My Breastfeeding Journey with Baby Orange - Breastpumps

Just sharing my personal experience using breastpumps in this post. Other moms might have better experience as the fitting could be different and the volume of milk different :)

The two older children were each breastfed for about 1 year.  At that time, I was working full-time so it's a different experience compared to Baby Orange. For 姐姐's time (2004/2005), I use a manual Medela Harmony pump. It did its job pretty well. I pumped at the "mother's room" provided by the ex-employer. There were cubicles with curtains, fridge and sink for mothers to use. I would pump 2 times, chill the milk in fridge provided and would bring back the milk in a bottle carrier as it is already chilled :P

Experience with Medela Mini-Electric breastpump

Previously, I was envious of moms who seemed to breeze through pumping sessions with their Medela Mini-Electric (or Mini-E). So when 哥哥 was born (2007), I bought a Medela Mini-E (without even trying haha). Heck, I couldn't get anything out with the Mini-E. The breastshield felt funny and not of the correct size for me. The noise is deafening, and I felt like a cow :{ There's wires everywhere (ok I exaggerate) so it's not mobile like a manual pump that I'm used to. I couldn't control it well so I ended up using back the Medela Harmony. That's why I would not go for electric pump anymore. I think I bought a new diaphragm and continue using the Medela Harmony for another year.

Packaging of the Medela Mini Electric breastpump that I own.
Costed me RM368 at that time, what was I thinking?

The parts inside for Medela Mini Electric breastpump.

Comparison between Medela's Harmony vs Philips Avent Natural (SCF330/20) manual breast pump

My Medela Harmony pump is old version. I think at that time it was relatively new product, as there is another Medela manual pump which is using pulling action. The Medela Harmony then comes with a Soft-Fit Breastshield (I don't know if they are still selling this now). Nowadays I saw it being sold with the Personal-Fit Breastshield. That's why I changed to Philips Avent as I didn't like the Personal-Fit.

Medela Harmony manual breastpump, costed RM223 when I purchased.

I'm not sure what they call the Avent pump now, Comfort or Natural? Well, mine goes with the Avent Natural bottles. One big disadvantage of using Avent is that they are not compatible with any other bottles (unless you get the converter). So it's kind of a drag having to pour out expressed breast milk from the Avent bottle to the storage bottles. After a while, I got used to it, as I am no longer using storage bottles :P

Philips Avent Manual Natural breastpump, costed RM299 when I purchased. I use only 5 parts!

One of the best advantage of the manual breastpump is its quietness. I hardly remember the Medela Harmony for squeaking or making freaky noises. Sometimes the Avent pump does squeak though. Later I found out that it would squeak when I used hot water to soak the diaphragm or put the diaphragm inside the fridge. During those times, I would wet the diaphragm with clean drinking water and assemble the pump with the wet diaphragm. After a while, it is fine and I don't need to use this method anymore. Just have to be gentle with the diaphragm and just keep it at room temperature all the time.

At night I would pump after Baby Orange's last midnight feed, so it is definitely advantageous not to have a loud pump. Anyway, some babies would be used to their mommies pumps since they listen to it from birth hehe.

Even though both Medela Harmony and Philips Avent say theirs are with the least parts, I find Avent to have improved on their parts. It looks like the parts are sturdier (touch wood). When I was using it more frequently at the confinement home, I was very scared of breaking it. But it survived (again, touch wood).

Parts and Assembly - Medela Harmony and Philips Avent

Both Medela Harmony and Avent Natural claims they use less parts so it is easy to assemble and clean. It's true.

At first I really disliked the Avent Natural bottle that came with it. It's only a small 4oz bottle, it's wide neck which means you cannot fit another brand's bottle to the Avent Natural manual pump. Later I discovered having the small Natural bottle is ok, as I don't pump a lot especially after I latch on Baby Orange. Have to be careful using the small bottle. If I pump more than 4 oz, and accidentally tilt the pump more, there would always be spillage even when the bottle is locked tight. Those mommies who pump more than 4oz would get the big 9 oz bottle. But it's quite nice to have a small bottle especially when milk is still not that much at the beginning stage. It doesn't give you pressure with the small bottle :)

Another advantage of the wide neck bottle is ease of cleaning. With the standard bottle we have to use a brush, but now I could just stick a sponge into the Natural bottle and give it a good swipe :)

There's another part that comes with Avent Manual Natural called a "soft massage cushion"? It's annoying for me, as milk keep seeping in and makes a squishy sound. So I use the pump without the cushion with no problem.

Spare parts availability

However, it seems like Philips Avent doesn't really have a service center/rep here in Penang anymore, so it's not easy to find spare parts. When I wrote an email to them, they ask me to go to some shop (from the name sounds like electrical shop, I didn't visit though). When I called, they say have to see which part I wanted and if not in stock they would have to order. From their tone, it seems like have to wait ages for the parts. But I didn't get anything from them as discouraged by the need to wait.

But I saw lots of Medela accessories and spare parts being sold at Parkson Gurney Plaza and baby shops. So it's easier to get Medela spares nowadays.

Durability

Manual pumps are meant for light usage :)

Using the 2-phase system for Medela Harmony wears out the diaphragm quickly. I reduced my usage of the "let-down" function after a while as it makes my hand lenguh from the 2 ways. The white membrane tears easily, and the yellow valve might crack if you use too much force. If either the white membrane or yellow valve is damaged, pump suction is affected and it doesn't function well. So that's why spare parts are available widely as these 2 parts are easily damaged. The yellow valve will get stuck on the connector if you pump too hard, or if you didn't assemble it well too. If it is stuck, some force has to be used to ease the yellow valve out. That's when it is easily cracked :P

With the Avent pump, I just control manually the speed for let-down. There are few parts and everything is big and sturdy. Cross my fingers, I hope I can use the Avent pump until Baby Orange stops breastfeeding in the future, hopefully a long way from now :)

My Breastfeeding Journey with Baby Orange - Breastfeeding Tools

Initially I was going to combine the breast pump and accessories post. But it got too long so I split into two. The breast pump portion is here.

Some of these became necessary tools for me to continue our breastfeeding journey. I use both feeding bottles and breastmilk storage bottles for Baby Orange. Otherwise, it would be difficult to continue breastfeeding if another caregiver is not able to feed Baby Orange when I'm not around.

Breast milk storage bags and bottles

First, I used Pureen storage bottles. Then I keep running out of bottles and buying new ones. I think we bought up to 3 sets of Pureen storage bottle before adding on milk storage bags. They were about RM24 or RM25 for a pack of 6 bottles. Each bottle can only take 4 oz or 125 ml. Papa threw away the packaging so I couldn't take a photo, but the bottles will appear in my monthly update of Baby Orange as can seen from my freezer storage. Those plain bottles with blue or cream coloured caps are the Pureen storage bottles. Actually these storage bottles indirectly boosted my confidence when my EBM quantity is small, as it didn't put pressure on me :)

Autumnz breast milk storage bags, bought from Twins Baby shop.

The breastmilk storage bags that I find good and durable is Autumnz Milk Storage Bags. They come in 7 oz and 12 oz. I personally prefer the 7 oz bags, easier to defrost. I only put in less than the recommended amount as afraid of bursting the storage bags. Wasted effort if it leaked you know.

Malish breast milk bags - sorry, didn't like it.

I also tried another brand called Malish. Price is about the same as Autumnz. But the Malish breast milk storage bags that I got weren't reliable; some would leak and some would be ok. It's frustrating as it would leak while defrosting, and not when I pour in the EBM.

Medela Breastmilk Collection Shells

Keeps mommy dry when direct latch or pumping especially when there is a lot of milk leakage. I actually kept the collected milk for future feeding. In the early stages I could collect up to 10 ml especially during early morning feeds around 5am. Later on, only a small amount, but I still collect and store :P

Medela milk collection shells

I wash the shells clean with soap and soak in hot water, then wipe dry. It's easier to clean by taking apart the shell and the soft part.

Pureen Liquid Cleanser for Feeding Bottles

Those who breastfeed will know that EBM is quite oily. The milk stains are quite difficult to remove. Therefore we have been using Pureen Liquid Cleanser for feeding bottles since starting to use bottles at home. We use it to wash the breastpump too. Of course, after washing, still have to soak in very hot water. Actually I did not boil the bottles and pump this time. I think the boiling spoils the rubber parts of the pump faster. So far no problem with just soaking in hot water.

Unwashed bottle which held breastmilk.
See how oily? That's why need to use liquid cleanser for feeding bottles.

In summary, it is not cheap and it takes a lot of effort from the whole family (including caregivers) to continue breastfeeding nowadays. For us, the benefits of breastfeeding is not about cost or ease, it is only for the health of Baby Orange. Hope all the children will appreciate the efforts we took to give them a good start in life.

Anak Emas Program By Penang State

We had applied for the Anak Emas program after a recent by-election. About 2 months later, the application had been approved. We received the notification letter in mid-August with instructions to claim the $$ at Komtar office. Too bad there isn't a ceremony;p but then we wouldn't have the time to attend anyway.

Remember to bring the letter received (of the successful application), child's original birth certificate and applicant's IC (either mother or father who applied, have to be Penang voter).

Once the Anak Emas application is approved, we can check from iSejahtera website just like Program Pelajar Emas.
Baby Orange trying to put his Anak Emas money into his mouth.

Office where Papa received $$ for Program Anak Emas for Baby Orange

Baby Orange Month 3 update

Baby Orange's milestone for 3 months! :)

Smiling 3-month Baby Orange :) Can see his hair start to grow back

Baby Orange laughing over some funny tricks Papa did.
This Pigeon baby shirt and pants from Cherry's time. It is still soft and durable after about 10 years. 

A pensive looking Baby Orange

He is getting more demanding and needs loads of attention. Papa started his extensive and exhaustive travelling from end of June. When he came back from a business trip, Baby Orange didn't seem to recognize him. He looked intently at Papa and cried when Papa carried him. I laughed so much over this as Papa claimed all babies liked him hahaha....

Papa's wefie with Baby Orange, in Baby Cory suit gifted by Cherry from her angpao money

Baby Orange's weight increased to 5.95 kg for month 3 check-up. He got the second DPT immunization for this check-up. The week of head lice nightmare for the older kids, 哥哥 and I got flu and cough, and I passed it to Baby Orange. So that weekend we took him to his paediatrician. No medicine given as he is still too small for it. Dr Cheang helped to "suck" out the nasal mucus (鼻涕) using a tubing/pump machine. He cried and screamed while getting that treatment.  I think he got better in about 1 week without medication. I just tried to breastfeed him as much as possible.

Baby Orange's weight increase for 3 months.
姐姐 and 哥哥 didn't have their weight checked at 3 months at that time,

He sometimes refused feedings especially when wide awake and during the stuffy nose episode. Sometimes he didn't get a poop everyday by month 3. We informed Dr Cheang when visiting due to Baby Orange's flu and he checked Baby Orange's tummy by pressing. He said if his tummy is still soft it is ok. And I'm to feed him more. Well, it's probably because he got a stuffy nose that's why not so easy to feed.

Baby Orange breastfeeding 3 month milestone ticker!

EBM freezer storage up to 3 months, started to occupy top shelf. Some storage bags/bottles are of 2 or more pump sessions. 

For memory sake, different pump session might yield different results.
One bottle EBM with more foremilk (watery substance) and one with more hindmilk (milk fat). 

He is still wearing the hand-me-downs from Cherry and 哥哥's time. But he doesn't like one-piece babysuits, he doesn't like it buttoned and doesn't like it unbuttoned as the metal buttons poked at his back when he turned in his sleep. He is fussy over these kind of small things. 哥哥 didn't mind those buttons and he wore those babysuits up to 9 months unbuttoned. Cherry put on lots of weight and couldn't wear those suits anymore after 3 months :P

Now he doesn't really know how to play with toys yet. But he kind of gurgles a lot between 2 to 4 months. He likes being wiped down with warm water after coming back home from Porpor's house.

The ever-playful 哥哥 made LINE selfie stickers for Baby Orange.

How did mommy feel? Well for one, no period returning yet since Baby Orange is still fully breastfeeding. I pump at least once per day whenever Baby Orange goes to por por's house during children's pickups/school runs. Started to get achy left wrist from holding Baby Orange :( Strangely this didn't happen to my right wrist.

And siblings' photos for memory sake. Cherry and 哥哥 during their 3 months. There are some resemblance in certain angles but their facial features looked different to me.

Cherry at 9.5 weeks. Same baby singlet as the one Baby Orange wears.

Cherry smiling at 9.5 weeks, look at those rolls :P

Cherry at 3 months :P

哥哥 at about 10 weeks. Cherry says he looks Thai :P

哥哥 looks tanned as he used to be "sunned" up to 2 months old :P

哥哥 at about 3 months

爸爸's Birthday 2014!

It's Papa's birthday! Can't reveal his age, and didn't have enough time to get a birthday cake, so sorry!!!! Next year, ok :P

We celebrated with him at Trader's Islander. The children loved the buffet lunch here. I think they are only after desserts especially the ice-cream. 哥哥 had quite a lot of food including desserts in his usual style, but Cherry only had a small portion of mains and desserts.

Children enjoying their desserts at Trader's Islander. This is only a small portion of the dessert selection.
Baby Orange sound asleep while we had lunch :P

Papa took a wefie with Baby Orange. He had a crew cut due to the head lice scare at our household.