
By DERRICK BRYSON TAYLOR from NYT Health https://ift.tt/2ZXiOmR
via IFTTT
Getting Ready
First wash your hands well. Find a clean collection container with a wide mouth, like a cup. Or, you can express your milk into a spoon and feed it directly to the baby. Whenever possible, plan to express in a private, comfortable place where you can relax. Feeling relaxed enhances milk flow.
Find Your ‘Sweet Spot’
There are many ways to hand-express milk. Whichever technique you use, the most important part is finding your “sweet spot,” the area on your breast where milk flows fastest when your breast is compressed. Try different finger positions until you find it. If the dark area around your nipple (areola) is large, your “sweet spot” may be inside it. If it is small, it may be well outside it. When you find your “sweet spot,” you may want to put a small circle bandage on it to make it easier to find it next time.
Click HERE for a highly recommended video on Hand Expression
Do What Works Best
Always do what feels best and expresses the most milk. The following technique combines recommendations from the World Health Organization with other methods:
Expressing for Premature/Ill Babies
If your baby has to stay in hospital, it is important to start expressing your milk as soon as possible after your baby is born. In order to ensure that you produce plenty of milk, you need to express at least eight times over 24 hours, including during the night. Ask the hospital staff about holding your baby in skin-to-skin contact. This can help with bonding and keeping up your milk supply. If you are freezing milk because your baby is premature or ill, ask the staff caring for your baby for advice.
If Needed, Adjust
Hand expression should feel comfortable. If not, you may be compressing too hard, sliding your fingers along the skin, or squeezing the nipple. If you feel discomfort, review the description above, and adjust your technique. It is important to find the method of hand expression that works best for you a Breastfeeding Counselor or Internation Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) may be able to help.
I’ve got two new short stories – Good Christian Girl Gone Bad: Ganged by the Frat & A Dripping Exam. Both will be available on Amazon for $0.99 till the end of June. After that, they will go back to regular price of $2.99.
Feeding the Frat will be available for FREE from Wednesday June 26th till the end of the month.
A short excerpt from Good Christian Girl Gone Bad:
Halfway through my second glass of red, Jack suggested we play strip poker. I’d never played before, but they were so keen, and I thought, why the hell not.
It turned out that I was not very good at strip poker. In fact, pretty soon, my pumps had gone, and my stockings were in a little pile on the floor next to me.
“Three Kings!” said Chad, laying down his cards, triumphantly. I looked at my pair of Aces and sighed.
“So…what does that mean?”
“It means your dress has to go.”
“Really?”
They all nodded. Well, if those were the rules…I stood, a little unsteady and began to unzip my dress. I felt it slacken, and with some difficulty, I managed to slip out of it, letting it slide down my body to the floor. I stood there, in my thong and bra, blushing bright red. All four of them were gazing at me, as though mesmerized. No-one said anything. It was a weird sensation!
“Wow,” said Jack, eventually.
I blushed again and sat down. Mark passed me the wine bottle and I took another swig, giggling when a little trickled down my chin.
“Let me get that,” said Jack. Before I realized what he meant, Jack had leaned over and licked the sticky trail of wine from my face. It was the most incredible sensation. I was blushing so much, and I felt my body turn all tingly from his touch. I didn’t know what to say, but Jack just smiled, kissed me lightly on the lips and then picked up the cards and began to deal.
A few minutes later, I was once again staring at a terrible hand. A pair of eights. Did I dare risk it? The wine was making me bolder though, so I took a chance. I called. Mark laid down a full house. I closed my eyes. Now what was I going to do!
“Sorry Chas, but that bra has to come off!” said Joe.
“I…I can’t…”
A short excerpt from A Dripping Exam:
Dr Smith was not what I imagined. He was tall. I’m not sure how tall, but he had to be 6’5” at least. And he was young. Late twenties at the most, with thick, luxurious hair, narrow hips, broad shoulders and a healthy tan. It took me a moment or two to regain my composure before I could speak to him.
“So, Dana, isn’t it?” he asked, as I sat on the other side of his desk.
“Yes…yes…I’m Dana,” I said, gushing like a schoolgirl.
“I see from the notes your doctor sent through that you’re having a little trouble with your breasts. Soreness? Heaviness and swelling? And leakage, I am guessing.”
I nodded, flushing red with embarrassment.
“Well I’ve some experience of dealing with this kind of problem, so I am sure we can help you. But before we start, do you mind if I examine your breasts?”
“No, not at all,” I said, a little too quickly.
“If you could lie on the couch,” he said, smiling. I did as I was told, lying flat on the couch, staring at the ceiling. I could feel my heart pounding. Dr Smith approached and began to touch my breasts through my blouse. Instantly I felt tingles through my body. He probed and pressed and explored and the feelings I began to experience were so intense that I had to close my eyes and bite my lip to avoid giving a gasp or a yelp. To my shame, I could feel that my nipples were beginning to leak a little. And they weren’t the only part of me that was starting to moisten.
“Hmmm,” said Dr Smith, concluding his examination. “I think I can see the problem. The good news is that we can treat them right away. That is, if you’re willing and have the time.”
I nodded, unable to get my breath back from his touching.
“Excellent. If you’d like to follow me.”
Dr Smith opened another door at the back of his consulting room and led me down a polished, plush corridor to a room with a red door. He unlocked the door, stepped aside and ushered me in.
At first, I didn’t know what to make of the room. It was kind of small, with tiny windows. In the centre of the room was a metal frame, with two parts, top and bottom, creating a sort of three-sided corral, of the type that you might see cattle herded into at a rodeo. There were straps fixed to the frame, and beyond it, a strange looking machine with wires and tubes attached.
“I…what is this?” I asked, bewildered. Dr Smith smiled.
“Don’t be alarmed. It is an unusual set-up, I agree, but then many of these experimental appear to be unconventional at first. It’s all scientifically rigorous and safe, I assure you.”
I wasn’t entirely reassured but I reasoned that if my own doctor had referred me here, it had to be legit. My faith began to waver, however, when Dr Smith told me I would have to undress.
“Excuse me?”
“I’m afraid clothes will make the treatment process impossible. It’s quite alright, I’ve seen thousands of people naked. You are completely safe here.”
A voice in my brain was telling me that I should probably just leave. But another voice was reminding me that my breast ‘problem’ had to be treated. And then there was the fact that Dr Smith was the most attractive person I had ever seen in my life.
Hey there Momma, are you boobies not cooperating with you and the milk is not enough yet for you little one?
As a first time mom (2 years ago), I was pretty scared that I won’t be able to provide mill for Zelda because during latching time, I had only little amount of milk. My boobies were engorged but the milk was a bit little. 2 years after, I’m still breastfeeding my first born Zelda and now feeding my second born Geralt, both at the same time.
So I want to share my quick tips on how I was able to sustain my milk all these years. This is based on my own experience and it may not be effective to some other moms.
As a Mom, I know our body gets lack of sleep and a bit stressed especially if you’re a first time mom.
SLEEP is very important
Again, S L E E P!
When the baby is sleeping, try to get some sleep at the same time too. That’s what everyone has been telling me, so I did. It helped my body to recover from pregnancy to the CRAZZZZYYYY MOMMA FREAKIN PAIN of labour and CS operation. Yes I did trial labour but it wasn’t successful so I ended up doing CS when I gave birth to Zelda and another CS though it was scheduled already for Geralt.
Sooo sleep is very important for to keep us sane.
Let your baby have unlimited latch. I usually breastfeed my babies every 2-3 hours or whenever they want and for about 20-30 minutes. It’s not spoiling them, it’s natural because they need it.
Take care of yourself as well because it really has a big impact on your milk supply. As much as possible ear healthy food and drinks.
Drinking lactating drinks and vitamins helps a lot too! What really helped me to lactate more is drinking M2 Malunggay Tea.
M2 Malunggay Tea really helped me produce more milk and it serves as my vitamins as well.
What are the BENEFITS of MALUNGGAY?
1. It Has A Lot Of Antioxidants
2. Help Combat Malnutrition
3. It Can Lower Blood Sugar Levels
4. It’s Anti-Inflammatory
5. It Strengthens The Immune System
6. It Increases Milk Supply For Moms
7. It Helps Lower Cholesterol
And M2 Malunggay Tea has this and its DELICIOUS!!!
By the way, this is me drinking M2 Malunggay Tea in a tumbler haha!
There you go, again this is based on my own experience but I hope it can help a bit.
The third day of my daughter’s life we were supposed to go home from the hospital. Instead we had to stay because they said her breathing was too fast. They observed her, had me nurse her, tried to get me to pump to bottle feed her, took an X-ray of her and then finally we gave her formula and observed her for a few more hours before they said we could go home.
After a few days we went to our first pediatrician visit where a lactation consultant told me I had low milk supply and should use more formula than what the hospital told me to use. On my next visit they upped it up even more.
I struggled with breastfeeding and giving her formula. Then I finally received my breast pump and struggled with that too. But through this experience I learned that no matter how you feed your baby, as long as they’re fed and happy that is all that matters.
Still my goal was to breastfeed her. It took a few weeks but I was finally able to do this. She’s been doing great so far! Lots of wet diapers and a happy smile. I’m slightly concerned about her weight gain and spitting up but I think with several doc visits pushing formula and weight gain quickly it has messed with my mind and she’s fine.
When it comes to breastfeeding it isn’t easy though. One way I’ve tried to help my supply is by eating homemade lactation cookies and drinking drinks with electrolytes like body armour and Gatorade.
The above picture show what I might usually get during a pumping session. But yesterday after eating several cookies and a few body armour and Gatorade, plus a lot of water and calories, I finally got the most I’ve ever gotten before:
I got nearly 4 oz total and was so shocked and happy about it. It might sound crazy to people who don’t breastfeed but this really is something I take pride in.
So if you have trouble with low supply I would say eat lactation cookies, stay hydrated and up your calories and hopefully you’ll see a difference too!
Off to rest now since I’m feeling sick.