Beyond Motherhood

The way I see breastfeeding is a blessing not only for the mother but the child as well. It has been said that mother’s milk is the best, highly nutritious and builds the baby immune system. I strongly believed that the nursing relationship has great attachments, deeply connected and bonding between mother and child. Parents have various stories to share when it comes to breast-feeding from child one to the next, they face different experiences.

My most challenging, I would say the toughest and tiring breastfeeding experience will be my first child. As a first time parent I have no idea of how would it feel when the baby sucked or the proper way to nurse a baby. I know it is a way to feed the baby and after weeks of my breastfeeding journey, I discovered that it was more than just feeding the baby. It is all about love, bonding, and relationship and so much more. It is definitely a priceless experience I ever had.

When my first child was born, I didn’t know what to do. I pre-informed the nurses that I would breastfeed him fully. I feel so funny when the doctor handed my baby and says “go ahead and breastfeed” I just look at him. The nurses guided me after that but my baby won’t latch, and he starts crying. I feel upset and tried a few times. He did suck for awhile but his mouth like hanging at the tip of the nipple. No milk coming out and I feel so ticklish. After a few hours of trying, still no milk, the baby starts crying out loud, and I told the nurse to give him formula.

When I go home the next day he is still on a formula and for the first three days when there is no sign of my milk, I feel even more frustrated. However, I feel so relieved that after the forth day my milk starts to appear and flowing. When I say flowing really flowing a lot and the engorgement was really painful. Not only that, when the baby starts sucking, the discomfort occurred on one side of the breast and worst he had a strong preference for the left side. On the seventh day of my breastfeeding journey I developed fever, and I was shivering, I feel so cold. I still continue my nursing journey and the milk leaks even more. To cut the story short the enjoyment begins after one month of breastfeeding and from there on I begin to appreciate every moment of my feeding with him. I fully breastfeed him for 2 months and when I get back to work the only time I breastfeed was during my lunch and night time the rest is formula milk. I wean him from nursing when he is 3 years plus as I’m pregnant for the second child.

My second breastfeeding experience was easy. The moment she was born, I immediately breastfeed her, and she latch so easily. She is fully breastfeed for 3 months (I took 1 month unpaid leave) and after returning to work, I would go back during lunch and breastfeed her fully at night. She wean from breast after 2 years plus when I discovered I’m pregnant with my third child.

After my first and second experience, the third one was way too easy as I was already become a stay at home mom. I never gave him water until the sixth month. He is soon 11 months and still on fully breastfeed. I hope to continue nursing him until he outgrows the need. Yes, at times it was a tiring journey, but when I look into the eyes of each of my babies during the feeding, it make me thinking and realize that there was no other way I could have fed them not forgetting the feeling as I hold them close, the touch of their skin against mine the sweet smell of baby, make me want to cry. It is so beautiful and I thank God for the breastfeeding journey experience I had.

Best of all from my first pregnancy to the last, after giving birth to three children I never had a weight problem. I believe it is because of the breastfeeding that I lost weight faster. Though I hope to gain weight a little but I’m thankful that I don’t need to go and search for best weight loss supplement to lose weight.

How about you? How do you feel about breastfeeding? What are the hardships, trials, joys and triumphs you’ve experienced?

Related Posts