how do u know your breasts are empty? for me, coz most of the time I express my milk out... and so solely depends on the machine... but I also guess there must be some milk left in the breast...
I started putting my son on a routine (eat-play-sleep) 3.5 months ago so that he knows what's expected. I usually give him a bath after the last feed of the day at 7:15, then sing/rock him in his dark room (only the night light is on) before putting him in his crib. After doing this consistently, he understands it's bedtime and sleeps through the night. Perhaps you can setup a routine for him as well? What about cutting his night time nap?
Don't know if it matters but what about singing a song specific for bedtime? I sing a specific lullaby whenever I want my son to understand it's bedtime. She may think you are just playing with her if you sing a song that you used to sing during playtime.
These days, I massage Caron's forehead and she will feel more relax and go to sleep easily.
Starting at 4 months, she can go to sleep without help at night. But she still cannot sleep through the night yet... looking forward to that day... :-(
Just note this new topic and would like to join la.
My Ryan is now 5 months and 3 weeks. He eats 4 times (6-7oz) each (most breastmilk and sometimes a few oz of A+) when I go to work. I'll feed him 3 times directly when I am home (1 before go to work, 1 at about 8:00pm afterwork and 1 sleeping milk at 10:00pm after bathing). Starting from this week, he also takes 2-3 oz diluted juice and I plan to introduce cereal when he's 6 months. I plan to feed him as long as he wants mama milk la.
He weighs 7.1kg when he's 4 months.
Ryan sleep a 2-3 times during daytime, but less than 1 hour each. I use the "sleep" position to feed him for the last milk. Usually he'll fall asleep on my bed and I'll put him back to his bed afterwards. During daytime, my bun bun can only make him sleep by giving him milk, then rocking + music.
I agree that setting up a routine is important and this method also fit us. Also, I found the "sleep" position is very good. It's so sweet to sleep with BB and I found he likes it. He's so happy to see mama sleep besides him when he's awake
When my bb was 4 months old, I also fed him on one side and express the milk from the other side... and the efficiency is much better than soley by milk pumps...
However, as he has his own schedule now and I feed him formula for the meal b4 sleep, so I can only have time to feed him just after when I back home... and use pumps to express my breastmilk (around 30-45 mins for the whole process)
I have no comparison...... I used mini-electric first, then rent Lactina (now use in office) and then symphony..... of course, symphony is the most efficient one among the three.
I saw many bf mum recommend Avent manual pump and I have one also. However, I don't know how to use it and I guess I have been spoiled by the electric pump la
HA,
what will your BB do after the 10:30 milk??? How about playing some night music during the 10:30milk or try my "sleeping" milk method?
I use 'Symphony' at home... 'mini-electric' and manual AVENT pump in the office...
coz I haven't used 'Latina' so far and so I wanna to know which is better... (although I know renting Symphony is expensive than Latina, people said their efficiency is same... and so I wanna know whether it's true or not so that next time I know which one I should rent)
for manual AVENT pump and 'mini-electric'... same output efficiency BUT of coz you don't need to use effort for 'mini-electric' la... plus there're lots of accessories for AVENT pump... some moms commented that it just like to play lego... however I find that medela has a new hand pump called 'harmony' ,,, maybe also good ga.
HA,
I also have a song 'twinkle twinkle little star' which I'll sing when Joshua wants to sleep ... or if you want him to smile...
I don't know why he likes this song sooooo much! but whenever I see his smile or even laugh... I wanna to sing, sing and sing repeatedly.
haha, besides 'twinkle twinkle little star', he has some more favourite songs ga... like:
(1) Mary Mary, quite contrary,
(2) Good morning song
(3) ABC song
(4) Jingle bells (only for Xmas time :mrgreen: )
(5) Jack in the box
I also sing when he was in my tummy... hahaha and I listen Bach/Mozart every night ...and so now when he listens these songs... he's okay ga... (maybe boring to him la)
Blood??? Do u use too much force??? I know this gaaa when I was in the hospital coz the women next to me had this 'problem' ... I didn't rem what the nurse said but I still remembered that it was okay... but the milk with blood can't let bb to drink loh?!
Do you know if the blood is coming out together with the milk or from the surface of your nipple. Latter one is normal, but you may want to consult nurse/doctor if it is the former case.
I think the only difference between symphony and lactina is just the message function. The suction power and speed is just about the same. I rent the lactina for 3 months first at $790 and they give me an option to renew at $250monthly. After 3 months, I checked on symphony and final I decided to rent symphony for 6 months at about $1300, with average monthly rental lower than lactina lor...... I just renewed the rental of Lactina monthly for use in the office.