Shortcuts

Being a first time mother, everything is a learning experience. And soon enough you will be looking for shortcuts to doing things to save time. Because 24 hours is just not enough!

BOTTLES!

First month, I had CL to help around, but yet I still got no enough rest. 2nd month first week was tiring. BB do not latch, so he was bottlefed. At that time the supply has not stabilize, so sometimes fm past midnight and sometimes warm up ebm. In the morning, there will be 4 feeding bottles to wash, and another 4 storage bottles if ebm. I calculated, including storage and feeding bottles daily will be around 20 bottles to wash + pump parts. It was tiring.

*Mistake was I bought the wide neck Pigeon storage bottles (before delivery) which is not compatible with my pump. So after pump, it was transferred to the storage bottles causing extra washing.

Shortcut: Addition to 6 Medela storage bottles, I bought 10 bumble bee's storage bottles that is compatible to the pump so I can pump directly and store without transferring. Pheww.... ok so less than 20 bottles now, but still at least 16 per day.

STERILIZER vs DISH DRYER

So sterilizer is one of the common thing needed, so I thought. Thankfully my cousin passed on to me Avent sterilizer. But throughout confinement, CL just used boiling water. The 2nd month, I took it out to use for the first time (I have pump parts, feeding and storage bottles to sterilize). So I arranged it all in, looks congested and when it's done, carefully take it out. Which I find the arrangement and taking it out carefully was time consuming. (boiling would have been more efficient then)

After each use, need to wash the sterilizer (take the entire thing with the plug to wash (but not wash the plug ya)). So after that one time, I packed it back.

*So many bottles n pump to wash still need to wash the sterilizer after sterilizing... not helpful

Shortcut: Panasonic dish dryer, temp up to 70 degrees. Dries the bottles and pump parts. After wash, just dump all in to dry. My saviour.

DIRECT LATCH

This has been one of the most amazing thing that one can experience, especially for me as my lo rejected for about a month or so. After he got used to latching, I was able to dream feed him as well as go into dreamland myself. So much easier for FTWM (full time working mom).
- I got my rest/sleep at night although not 8 hours straight but I get to rest.
- no longer 8 bottles to wash in the morning, at most only wash pump parts
- 20 bottles to wash has been cut down to max 4 on weekdays and 8 on weekends max.
- pump frequency lesser, less washing as well
- bonding with baby
- no longer need to bring hot flask and mug to warm EBM when going out

 Do you have any shortcuts to share? :)