Breastfeeding Questions

Hi Blessedmom,

I am expecting my second boy due April 2016, and are really trying to get as much tips, info etc on breastfeeding as I really really want to make it work this time.
With my firstborn (4 years ago) I had to stop feeding after about 3 weeks due to him not gaining weight and losing some. So I started formula.
Personally I think my mind was not tuned properly for the breastfeeding. I was very nervous and did not feed on demand in the beginning and maybe that is why my milk supply never settled?!?!? Who knows.

Anyway, I am really hoping that this time will be different. I am researching electric breast pumps now. I had the Tommee Tippee manual pump but gave it to my sister after I stopped breast feeding. I would sit and pump for over 20 minutes and only got about 20ml's. That was really frustrating.

This time I am thinking of getting an electric pump. I have absolutely no experience on it, but also know I wont use a second hand pump.
I am looking at the Spectra Dew or the Tommee Tippee electric. There is quite a big price difference between them (R 600 on takealot) so I want to make sure I buy the right one.
Do you have any reviews/info on any of these pumps?

Would you suggest waiting on this purchase until after the baby is born and I find that I will actually be able to feed, or is it something that one would want to take with to the hospital?

Any advise will be much appreciated.
I truly believe knowledge is power and by gaining as much as I can before the birth, maybe breastfeeding wont be a challenge.

HI Gloei

Apologies for only replying now.

I only returned to work last week & only managed to log into Moomie today and also didn't receive any notifications via email

I personally won't use a 2nd hand breast pump but that's just a personal thing.

Most breast pumps don't have a closed system so milk & bacteria can travel through.
I had a Medela Swing Maxi which was a closed system so no milk could travel into the motor or any tubing.

The Medela mini electric breast pump is an open system.

Hi Blessedmom,

(Don't know if you are away on holiday, please forgive me if you are!!)

I was given a second hand Medela mini electric breast pump which I would love to use but google articles STRONGLY advises against using a second hand breast pump. Strangely enough it doesn't seem as if there has ever been reported contamination from using a second hand breast pump though it is so strongly discouraged.

I thought I could sterilise all the parts but it seems as if many people say that viruses and contamination could travel by air into the electric motor system which you obviously can't sterilise....

What is your opinion on this? Would you use a second hand breast pump?

Thank you!!

Hello again,

I stopped bf for a week and then started bf on and off in the next 2 weeks. I haven't taken anything to dry up the milk.

Weight at discharge was 3.480 and at 3 weeks 4 kg.

It wasn't really the sister making me feel bad. It was just touching on a fear that I already had. Plus it doesn't help when your own mom is threatening that your baby is going to be hospitalized for mal nourishment.

Thanks for your positive words of encouragement. It makes me feel so much better.

PS: He is gorgeous!

Hi Krystyna

I'm sorry that a clinic sister made you doubt yourself. There are only 2% of women that really can't bf, the rest can successfully bf.

Few things to remember with bf is that it's all about supply & demand. The more baby feeds, the more milk you'll make. A deep latch is important. You don't feed on a schedule. Bf baby can feed anywhere between 10 - 12 times a day. Breast milk digests in 90mins so if baby wants to feed every hour, that is perfectly normal.

Your breasts are not just there for milk. It's your baby's dummy, security & comfort.

What made the clinic sister think that you didn't produce enough milk?

The problem with clinics are they use a formula chart to calculate how much baby should be picking up & that is wrong. There is a chart for formula & one for breastfeeding.

How many wet & soiled nappies did baby have?

How much was discharge weight & how much did baby weigh at 3 weeks?

You can successfully start bf again but you will need to start pumping every 2 - 3 hours as much as you can, even if you are dry pumping. For at least 10 mins.

You can also put baby on the breast just to suckle so avoid the dummy as far as possible. So if baby wants comfort, breast is your answer.

How long ago did you stop bf & did you take any pills to dry up the milk?

Help please,

I am a new mom and at 3 weeks the clinic sister told me that I was not producing enough milk for my lb. In sheer panic I gave up on breastfeeding and switched to formula. A week later after his weigh in was normal, I resigned myself to the fact that he would be a formula baby. I felt so depro about the whole story. I tried on and off to breastfeed him. Do you guys think I can go back to bf him. I still have milk when I checked this morning?