6 months - first milestone achieved!

Hospital and Paed advised me (and other mothers I believe) to bf baby for 6 months. "Ok" I said. But like my earlier post I was having a hard time to get the milk kicking in but did not give up till I had a freezer full. It did not happen in a breeze.

During my maternity of 2 months, I was not fully rested. It was a daily race and a tiring one when BB does not latch. Although later lo latched but mood dependent. Before my maternity ended, I was not sure how it will affect me at work since I was so tired even not working.

Things that I told my hb:
If I go back to work on the first week and I cannot take it, I will resign. He said OK.
If bf is so tiring, I shall stop after 3 months, I do not know how to survive till 6 months. He said OK.

Haha... perhaps he was trying to make my feel better since lack of rest is causing postnatal blues.

Anyway, I was not serious on the 2nd one and as a mother that has no milk to a freezer, perhaps it gives an idea on the level of hardwork and sacrifices that we mothers willing to go through for the little one. But one thing for sure, I did not know if the milk will last this long or not at that point of time.

The answer is: Yes, it can. You must continue to pump and DL consistently using a suitable pump.

Infact at the earlier stage of bf, I was awed when my friend told me she was still bf-ing his son of 8 months and another friend far away in another country bf till 4 yrs old. It is inspiring and in no time I was producing enough for mine and fulfilled my other wishes like bm donation, bm spa for lo, bm soap, etc too.

Everyday, a scheduled time is set for pumping:
At work: I have let go the social lunch time with colleagues since back from maternity
At shopping: Nursing room has been a definite visit for weekend shopping
At wedding/holiday trip/everywhere I go: The pumping bag is with me and will MIA every now and then

I have just graduated the first 6 months milestone. It has been a fulfilling journey which we followed the path of inconveniences to give the best to lo.

Lo too is heading to another phase - solid food. But paed told me not to replace his milk with solid. Solid is an additional to this current feedings. They may or may not skip the milk (due to more active and playful) later, just monitor his intake and try not to let his weight drop. As I've mastered providing bm, now I have to master another skill which was not my strength, preparing solid for lo (another unforeseen result)

To prepare lo for solid, I've got these items ready.
- fresh food feeder (no choking if eating solid)
- safety spoon (will turn white if too hot)
- silicone spoon
- easy squeezy spoon
- spoon trainer (for bb to feed themselves)
- mighty grip utensil set 18mth+
- soft tip infant spoons

However, no signs of stopping bm yet, so the journey continues..... since passing the 6 months mark, the rest is a bonus...