When i was still pregnant, I was so worried. It was because I was afraid I might not give breast milk to my first baby. I wanted my child to be breastfed as long as she wants it. I kept on asking my mom whether I was breastfed also when I was still a baby. I was relieved when she told me that I was.
Practicality and health wise, I knew it is very advantageous to breastfeed a baby.
What caused my fear? It was because I was physically gifted with small breasts. My bust size was only 30. I was doubtful that time my breasts couldn't give milk to my daughter because a close friend of mine which has a very big breast wasn't able to lactate for his son.
I did everything to produce milk. I ate nutritious food, took my vitamins, drink plenty of water, juices and soups. I even massage my breast every time I take a bath that time. My perseverance didn't fail me. On my 8th month pregnancy, I already have breast milk. I was so happy that time because I know my baby will benefit more for it.
Thea and me @ Ricardo V. Limso NICU breastfeeding area. She was still 2 days old.
When my daughter was born, she was left at the NICU for 3 days while I was already discharged. She needed to complete her laboratory and antibiotics before getting out. She was suspected to have acquired bacterial infection because I delivered her normally but with ruptured water bag. I found it hard to breastfeed her. She only sucks twice a day because it was hard for me to go back and forth to the hospital to feed her. I realized that I also suffered pain when can't able to suck milk from me. The excruciating pain goes up to my head. Being a new mom, I didn't use a breast pump to have my milk expressed. I really thought I could handle the pain. But I was really wrong.
When my daughter got out from the hospital, she continued breastfeeding. The problem arose when I needed to go out. I always bring her whenever I go because I wanted her to have exclusive breastfeeding. This became a failure. It was in her 2nd month that I was forced to mix her feeding with formula milk to avoid malnutrition when I'm out.
Breastfeeding @ the People's Park after doing my Taebo routines :-)
The conflict got worse when Thea doesn't want to be feed with bottle. She cries at the sight of bottles. She relied so much with my nipples. Her pediatrician told me that there are babies like her who doesn't want the hardness of the nipples of the bottle. What we did was to have her formula milk put in a dropper and have drops on her whenever she's hungry. The same thing was done with my expressed breast milk since she hated the bottle nipples. She didn't even have a pacifier for the same reason.
Thea during her Christening. May 29, 2011.
I am encouraging working moms like me to breastfeed their babies. Here are the benefits of breastfeeding.
1. Greater immune health. During breastfeeding, antibodies pass to the baby.
2. Fewer infections. Studies show that breastfed infants have a lower risk of infection than non-breastfed infants.
3. Protection from SIDS. Breastfed babies have better arousal from sleep at 2–3 months. This coincides with the peak incidence of sudden infant death syndrome.
4. Higher intelligence. Studies have examined whether breastfeeding in infants is associated with higher intelligence later in life. Many have found a connection.
5. Less diabetes. Infants exclusively breastfed have less chance of developing diabetes mellitus type 1 than peers with a shorter duration of breastfeeding and an earlier exposure to cow milk and solid foods.
7. Less childhood obesity. Breastfeeding appears to reduce the risk of extreme obesity in children aged 39 to 42 months.
8. Less tendency to develop allergic diseases (atopy). In children who are at risk for developing allergic diseases (defined as at least one parent or sibling having atopy), atopic syndrome can be prevented or delayed through exclusive breastfeeding for four months, though these benefits may not be present after four months of age.
9. Less necrotizing enterocolitis in premature infants. Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is an acute inflammatory disease in the intestines of infants. Necrosis or death of intestinal tissue may follow.
10. Bonding. Hormones released during breastfeeding help to strengthen the maternal bond.
11. Hormone release. Breastfeeding releases oxytocin and prolactin, hormones that relax the mother and make her feel more nurturing toward her baby.
12. Weight loss. As the fat accumulated during pregnancy is used to produce milk, extended breastfeeding—at least 6 months—can help mothers lose weight.
13. Natural postpartum infertility. Breastfeeding may delay the return to fertility for some women by suppressing ovulation
14. Long-term health effects. For breastfeeding women, long-term health benefits include: Less risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and endometrial cancer.
I am proud and contented being a working yet breastfeeding mom. Sacrifices have to be made. I became unselfish and more matured in life.
Breastfeeding @ SM Davao. Hassle-free..:-)
( Source: Wikipedia )
