Bringing EBM back from HK

This is a challenging task for first time mother. I surveyed for a month and finally did it!
Refer HERE for the items I have prepared

HOTEL

I wrote to a few hotels after shortlisting it to see if they have minibar in the room and if they can assist me in freezing the bm. From my research, for such a short trip (4d3n), the bm does not need to be frozen but I decided to freeze the first 2 days for testing and leave the rest chilled.

Ibis North Point - do not provide freezer for guests use.

BEST WESTERN Hotel Harbour View - helpful manager replied saying they will help me to freeze

Silka West Kowloon - the freezer has raw meat, thus they are unable to assist

Hotel Bonaparte by Rhombus - "We could provide freezer service with reasonable size item"

So I went ahead with the last one since they have FREE Cancellation allowed 48 hours prior to booking date. The room is rather small but the location is good (central). Their service is very good too and helpful to me.

FIRST DAY

- Pumped in flight washroom once the seatbelt sign went off. So nobody was waiting for me.
- Upon arrival at the hotel, put all my icepack/ice contour, Mini Fridge folded and the BM inside Victoria and handed to hotel staff to freeze.

**Mistake to put all in one bag (although organized), but the items did not get frozen. Just very cold or half frozen the next day.

SECOND DAY

- Stored my midnight and morning bm in Medela cooler bag. Freeze one icepack n Medela ice contour in Victoria and took the mini fridge with one icepack out with me.

- Pumped twice at Citygate Mall. They do not have nursing room but they provide me with this cover. Yes, they are helpful and although it was at Lobby, but not many people passing by this area.
-Used pacifier wipes to clean after first use.

FREEZE
- Stored all into Medela cooler bag at hotel freezer.
- Folded the mini fridge and store it separately
- Put all the icepacks into Victoria

THIRD DAY

14 oz at 7.15am

- All the BM today onwards from morning pumped is left chilled in the minibar.
- Pumped twice before leaving the hotel (once when awake early and another time after breakfast). This is better because can wash the pump with warm water and sterilize at hotel.
- In the evening, pumped at Harbour City nursing room. It only has one room, so if in use can sit at the nursing area, but daddy can feed baby there too.
- Since I'm leaving tomorrow:
1. I cut out the techni ice sheet into 2 smaller sheets (4pcs each) and soak it for few minutes and it will be filled with water, Did not use the entire sheets as afraid not enough space.

2. This time, I followed the staff to the freezer and placed all my FTG opened and only Medela cooler bag with milk zipped. This is to allow all the ice pack and freezing panels to freeze better. (Able to do this because only my items there)


FOURTH DAY

Requested late checkout. They allowed till 2pm.
- last pump at 1pm, then packed all the frozen and chilled bm at 1.30pm.

Victoria stored:
- The the chilled BM
- added 2 Autumnz ice packs and 4 techni ice in 1 sheet
- Still have room for more


The mini fridge stored the following and max out:
-5 packs of various sizes bm (5.5-11oz)
-4 techni ice in 1 sheet
-Placed the entire mini fridge in the Styrofoam and closed it (did not tape), it's ok as bag is fully occupied.

Took Medela cooler bag and ice contour with me to airport.




Pumped at HK airport nursing room. Spacious individual room at departure hall.

At check-in counter, they have no problem with check-in bm, told them to put fragile sticker on the bags.

But they insisted me to check in my hand-carry chilled bm saying that immigration will not let pass and have cases people need to discard the bm at immigration because over 100ml limit and no baby with you. I repeatedly told them a "friend" (tban mom) just back from HK last week and np with hand-carry bm, but they said you may try your luck.

Hb then talked to an elderly staff (man) who is directing the guests to counter and he agreed that bm should be hand-carried. He said what if the luggage missing or sent wrongly then how to reimburse back since it cannot be bought and your baby has nothing to eat (haha). Kudos to him and he said he will bring us through the custom. He waited at the customs and spoken to them and I was just asked to open the cooler bags and went thru. Phewww....
*counter staff need some briefing on this as they are scaring people like me (even though I was confident can bring through)

Flight delayed for an hour plus. Reached home at 12.30am.

Chilled bm still chilled and the icepack /ice sheet still mostly frozen.

Frozen bm in mini fridge slightly thawed at the side.

But all in good condition. Almost 100oz safely home. Thank God.

I've made it!

DAILY CONSUMPTION

Looking at mothers with freezer full of frozen bm is a motivation. When I just had drops, they have a freezer. When or will I ever be like them? It was just a wish, then I told myself, I do not need a freezer full, I just hope to have sufficient for lo's daily need. I worked towards that and achieved. However everyday is a race, but I won the race once the supply stabilize.

I've made it!

MILK BATH

When you have just enough supply, to pour the milk for bath although is good will still not be in the list. But it is in my wishlist that someday, someday my lo can enjoy this even if just for once. That day I have some extras and carried some for outings and did not finish it. And since it was not chilled by the end of the day, the next day I put the milk for lo's bath.

I've made it!

FROZEN BM

I'm still awing at other mommies freezer full photos from time to time knowing mine just a daily supply. Then, one month to HK trip. I need to store for lo.. I started my planning to have at least 100oz to standby for that few days when I am away. So I started to collect and freeze them, careful calculation so that I can store in time for lo. And the day before my trip, I have collected over 100oz for lo

Not yet freezer full, but I've made it!

BM DONATION

Saw some TBAN mummies requesting for bm. My friend tagged me if I could help, at THAT TIME I was just supplying enough for lo, not even having extra's to keep and on a daily race. Hopefully someday, I will be able to make it for this too.

Preparation for EBM while traveling...

A month before my travel date, I surveyed on how to bring back my ebm via friends, google and tban members' posts. The last thing to do would be to discard the ebm. So I read A LOT to plan.

Hope this post will ease other mums in their planning and budget estimation. Things that I bought for ebm purpose:

UPRIGHT FREEZER

This is a dedicated freezer for storing FBM. As I would need to collect the FBM for lo's feeding while I am away. It is more hygienic.

Before getting this, the bm in the storage bags were stored inside lock n lock type of containers at the normal 3 doors fridge.

Brand: Elba
Price: RM899 (Retail RM999)
Bought from: De Home Biz, One City (Subang)

COOLER BAG - FRIDGE TO GO

Someone blog that this is the best cooler bag to have. Researched online and went to see it at Babyjaya at Uptown, however they do not have Victoria (12 cans) with removable panel. Both are stated up to 12 hours cooling and with removable cooling panels. Bought from Singapore.

Mini Fridge - 6 cans size (up to 12 hours)
Price: SGD$69

Victoria - 12 cans size (up to 12 hours)
Price: SGD$89

Bought from: Takashimaya, Singapore

Reason to get this:
1. It has cooling panel inside, can fill in more in the cooler bag.
2. Can be folded - Easier storage for traveling before filling in anything
3. Easy freezing - Fold and freeze the entire bag in the freezer
4. Up to 12 hours - the lesser hours cooling are cheaper but good to get up to max hours if intend to use for traveling. It has 6/9/12 hours and mine is marked 12 hours. Take note as they look the same!
5. Removable panel - It has built-in panel (cheaper than removable panel), this is optional depending on your preference. The benefit is that you can remove the panel if you do not need all, thus lighter (but usually for traveling you will need all) and you may just freeze the panel without freezing the bag.

BUDS ORGANIC BREAST MASSAGE OIL

Protect the skin as well as some claimed can increase supply.
Maybe yes.

Price: RM55 (Retail: RM59.90)
Bought from: TBAN

THE FIRST YEARS PACIFIER WIPES
Safely Cleans:
•  Pacifiers, Teething Toys, Bottles & Cups
•  Safe - No Alcohol or Harmful Chemicals
•  Easy On The Go Cleaning

Spared this to clean pump, since unable to get Medela Pump Wipes on time. More cost effective too. Only used once during travel anyway.

Price: RM9.90

AUTUMNZ STORAGE BAGS 

-Bought 12oz and 7oz
-12oz is useful when you have more than 7oz per pump and save storage space

Price: RM25.80 3packs promo
Bought from: Babyland, SS2

Price: RM9.00 (BB Fair)

(Retail: RM12.90)

TECHNI ICE SHEET /ICEPACK

 - Easier to bring along for traveling (like a paper before soak in water).                                     
-Bought due to reviews saying it can last long hours.                              
-Can cut into smaller size                         

Price: RM28/sheet                                  
Bought from: Babyland, SS2                    

I brought along 2 Autumnz Ice pack:      
- For extra chilling when return

Price: RM15 per pack of 3
Bought from: Baby Expo          AND
                                                                
Medela Ice Contour:                                                                                                  
For daily use with Medela cooler bag when I'm not using FTG Mini Fridge bag.


 STYROFOAM BOX (SMALL)

- Double assurance for the fbm to stay frozen
- Double assurance of no leakage if have additional ice packs
- Plan to check in in luggage

Price: RM7.90 
Bought from: AEON Jusco, Pyramid




STORAGE BOTTLES

- 8 Pigeon wide mouth bottles (bought during preg), now using for freezing, not compatible for pumping.
- 10 bumble bee (compatible with FS pump) - ease storage and less washing of bottles, stored freshly pumped milk for chilling. Fully filled for lo's feeding before using the frozen ones.
- 6 Medela bottles - took along during trip for pumping usage.

MEDELA PURELAN 100
- This cream is to be used after each pumping session.

 TOWEL/TUPPERWARE/BOTTLES CLEANSER

- Stored pump parts in small tupperware (on right behind the bottle) to bring around. At night can use the tupperware to soak and wash the pump + sterilize in hot water. 3 in 1 usage.
My hb claimed it is his mini washing machine, as when he washed he will close the lid and shake the tupperware and bubbles will appear.

- Lay the pump parts on the towel to dry it.

- Bring a small tube of bottle cleanser for cleaning

TROLLEY BACKPACK

Last but not least, a trolley backpack. Can be used as backpack or trolley when things get heavy. A helpful item for daily use while traveling.

I put my Medela bag with pump inside when going out and stored shopping items in it and carry my Medela bag after shopping. So less shopping bags to carry.

When flying home, I put my Victoria FTG cooler bag filled with bm in this bag because the BM is heavy as handcarry.

Price: FREE from JohnMaster (freegift during CNY Johnmaster purchase). Good quality and useful freegift.

Ready for the trip!

**(Infact I only got the techni ice sheet, wipes and more storage bags in the morning before traveling) and the rest around 2 weeks before.

BM or FM?

"Will you breastfeed or formula? Which formula brand you will use?" This is a common question nearing due date.

My reply: "Breastfeed IF I have milk". Formula will be using Enfalac A+.

My thought at that time: Not everyone have milk. And cousins using Enfalac A+ which they reviewed good. And people around me that gave birth not too long (that I know of) stop breastfeeding after 1 month. Either supply stopped or by choice due to work.

Honestly, during pregnancy I read on weekly pregnancy, surveyed on strollers, car seat, except for breastfeeding materials. Reason: Breastfeeding "should" be a natural thing. As near due, TBAN posting appeared on my FB and saw many mommies pressured with no milk and unhappy. If no milk, give formula. Why pressure? Since having baby is a happy thing - My thought.

Bought Pureen pump via recommendation too, no survey done. As long as it is electrical pump. Hb went to buy when I was 4 months pregnant and still very weak.

So delivered and no sign of milk during my 2 nights stay in hosp. Just enjoying BB by my side. Tried to latch but BB reject, mouth small the nurse said. LC asked to buy nippleshield, but it did not work as well. No pressure, just let hospital feed BB.

Back home, hb went to buy formula. 5th day, engorgement came. Tried pump but only few drops. (Honestly, I was still happy with that few drops because at least have something.

Took pic and sent to hb when successfully pumped few drops, he asked me "What is that?". Too little till not obvious it was colostrum. Then I hand expressed. One hour each side and got maybe 10-15ml? It was pathetically low. Tiring because each time I would hand express (less pain) 1 hour each side and the Pureen pump did not suit me, so put it aside.

Changed pump to Medela Mini Electric. At first try, it works but and the time used cut to half and hour each side. To save time I would pump when eating or pump one side and hand express the other. Sometimes just hand express as still adjusting to the pain. Maybe out of 5-6 times pumping per day, 3 times I hand expressed.

                                              Pigeon (hand expressed), Medela (pumped)

Then when I started to mix BM to FM, I recorded BB's intake. Then slowly become more ambitious (like kiasu attitude), each yield want to have enough for lo per feed (60-75ml). Tiring but still yield till have the amount I aimed (but must be practical - lah). From one feed to few feeds I cut down FM. Feeling great. Then I know the reason why some mommies are so pressured to provide BM. Because that "someday" I would like my BB to be having bm fully too. So I managed to fully BM one day, I gave myself a "star" on my record book. Collecting for few days and one day I almost fully BM but have to mix FM for 1 feed, that's when I felt the pressure because I failed to get the "star" just because of one feed FM.

But I continued to keep my objective in mind, and succeeded. I get a daily "stars" till now.

Still not sure how long I can continue the journey, but would like to continue as long as I can supply. So decided to get my own double pump (easier when working and save time). This time I read a lot reviews on Freestyle and started to understand why Medela is preferred choice despite the high price. Fell in love with the double pump Freestyle. And since I'm ok with the Mini, FS should be suitable.

Just before fullmoon, hb bought the Freestyle from Sg. I thought will become EP mum since lo reject latching until 3rd week and non consistent although daily I will try to offer him, but he will cry out LOUD. But after fullmoon he started to latch and I DL for midnight feedings.

After 5 weeks, he is FULLY BREASTFEED. The FM that we bought as "spare" was donated away thru TBAN. Now at 3mo+, he prefers to DL.

Journey till delivery

Recorded on 12 August 2013:

3rd months onwards
Oct-Nov - Not be able to eat. Each checkup with gynae, I told her have been vormitting. Her advise repeatedly was "eat small portion, eat some crackers". Did not provide medication.

Dec - Appetite returned. But still vormiting. At least have strength to move around. Lost 7kgs in total since vormitting from Sept.

Jan-Feb - Great months! Nausea subsided and appetite is good. Gained 5kg in Jan and 1 kg in Feb from 7 weeks weight. Meeting people happily and moving around with the baby inside feeling wonderful. Tummy still wasn't obvious.

March-April - The nausea returned. Doc prescribed medicine to control it.Taken when necessary. Selected date for delivery 2 May 2013. Last checkup baby measured 2.6kg. Doc asked if can delay one more week or the date in accordance to feng shui? Haha... we said no. She said "if not in a hurry, why not wait another week (I was not due)". She said baby's weight can be +-400 when deliver. She also said, it would be better if baby is out bigger so we can take care easily. What worries us and her is that the baby is -400 (is still ok according to her but if can just wait one more week).

6 May 2013 - final checkup. BB weighed 2.77kg. Doc said OK, give me your date, any date next week. I asked repeatedly, doc the weight is OK? increased so little. She didn't seem worry and replied "at least it is increasing, just feed well after delivery. It's fine." She seemed confident. So we gave her a date and booked for the OT. BTW, she is Dr Delaila from SDMC, the best gynae I would recommend to anyone.

9 May 2013 - BB was born weighing 2.53kg. Small size but passing mark. How this little person came into the world.... a miracle that popped out from my tummy... so wonderful.

The first 2 months...

Due to recent experienced of late, I decided not to fall for the thought that I have possibly conceived. Many false symptoms were given recently that lead to disappointment. So I refused to check or test until I was asked to go somewhere, then I bought a HPT to test. If positive, I will not go.

11 Sept 2012 - Tested with HPT ... result 2 lines. Smile.
But still not "too believe" the result until doctor confirm. Waited another few more days to ensure that it is really late.

16 Sept 2012 - Went to gynae, the same one I saw when I had false symptoms. She scanned, "see the sac?" Congratulations!

18 Sept 2012 - Fainting symptoms like low blood pressure. Not feeling too well thereafter.

19 Sept 2012 - Noon, went to toilet and when wiped, bleeding. No flow, but each time wipe was bleeding - red and filled entire toilet paper.
20-21 Sept 2012 - Spotting, brownish (like end of period).

21 Sept 2012 - Went to doc. "Baby is Ok, but internally still bleeding". Doc gave bed rest MC. "Please do not move much, stay in bed for 1 week."

22 Sept 2012 - Unable to get out of bed, very sick. Slept till dinner time.

28 Sept 2012 - Checkup, still weak not able to eat. Doc gave another week MC. Life is bored. Not able to do anything.

8 Oct 2012 - Pink tissue discharged into the toilet bowl. When wipe, it's fresh pink.

12 Oct 2012 - Doc scanned, "BB looks fine." But she is not taking chances, 1 more week MC. Still not able to eat and vomiting.