EBM woes

I've been having hard lumps in my left breast because it hasn't been drained well due to the fact that I'm using a electric pump and dun have my baby around to latch on directly. I tried using hot compress and cold compress, it did help a little but still its a bit sore and hard and painful.

I'm now able to achieve about 45-60 ml per session and I tried to increase the frequency of my pumping session hopefully I can "drained" off the milk ducts properly. I've also repacked the milk into bottles of 30 ml so that it doesnt get wasted as he is now utilising 24 ml every 12 hrs.

Learnt from the attending nurse in NICU that I can only latch Reyes on when he hits about 1.7 kg, so I guessed it won't be anytime soon. But the next milestone I'm looking at is for his to hit 1.2 kg, get him off CPAP and the long line so that he can move on to Special Care Unit.

I'm gonna try cold cabbage leaves today to see if it can help alleviate the situation a little and possibly I'm gonna get more comfortable nursing bras online.

For mummies or mummies-to-be out there who are looking at breastfeeding your baby, my adivse is not to give up, it may be tough at first (practically nothing much for 1st 3 days) but everyone is sure to have a supply. Demand = supply, the more you express or get baby to suckle, the more supply will be generated. Please do not believe that you have "no milk", drink more liquid and soup and persist! Everyone can make it!