Mum’s Journey: Big Brother, Reflux Worries and My Maternity Tank

We’re enjoying this more than we thought imaginable. It’s been great to see how everyone has coped with bringing a new baby back to a home with a toddler.

I Gave Birth to Hugo at the End of April

My milk came in on day three. I had a great supply with Zac a couple of years ago and was happy to have the same with Hugo.

That said, I was a little nervous because I had always felt like my milk might have caused or contributed to Zac’s colic and reflux issues and I didn’t want to go through the same experience again. Silly thought, I know!

So, with this in mind, I called Katie (a Medela Lactation consultant) for some pointers. Even though I’d done this before, I was feeling apprehensive.

Katie was so reassuring, positive and encouraging that I got through those early days relatively stress-free!

It Wasn’t All Smooth Sailing, of Course!

Poor Hugo was being squirted in the face at every feed. Also, at the hospital, I forgot to wear breast pads and soaked the sheets and my clothes. The midwife couldn’t believe how much milk I had! Little Hugo, being only a few days old, was still learning to cope with the flow.

The breast pads that I had used with Zac needed to be changed three times a day… and I wasn’t looking forward to having breast pads rub against my sore, engorged, leaky, breasts and repeatedly throughout the day.

I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Medela’s breast pads were so absorbent and that they lasted ALL day! They were so comfortable in comparison to what I was used to.

Zac is totally fascinated with them and tells me they’re for his “woobies.”

Zac Was a Summer Baby, So, I Wasn’t Sure What to Expect from Giving Birth in the Colder Months

We weren’t able to reuse many of Zac’s clothes because the seasons were different. In the middle of the night, when the rest of the house is quiet and I need to breastfeed Hugo (still half asleep), it’s quite cold.

Instead of wearing a maternity bra, I’ve gotten in the habit of wearing a maternity tank. It keeps my back and tummy warm and I don’t need to fumble around to unclip my bra, in complete darkness.

Reflux? Or Something Else?

We became concerned that Hugo might have reflux because he seems to vomit so much. He also had a few nights where vomiting woke him up.

I called Katie again to let her know how things were going and to ask her about reflux. Katie was very reassuring and told me that everything sounded perfectly normal.

Hugo was putting on weight and (sadly, because, it goes too fast!) had already outgrown his 5x0s and was into a newborn size.

A baby with reflux issues wouldn’t be putting on weight. He or she would also be distressed. Thankfully, these symptoms didn’t apply to Hugo.

It’s been such a relief to have the support of a professional. It’s so much less stressful than having to listen to unsolicited advice from well-meaning family and friends.

All-in-all, our first five weeks as a family of four have been lovely!

How would you describe your experience as a mum? How is your breastfeeding journey going? Let’s have a chat here or on the Medela Australia Facebook page.