notes to self - for future reference

on breastfeeding

- breastfeeding on one breast stimulates the other breast to leak milk. an electrical breast pump on the other boob helps. or you can use a breastpad to soak up the leakage.

- even if breastfeeding, make sure there is formula milk at home as the baby may not be getting enough milk from mommy in the first few days (cos mommy’s milk may not have come in yet) & will cry the house down due to hungriness.

- the diaper rash cream “bepanthen” can also be used to deal with sore / cracked nipples. get this at your local pharmacy.

- get a breastfeeding support pillow –good for elevating baby & supporting your arms so you can lean back & not slouch.

- for me, best to breastfeed while lying down cos it's kinder to the back.


other matters

- babies nails are very soft in the first few days so cutting them may be tricky as you cant tell which is nail & which is skin. it helps to wait till the 2nd week when baby’s nails have hardened a little. in the meantime, use them mittens!

- having short nails is more practical when dealing with babies.

- some things should already be prepared at home even before you deliver because husbands may not know what to get (or they may) e.g. formula milk, nipple cream, thermometer, thermo pot.

- a thermo pot is very useful cos you’ll need hot water for cleaning baby’s poop in the middle of the night.

- you can sterilize bottles once a day (with a sterilizer or just by boiling in a pot). in between sterilizing, you can soak in boiling water.

- you will have backaches after delivery due to bending over attending to baby’s poop & pee. this is also because apparently your tummy muscles don’t work as efficiently.

- if you have piles / hemorrhoids / constipation, you will worry about the first bowel movements after the delivery. make sure you drink lots of fluids & eat a lot of fiber. also, check with your gynea if you can take “daflon” to deal with the piles and “lactul” to soften the stool –these can be bought at the pharmacy. daflon are pills and lactul is a type of syrup.

- get your girdle & corset ready. i got mine from cosway at about rm100 for both. avon sells a 3-piece set for rm270.

- my family doesn’t believe in using pacifiers for babies but my in-laws are big fans of it. we’ve taken the “never say never” path & use one in emergencies..

- babies can be restless when you’re changing them. as an alternative to pacifiers, use your knuckle for them to suck on. of course, this only works if someone else is changing baby. make sure hands are washed clean before putting into baby’s mouth though. if husband’s fingers are hairy, this may not work. hehehe.

- diaper rash creams that have “zinc” in them work better.

- the chinese bedak amoi (the square one) works to reduce milk rash or any kind of rash on the face i suppose