Chapter 73 Lactation
As night fell quietly and the lights came on, Aunt Chen arrived at the ward on time with carefully prepared meals. The lunch boxes were full of nutritious dishes.
The dinner prepared for Jiang Ruoxi was: egg custard and steamed buns. The egg custard has a tender and smooth texture and is easy to digest. Steamed buns, as the staple food, provide energy for Jiang Ruoxi. Everyone sits together and enjoys the dinner warmly. The fatigue of the day gradually dissipates in the atmosphere of fireworks.
After dinner, Aunt Lan accompanied Father Lu and Father Jiang back to the family compound first. They walked in a hurry, but with some reluctance and concern for their relatives in the ward. As they walked, they told Lu Tingxiao and his mother to take good care of Jiang Ruoxi and the children. They agreed that Aunt Lan would come with breakfast the next morning and replace Aunt Chen to go home and rest, and Father Lu and Father Jiang would also come to visit at that time.
After they left, the lights in the ward became soft and quiet. Jiang Ruoxi suddenly frowned, gently covered her chest, and a trace of discomfort appeared on her face.
Mother Lu was sharp-eyed and immediately came forward to ask with concern. After a careful inspection, she found that it was because of breast engorgement. She said to Jiang Ruoxi earnestly, "Xixi, you have to let the baby suck. If you don't let the baby suck, the milk won't come out, and the pain won't go away. Normally, you have to let the baby suck half an hour after giving birth. Once the baby's little mouth sucks, it can stimulate the mammary glands to secrete prolactin, and milk will naturally form. But you were drowsy after giving birth yesterday, and the baby didn't have time to suck!"
After saying that, Mother Lu turned to look at Lu Tingxiao and ordered in an orderly manner: "Tingxiao, go get a basin of hot water, put the towel in it, wash it and wring it dry!"
Lu Tingxiao nodded immediately, walked out of the ward quickly, and returned a short while later with a basin of steaming water. Mother Lu soaked the towel, wrung it half dry, and gently applied it to Jiang Ruoxi's breasts. Her movements were gentle and focused, and she kept muttering, "Apply hot compress for three to five minutes to promote blood circulation. I'll give you a massage later. Let Qianqian and Yiyi suck first. Boys are stronger, maybe they can suck out the milk!"
While applying hot compress, Mother Lu patiently explained the key points and precautions of breastfeeding, asking Jiang Ruoxi to relax and not be nervous.
After the hot compress, Mother Lu washed her hands and began to massage Jiang Ruoxi. Her technique was skillful. She gently pushed and rubbed from the base of the breast towards the nipple, and her movements went from light to heavy, and then from heavy to light. Each movement was full of concern.
Afterwards, Mother Lu carefully carried Qianqian to Jiang Ruoxi and gently guided the baby to suck on the nipple. The little guy seemed to have telepathic connection and started sucking instinctively. Jiang Ruoxi frowned slightly, a trace of pain flashed across her face, but she still endured it and tried hard to cooperate.
However, after a few minutes, the milk did not flow out smoothly. Mother Lu was not discouraged. She picked up Yiyi again and repeated the same action, but there was still no obvious effect.
At this time, Mother Lu looked at Lu Tingxiao and said seriously, "Tingxiao, it looks like you have to help out. Remember, be gentle and don't hurt Xixi!"
Hearing what Lu's mother said, Jiang Ruoxi felt a hot current rushing to her face, which instantly turned red. She subconsciously turned her head away, trying to hide her embarrassment. Her hands unconsciously grabbed the quilt, and her fingertips turned slightly white.
Lu Tingxiao was not much better. Normally, he and Jiang Ruoxi were very close in their own room, playing and joking with each other, being affectionate and at ease. But now, under the watchful eyes of their two mothers, they had to do such a private thing. Even though he was usually carefree, his ears turned red at this moment. He didn't know where to put his hands and feet. He scratched his head awkwardly, his eyes full of discomfort.
Mother Lu couldn't help laughing when she saw the couple. She walked forward, patted Jiang Ruoxi's hand gently, and comforted her softly, "Xixi, don't be shy. This is for the sake of the child and your health. As a mother, you have to be brave!"
Mother Jiang also echoed: "Yes, we have all been through this, there is nothing to be embarrassed about. Let's go out, and you can call us in when you're ready!" After saying that, Mother Jiang winked at Mother Lu and Aunt Chen, and the three of them walked out of the ward, closed the door, and waited outside the ward.
With the comfort of her two mothers, Jiang Ruoxi took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down. She gently closed her eyes, adjusted her breathing, and tried to overcome her inner shyness.
After Lu Tingxiao and his mother left the ward, they mustered up their courage, slowly bent over, and followed the method that his mother had taught them before, carefully trying to help Jiang Ruoxi produce milk. His movements were gentle, almost pious, and his eyes were always focused on Jiang Ruoxi's expression, afraid to hurt her in the slightest.
The ward was extremely quiet for a moment, with only the sound of Lu Tingxiao's gentle breathing and the occasional subtle noise made by Jiang Ruoxi due to nervousness. The moonlight from the window poured into the room, adding a bit of softness to this slightly awkward scene. As time passed, Jiang Ruoxi gradually relaxed, and Lu Tingxiao became more and more skilled.
Finally, with the joint efforts of the two, milk slowly flowed out. At that moment, Jiang Ruoxi and Lu Tingxiao looked at each other, their eyes filled with joy and relief.
Lu Tingxiao wiped Jiang Ruoxi clean with a clean warm towel, and first handed Sanbao to Jiang Ruoxi, asking Jiang Ruoxi and her family to feed Sanbao first. Then Lu Tingxiao opened the door, called Lu's mother and the others in, and then closed the door to prevent Jiang Ruoxi and the child from catching a cold.
Seeing this, Mother Lu and Mother Jiang also smiled with relief. Mother Lu quickly said, "That's great. Now the babies have food!"
Jiang's mother quickly prepared a clean towel, ready to wipe at any time. The tense atmosphere in the ward was instantly replaced by warmth and joy. This small family of life successfully overcame another difficulty and moved towards a happier and more fulfilling future.
Lu Tingxiao stood by the bed, watching Jiang Ruoxi feeding Jiaojiao tenderly without blinking, his eyes full of doting.
After a while, he turned to look at Mother Lu and said seriously and firmly, "Mom, from now on, Jiaojiao can drink breast milk first. Girls are delicate and need more breast milk to grow well. Qianqian and Yiyi can drink the formula first. If there is any left after Jiaojiao finishes it, give it to the two boys!"
After hearing this, Mother Lu was both angry and amused. She raised her hand and gently patted Lu Tingxiao's arm, scolding him, "You really are the biological father of Dabao and Erbao! The difference in treatment is written all over your face. Aren't you afraid that the two boys will bear a grudge against you in the future?"
"Holding a grudge? That doesn't exist. If it existed, I would just beat him up!" Lu Tingxiao said nonchalantly.
"You are such a good father to Qianqian and Yiyi. They got beaten by you while they were still in their mother's arms!" Mother Lu said helplessly.
Lu Tingxiao scratched his head and explained with a simple smile, "Mom, I just want to raise my daughter in a wealthy way. Breast milk is nutritious and will definitely be more beneficial to the health and development of the three children. The first and second children are boys and are strong. Milk powder can also make them plump and white. Besides, when they grow up, they will definitely understand that their dad loves them!"
At this time, Jiang Ruoxi raised her head, rolled her eyes at Lu Tingxiao, and said with a smile, "You are biased. Have you forgotten that Jiaojiao is more important than her older brother and younger brother? All three children are our dearest, and we can't favor one over the other. Although Jiaojiao is a girl, we can't spoil her too much, otherwise she will become arrogant in the future! Qianqian and Yiyi are still young, and they are in the stage of growing up. The nutrition of breast milk is equally important to them!"
Lu Tingxiao nodded quickly and said flatteringly, "My wife is right. I didn't think it through. Let's try to distribute it evenly in the future so that every child can grow up healthy and happy. But we still have to let Jiaojiao drink a little more!"
Mother Lu watched the interaction between the young couple and couldn't help laughing: "You two, have a good talk. Don't just take care of the children, you also have to take care of your own health. Taking care of three babies is not an easy task!"
As they were talking, Dabao and Erbao, who were lying in the crib, seemed to have sensed the discussion and suddenly started crying. Lu Tingxiao hurried over and gently picked up Dabao, muttering, "Don't cry, baby. Are you hungry? Daddy will make you some milk powder right away!"
Jiang Ruoxi also hurriedly helped the third baby burp the milk, asked Jiang's mother to hold him and coax him to sleep, and then got up to help take care of the first and second babies.
"Tingxiao, give me Dabao and Erbao. Let them drink some breast milk. Please help me hold them!"
Dabao and Erbao also drank breast milk, but it was not enough, so Lu Tingxiao gave them some milk powder. After they finished eating and burped the milk, the two brothers fell asleep quickly.
As the three children fell into sweet dreams one after another, the ward was instantly shrouded in silence, and the original noise seemed to be quietly isolated by a layer of soft gauze.
The warm yellow light poured down, casting a soft halo on the children's tender faces. Their even breathing, like a gentle lullaby, floated in the air.
Lu Tingxiao walked around the ward quietly, tucking in the children's blankets one by one. After making sure they were all asleep, he stood up and looked at Mother Lu and Mother Jiang who were talking quietly.
His eyes were full of heartache and concern. He walked forward slowly, speaking in a very low voice, fearing to disturb the children: "Mom, mother-in-law, the children are asleep, you can also take a nap on the bed next to you. You must be exhausted after a busy day. When you get up, it will be Aunt Chen's turn to rest."
Mother Lu waved her hands. Although she looked tired, she still insisted, "It's okay. I'll sit for a while. You and Xixi are tired too. Go and rest!" Mother Jiang also agreed, "Yes, we can still hold on. You young people need more rest!"
Lu Tingxiao refused to give in. He walked forward and half-pushed the two mothers to the bedside, "Mom, mother-in-law, just listen to me. You'll have the energy to help us take care of the child after you get enough rest. Xixi will be well looked after by me. We'll call you if anything happens!"
After Lu Tingxiao's repeated persuasion, Mother Lu and Mother Jiang finally compromised and slowly lay down on the bed. As soon as they lay down, they seemed to be instantly overwhelmed by fatigue. After a while, the sound of even breathing could be heard.
Lu Tingxiao looked at his sleeping family members, his lips curled up slightly, revealing a relieved smile. He walked to Jiang Ruoxi, gently held her hand, and whispered, "Wife, you should also get some sleep. I'll watch over you!"
Jiang Ruoxi shook her head, her eyes full of tenderness: "I'm not tired, I just want to see the children more. Look how soundly they are sleeping. The days to come will definitely get better and better!" The two talked in a low voice, their eyes falling on the children from time to time, full of longing for the future.
In the ward, everyone was immersed in this moment of tranquility and warmth, and this peace also wove a dream full of hope for this newly formed family, which flowed slowly in the long river of time.
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