My Breastfeeding Journey

Before Baby A was before I know in my heart that I will be breastfeeding my son. I saw some of my Aunts doing it with my cousins when I was young and so I thought this act is hereditary and it's just a breeze. However they were mix feeding my cousins at that time, if my memory serves me right they only breastfed their children for less than 6mos and they were giving formula milk and water. So I thought that was the best thing to do. But I have nothing against formula or mix feeding a child. You know as they say different folks different strokes :)

During my pregnancy I tried to do my own research, read books (What to Expect When You're Expecting?) and blogs (FB Breastfeeding Pinays,  FB MomCenter, KellyMom.com, AbundantMama.com, Chronicles of a nursing mom etc.), I attended some seminars and start taking supplements for breast milk production. Since this is my first time to be a Mom and a single parent, I decided to equipped myself with all the things I have to know in taking care of my son. I learned that breastmilk is the best food that you can give to your child and no formula milk can equate all the nutrients they can get from their Mama's milk, and I realized that when Baby A feeds in me that is our way to bond more. I've learned also that babies who are  breastfeed for at least 6mos are healthier and stronger.

Before my delivery, I created a birth plan (i will write about my birth plan next time)  indicating that we will have Unang Yakap and no glucose water nor formula will be given to my child and I gave a copy of my plan to my OB. However, since Baby A arrived earlier than what we expect I think my OB forgot to hand over the copies of my birth plan to all of those who will be part of my delivery, hence we were not able to experience Unang Yakap because he was place on my tummy for a few minutes then I just touched him and count his fingers in his hands and toes making sure he is complete. Then he was whisked to be clean and transferred to a nursery room immediately. He latched hours after he was born. He is smart boy because he is able to find my breast right away and he didn't wound me. He was just 2.25kgs back then but after 6weeks he gained 4.6kgs.

Was my breastfeeding journey easy? NO! it was not easy, there were A LOT of frustrations. When he was born and latched I didn't see any milk coming out from my breast, but they said there is a colostrum which is almost a drop or 1tsp and the healthiest milk he can get from me. After we were discharged from the hospital the first 2 nights were exhausting. The anesthesia is gone, and I already feel the episiotomy, I was sweating profusely though the fan and aircon is on, my whole body is aching and I have a screaming baby with me. The articles that I read, doctors and lactation consultants I met during my pregnancy said that all women have enough milk to nourish their child and baby will cry not only because of hunger but also because of other reasons like they are cold or they are looking for the same tight and crowded place when they were still in the womb and they might be missing their comfort sounds like your heart beat. But during that first week my faith in my ability is shaking as I don't see any milk coming out from my breast and my baby is crying. What I do to comfort Baby A is cradle him, I let him latched then the crying ceased and he fell asleep on my chest. Though I'm not sure if he fell asleep because he was full or because he chose to sleep hungry. I chose to keep my faith strong (And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus - Philippians 4:19).

But since I am not seeing any milk from me, and my parents starts to bombard me with their thoughts saying that my baby will get hungry because I don't have a milk or what's my plan when I go back to work? that I have to formula feed him because my supply is not enough. Take note, it was just 2 days ago when I gave birth, my body is in pain, not yet fully recovered, I didn't have enough sleep and I have a baby who is always hungry, extremely exhausting for me. But I didn't give up, I contacted Zalor Massage for a home service lactation massage, I met them in one of the seminars I attended. Ate Lorena was the owner and the therapist who went to my house in the afternoon for my 2hours massage. It was relief and during the massage I started to see milk coming out from my breast and I was so happy. Somehow I felt better, the muscle pain is removed except the pain in  my episiotomy and I saw milk dripping in my breast. My confidence grew back and I knew I can feed my baby. And before Ate Lorena left she also taught me the proper latching of Baby A so he can get what he needs.

Then 2 weeks after my child birth I need to go back to my OB for my checkup. I was not yet pumping and storing milk that time. I didn't have any choice but to bring Baby A with me in the clinic, so whenever he wants to eat he can latch with me while waiting for my turn. On my 3rd week I started to pump. I felt dismayed at first because after 30mins of pumping I only get 1oz of milk. That's not enough for Baby A when I start to go back to work. So I had more soup, I decided to boil 1 liter of malunggay leaves and drank it the whole day (the taste is not really good), I even taught to eat the malunggay tree itself to have a lot milk, I ordered online for lactation cookies, ate oatmeal and drank a lot of milo in order for me to produce more milk. I even ate gyunura or ashitaba leaves once a day which some mothers says will help the increase of  milk production. I also followed the power pumping which means I will pump every 3hrs thus I have to wake up every night just to pump and tried feed blocking. Feed blocking means that I will just offer one breast the whole night and let the other one produce and stock the milk and pump everything in the morning. I did that for almost 6 weeks and on my 7th week Lo and Behold at 5am my breast is hard as rock and  it looks like a dripping faucet, the other side leaks when he is nursing on the other side. From then on, I started to store at least 5oz per day then it increase to 6oz, 10oz and now at least 14oz per day. I am able to store enough milk for him before I go back to work.

Ideally a 2mos old baby tummy has the same size of a marble and they can consume 1oz per hour. but that's not how it works with my son. He consume 2oz per feeding and sometimes 2.5oz, so in a day he can chow down at least 2 packs or 14oz of milk. As a routine when I wake up in the morning I feed him on my right breast and once he is full I pump the left side, then I prepare for work and before I leave if he is awake I nurse him again on the left side. I pump every 3hrs in the office clinic and produce at least 10oz of milk. Enough to replenish my stored milk in the fridge that Baby A consumed. When I get home he nursed directly to me the whole night.

For me breastfeeding is a challenge worth taking specially that I see my son happy, healthy and strong. The bond that we form every time he nurse and good effect on me because I am able to get back in shape after 2mos and wear my old clothes again. It is a challenge because I need to wake up every night and to cradle my son while he is nursing. That even if I wanted to do something else I drop it to feed him, there were times that my breast were rock as hard and it's too painful until I pump it, my aching shoulders because of the extra bags I bring in the office where I put all my paraphernalia for breast pumping. Some even say that I should train Baby A as early as now on his nursing session, to give him a feeding schedule. However I decided to have him unli-latch with me, so during my Maternity Leave he nurse whenever he wants and as long as he wants. He is a voracious eater, when he latched sometimes I feel that he is sucking the life out of me! hehehe and most of the time he sounds chomp-chomp-chomp when he nurse and he also a bit overprotective of his milk he hugs my breast while nursing . If he was removed to my breast because he is sleeping and he lost his grip he cries and if he was not back to my breast immediately the crying will turn to screaming which will wake the whole apartment. But what I love the most is whenever he nurse now he is staring at me looking contented, there were moments when he talks to my breast because while he is latching he also make cooing sounds and sometimes giggles even if my breast is in his mouth. I like it also when he use my breast as his pillow after he nurse.

I am planning to breastfeed my son until his 6th month, but if after 6mos and he doesn't want to be wean and I still have an abundant supply of milk we will do this together until he turns 1.