My breastfeeding journey is rich. I breastfed my first child for 4 years while my 2nd child is breastfeeding for 5 years now. I struggled during my first week of breastfeeding my first child. I had a normal delivery but my child had meconium aspiration syndrome and needed to be treated and closely monitored in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the hospital. My child did not have the initial first-hour skin contact with me. Ideally, after childbirth, babies are placed together with their mom for the first skin contact and babies magically latch on their own and encounter their first-ever breastfeeding moment. I remembered visiting my child inside the NICU to breastfeed her. She had trouble latching and I was bothered with my low milk supply. When my child was discharged from the NICU and transferred to my room. She would cry from not getting enough milk. When We got home from the hospital I was still bothered with my milk supply. I seek the help of a lactation consultant. She went to our home and guided me with proper positioning to help my child latch. She encouraged me to be patient and informed me that my breast milk will come naturally after so many practices and breastfeeding encounters.
Breastfeeding amazingly follows the law of supply and demand. The more breastfeeding encounters with your child the more your body produces enough milk for your child. I breastfeed exclusively for 2 months this means without formula supplementation. However, my problem arises after I came back to work. I planned that I will pump before coming back to work to save and establish a milk stash.
I purchased a Medela breast pump and had a regular pump schedule to build up my milk stash. However, my milk stash was not enough because I started pumping too late and I do not have enough freezer space.
When I came back to work I established a pumping schedule. I would bring home with me expressed milk for my baby's feeding for the next day. For the first few weeks, it went well because I had a milk stash plus expressed milk from the office however there would be times that my milk output would be extremely low that I needed to supplement with formula on weekdays. The formula supplementation ended when my child was 6 months because my child is already eating solid food.
My first daughter happily breastfed for 4 years. I can vividly remember my child's calling my breast milk as "sweety cheese". Also during breastfeeding encounters, I would lovingly look into my child's cheery eyes and have a wonderful connection. I could see her satisfaction and happiness from the breastfeeding encounters. I never had a moment where I felt that my child is closer to her caregiver than me because I am not with her all the time because I am working.
I built an intimate connection and a special bond with my child and it was truly magical. All my struggles and sacrifices were all rewarded by staying focus and patient on my breastfeeding journey.
I am thankful I had the support of my husband. He helped me with my breastfeeding journey. He knows that breastfeeding is difficult and he actively helped with preparing and cleaning my breastfeeding pump paraphernalia and milk bottles.
You need all the support from your family if you want to successfully breastfeed. Aside from the support of my husband, I also joined a local breastfeeding support group named Breastfeeding Pinays. https://www.facebook.com/groups/breastfeedingpinays/.
I read, researched, and empowered myself from the intricacies of breastfeeding. Knowledge is indeed power, I became more in control and motivated to pursue breastfeeding because I had established a clear understanding of the amazing benefits and extra challenges my child and I would receive from the whole journey.
My first child wean from breastfeeding when she was 4 years old. She wanted to continue breastfeeding but I was advised by my OB-Gyne doctor to stop breastfeeding because I was pregnant with my 2nd child. My OB-Gyne informed me that breastfeeding may result in uterus contractions that may lead to miscarriage. I did not have a choice but follow my doctor's advice. This was heartbreaking for me as my child pleads for her mommy's milk but I carefully explained to my child that mommy's milk is more needed by her little baby sibling that she is inside mommy's tummy waiting to meet her. She would cry for a few moments then I would explain again why she needs to stop breastfeeding. My first child eventually weans from breastfeeding after a few talks and tears.
Breastfeeding is extra challenging and difficult but is achievable. I am blessed and thankful for my first child because of her inspiration I transformed into the strong woman that I am today. And I was determined to conquer my breastfeeding challenges. My first breastfeeding journey was not perfect because I lightly supplemented with formula but I know I did all my best for my child. I discovered so many wonderful things about breastfeeding that I committed to exclusively breastfeed my 2nd child.
( to be continued)
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