I am going in to St Paul's hospital soon for delivery and heard they are not the most fantastic at helping first time mum's to establish breastfeeding. eg. only set times to see baby etc.
So was wondering if there is anything practical I can do to encourage my breasts to have a strong supply? Even if I express and have to waste the milk but at least the breasts then start producing a regular supply. Thanks!
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Do they not offer rooming in? Normally if you go into labour your body knows what to do and milk production starts( I'm not talking from experience since I never made it to labour but I breastfed for 2 years and now I'm at my second). You can start pumping but don't throw away the colostrum as that is the best milk you can give your baby at that stage. Look for La Leche League, they have a few monthly meetings. If you want to talk more you can message me and I can tell you my story, not an easy first start either
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I would encourage you to go to a Le Leche League meeting to get some more support and information http://www.lllhk.org/
I'd also try and get out of the hospital as soon as possible, get home, snuggle down with your little one and have LOTS of skin to skin contact. The new studies out show how important it is to have lots of skin to skin contact. Don't put your baby on a feeding schedule, let them feed on demand.
As soon as the baby is born, hold him and initiate breastfeeding. I know these private hospitals try and restrict feedings, but I'd encourage you to be the squeaky wheel. Constantly asking to have your baby, or going into the feeding room.
Educate yourself. Babies need only a small amount of colostrum in the beginning. Don't let them supplement with formula, it will only hinder your breastfeeding relationship. And if you run into problems call in a lactation consultant like Sarah http://www.lotuslactation.com/
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This is advice given by my ob/gyn after my delivery.
Do not express milk until your milk has fully come in all the milk ducts are running smoothly.
Need to allow baby to suck in order to have your milk come in.
Painful as it may be, let your baby suck for 15 minutes each side and gradually increase with the baby's demand.
If your nipples get cracked only stop nursing on that side for one feeding. Stopping longer will effect milk coming in. Apply some breast milk onto the nipple and allow to air dry. Can apply lanolin cream. I used the medela one and it was good.
Do not take pigeon and pork liver, these will decrease milk supply.
Chinese people drink lots of fish soup to increase milk supply, but don't drink until your milk is coming in smoothly or else your breasts will be so engorged you'll cry from the pain.
Massage your breasts to soften them for baby to drink if too engorged.
Rest, drink lots of fluids and milk.
Good luck and congratulations to your family on the new little one!
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You'll only be in the hospital for a few days. Letting your baby try latching on and feed during those set times by the hospital is fine. I did the same and it hasn't hindered my breastfeeding. You'll just need to work hard once you are and not supplement.
People say once baby has had formula, they will not want to latch on for breast milk. Takes time, but my son preferred breast milk over formula.
Again, good luck!
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h28d
14 yrs ago
How to know if your baby is getting enough breastmilk?
Is it advisable to use manual breast pumps? I hear its painful.
I'm a mom to be.
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Know if baby has enough:
1.after finish feeding if baby is still searching with his mouth open to latch on, then still hungry.
2. if baby has 5-6 wet (heavy/full) nappies then the baby has had enough.
Breast pumps are not as painful as baby's sucking. Should hold off on pumping until you milk has started to come in and flowing.
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Write a birth plan and make it clear u want your baby rooming in with u and will demand feed her. Be firm! Its your baby, your birth, ur choice. Kick up a fuss if they say no rooming in! As long as u r demand feeding, no need to express to increase milk, bub will do that on her own by suckling. Also ensure u spend as long as u can after labour feeding her. It is promoted in punlic hospitals here now on a big way. Breast immediately afer bub arrives.
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Rules are rules. No matter how big a scene u make, it cant change things; it'll just make u look like a fool. Rooming in is allowed if u get a private room. Feeding on demand is also not discouraged, u'll just have to make ur way to the nursery for feeding.
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Yep, I agree with michelley. HK hospitals are still not breastfeeding friendly unless you are willing to pay to have your baby at Matilda. They allow you to breastfeed only every four hourly and you do have to make your way to the nursery, even after you've had a c-section! I gave birth in the morning and headed to the nursery at night after my c-section.
michelley, do you know why you're not supposed to express until your milk comes in? Apart from letting baby suck, I also hand expressed into a bottle. Didn't have much milk, just a few drops of colostrum each time but I could feed these to my baby. I took it to the nursery and fed it to her myself. I felt that breastfeeding every 4 hours according to hospital schedule wasn't enough to stimulate my breasts. I allowed the hospital to feed her formula because I wasn't feeding on demand. Half way through day 3, I pumped every 3 hourly and got about 30ml.
When I got home, I continued to pump every 4 hourly on top of breastfeeding to stimulate my breasts until I had full production. Then when baby started feeding well exclusively on my breasts, I let myself get slack with the pumping.
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Doctor said the best stimulation to get the milk coming in is the baby's sucking. Hand expressing to relieve engorgement is fine. Using a breast pump is ok too but doctor said the milk will come in slower; hence you will be painfully engorged longer.
There is also a downside to expressing alongside latch-on feeding. This I mean expressing extra times apart from the regular feeding times. It tricks the body into thinking you need more milk than your baby actually needs. So when ur baby drinks, he/she will fill up too much on the foremilk and get less of the nutritious milk that follows.
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Try Bralicious or Sono Vaso, both based in Hong Kong and Sono Vaso sells online. They have a small office in Sheung Wan, so you can try things on and get fitting advice. Both quite reasonable.
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