What they do not tell you about breastfeeding
After 16 hours of labor, I was overjoyed to have finally held my little one. As part of my Birth Plan, I was very particular with the execution of "Unang Yakap" (literally translated as First Embrace) so we'd have the chance to let my child naturally find her way to my breasts for our first breastfeeding experience. Since we were both awake after delivery, my little Selina Barbara quickly obliged as her instincts kicked in. It was about 2AM when we finally found peace in the room with just my husband and my mom. I had my little one sleeping beside me rousing from time to time. At this point, babies sleep for long hours and needed to be awaken for nourishment and rehydration.
As a newbie in this field called motherhood, I
had the impression that breastfeeding was simply about letting your child latch
onto your breasts. Easy breezy, right? So I was determined to breastfeed exclusively until she self weans. Why is it even important? Well, aside from it being VERY COST EFFECTIVE, it reduces the incidence of SIDS, it is a natural contraceptive, it quickens post pregnancy weight loss, prevents obesity in children, and a lot more. To add, the WHO states that:
* Breastmilk gives infants ALL the nutrients they need for development
* It reduces risks of breast and ovarian cancer, type II diabetes and post partum depression
* Contributes to lifetime of good health to children, and
* Promotes better intelligence
Oh how I wish this came in with manuals! I had to learn the ropes on my own as days went by:
* Breastmilk gives infants ALL the nutrients they need for development
* It reduces risks of breast and ovarian cancer, type II diabetes and post partum depression
* Contributes to lifetime of good health to children, and
* Promotes better intelligence
Oh how I wish this came in with manuals! I had to learn the ropes on my own as days went by:
Breastfeeding 101: Your
baby stimulates and dictates your milk supply. And, your first milk (colostrum) is not colored milky white, rather, it’s a translucent yellowish liquid.
Anxious mothers like me expect to fill bottles with those milky white liquid
gold. But lo and behold, your supply is just enough to fill a tummy size of a
cherry (approx. ½ tsp). I initially stressed myself with not having enough milk.
Fortunately, the lactation nurse regularly checked on us to ensure that I am
able to feed her properly. Since baby regularly soiled and peed her nappies, I
believed I was on the right track.
On latching: not all
mother and child start off at the right foot errr boob (?). Little Selina and I
struggled with this on our first three weeks together, to a
point that I began fearing those toe-curling feeding sessions! Nipples were
sore and cracked, emotional torture is up because I am not able to breastfeed
properly, and read: POST PARTUM. Those sleepless nights, coupled with pain and
anxiety won’t do you any good. In order to ease the pain and difficulty in breastfeeding, these are signs we were told to watch out for:
It is best to practice good latching. Otherwise, your breasts get sore, and your baby is not able to efficiently get off milk from you. Remember that they dictate your milk supply.
- Baby takes in most part of the areola
- No smacking or clicking noises
- Baby’s chin touches the breast
- Baby is seen swallowing
- Baby’s tongue cups the breast
- Nipples are not flattened after feeding
It is best to practice good latching. Otherwise, your breasts get sore, and your baby is not able to efficiently get off milk from you. Remember that they dictate your milk supply.
On pumping: As a working
mom, it was inevitable that I’ll be pumping my way to my #exclusivebreastfeeding goals. As some breast pumps come for a
price, it is essential that you carefully select the one that would last for a
long time while conforming to your needs. I for
example, needed something fast, handy, and efficient. I initially selected a
heavy duty, hospital grade, double electric Spectra Dew 350 (courtesy of a very supportive sorority sister). It was efficient indeed, and quiet. However, it
was bulky and it needed a power source, which meant that I can only pump in
places where there is a power outlet. I brought it with me to the office
everyday. Unfortunately, one rainy morning, I slipped on a pavement on my way
to work because of the bulkiness of my bags (I had an umbrella, a hand bag,
plus a breast pump bag which was bigger than my hand bag). So this stressed-out-breastfeeding-mom couldn’t help getting emotional as her beige slacks soaked in
the puddle. A week after the incident, I bought a Medela Freestyle breast pump.
Although it is a bit noisy, it is very small, and it can operate either through
its rechargeable battery or through a power source. It also came with straps
and clips to secure the bottles should you not be wearing a handsfree (pumping)
bra. This way, I can pump at my work station, in the car, and even while
driving! Perfect for mobile people like me.
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Pumping at work |
Building your milk stash:
3 weeks before I was scheduled to return to work, I started filling milk bags
with 1.5 oz to 2 oz of milk in a span of an hour. It was very difficult to collect as my milk supply
was still low. My little Selina Barbara was barely 2 months and my milk supply was not yet stable. It was very frustrating. Then an article online recommended pumping in lesser intervals in
order to boost milk supply. By doing so, it signals the body that there is now
a higher demand for milk. That, together with unlimited latching (sometimes in tandem while pumping), moringa
capsules and lots of soup every meal, helped boost my milk supply.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilmnB_aFV8iCb2C_gB8VOQbPQTnfqnotZDfL1sbYd_Yv2itAHiQHmtswrXYDYGAKGJSus5UDy8ygEo5gYvwudX7r5U5hUNT8dEzj_5BMr-7J_SSBFjRg3yGsROIaIYpFzR75F7Idq8Iqg/s320/20161015_105328%255B1%255D.jpg)
Loss of Calcium: Falling
hair and weakened teeth. These started when my little one was going on her 5th
month. I’ve been so caught up with boosting my milk supply that I completely
disregarded the fact that breastfeeding and calcium loss go hand in hand. It is
recommended that nursing mothers consume 1,000 mg of calcium a day. To date, I have
cracked one of my molars, and I still have falling hair. LOL
Breastfeeding is entirely a different chapter altogether. Little Selina
Barbara and I are currently going for our 7th month of exclusive breastfeeding.
We had our own ups and downs, but going home to her after a day's work has been my own little haven ever since I returned to work. Husband has been very supportive as well. I’ve
let go of the milk boosting supplements since we started introducing solids
this month. I have developed a stable routine in pumping, and I am now prepping
myself for another chapter: Teething and Eating Solids.
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