Breastfeeding Finale

I stopped breastfeeding Kaden shortly after I returned to work. It was somewhere in end May’08. Kaden was about 31/2mo then. I wasn’t the one who initiated to stop bf, it was Kaden who seemed to have lose interest in bf as he only got to latch on once a day in the evening when I returned home. I wasn’t quite bear to do so bcos I didn’t manage to bf Trenyce and hope to do as long as I could for Kaden. But even if I pumped out the bm, Kaden also refused to take. He was actually able to differentiate the difference in taste between the two types of milk – bm and fm. Sigh, looks like its destined.

To begin with, I wasn’t able to breastfeed Kaden exclusively as I didn’t have sufficient milk supply. For those who bf exclusively, they will say that it’s not possible. As much as I wanted to and have tried doing so, I wasn’t able to. I simply couldn’t match his demand. I remembered myself struggling to latch him for the first time after returning home from hospital. He refused to latch on and cried whenever he saw the nipples as if he knew that my milk supply had not ‘arrived’ and would only be satisfied when a bottle was sent to his mouth. I think it was my postnatal blues playing on me, I felt really dejected then and cried when Kaden rejected my breast during those early days. Everyone tried to console me. But I didn’t feel any better. I felt very lousy like I have failed my duty as a mother. I almost decided to give up but very unwilling to give in to Kaden’s rejection so continue to persist on my bf venture. I tried to wake up in the wee hours and feed him on every opportunity I have but most of the times I failed especially for the first few days. The confinement auntie also pitied me, she kept telling me that I shld rest more and let her do the job to feed Kaden with fm. I didn’t heed her advice and continued to wake up for Kaden’s every feed until Kaden had to be admitted to Mt Alvernia for phototherapy. It was also the same time when my milk flow started to come….

I was really upset. Upset that my little darling had to be sent to hospital for phototherapy… upset that why it had to be at the time when I could start “fulfilling” my mother’s duty to bf him. I continued to wake up at wee hours, actually every 3 to 4hours, when Kaden was at the hospital to pump bm so as to ‘maintain’ the flow…hoping that by the time he returns home I will have plenty for him. I also went to hospital everyday to bring him the bm and to latch him, if possible. Thank god, I managed to do so every time I visited him.

By the time Kaden returned from his phototherapy, he was already drinking 90ml. At that time, he was only about a week old. My supply then was only between 30ml to 50ml per pump so I had to combine two pumps for his every feed. The most I ever got for each pump was about 80ml. Hence, I only managed to provide 2 feeds for him everyday. When the confinement auntie left, I was still able to give 2 feeds everyday until my inlaws had to go for their Aussie trip. I didn’t have time to pump as often as taking care of the two kids on my own has taken up most of my time hence as a result, I only managed to give 1 feed everyday…..then slowly reduced to 1 feed every alternate day until my inlaws returned. It was this bad although I did latch him whenever I was free but still the flow wasn’t coming very strong. When the bm feed came only once every alternate days, Kaden at some point of time started to show rejection for the milk….he would struggle and cried making us wondering what he wanted as it was his milk time and he refused to drink. It was after a couple of tug-of-wars then I realized it was the bm problem. To tackle the problem, I tried adding half a spoonful of formula powder into the bm and on spotting the familiar taste again, Kaden would ‘gua gua’ swallow down the bottle of milk.

To conclude, mine was a very eventful bf journey. Although it wasn’t for long but at least I have tried my best. I certainly wouldn’t forget and if given another chance again, I would bf my baby again. And Kaden, as compared to his sister, is definitely luckier as he managed to gulp down many more bottles of bm.

To all my breastfeeding equipment, tata for now….till we meet again! (hmm....will we?) ;)

Kaden learning to flick

Kaden has shown signs that he can flick...although he isnt very enthusiastic about turning yet (most of the times assisted by us, giving him a hand from the back)...he seems to enjoy it. Perhaps he gets to munch his "drumstick" aka his hand easier...haha..

All pictures taken on 8th June'08, at maternal grandmother's place.

My Little Botak

Kaden had his haircut on 31st May'08. A significant milestone of his life cos its his first hehe!

Initially hubby did not want to cut Kaden’s hair as he didn’t have much hair when he was borned. However, we eventually decided to have his hair botak becos we noticed that his hair had started to have dead ends.

Here's our botak dearie sitting on the bumbo seat

This was taken on 7th June'08, in the living hall.

Kaden with jiejie, before going over to the hairdresser for his haircut.

A closer look at our botak Kaden.....

My Sturdy 3MO

Kaden with Jiejie, taken on our bed on 31st May'08,

just before he had his haircut.