Jill Spills: My Breastfeeding Game Plan For No. 2

In this series Jill Spills, Kiss92’s Jill Lim bares her soul about the trials and tribulations of being a millennial mother.

Like many first-time mothers, I expected breastfeeding to be a picturesque experience of baby and I, in a meadow. Of course, this was not my journey. To summarise my first breastfeeding experience: it was a rollercoaster three months filled with fevers and tears, ending with a breast cancer scare. Second time round, I’m putting my best breast forward and getting help!

Being blindsided

If mothers were really honest with themselves, we’d admit that we breastfeed firstly because it’s the “cheaper” option. With formula milk costing upwards of $55 on average and lasting barely two weeks, can we be blamed? Is breastfeeding really cheaper though?

My mother didn’t breastfeed my sister and I, as was the trend during that time. When my first clogged duct hit, I turned to Instagram. Mastitis, hand express and Epsom salt soak were some of the terms I saw. I had never heard any of these words before. My seemingly easy goal of breastfeeding for a year seemed impossible.

There was also a suggestion that kept appearing in my inbox. “Find a lactation consultant.”

Is that even a real job?

Believing I wouldn’t be able to breastfeed because my mother couldn’t, and because I have tiny breasts, meant I did no reading up on the matter. This was also during the peak of Covid where everyone was pivoting in their jobs with new titles like “life coach” and “relationship expert”. Lactation consultant? Was that even a real job? If it was, why were those consultants so difficult to find?

Fast forward two years, mothers have been more open to talk about breastfeeding and its woes. These days, it is known and accepted that breastfeeding doesn’t always come naturally, and it is far from “cheap”. So why still try?

I was fortunate to meet three women. One of them is Abie Chow, Hegen’s in-house lactation consultant who is an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) and passionate about helping premature babies and their mothers breastfeed successfully.

Tommee Tippee’s partnership with Thomson Medical led me to Li Shu Han, also an IBCLC, with a similar story and fired passion as Abie.

Then there’s Gabby Seet, exclusive distributor of milk supplement Legendairy Milk Singapore. Like me, Gabby was ill-prepared when she had her first child. She took supplements to help boost her milk supply, and realised that she didn’t react well to fenugreek, a herb commonly used to increase breastmilk production. That got her on the road to becoming a breastfeeding specialist. 

All three women hold courses for parents-to-be, provide house calls, and even have hotlines available for questions and follow-ups.

Dispelling myths

In Gabby’s experience, 95% of the women who see her for low milk supply think that supplements are an automatic cure. What she often finds out is that their breast pumps were ill-fitting to begin with.

Says Gabby: “Many women just use the flange that the pump comes with, which is usually 22 to 24mm. Asian women’s nipples are mostly smaller. Right out of the gates, they are already set back.”

I know, getting your nipples measured sounds mortifying. It gives me instant flashbacks to departmental store bra fittings, featuring overzealous aunties with measuring tapes around their necks.

I paid a visit to Hegen’s lactation centre located at #02-01 Alexandra Technopark. The moment I entered their serene, muted-coloured office with bursts of beautiful greenery, I was put at such ease that I couldn’t wait to get my breasts out for them to do what they needed! 

Unfortunately, I was still too early in my pregnancy for an accurate measurement. Just knowing a place where you could get a private consultation, get measured, and purchase the right equipment made the experience a lot more assuring.

Lactation consultant Shu Han, from Thomson Parentcraft Centre at #01-346 Balestier Hill Shopping Centre, helped dispel the myth that small breasts mean low milk supply. In fact, it could very well be the opposite!

What I learnt: boob size doesn’t matter when it comes to milk supply. What does is the amount of milk ducts located in the breast. This means I possibly have more milk ducts housed in my A-sized breasts than someone with a larger cup size! The only disadvantage for breastfeeding women with smaller breasts? They are more prone to engorgement, and would have to empty their breasts more often.

Another thing Shu Han said that left my jaw on the floor was that some maternity insurance plans cover breastfeeding issues!

True costs

Look, I’m pragmatic. It all comes down to dollars and cents with me. You can read my article on what it really cost me to get pregnant here. Another thing all three women agreed on was how important it was to get prenatal care.

Abie makes a fair point, saying that being prepared for each child to be different is key to being mentally prepared for breastfeeding. It’s a learnt skill for both mother and child, and help is most needed in the first month. This is why prenatal care is so important.

After a few calls to a couple of insurance agent friends, I found out that most insurance providers provide some form of coverage for breastfeeding as an add-on. Some even cover the costs of seeing a lactation consultant. All these help in reducing the costs of breastfeeding!

Nine months pregnant with my second child at the time of writing, I’m willing to pay the price for a prenatal, postnatal and a follow-up lactation consultation, to be better equipped for breastfeeding and reduce the chances of breastfeeding complications such as mastitis.

This time round, I’m setting small goals such as breastfeeding for a month first. Then, I’ll check in on my mental health, and reach out for help where needed. If all goes well, I’ll set another small goal of say, breastfeeding for another three months. I hope to last at least six months!

Did you know, relactation is possible?

A big fear for working mothers is stopping breastfeeding and regretting it. Abie from Hegen confirms that relactation is possible. It isn’t a hard no. The outcome of relactation depends on why breastfeeding was stopped and for how long. For those considering relactation, it is highly recommended to work closely with a trusted IBCLC.

As for those who are struggling with breastfeeding, it is perfectly okay to consider mix feeding! The World Health Organisation recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, and then to supplement with alternative milk sources such as donated breast milk, if needed.

Remember, breastfeeding is a unique process where the composition of milk changes according to your baby’s needs. So don’t worry if you fall ill – your breastmilk will still be beneficial to your baby.

You can find out more about breastfeeding consultations from Hegen Lactation Centre, Thomson Parentcraft Centre and Legendairy Milk Singapore.