And Then After 6 Months

The biggest achievment for me as a mom that i want to reward myself with something (or should i ask my hubby to reward me?) was finishing Asha's "almost" exclusively breastfed for the past 6 months. Kenapa saya bilang almost exclusively breastfed? Karena alasan ini nih :

- Asha did drink some formulated milk for three days at hospital right after she was born (i don't know how could i be so stupid by letting them gave the formulated milk to Asha?). Walaupun selama 3 hari itu during the day Asha was breastfed tapi waktu malam dia tidur di ruangan bayi karena harus masuk inkubator untuk menjaga tubuh kecilnya tetap hangat. Nah di ruang bayi itulah si suster2 itu minumin susu formula ke Asha. Huhu..

- Asha started her first meal earlier than it supposed to be. Soalnya hari pertama Asha makan itu harusnya adalah 11 Juni 2012, which is hari rabu. Sedangkan hari rabu adalah hari kerja, jadi saya majuin waktu makannya dari hari minggu. Because i wanted to be the first person who gave Asha solid food, i wanted to see her million dollar expressions when i fed her, i wanted to make sure that it was a good experience for her, i wanted to make example for my aunt on how to prepare Asha meal.  

Jadi kayanya Asha ga fully exclusively breastfed, but she almost exclusively breastfed. Hehe.. :D

Then after 6 months struggling with breast pump, cooler bag, calculating ASIP stock in freezer, and so on, ternyata produksi ASI saya cenderung berkurang sodara-sodaraaa. Cari info sana-sini ternyata memang kalo  bayi udah mulai makan, maka produksi ASI akan cenderung berkurang. Huhu.. Paniikk rasanya liat cadangan botol ASIP cuma tinggal 3 biji aja di freezer. When it used to be 15 bottles left on freezer, today it last only 3 bottles. Nangis2 lah saya semalem di depan hubby.

At office i can pump 3 times a day so i can bring 3 bottles of ASIP @100 ml to home. At home i pump one more time and i can get 1 more bottle. But Asha needs 5 bottles a day to fulfil her hunger. I used to get the extra bottles from ASIP stock in freezer. But now, my ASIP stock only 3 bottles left. Sekarang saya benar-benar bingung!

Ditengah2 kebingungan saya (dan hampir menyerah sama susu formula), saya nemuin artikel bagus ini di TUM. The power of pumping! Ternyata dengan niat, semangat, positive thinking, dan usaha mompa tiada henti, produksi ASI bisa meningkat. After i read the article last night together with hubby, we both optimist that i able to provide ASI for Asha. It's all about how i manage my time to pump more often than before. I don't want to give up.Yes i can! 

Hari ini saya langsung praktekin teknik the power of pumping itu. Walaupun ga mungkin bisa mompa sejam sekali, at least saya berusaha untuk meningkatkan frekuensi mompa di kantor. Dari 3 kali (itu pun seringnya cuma jadi 2 kali doang karena keasikan kerja atau browsing) menjadi 4 kali sehari. And i won't let myself to skip the schedule. So far sudah dapt 230 ml hasil dari 3 kali mompa. Mudah2an hari ini dan seterusnya bisa bawa 450 ml ASIP ke rumah. Amiinn..

ASI(P) Diary : Calculating ASI(P) Investment

Breastmilk is cheap. Sure, because i got it for free. My body built milk factory special for Asha :) But since i had to go back to work, i had to prepare stuffs to support my exclusive breastmilk programe for Asha. This is the list of my ASIP investment stuffs :

1. Two door refrigerator : IDR 2.500.000

LG Two Door Fridge to store Asha's milk only

2. Cooler bag : IDR 150.000

My GABAG Cooler Bag, pinky and eye catchy :)

Bought that and got two big ice packs for free. Saved IDR 30.000 :)

3. Cooler box : IDR 87.000

Puku Cooler Box, I have the blue one

4. Ice gel : IDR 35.000

Snowgam Ice Gel

5. Breast Pump : IDR 115.000 and IDR 465.000

 Little Giant Emily Manual Breast Pump, IDR 155.000

Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump with Calma Nipple include, IDR 465.000

6. Nursing Apron : IDR 70.000

Nursing Apron

7. Glass Bottle : IDR 72.000 (3 dozens)

Bottle glass, IDR 2.500/pc

8. Bottle Nurser : IDR 195.000 (3 bottles)

Asha uses Playtex VentAir 6 oz wide neck bottle, she has the pink, yellow, and green

9. Bottle Spoon : IDR 42.000 and IDR 45.000

 Pigeon Bottle Spoon, IDR 42.000

Puku Bottle Spoon, IDR 45.000

10. Bottle Brush : IDR 25.000

Brush set for bottle and nipple, IDR 25.000

11. Thong : IDR 10.000

Bottle Thongs

Adding all the price, i spent less than IDR 4.000.000 to bought ASIP investment stuffs. It is a longterm investment, compare to formulated milk. I can even use all the stuffs for our next baby(s). Hee.. :)

I don't know how much money other mothers spend every month to buy formulated milk. Acording to my friends who gives her baby formulated milk since born, she spends at least IDR 1.000.000 per month to buy formulated milk. Whaattt??? It's a big deal of money to spend, while i can give the best milk for free.

Oh how i love breastmilk so much. And Asha enjoys it so much :)

ASI(P) Diary : Breastfeed Whenever Wherever

Wherever whenever i go out with Asha, i always bring nursing apron with me. So everytime she want to drink, i can breastfeed her wherever and whenever.

 Breastfeeding Asha at Pizza Hut

Asha is hiding inside nursing apron

Her legs peeking through :)

Breastfeeding baby in public is not common nowadays. That's why everytime i put my nursing apron and breastfeed Asha,  people stare at me curiously. But i'm sitting there proudly and continue breastfeed Asha. Deep inside my heart i always wish that what i've done can inspire other mother to start breastfeed her baby in public. Other mother choose to give milk in a bottle than to breastfeed her baby, maybe she feels  uncomfortable an awkward to breastfeed her baby in public. For me, i'm not shame showing people that i breastfeed my baby. No need to shame, because i always have my nursing apron to cover me. *and hubby that always there to guard me :)

But i guess i need wider nursing apron, since Asha getting bigger and start kicking whenever she's upset. My baby is a big girl already :)