I didn't know it was possible but yes yes: I had too much milk! Gisele could not keep up with the strong letdown reflex and the fast pace at which my breast milk was coming in.
Every other week we ask a Real Mom if they would like the NurtureGoods experience. These moms use a breast pump from NurtureGoods in order to describe and share their experiences. In this way, we hope to raise awareness of the NurtureGoods experience and help you make a choice. This week, it's mom Emily's turn. Will you read along?
Emily's NurtureGoods experience (Instagram @emilyvanrooij)
For us, pumping equals allowing the partner me-time
Hi dear readers! My name is Emily and I was allowed to become a mom for the first time on May 23, 2023 to a baby daughter, Gisele.
I can still remember very well the moment when I had Gisele laid on my belly. I will never forget that feeling and all those emotions! And how lucky I was because she seemed such a calm baby.
The next 2 weeks seemed like a dream because, after all, she remained so calm. Breastfeeding also went off without a hitch. I had decided very early on during my pregnancy that I wanted to breastfeed. After all, I think breastfeeding is the most natural thing you can give a baby. Breast milk also adapts itself to the day and night rhythm as well as to the growth of your baby. So it really gives your baby what it needs. And of course it creates a very intimate and beautiful bond with your baby.
So Gisele gasped well, I seemed to have more than enough milk and my husband Gus and I were able to rest (and show off our peaceful baby). Mommy and daddy happy!
But... when she was about 3 weeks old, everything changed. Gisele became more and more restless, started crying louder and louder and would absolutely not sleep during the day. After some muddling around, two consultations with the Consultation Office and doing some research myself (I'm an Orthomolecular Therapist, so doing a lot of research is my job!) it became clear that our sweet Gigi was suffering from reflux. Something that 70% of babies worldwide unfortunately suffer from.
By now, Gisele was almost 6 weeks old and Gus and I were at our wit's end. The lack of sleep, the constant crying and the chaos that came with it were breaking us down sourly.
The reflux also made me more and more unsure about breastfeeding. Am I doing the right thing? Am I having too little milk and is she still hungry? Is there something wrong with my milk causing her pain?
There was something to be said about this too. I didn't know it was possible but yes yes: I had too much milk! Gisele could not keep up with the strong letdown reflex and the fast pace at which my breast milk came in. Consequence: on top of the reflux she already had, she got even more cramps.
Although pumping is not recommended for excess milk, Gus and I decided to pump once a day. With the Smart 3.0 Dual Efficient pump from NurtureGoods I had 2 bottles in 15 minutes. I poured them together and that was enough for 1 feeding.
In our case, pumping once a day had several advantages:
- My milk production was not increased too much because I pumped only once a day
- In just 12-15 minutes I had a bottle ready with the amount for a full nutritional meal for Gisele
- Gus could now also give a bottle for once which relieved me (I find breastfeeding both physically and mentally quite taxing)
- On days when it was really unbearable because of Gisele's continuous crying, we called in her grandmother who gladly came to help. Because I then had a bottle ready, she could take care of Gisele for at least 3 hours and feed her. This was more than welcome for Gus and myself because it meant catching up on sleep!
- During bottle feeding we have a better overview of how much milk Gisele gets in. And I have a daily overview of how much milk I now produce in 12-15min. This takes away that uncertainty of whether or not I have enough milk.
It is my first baby and my first time pumping but I would so do it again! In fact, I find the thought of pumping very intimidating at first. But the easy operation of the Smart 3.0 pump from NurtureGoods has removed this intimidation since the first pumping session!
In addition to easy touchscreen operation, you can also set your favorite pumping mode which the Smart 3.0 stores with smart memory technology. Next time, just turn it on and go! The best part is the fact that I can pump both breasts at the same time, so I have enough for a full meal for Gisele after 1 pumping session. In addition, the pump is small and light, silent and wireless (so convenient!). So you can charge it and easily take it anywhere, convenient for the workplace.
To sum up: thanks to the Smart 3.0 Dual Efficient breast pump from NurtureGoods, I have gotten over the intimidation of pumping, I have a fresh bottle of formula for my baby every day, someone else can take over the feeding so I can take a break, and I can feed in a more controlled manner which benefits reflux. So for me it really has become an indispensable device.
Hopefully it will benefit you too!
Much love, Emily
Want to know more about Emily? Then follow her on Instagram@emilyvanrooij