AVENT answers email
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I thought I’d never hear from AVENT after they released their media statement but hey, they did!
As a former “comrade” in corporate communications, I’m impressed to hear from the Senior Manager for AVENT’s Global Public Relations 
Breastfeeding - when baby is born
If you’re serious about breastfeeding, you would have first read:
“If you’ve decided to breastfeed“, which prepares you for successful breastfeeding.
If you’re in your final trimester, finished all your preparation and are just waiting for baby to arrive, focus on the first month.
Important points:
- There is NO milk in the first few days (sometimes, up to 5 days). Your body produces colostrum, which has antibodies to protect your baby during the early months when his immune system is still developing.
- As breastmilk is absorbed 100%, baby will get hungry more frequently compared to a formula-fed baby. Prepare to feed baby every 3 hours, 2 hours and yes, even 1 hour!
- Everything that you eat will also be absorbed by baby through the breastmilk. Avoid curry to prevent giving your newborn an upset tummy.
- For Chinese mums, the confinement diet can support breastfeeding IF you also include vegetables and and plenty of fluids (e.g. red date tea, soups).
Here’s my story…
Does your baby have colic?
Maybe because Lucas was breastfed but I sure am lucky he didn’t have colic. Or maybe he’s just lucky.
What is colic?
According to baby and child care expert, Dr. Miriam Stoppard:
“Crying caused by colic can be distinguished from other forms because it is more of a high-pitched scream than a cry. Usually you’ll find that your baby’s legs are drawn up to his abdomen and that his face becomes very red.”
“…your baby is likely to cry every night for 12 weeks…”
“…tension is the most likely cause. You’re preoccupied in the evening with bathtime and bedtime for the baby and getting your evening meal. It is likely that your baby picks up on the tension”
Breastfeeding & bedtime
I’d posted a “Beginner’s Guide to Breastfeeding” earlier and thought I’d share on how I coped with breastfeeding and getting enough sleep at night. This is especially in the first few months and also when you return to work!
In the first month, I had to get used to caring for a baby, especially one who fed every 2 hours! Because breast milk is 100% digested, baby can’t stay full for long. I counted myself lucky as I met some Mums with babies feeding every hour on MyMom’sBest forum!
The best advice: sleep when baby sleeps. This ensures that you have the energy to cope when he wakes up…crying or screaming, in my case Read more
If you have decided to breastfeed…
…be prepared for a mutually-beneficial, fulfilling (but challenging) experience of your life!
I decided to breastfeeding after reading up on it while I was pregnant. When you breastfeed:
- Baby has the BEST start in life - esp if you can do it for 6 months
- Baby absorbs 100% of the nutrients, which means little or no poo
- Baby has NO allergy problems - this depends on what Mother eats
- Baby has NO constipation, NO smelly poo and 99% immunity from illnesses
- Mummy loses pregnancy weight faster than any exercise or diet
- Mummy’s uterus contracts faster - faster healing
- Mummy bonds with Baby - provided you look at him, smile or talk as you breastfeed
- Mummy only needs to have lots of water and a snack when she goes out - no bottles, milk powder, hot water, cold water, cleansing fluid, bottle warmers, baby bags etc
BEFORE BABY ARRIVES
1. Go for a baby-friendly hospital - In its truest sense, from the registration, the gynae, the nurses right down to the floor cleaner will support you in your efforts to breastfeed. This means that they will ensure:
- your baby is given to you immediately after birth to latch on
- your baby is given NO sugar water or formula milk
- that nobody promotes formula milk to you
- that they, your family and you have given the best shot at helping you breastfeed
2. Understand the science behind breastfeeding - basically, the cycle of demand-and-supply. The more you breastfeed directly/pump your milk, the more your supply increases. Your food and water intake must be adequate - you may even need to eat slightly more and be surprised that you’re still losing weight!
3. Practise the 2 key positions - the lying down and the cradle hold. The lying down (shown in photo above) is a life saver for a working Mum like me as I could still get the sleep/rest I needed while I breastfed Lucas every 2 hours in the first month, every 3 hours in the second month and then every 4 hours in the following months.
4. Remember that breastfeeding is 100% natural and completely absorbed - This means Baby will feel hungry after 3-4 hours (day AND night), unlike longer periods when fed with formula milk.
5. For working Mums - get your pump, storage bottles, carry bag, breast pads, ice sheets etc well in advance. My personal recommendation is the award-winning Avent ISIS Manual pump, which works wonderfully for many Mums!
You only need to start pumping 2 weeks before you start work as you’d want to enjoy direct breastfeeding as much as possible in the early months. Don’t worry about baby refusing the bottle - they only get smart about this in the 4th month.
Also, learn the art of hand expression - it’s invaluable in times when you don’t have your pump with you.
6. Breastfeeding tops - this is entirely your choice as I managed without any because I always made sure I was around decent breastfeeding rooms any time we went out. You may want to get some if you don’t mind breastfeeding in public. A baby sling works well too.
WHEN BABY IS BORN
1. Breast massage - This is one of the BEST tips a lactation nurse shared with me at the hospital. As the milk usually comes in about 4-5 days later, try massaging each breast when you’re lying on the bed staring at the ceiling. This helps to prevent engorgement, when your boobs become hard as rocks (literally).
2. Breastfeed from the beginning - You’ll be giving baby colostrum, even if you feel there isn’t anything coming out.
3. Be prepared for stress - With a screaming baby like Lucas, I was *stressed* when I first latched him on because the positioning takes time to get used to. Get a lactation nurse to help you. I was sweating profusely and getting frustrated while he was yelling his head off, his face getting redder and redder =)
As a new Mum, you may not know yet how to calm a baby down but the nurse would. After soothing him with some soft words, she handed him to me to try again. Keeping the baby swaddled tightly helped me get a firm hold.
Key point: You know it’s right when Baby’s mouth is wide open (like a baby bird) and closed over your entire nipple. If not, he’s not getting any milk and you’re getting sore nipples. See picture below from Kellymom.
4. Sacrifice your social activities the first week - As you’ll be feeding baby day and night every 1, 2 or 3 hours, you need the peace and quiet for concentration and rest. It’s really hard to get it right if you’re trying to breastfeed and then you have to stop to entertain your visitor.
I personally made a special request to my friends and Hubby’s friends for visits to begin only in the second or third week. At the most, I agreed to 4 visits during my entire hospital stay (family was OK as they kept as quiet as mice!)
5. Don’t be afraid to ask for help! A lot of breastfeeding Mums are only too willing to help you get the position, share their tips/problems or just listen to you moan.
Whenever I brought Lucas to the paed for his check-ups, I’d meet some new Mums struggling. I don’t charge forward to help but let the Mum try it out for herself until she starts showing despair and baby doesn’t stop screaming.
Then, I’ll gently and slowly ask if she might like some help. Some are only too grateful/relieved someone is willing to help - I felt really happy when this new Mum finally got her baby girl to latch on. Her bright smile and soft “thank you” was the best! And then I’m out of the picture, leaving Mum (and the relieved Dad) and baby to bond.
A few are quite defensive, strongly insisting that they know what they’re doing - sadly, they end up scolding the baby for being “naughty” and declaring breast milk, formula milk, it’s all the same.
6. Join a support group - My saving grace is MyMomsBest, where I met some of the nicest people on earth!
- From phoning me to gently encourage me (Alice - “you can do it! you can do it! Don’t get stress ha…”) helping me with opinions on rooming arrangements,
- offering to send me a bottle of fenugreek ASAP (I remember you, Christene LOL)
- being my buddy as we motivated each other to extend “just one more month” (Syn, my good friend) or
- empathizing with me when my pregnancy weight wasn’t falling as expected (Anita) although it did eventually
It’s great going down memory lane as I mentally prepare myself for No. 2. I’ll treasure these moments of comradeship forever!
Some resources:
KellyMom’s Basics of breastfeeding - excellent overview of what to expect in the early weeks, breastfeeding positions, “Is Baby Getting Enough Milk?” and FAQs. I especially like the “Free Handouts” section which include:
- a quick reference card for storing breastmilk
- recommended breastfeeding practices
Manual expression of breastmilk (using your hands) - A step-by-step guide, with pictures included.
Avent ISIS Manual Pump set
Retail price: RM270 (Feb 2006)
For breastfeeding mothers on the look-out for a reliable, fuss-free and value-for-money pump, I strongly recommend the Avent Isis. I owe this pump for supporting my efforts to continue breastfeeding Lucas when I went back to work.
This set comes with:
2 8 oz bottles
2 5 oz bottles
2 ice packs
5 disposable breast pads
1 zipped cooler bag
After pumping for only 20 minutes, I managed to produce a good 6 oz milk from one breast! I was *ecstatic* when I achieved letdown after gently pumping for about 5 minutes…
I was overjoyed because I had been struggling for a few weeks with another pump, with little output and no letdown.
Besides doing what it’s made for, I like the pump for its design, which enabled a quiet, relaxing and productive experience.
Its manual functions means that I need not worry about buying/changing batteries and had uninterrupted pumping sessions despite encountering 2 power failures!
The pump is also sturdy and looks as good as new even after everyday use. Every part is removable and easily cleaned - I only use hot water to rinse everything thoroughly when I’m in a rush in between pump sessions at work.
While you can buy the pump on its own, I decided to go for the set as it came complete with a cooler bag that holds the pump securely in place. The black bag holds the pump, the bottles and cooler packs effectively and you have a stylish-looking bag that doesn’t scream “Breastfeeding Mum”, if you prefer discretion.
I also use this bag when I travel for work and its sturdy casing stands up to changes in weather and being bumped around.
Although the ice packs claim to keep cool for up to 6 hours, this only applies to cool weather countries. Boosted with cooler ice packs e.g. TechniIce, the breastmilk keeps cool for the whole day I’m at work in an air-conditioned office.
My set is in storage now, awaiting its next use when my second child comes into the picture. I’m using the 8 oz bottles now for my toddler’s milk and the 5 oz ones sometimes for his snacks.
THE VERDICT
I’d STRONGLY recommend this pump to the new Mummy, especially if you have encountered problems with your pumping sessions. I was struggling initially and seriously owe my breastfeeding success at work to this pump.
Before using the pump, check out how the patented ISIS system works.
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About KittyCat
A modern multilingual, multicultural, globe-trotting Mum shares babycare | breastfeeding | cloth diapers | pregnancy | toddler | preschool | tips.
Check out my A to Z list of reviews too!
Questions? Post them here so other Mums can learn too. Or you can contact me
I also review books at http://RightReads.com
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Right Reads- Down to a Sunless Sea by Mathias B. FreeseIf you have a son and are trying to gain a better understanding of what the average young man thinks or worries about, you HAVE to read this book. If you work with young people, whether as a teacher, a coach, a tutor or simply trying to understand young people, you HAVE to read this [...]
- Down to a Sunless Sea by Mathias B. Freese
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