Books and Classes
I went to a La Leche League meeting last week and it was fantastic! It was my first one ever and it was nice to talk about everything from pregnancy to birth. Plus we talked a lot about breastfeeding and the problems that arises. There were so many pregnant women, women with newborns and women with toddlers! So it was nice to hear from this wide range of ladies.
I ended up joining the membership, which included their book on breastfeeding. I started reading it and I absolutely LOVE it. I can’t wait to finish it and it gives me the confidence that I can do this. I really, really want to! I know that since I’m able to be home, I’m really hoping to exclusively breastfeed little Boram.
My in-laws are buying some formula from America and shipping it to us as an “emergency” back up incase my milk doesn’t come in. I have told them that I am determined to make it work but I agree that I should have a few just incase. I have talked to a lot of friends who had major difficulties in the beginning but now breastfeed so I’m hoping to learn how they did it.
Amy (my EDD twin) recommended a book that both the hubs and I should read. The hubs already started reading that and when I’m finished with my book, I’ll start that as well. We both really enjoyed The Happiest Baby on The Block book and videos (on Youtube). Hopefully all of this reading will prepare us for what newborn life will be like. So excited and I know that it will be challenging but we are ready for it!
I feel very lucky that my hubby is so proactive in preparations for Boram. He’s watching videos, reading books, looking things up online to really help me with birth and the start of being parents together. He has even looked up what I should be eating to not only help my milk to come in but what is healthy for my diet. (so cute, SO CUTE)
On a side note, I’m 23 weeks today! Boram is as big as a papaya (8in, 1.2lbs) and speaking of papaya – - the Chinese believe that it is GREAT for your milk. I’ll probably eat a lot of it even though I don’t like it. LOL
And…. one last thing. I feel and see Boram kicking even more now! It makes me smile, even if it’s in the middle of the night. I was up from 3am-6am last night (err, this morning) from him kicking up a storm… although I am tired, I loved every single moment of it. 
Hi Annie,
I am so happy to read about how awesome your pregnancy has been. Do you already have some Fenugreek and Mothers Milk Tea (in case) your milk supply doesn’t come in as quickly as you had hoped. The first few days, Serena developed jaundice because of the fact that my colostrum was just not enough to feed her. I was told that I MUST supplement with formula to make sure that her jaundice goes away. Her little toes had to be poked every single day until her level went down. My actual milk probably didn’t come in until day 5 or 6 which is really really late. Anyhow….. Breastfeeding was just so hard on top of being a new parent was hard enough. I went the pumping route until 5 months (which is really double the work since we have to wash the bottles & pumping supplies).
So if I was to breastfeed again, I will definitely try all of the alternatives so I can have my milk supply come in sooner.
Hope this helps
Hi Annie! I agree with Yvonne on having some supplements handy – Mothers milk tea and More Milk Plus capsules worked for me. I also found that eating a lot of oatmeal, fish and papaya increased my supply by a noticeable amount. V also had jaundice the first few days but keep in mind bilirubin levels peak around days 3-5 and jaundice is also more common in Asian babies. I kept feeding V and also sunbathed her (held her with diaper only near a window in the sun), which helped it return to normal levels by 1 week. I was lucky enough to be able to EBF V until just after 11.5 months and am now mixing in cows milk to begin weaning her in the daytime. I still nurse her morning and at bedtime, and plan to until she self weans. It was definitely tough and painful in the beginning, but it does get easier!
Awe! Glad you have the LLL support in Shanghai! You’ve got so many wonderful resources so far and the LLL will help with additional support. Do they have LC that can visit you at home if needed? I just need to get Matt to read the book I recommended! He is so busy!
miyukguk. lots of it. until you see it in your poop!!!
that did the trick for me. or not, i dunno, i don’t have anything to compare it with.
i swear to god, i ate so much seaweed i was sweating it and peeing/pooping it out. i lived and breathed seaweed!
and for a few weeks, i was convinced that i was the seaweed.
but that was probably cuz i was sleep deprived.
newborn days are FUN!!!!!!11!!11!!11
I need to find a local La Leche League!! I’m with Yvonne….Jag is under the light and the bili blanket right now with jaundice, my colostrum just isn’t enough. They have me wearing a nipple shield, filling it with formula, and teaching him to nurse with it, while pumping my colostrum for snacks. He was a month early, so my milk wasn’t ready, and still hasn’t come in. :/ That emergency formula is a great idea! So excited that you’re already 23 weeks!!!!
That’s so great that there is a La Leche League in Shanghai! And I love that you are taking the time to learn about breastfeeding now! I definitely wish I had done the research earlier in my pregnancy. I had every intention of doing the research but since Tyler came a month early I definitely felt overwhelmed by it all in the beginning and looking back I don’t think I knew what I was doing. =) Also, not sure if you are experiencing heartburn but papaya is a great natural way to treat pregnancy heartburn as well! (I’m not crazy about the taste either but you do what you gotta do lol) Love you Annie!