Day 3 – 10ml
Day 4 – 40ml
Day 8 – 70ml
Day 10 – 110ml
Day 12 – 135ml
Do you know it takes 10 days for your breast milk supply to be established before you can increase the hours for pump interval? I didn’t know that the first time, which resulted in engorgement in the first month. This time I am doing all I can to prevent the excruciatingly tormenting 生不如死 engorgement.
When Darius was a week old, I asked the Malay massage lady over to massage my breast and blocked armpit milk ducts. After that, each pump session yields more frequent let down.
Since then, I’m pretty happy with the supply. It has been meeting Darius demand. He has one growth spurt on Day 11 already, drinking 615ml with 2 latches. Otherwise it hovers between 500ml to 575ml with 2-3 latches. The confinement nanny has been boiling fish head green papaya soup with added soy bean which she claims is the real key to an increased supply. To thicken milk, I eat oats. I try to eat and drink a lot, consoling myself that the figures on the weighing scale is just a number.
A wholesome diet and well rested state really helps in increasing the supply. However, the key is really to know how to pump. The LC taught me to massage first, pressing in circular motion on full milk ducts to soften and hasten the flow. Then pump for 5-8 mins till no more flow, stop, massage then pump again till hit 18-20 mins. I find that few minutes give the breast an opportunity to “reload”. Basically the LC say don’t pump continually for 20 mins and keep the pump. You are asking for it.
Unlike Dylan whom was given EBM for a year, I just hope to last 6 months for Darius. Wish me luck! 🙂
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