I can pump only 2oz from one breast, is it very little?
Should I stop using the pump? But if not definately i don't have enough milk when i am away for one week. My first trip will be in mid-Apr.
How can i "steal" milk without interfering the milk quantity/quality?? any strategy??
Sorry that i may have too much questions. But i really want to feed my girl as long as i can...I don't want to give up but i don't know what to do next! Please help us!
THANKSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
thanks maggiewawa
I know i will get more milk if i pump more frequently. But should i pump + feed at the same time?? today I call the hotline of Health Centre and another nurse said the b of course will cry more often cos' the b is taking a lot of foremilk than hindmilk (she tried to explain the theory but she speak sooooooooooo fast and I don't understand), she said i should let the girl eat one side each time and should NOT pump at the same time...
aiya, so confusing...then i asked her how i can "steal" milk so that my girl could have milk if i am away for 7 days one month later and she didn't give me any answer...ai...very frustrating!! i just want her to have milk when i am away but seems very difficult... , i don't want to and give her formula when i am away...
so it means nothing about the foremilk and hindmilk even i pump + feed at the same time...as i don't want my bb to have foremilk only and cry for hunger often...
so it means nothing about the foremilk and hindmilk even i pump + feed at the same time...as i don't want my bb to have foremilk only and cry for hunger often...
ai...today is another harsh day...
Yesterday bb was feed every 3-3.5hrs and I was just thinking the situation is getting better. Each time I can feel my breasts are getting full - 谷奶, which I don't have this feeling before. Yesterday nite I can pump 3oz (one side, the other side are for my girl to feed), i feel so great!
BUT, today, no feeling of 谷奶 at all (not even a little), my breasts are so soft. I can only pump 1oz from one breast each time. My girl wake up every 2 hrs...
Why it drop suddenly again??
Astermama, thanks, I will try to pump as per what you said and see if any improvement...
my mum and dad always question me about why i don't have enough milk (since they see she is crying/feeding very often), ai, i tried to explain to them but they don't understand at all. They just said "you pump too often so you don't have enough milk law" And they said why not feed formula when i go out for trips...so discouraging!
Astermama, i feel better after reading your reply/web from another thread "係咪要谷奶先夠bb食?". I will keep on.
BTW, i forgot to mention one point. Everytime after i feed my girl, i will change her nappy and she will smile to me (i think it is cos' she has full stomach + clean nappy) Since i can pump 1oz today and i feel so bad to my girl (i am so worried that she don't have enough to eat...a typical mom!) I try to play with her after changing nappy as usual and she SMILE to me still. So is it mean that she is still satisfied even i produce less milk??