My first Expressed Breastmilk bottle for Hunter
Week 3 notes
- started expressing breastmilk due to Hyperlactation
- steady gaze
- lost 13KG, 3-4KG to go!
I’m exclusively breastfeeding now, but sometime mid-week, Hunter suddenly started acting really grunty/fussy, especially during the night. It was driving me crazy because I couldn’t figure out what was wrong! Finally, I stumbled upon something online and discovered Hunter displays ALL the signs of Hyperlactation. I won’t repeat them since you can see them at the link anyway, but everything clicked for me.
So last night, I started expressing instead and feeding from a bottle, which meant the flow is more controlled and he no longer chokes/gulps. Big thanks to Daphne who gave us a big set of Playtex bottles – they kick ass! We tried Tommee Tippee and Medela and both weren’t up to scratch, but Playtex has been perfect and Hunter really likes them. He seems better now, but I’m giving it a few more days/nights to see if the symptoms go away. I’m totally amazed that around 100-130ml (~4oz) of milk comes out of each breast though.. where does all that milk come from?! It’s quite fascinating to watch, Chris and I were in awe when I first did it 😛
This week he’s also developed a much more steady gaze. He will turn his head and look directly in our eyes/faces when we talk to him, and appears to be absorbing what we say. It’s pretty fascinating to watch him develop! Previously, he would look at us, but only for a second before his gaze wanders off. He also responds with coos and little smiles, which we find adorable 🙂
The last note for the week isn’t Hunter related, but about me 😛 Just before birth, I was 62KG (!). I managed to lose 13KG in the first 2 weeks after Hunter’s birth – YAAAAAAYYYY!! To be fair, the majority of it was easy and instant because he was such a big baby 😛 So 9KG was instantly gone the moment he was born, and the remaining 4KG I attribute to breastfeeding exclusively. Now, I have around 3-4KG to go.. but that’s not gonna budge until I exercise, I’m pretty sure.. so I can’t wait to get back moving again!
oh LOL that is a classic!
oh LOL that is a classic!
So glad to hear that you’ve figured out the problem of hyperlactation early on. That would really help. I had major problems with milk supply – I didn’t have enough as I have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). The lactation consultant at the hospital said that didn’t matter and that I should try to increase my supply by feeding more and pumping after the feed. So she suggested I feed on each breast for 20mins each and then pump for 10 mins after that. And to repeat this every 2 hours. I did that 24 hours a day for 1 week and at the end of that 1 week, I was exhausted, sleep deprived, in a bad mood from the sleep deprivation and very sad because my milk supply did not increase. I googled forever and then found an article that said that mothers with PCOS may experience undersupply of milk because of hormonal imbalance. That helped restore my sanity. I just checked on the links between PCOS and breasfeeding in the La Leche League website and they had a really nice article on that. Take care!
Wow I’m glad you figured it out though! Thank goodness for the internet.. it really helps instead of having to rush to the doctor each time :X
I agree with you on this one! THANK GOD for the internt indeed! Although I did go to the doctor plenty of times during Bubbles’ 1st year! I was the ultimate worrier! LOL! Things have eased up though by now.
WOW! Your milk supply is AWESOME!!!
THat’s one way to look at it! It’s good for when I express.. but bad when he feeds from my breast cos it gushes out too quickly 🙁
So glad to hear that you’ve figured out the problem of hyperlactation early on. That would really help. I had major problems with milk supply – I didn’t have enough as I have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). The lactation consultant at the hospital said that didn’t matter and that I should try to increase my supply by feeding more and pumping after the feed. So she suggested I feed on each breast for 20mins each and then pump for 10 mins after that. And to repeat this every 2 hours. I did that 24 hours a day for 1 week and at the end of that 1 week, I was exhausted, sleep deprived, in a bad mood from the sleep deprivation and very sad because my milk supply did not increase. I googled forever and then found an article that said that mothers with PCOS may experience undersupply of milk because of hormonal imbalance. That helped restore my sanity. I just checked on the links between PCOS and breasfeeding in the La Leche League website and they had a really nice article on that. Take care!
Wow I’m glad you figured it out though! Thank goodness for the internet.. it really helps instead of having to rush to the doctor each time :X
I agree with you on this one! THANK GOD for the internt indeed! Although I did go to the doctor plenty of times during Bubbles’ 1st year! I was the ultimate worrier! LOL! Things have eased up though by now.
WOW! Your milk supply is AWESOME!!!
THat’s one way to look at it! It’s good for when I express.. but bad when he feeds from my breast cos it gushes out too quickly 🙁
Bev, thanks for sharing the notes on hyperlactation, I finally know why my baby has green stool! I did not know that he is also not taking in the hindmilk as I switch breast when he stop suckling. I will need to let him finish the breast before offering the next. I only dropped 6 kg and I have another 6 to go. Have your pelvic shrink back to prepreg time? My pelvic is stuck:(
Yeah apparently gotta keep using the same breast until it’s drained.. at least 10 mins! Good luck with it 🙂
Dunno about my pelvis.. didn’t measure it before pregnancy so not sure, doh! I assume it hasn’t though and will take months?
Wow!! 4oz?! Each?! That’s amazing!! What’s your secret formula?
On another note, how’s Hunter taking to the Bee+?
Yeah.. I dunno where all that milk comes from lol. It’s not great though because the letdown is too fast, so it chokes him 🙁 At least expressing into a bottle seems to work (for now!)
Hunter likes the Bee+.. sleeps easily in it, yayyyy
Thumbs up Bev! More pictures of Hunter please. 🙂
Hehe I think this is fast becoming a very baby-centric blog !:P
Well. I can’t relate but I don’t mind cause Hunter is very cute!
I can only manage at most 1 oz for both sides if I’m lucky! ):
I heard if you feed/express more frequently, the volume picks up !:)
Oversupply is such a nice problem to have 🙂
Well.. not with the symptoms Hunter gets though. Hoping that expressing into a bottle helps!
Bev, thanks for sharing the notes on hyperlactation, I finally know why my baby has green stool! I did not know that he is also not taking in the hindmilk as I switch breast when he stop suckling. I will need to let him finish the breast before offering the next. I only dropped 6 kg and I have another 6 to go. Have your pelvic shrink back to prepreg time? My pelvic is stuck:(
Yeah apparently gotta keep using the same breast until it’s drained.. at least 10 mins! Good luck with it 🙂
Dunno about my pelvis.. didn’t measure it before pregnancy so not sure, doh! I assume it hasn’t though and will take months?
Wow!! 4oz?! Each?! That’s amazing!! What’s your secret formula?
On another note, how’s Hunter taking to the Bee+?
Yeah.. I dunno where all that milk comes from lol. It’s not great though because the letdown is too fast, so it chokes him 🙁 At least expressing into a bottle seems to work (for now!)
Hunter likes the Bee+.. sleeps easily in it, yayyyy
hey bev, glad that the bottles are working out for you! 🙂 a lot of my colleagues also like playtex bottles. say that it solves their problem of baby being colicky! cheers to more sleep and less fussy babies! 😀
Been using them exclusively for a day now and hoping it cures all his gas issues! He loves the teat though, so v happy with em 🙂
That’s a lot of milk! Well done, mommy!!
He drinks it all and then wants more…. argh
Wow! Your first bottle? That’s really good!
(And I’m so envious of your weight loss. I breastfed exclusively too, and still am, though he also has solids, but the weight is not budging! Probably because I’m ravenous most of the time. Sigh)
We were a bit amazed at the milk coming out, never seen it before.. haha!
I think the final part of weight loss is exercise! Have you done that? I can’t yet.. boo 🙁
Thumbs up Bev! More pictures of Hunter please. 🙂
Hehe I think this is fast becoming a very baby-centric blog !:P
Well. I can’t relate but I don’t mind cause Hunter is very cute!
I can only manage at most 1 oz for both sides if I’m lucky! ):
I heard if you feed/express more frequently, the volume picks up !:)
Oversupply is such a nice problem to have 🙂
Well.. not with the symptoms Hunter gets though. Hoping that expressing into a bottle helps!
hey bev, glad that the bottles are working out for you! 🙂 a lot of my colleagues also like playtex bottles. say that it solves their problem of baby being colicky! cheers to more sleep and less fussy babies! 😀
Been using them exclusively for a day now and hoping it cures all his gas issues! He loves the teat though, so v happy with em 🙂
That’s a lot of milk! Well done, mommy!!
He drinks it all and then wants more…. argh
Wow! Your first bottle? That’s really good!
(And I’m so envious of your weight loss. I breastfed exclusively too, and still am, though he also has solids, but the weight is not budging! Probably because I’m ravenous most of the time. Sigh)
We were a bit amazed at the milk coming out, never seen it before.. haha!
I think the final part of weight loss is exercise! Have you done that? I can’t yet.. boo 🙁