Ah, Finally!

“Where’s the Milk?” Tips On How to Start Breast Milk Supply for New Moms

Normally, the milk would come after the placenta and the baby goes out of the mother’s body. But for some women, especially c-section moms the milk doesn’t come that soon.This doesn’t mean it never will. It just takes more time and stimulation. Based on my own experience and research here are tips on how to establish milk supply for new mothers.

• Be committed. Some moms give up after trying for a couple of days concluding that “maybe I just don’t really have milk.” Unless you have a Thyroid condition, severe post-partum hemorrhage or other medical problems there’s no reason for a healthy mommy not to have milk.
• Constant and regular stimulation. Even though there’s no milk coming out yet, allow baby to latch on and suckle. If the baby cries and fusses because he’s not getting any, use a breast pump. Buy a good quality electric one and pump as often as every two hours. This will tell your body “there’s a baby who needs the milk so come out!” Keep doing this until the milk finally comes. And it will.
• Drink lots of liquid and never skip meals. Personally, I’ve noticed a drop in my milk supply when I skip meals or don’t eat enough. A nursing mom needs 300-500 extra calories a day. So in a sense you’re still eating for two .
• Take post-natal supplements like Natalac. This supplement is basically Moringa Oleifera commonly known as “malungay” here in the Philippines. It is proven to encourage and increase milk production. I take it myself and it is very effective.
• If you want your baby not to be a picky eater someday, eat a wide variety of healthy food especially the ones you’d like him to eat. The baby will taste it in your breast milk. Right now, I am trying my best to eat a lot of green leafy vegetables so that my baby Nigel will be familiar with its taste and not reject it someday.

Also, it would be good to know that your milk supply might drop when your monthly period returns. This does not mean that you’ll stop lactating soon. Just continue breastfeeding and stimulate it by using a breast pump every two hours for 15 minutes or so. Don’t worry if little or no milk comes out. The supply will go back to normal once your period is over. Keep in mind that as long as you’re nursing or pumping milk consistently, you will keep lactating.

Breast milk, an everyday miracle.

I am so excited for Nigel! He is now beginning to crawl. He started creeping at four months.Like an inch worm he moved himself from point A to point B. He’s going to be six months old on the 20th. And just this afternoon, I saw him with arms, thighs and belly off the bed while knees engaged in a crawling position. Of course he’s still very wobbly and very much struggling to balance himself. But I bet he’d be a proficient crawler in his 7th month. I really thank the Lord Nigel is strong and healthy. When he catches a cold, (twice in his entire 5 ½ months of life) he recovers quickly. It doesn’t even bother him much. He’d be same old smiley, happy and active baby.

I reckon this is because he is breastfed. I also thank the Lord that I have much milk. I know breastfeeding is very common and just an everyday thing, its so natural. But it fascinates me how this white thin liquid my body effortlessly produces powers and nourishes a growing energetic baby like Nigel. It is indeed an everyday miracle!

Whoa! Nigel can hold his own bottle!

Actually, these pictures were taken when he was 5 1/2 months old. But he started holding his own bottle at four months. I was about to feed him a bottle of expressed breast milk when he grabbed it from me! I was so surprised! I said to myself "wow! Nigel is a superbaby!" I thought he was the only baby who could hold a bottle this early. To be sure, I went to youtube only to find videos upon videos of other 4 month olds doing the same thing. Haha! Hey, what do I know I am a first time mom and its kinda nice to think that your baby is a genius. Anyway, I still think my li'l angel is super special and super cute! heheheHmmmm I wonder if I could get him to change his own diaper? I bet no one has posted anything like that in youtube!