Beginner's Manual For Breastfeeding
During her mini-baby shower last Saturday Merydith asked me about feeding the baby. Knowing that what I was going to say would be long-drawn I took in a huge intake of breath but was beaten to it by the 2 experts Tom and Wally who gave her their own opinion about this subject. Below is what I would have said, and it's a good entry for me since I even found myself having a hard time recollecting the specifics - 8 months seem so long ago. A parent does easily forget. I'm sure this piece would be essential to me in the future IF I had to do it all over again.
Even with the parenting books I have browsed through beforehand I mostly followed the instructions on feeding the baby that was given to me by the nurses and the doctor. For the newborn Evan it was "by demand", which means whenever he cries (although we have to check first for other triggers of the cryings like dirty diaper, gas, discomfort etc.) Breastfeeding is usually done every 2-3 hours or when the baby demands it. By every 2-3 hours we start to count from the beginning of the time we started feeding, not when the baby was finished. For example the feeding started at 1:00 and ended at 1:15, the next feeding will be on 3pm not 3:15. It doesn't sound too much especially if the baby is done eating at 10 minutes, but if he is like Evan who is only happy to keep doing it at 45 minutes to 2 hours - you would feel like to crying yourself too. (inset photo)If I had known that this bottle existed I would probably bought this too at the height of Evan's nipple confusion problem. Expensive tho at $12 each (regular bottles costs $4 plus.) But a mom suggested that this is good for a breast to bottle transition so a bottle or 2 would be enough. What will they think of next? From www.leapsandbounds.com.
BUT for babies like Evan, a friend/nurse who works at the WIC (Women, Infant and Children) told me that it was useless to feed the baby for more than 20 minutes. Just give him the pacifier if he still cries and feed him again on the other breast after 45 minutes if he's still hungry.
At the start the baby will have 8 to 12 feedings a day. That is why we will be advised to keep a notebook or chart to log on the the times and duration of baby feedings. This is extra work, especially if we have to do it in the middle of the night when the lighting is dim (you might need to get a flashlight, big wall clock in the nursery, or a watch with light) but this is really helpful because on the 2nd day it is hard to keep track because the numbers will all seem to merge together especially at the time when it is still hard to properly function from arduous labor the day before and the lack of sleep.
But that 8 to 12 feedings a day in reality can go out of the window especially in the first weeks when the baby would cry not even an hour after you have fed him, especially when breastfeeding. After checking the triggers if he's still crying then most likely he was just hungry especially if after given his milk he drinks it and calms down which was most often the case with Evan.
I was also advised by the doctor not to go without feeding the baby for more than 4 hours. So in the middle of the night I had to wake Evan up even if he was sleeping until after his 8th week wellness check-up when he was almost 10 pounds.
An important thing also to remember about breastfeeding is that it can take 3 days for the milk to come in and it is best not to give him any formula even if he cries often because the more the baby nurses the more milk supply the breast will eventually be produced. Moms are capable of making up to 24 ounces of milk a day!
I think this is often the mistake filipina mothers do back in the Philippines when they immediately supplement the baby with formula after giving birth. But I can't blame them because they don't have the kind of support and available information we have back here, especially since the pharmaceutical companies over there seem to be very influential over the doctors. Imagine, in the Philippines babies are given formula until they are 2 years old, whereas here they are pretty adamant about giving babies just whole milk instead when they have their first birthday.
Nursing the baby, along with being sleep deprived, is one of the hardest part of taking care of a newborn because it'll be mainly the mother's job in the first few weeks and not even the daddy can take over her shift. And feedings will be done so many times that it will seem to overlap each other. But like all things it will get better. As the baby grows older the frequency will be reduced as the quantity of milk increases.
Starting at 4 months when Evan was eating his solids and feeding time slowly became one of my favorite moments we share together because doing it is just so much fun. At 8 months he only takes his bottle four times a day and currently adjusting it down to three.
This entry is dedicated to Merydith and to all expecting mommies.
Da Bears
I am not a sports fan, much less a fan of america's favorite sport, football. In fact, for the 3 years I have been here whenever I would watch the sports news and listen to reports about Chicago Bears losing again and again on some game event, I could only wonder, "why bother?"
I have only seen parts of the Superbowl, the U.S.' unofficial holiday, twice at our church's Superbowl party after mass. Hey, I was only there for the hotdog, chili and cookies. I was even debating if I should even talk about the Bears in this blog playing at the Superbowl (after 20 years) this Sunday.
My boss decided for me. Yesterday morning she had treats for our department and the cake (a bear pinning down a "colt") and the blue/orange cupcakes just cracked me up. It was worth sharing.
My fearless forecast? The Superbowl champions will have their parade in Michigan Avenue on the coldest day (high of 4F/-15C) of Chicago for this winter next Tuesday.
Go Bears!
Even with the parenting books I have browsed through beforehand I mostly followed the instructions on feeding the baby that was given to me by the nurses and the doctor. For the newborn Evan it was "by demand", which means whenever he cries (although we have to check first for other triggers of the cryings like dirty diaper, gas, discomfort etc.) Breastfeeding is usually done every 2-3 hours or when the baby demands it. By every 2-3 hours we start to count from the beginning of the time we started feeding, not when the baby was finished. For example the feeding started at 1:00 and ended at 1:15, the next feeding will be on 3pm not 3:15. It doesn't sound too much especially if the baby is done eating at 10 minutes, but if he is like Evan who is only happy to keep doing it at 45 minutes to 2 hours - you would feel like to crying yourself too. (inset photo)If I had known that this bottle existed I would probably bought this too at the height of Evan's nipple confusion problem. Expensive tho at $12 each (regular bottles costs $4 plus.) But a mom suggested that this is good for a breast to bottle transition so a bottle or 2 would be enough. What will they think of next? From www.leapsandbounds.com.BUT for babies like Evan, a friend/nurse who works at the WIC (Women, Infant and Children) told me that it was useless to feed the baby for more than 20 minutes. Just give him the pacifier if he still cries and feed him again on the other breast after 45 minutes if he's still hungry.
At the start the baby will have 8 to 12 feedings a day. That is why we will be advised to keep a notebook or chart to log on the the times and duration of baby feedings. This is extra work, especially if we have to do it in the middle of the night when the lighting is dim (you might need to get a flashlight, big wall clock in the nursery, or a watch with light) but this is really helpful because on the 2nd day it is hard to keep track because the numbers will all seem to merge together especially at the time when it is still hard to properly function from arduous labor the day before and the lack of sleep.
But that 8 to 12 feedings a day in reality can go out of the window especially in the first weeks when the baby would cry not even an hour after you have fed him, especially when breastfeeding. After checking the triggers if he's still crying then most likely he was just hungry especially if after given his milk he drinks it and calms down which was most often the case with Evan.
I was also advised by the doctor not to go without feeding the baby for more than 4 hours. So in the middle of the night I had to wake Evan up even if he was sleeping until after his 8th week wellness check-up when he was almost 10 pounds.
An important thing also to remember about breastfeeding is that it can take 3 days for the milk to come in and it is best not to give him any formula even if he cries often because the more the baby nurses the more milk supply the breast will eventually be produced. Moms are capable of making up to 24 ounces of milk a day!
I think this is often the mistake filipina mothers do back in the Philippines when they immediately supplement the baby with formula after giving birth. But I can't blame them because they don't have the kind of support and available information we have back here, especially since the pharmaceutical companies over there seem to be very influential over the doctors. Imagine, in the Philippines babies are given formula until they are 2 years old, whereas here they are pretty adamant about giving babies just whole milk instead when they have their first birthday.
Nursing the baby, along with being sleep deprived, is one of the hardest part of taking care of a newborn because it'll be mainly the mother's job in the first few weeks and not even the daddy can take over her shift. And feedings will be done so many times that it will seem to overlap each other. But like all things it will get better. As the baby grows older the frequency will be reduced as the quantity of milk increases.
Starting at 4 months when Evan was eating his solids and feeding time slowly became one of my favorite moments we share together because doing it is just so much fun. At 8 months he only takes his bottle four times a day and currently adjusting it down to three.
This entry is dedicated to Merydith and to all expecting mommies.
Da Bears
I am not a sports fan, much less a fan of america's favorite sport, football. In fact, for the 3 years I have been here whenever I would watch the sports news and listen to reports about Chicago Bears losing again and again on some game event, I could only wonder, "why bother?"
I have only seen parts of the Superbowl, the U.S.' unofficial holiday, twice at our church's Superbowl party after mass. Hey, I was only there for the hotdog, chili and cookies. I was even debating if I should even talk about the Bears in this blog playing at the Superbowl (after 20 years) this Sunday.
My boss decided for me. Yesterday morning she had treats for our department and the cake (a bear pinning down a "colt") and the blue/orange cupcakes just cracked me up. It was worth sharing.
My fearless forecast? The Superbowl champions will have their parade in Michigan Avenue on the coldest day (high of 4F/-15C) of Chicago for this winter next Tuesday.
Go Bears!
Currently listening to: Chicago's Public Radio
Currently reading: French Women Don't Get Fat (M. Guiliano)
Currently watching: World Trade Center (Nicholas Cage)
Posted by geri at 02:22 PM | 5 thought balloons
in-in (guest)
Ger, part of the decision of us having a baby is, I know I have friends that I can ask about the baby. You and Lanie. I know there are a lot of parenting maganizes and books but sometimes, having a friend who have been there comes easy and assuring. The post above is indeed a must print. As of today, I am still a little confused but I know things will get better. The doctors and the nurses will be there to help me out (I think).
Judy (guest)
GO CUBS!
Ed Abbey (guest)
Breast feeding was hard work and I wasn't the one with the breasts! My wife was a real trooper and still is. Although Little Abbey won't breast feed, she is still fed mostly on breast milk that has been pumped. We are trying to go for a whole year and only have a little under four months to go.
Gilda (guest)
Cielito (guest)
We had a tailgate party at work on Friday as well. People got so animated they even try to kick you out of the hall way in an effort to imitate the bears when they are at play... :-). Wearing jersey was a given which did not interest me much though I was happy management decided it will be a sanctioned jean-day. It goes the same for Monday too (if the bears win). And I am crossing fingers and toes that they will...not because I like them but because I love jean-days.
There was also more food I could ever imagine. There goes the diet. :-P
Take care.