The super drunken look!

mummy's milk super nice ....slurp* zzzz

Disaster strikes again ! - updates

My horoscope in LIFE! today states:

Try something healthy and fun today - a new kind of workout, a nutritious treat or maybe even a dance class. You need to take care of yourself but it does not have to be a drag.

Urgh, take care of myself...yes, but it is a drag. My immunity broke down after daddy has been coughing non-stop for the past few days and his condition worsened with diarrhoea last Friday after yx who vomited on Wed after coughing really badly, followed by diarrhoea.

31 Aug 2013 Sat:
Took porridge at night and then started vomiting almost every hour non-stop since past midnight. I was practically rolling and cringing my stomach at the corner of my bed every hour. At one point, it was really so bad that I just sat on the floor on a praying position. Before every vomit, I will turn feverish and after every vomit, the feverish symptoms subsided and my stomach felt better. This cycle went on for 7 times throughout the night before I force myself to wake up to see the doctor in the morning.

I was given:

• An injection for immediate relief of vomiting 
• Dimenate 50MG- to curb vomitting
• Biotase Tablet - to curb abdominal wind and flatulence

I felt much better after injection and slept the whole morning. Then I took Dimenate tablet again in the afternoon but I didn't take any Biotase as I wanted to check if my condition improve without taking more tablets. Indeed, I was feeling alright so I stopped all medication. I continue pumping but saves the milk for washing my hands and feet although it should be quite safe for baby to drink.

I thought the worse was over but that was just the beginning.

1 Sep 2013 Sun: Sore throat starts, drank loads of water and honey
2 Sep 2013 Mon: Took Chericof lozenges amd Lysozyme (leftose). felt better.
3 Sep 2013 Tue: Sore throat worsen, excruciating pain. took Lysozyme (leftose) again just to relieve the pain
4 Sep 2013 Wed: can't take it anymore, went to see doc.

I was given:

• Prednisolone 20MG - Anti inflammatory (5 Tab - must complete)
• Amoxycillin/Calvulate acid 625MG - Antibiotic (10 Tab - must complete)
• Beathricin Lozenge - Throat lubrication, relieve itch/pain; anti-inflammatory with mild anaesthetic
• Chlorpheniramine (Piriton) 4MG - Running nose & itch

After checking with doc, the viral attack stems from yx and it has mutated to different forms in different bodies and that is why my body reacted quite differently from her and my hub.

So what now? I am almost halfway through the course of antibiotics. Although it has cleared up the sore throat, my body has developed greenish yellow sticky phlegm around my lungs to spit up as part of the detoxification routine to flush out the "dirts". My throat has also turned drier which makes it more susceptible to dry cough when the night turns chilly. Ok, this is the better of the worse. The good news is my appetite is coming back which means I can go for nutritious treats, but no workout or anything fun yet. =\

Nursing - Happy Breastfeeding Week !

Update: Medela Freestyle Breast Pump vs Avent Single Electrical Breast Pump

I have been using Medela Freestyle Breast Pump for about 2 months now, it is really serving me well. Guess I don't have the time for further detailed trying as mentioned in my previous post. =(

The only down side I can think of now is that for Medela is that the washing can be tedious for the 3 tiny holes, but er... most of the time I leave the washing of breast pump to hub. =D

Another disadvantage is that one can't pause the pump which sometimes can be annoying if you are interrupted and wish to pause for a while before you continue.

For pressure, I am now using L4. It seems that the diameter of the funnel doesn't really make any difference as I tried 24 mm and then 27 mm, the results doesn't vary much. But I prefer using 27 mm as it provides more coverage which makes the holding more secure.

I don't think I have much problem using 1 hand to "grab" the pumps so I didn't try on the straps. Moreover, each pumping session takes about 15-20 mins, so it is not too tiring on my hands. Thus, I am not too bothered on hands-free and will use a breast feeding blanket to cover when I pump in office.

My average milk yield now is 150 ml (both breasts combined) as my left breast seems to produce lesser milk than right. Maximum yield is 230 ml and minimum is 120 ml which I think is still sufficient for my boy. 

Overall, I am satisfied. =)

Medela Freestyle Breast Pump vs Avent Single Electrical Breast Pump

Thanks to Stella who lend me her Medela Freestyle Pump, I managed to pump out milk within 15 mins from both of my breasts.

The accessories looked kindda intimidating at first:

Fortunately, the confinement lady is experienced enough (she said she has come across so many pumps that she is now quite used to handling them) to know how to assemble and then taught me how to use it, else I have to go through the instructions manual which is quite tiring for me at this stage.

My verdict for now:

Criteria	Medela Freestyle	Avent Single Pump
1. Pressure	Pressure (Vacuum increase) = L5 Breast Shield: medium - 24 mm* Feels not as strong but after 15 mins, my breasts (even my left side which always feels more engorged than the right as baby prefer the right) feels more soft and supple. Can't feel any block ducts around the breasts.	Pressure: Can't control - as per default stronger than Medela but still feel some block ducts around the breasts.
2. Motor Sound	soft drumming	loud rumbling
3. Features*	On/off (std by mode) button Vacuum increase Vacuum decrease Let-down button/timer reset button Memory button Timer display Stimulation phase indicator Expression phase indicator Memory "on" indicator  Battery status indicator AC power indicator	On/off button  handle for electronic memory on your pumping rhythm
4. Milk Yield	110 ml in 15 mins	120 ml in 15 mins (1 pump = approx 60 ml, assuming 2 pumps x2)
5. Ease of mobility*	didn't used straps - holding the bottles so doesn't really feel much mobility.	just single pump, the other hand is free.
6. Assemble Time	Slightly longer than Avent (but if used to it, should be quite fast)	more straightforward
7. Costs	More expensive SGD 530 (base on online purchase price)	SGD 179 - bought in Dec 2011 (after promotion, initially SGD 199 )

*Notes:
1. Pressure - breast shield - I would try large - 27 mm and see how's the result later.
3. Features - I prefer Avent's soft cushion funnel on the breasts but Medela funnel without the cushion is still acceptable. 
4. Milk Yield - for more accurate results, I would probably need to test on:

• on the same breast (at the moment I feel engorged), ie. Left breast using Medela and then the next pump period: Left breast using Avent and the same steps for Right breasts later. 

It seems that my areola still has some milk (after I "squeeze" gently) after 15 mins for Medela but for Avent my areola is slightly drier.

5. Ease of mobility - for both pumps I used the other hand to massage the sides while pumping; have to try with straps later to see how's the results. 

Miserable 20ml

Last night of pumping

At last I can heaved a sigh of relief. No more washing of pump and engorged breasts, not to mention all the preparation and time for pumping. Sorry yx. I bet you will love more solids and milk powder. =|

My pumped out milk in Shanghai

1 Week of milk (pumped twice daily)

Obviously, my milk volume is "dying". Still I have to pump out the milk early in the morning and at night to avoid feeling engorged during the day. Too bad, yx can't drink them, and so I collected them in bottles and pour them in the bathtub to soak my feet. *heartache*


bye bye breast milk .......

Breastfeeding Schedule

Out of curiosity, I did a simple breastfeeding schedule in excel in January but I did not have the time (and energy!) to key in all the data for further analysis. Sleep and "me time" is a luxury to me, let alone doing all the initial mundane keying. Of course, I did the recording in a notebook for reference.

Example of schedule

If just by scanning through the data, 1 obvious conclusion:

her timing is almost very accurate. Drink 3 hourly except in the evenings and past midnight.

By human intuitiveness, it is quite safe to just estimate when and how much to feed her, it's only when she is cranky, and suddenly her schedule becomes inconsistent then I find it quite useful to refer to historical information (of course, this is for bottle feeding. Latch on will not be able to know exactly how much, but only when. Demand feeding via latch on is encouraged but sometimes in life, not everyone can, like me.=\ )

It is quite interesting to see that her demand patterns is quite consistent throughout, any major deviation is very often related to a major reason such as over-stimulation, growth spurt, colic, teething etc and will tend to drink more when she crosses each milestone. 

My general experience: If her per session feed volume is irregular say, 60ml, 30ml, 110ml and then 90ml as long as her total feed volume for the day (eg 700ml) is reached, she doesn't need an additional feed cos most likely her stomach is full and force feed will only result in reflux. 

I also incorporate her day of poo and frequencies in the same schedule but not in soft copy. I guess it is good enough to have them on paper just for own reference unless you are really interested or for research purposes.

Left Over Milk

Left over milk since mid Feb till now:

I kept those left overs in the fridge and then just take it out to chill before using. As pouring away is too much of a heartache (since I 辛辛苦苦  pump but I did throw away before keeping this !!! I should have thought of keeping it then...can one imagine if I combine Dec and Jan's left over, it should be more than 1 big bottle!!!) for me, I kept it for cosmetic use - soak my leg. At first I thought of using it to make face mask, but er...I guess I am afraid if anything happen....

Soaking my legs while my mum is tending to yx,

Ugly feet turned Happy Feet !

Although I don't really feel super smooth and silky, maybe just a little more supple? or maybe I am just trying to 自我安慰? Anyway just tried once only, so effect will not be immediate. (but I wouldn't want to try another time cos that means yx is wasting my milk!) =|

Nan Mom & me Sample Review

I received the sample on 5/3 but I only drink it today. Guess Vanilla flavour is not really my cup of tea. It taste ssomewhat smell like HL milk but the taste is sweeter and has stronger vanilla essence in it. I don't think I can drink it on its own, but mixing with some butter bread crumbs or biscuit crumbs should be ok. I need some saltiness to tone down the Vanilla taste.

Currently I am drinking S26 Mama (not that it is super tasty but ok la, bearable after mixing with Milo). If I can still produce breast milk after S26 depletes, I would probably get Anmum Lacta (Chocolate Flavour).

EBM progress in March

7/3, 8:30 am: 260 ml 

10/3, 1:00 pm: 60 ml

I can produce more than 200 ml only in the morning, ie. my first pump of the day, else I can only produce maximum 150 ml per session (2 breasts combined).

On one hand I hope I can produce more, on the other, I just hope my breast milk supply will deplete so that I don't need to pump and experience the feeling of engorgement anymore. so contradicting. =\