Baby Orange Month 5 Update

Baby Orange is 5 months old! He cried a bucket of tears when the paediatrician gave him his 6-in-1 immunization. Wow, amazing right, now we have 6-in-1 shots :P

Weighs 6.8 kg at the doctor's visit for month 5.

Not happy at the doctor's clinic

Still using Mamy Poko size S. A good friend had given us 2 packs of Mamy Poko diapers as her baby outgrew size S quickly. And with the pack that we bought, he is still using it at night. The fit is getting snug but we should be able to have him use it up without wasting. Our next pack is a size M. He is already on Huggies size M for some time as Huggies has a narrower cutting.

Baby Orange getting cozy before bedtime

Smiling because he is doing a poop

His poop is getting on well this month. We had started monitoring by drawing "bombs" on the family calendar to keep track.

We found some new baby clothes for him at Uniqlo. It's called Baby (Infant) Mesh Inner T-shirt, only RM9.90 for 3 in a pack. Soft and good for Baby Orange to wear at home during hot days. We chose the biggest size :P

Baby Orange holding his new Uniqlo baby mesh t-shirts

Smiling Baby Orange

Milk storage in freezer, motivational photo for me as no longer pump so much by the time I back-date this post in Feb'15.

Breastfeeding goes on. He is now taking 2.5 to 3 oz of EBM whenever Porpor or Papa feed him with bottle. I'm still pumping about the same frequency. However sometimes he sleeps through the night, and if I didn't initiate feeding, he'd have gone more than 5 hours without a feed. Even though it's tiring, I wouldn't want him to go so long between feeds, so I would carry him over for his midnight feed. Not very good idea, because I think he got used to feeding at night so he got up very frequent even after 6 months. So don't learn from us :P

Take photo with doggie pet at 19 weeks

A happier Baby Orange having tummy time

He can flip over if he wanted to by now. However seems like sometimes he is kind of lazy, and he couldn't really work his arms out from being stuck yet. So he'd be making pathetic sounds when he's flipped over on his tummy. Sometimes we'd make him get some tummy time.

Smiling and lounging around at home :)

Baby Orange gives an eye smile while grabbing his feet, a feat he just mastered at around 20 weeks :)

Show his dimple and eye-smile about 20 weeks

Some expressions - showing his tongue and smile

Biting his thumb and in Papa's arms. Still have thunder thighs and fleshy arms and legs at about 18 weeks.
Oh, and he has big hands and feet, hoh?

He is dribbling a lot, but no teeth in sight yet. He also puts everything within grasp into his mouth. It's tiring trying to stop him.

He is playful and enjoys playing with Cherry and 哥哥.

哥哥 help to support Baby Orange on the rides

Baby Orange's first ride at home, smiling and having fun

Cherry playing with Baby Orange

And the beginnings of him learning to crawl.

He would do this after flipping over, face down on his hands when he is tired :P

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.