UNSOLICITED ADVICE FROM A FIRST-TIME NURSING MOM

As I’ve mentioned in my  previous blog entry, breastfeeding may take a real toll on a first-time mom both physically and emotionally.  I myself struggled for a few weeks before I finally mastered the art of nursing my little one. I hope these tips and insights would somehow help you in your breastfeeding career and pacify all your worries.

START EARLY

It is best to start your breastfeeding career within an hour after birth if possible. It is when the baby is prepared and the natural feeling to suck is at its peak. Don’t expect too much flow of milk supply on the first four days after giving birth. Although you will not yet be producing milk, your breasts contain colostrum, a thin milky fluid that contains important antibodies that helps boost your child’s immune system.

NURSE FREQUENTLY

No electric breastpump nor a pricey manual pump could ever dramatically increase your milk supply than nursing your newborn frequently. During the first six week of your baby’s life, try to do direct feeding as much as possible as you are still on the stage of establishing your supply. I breastfed Victoria at least every two to three hours. This helped me establish my milk flow. It also kept my breasts soft and it helped prevent engorgement. Breastfeeding on cue (per demand) will help stimulate your breasts to produce more milk. If the baby had experienced taking formula milk while in the hospital, try first to at least give your breasts before attempting to feed him/her with formula milk.

PROPER POSITIONING

          Having the proper positioning for breastfeeding will play a major role in reducing nipple soreness. It likewise maximizes feeding. There are several positions that are recommended for breastfeeding. For Victoria and I, side-lying position is the best. Plus it helps me get extra moments of rest and at times, nap, as I feed her.

On PUMPING and ENGORGEMENT

When you begin breastfeeding, your mammary glands will be producing a lot of milk, which can make you breasts hard nd painfuuuuuul. You can help relieve engorgement by nursing frequently until your body is able to adjust and produce only as much as the baby needs. While your body fine-tunes or is in the stage of adjusting, you can help ease the pain by applying warm compresses or taking warm baths.  The only solution for an engorgement is to nurse your baby. If she’s no longer hungry and won’t take in your breasts, try expressing through your hand. Do not pump as it will only worsen the situation not unless you’re already breastfeeding for 4-5 months. If not, ask help from your husband. Believe me, it works. Wink!;)

Do not pump at least on the first six week after giving birth. Direct feed as much as possible. Not all mothers are able to master the art of pumping. It takes a lot of practice.If you can’t afford buying an electric breast pump, there are several affordable manual breastpumps in the market. I tried at least three brands but to no avail. Instead, expressing thru the hand worked best for me.

NO NEED FOR WATER ON THE FIRST 6 MONTHS

There is no need for supplement breastfeeding with water or formula. This may lead to a diminished milk supply and your baby may no longer feed from you due to nipple confusion. Breastfeeding your baby more often will in turn cause you to produce more milk.

 EAT HEALTHY

          A nursing mother needs to eat a healthy diet in order to produce enough good milk. Go for fruits and vegetables especially Malunggay plus soupy dishes. If you are not a big fan of viands with malunggay , try taking moringa capsules. Natalac is quite expensive especially if you take it 2-3 times daily. If you want to order, I have a friend who is a nurse at the Department of Education, they supply cheaper but of quality Moringa Capsules. Oatmeal is good as well. Drink 6 to 8 glasses of fluids. Drink at least one glass of water before and every after feeding. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and smoking You should also rest as much as possible and shooo shooo all negative vibes.

          I hope this would be of great help to all first-time mothers who plan to breastfeed and are breastfeeding their little one!=)

Breast is best!

           

Perhaps one of the best decisions I have ever made as a mother is to breastfeed Victoria. I must admit it wasn’t an easy feat nor it was simply making sure your baby knows how to latch properly right from the start. Breastfeeding takes time, responsibility , commitment and love on the part of the mother.

Though during our student days in Nursing we were taught on the benefits of nursing a child, it is only when I became a part of the Pediatric Ward at the South Cotabato Provincial Hospital did my advocacy for Breastfeeding began. During rounds, we make sure that we see no feeding bottles and that every mother practices breastfeeding especially on newborns. At times, we confiscate feeding bottles and promote the wonders of Breastfeeding. We likewise teach mothers the proper position that will help ensure proper latch-on thus maximize feeding.

On my 2^nd semester in the Graduate Studies for Master of Arts in Nursing, I was tasked to give a lecture and demo on Breastfeeding at a far-flung baranggay in Tantangan, South Cotabato. Other than the usual knowledge I have, I did an all-embracing research on the different aspects of Breastfeeding. I spent countless days and nights just to perfect the content of my lecture. Fyi, I did it not only for my listeners but for myself as well as I was nine months pregnant then. During those times when I was completely pre-occupied with this project and during those moments when I felt tired and am on the verge of giving up, I soothe myself by caressing my big belly and I whisper to Victoria, “ Just hold on my little sweetheart, this is for you. I vow to breastfeed you for as long as I can”.

Two days after delivering my lecture, I gave birth to my little angel. It was the happiest day of my life. Due to the drowsiness brought about by the anesthesia administered to me, I could no longer recall if the medical team implemented the Unang Yakap program of the DOH. Nevertheless, I didn’t bother myself much as I was just so excited to nurse my newborn. After spending three hours in the recovery room, I was transferred to a private room and despite my lethargy, I kept asking what time would the baby be roomed-in. Unfortunately and much to my disappointment, she was transferred to our room the following day with a feeding bottle and a formula milk. I was really to the nth power very saddened that my baby had formula milk on her very first day of life. But I don’t want to further elaborate on this matter. The precise moment that I cuddled her, I immediately allowed her to latch on my nipple and voila, a vacuum cleaner is no match to my Victoria’s sucking skills. Latching on was never a problem for us. On the fourth day, she finally had her dose of colostrum.  

The first two weeks of breastfeeding was extremely painfuuuuuuuuuul. Yes I did an extensive research on this yet no book nor search engine had ever said it was super agonizing at the beginning. I never  thought breastfeeding would be so much work. I had fantasized it as simply cuddling your baby in your arms and feeding her and be done with it.  Getting up every 2-3 hours during the first 2-3 months to nourish Victoria and feeding her almost every hour during growth spurts took a real toll on my body and patience as it was truly physically demanding for a first-time mommy. I also experienced having sore nipples, engorgement and had an issue with my milk supply thinking it wasn't sufficient enough.   To be honest, I was already thinking of giving up but whenever I look at my daughter, I realized that I would not deprive her of the best nutrition there is. I did my best to triumphed over all these challenges for the love of Victoria.

Promoting breastfeeding is very easy, practicing it is incredibly difficult. Other than the pain on the first few weeks plus a few moments of engorgement, making sure that my milk supply is of quality and comes in good quantity was also a big challenge for me. I have to be really strict with my diet. And since I was attending classes during weekends, I have to make sure she also has enough supply in the fridge. It took me quite some to time to master the art of pumping.

expressed  milk

On her sixth month, she began teething and the pain I experienced on her first 2 weeks tripled. When her teeth came out, I felt like screaming every after feeding.

But looking back, all my sacrifices as a nursing mom paid off. Victoria though very lean is healthy. She is never sickly (knocking on wood). She didn’t experience having diarrhea nor constipation. She had fever only every after immunization and once when she was teething. She isn’t prone to cough and colds as well. And of course, nothing could beat our mother-child bond that was strengthened through breastfeeding.

 Somehow, I have mastered the art of breastfeeding and it’s much easier now. It was just like counting 1,2,3. Now, I enjoy it so much and even if sometime in the future, I have to pump and feed or supplement with formula, I plan on continuing breastfeeding for as long as possible. Victoria is turning 10 months old next week and I’m proud to say that I still exclusively breastfeed her (with solid foods this time). Fingers crossed, I would still be able to extend my breastfeeding career until she turns two years old. 

For me breastfeeding Victoria is very rewarding - being able to hold her, bond with her while she looks at me in the eyes or holds my breast with her tiny hands and being able to provide her with something natural, something purely from me. I always thank God for giving me these breasts that produce milk which feed, nourish, and sustain my daughter’s life. Breast is best!

A Mother's Love

Our love story began with two lines. Two lines that made my heart throb incessantly. Two lines that made me scream from the top of my lungs. Two lines that I know will forever change my life. The moment I knew I am having a baby, I cried with so much happiness. I waited long-sufferingly for ages for an “answered prayer”. That very day I could say I was the happiest woman alive.

For the next nine months after receiving the good news, I tried my best to nurture and nourish the little angel inside my tummy. I obediently followed my OB’s orders and advice. My husband and I made sure that I eat healthy, drink milk, take all the necessary supplements and of course I bid goodbye to all stressors both physically and emotionally. I read books on pregnancy and child rearing. I did some research on Breastfeeding. I solicited advices from mommy friends. We had long days of classical music as well. Mozart, Beethoven… my little one surely enjoyed their masterpieces. I wanted to give her nothing but the best even when she’s still inside my tummy. I shopped like crazy and bought really good stuffs for her regardless of the price. Talking to her every day was also a must. I was exaggeratedly an excited mommy-to-be.

Motherhood indeed starts upon conception. My love for her began the moment I knew that a new life is stirring inside me. It grew stronger the moment I heard her tiny heartbeat for the very first time. Her playful kicks never fail to remind me that from that moment on I will never be alone for the rest of my life because I have her. Victoria was indeed heaven-sent.

Though I stopped working full time and had a part time job with Save the Children, I was, at the same time, taking a Masters Degree in Nursing. On weekends, I took my little one to class and she was very participative and active during class hours. She never stopped showing me off her kicking prowess all throughout a tedious session especially during Research and Statistics to keep me awake. I knew then I wasn’t only carrying a prima ballerina in the making but a genius as well.

February 07, 2011 (same as her daddy’s birthday) at exactly 5:43 in the afternoon via C-section, I finally met in person the baby girl who taught me how to really love wholeheartedly. In my entire life, I really never had an idea of what pure love is until the moment I look in my child’s eyes for the first time. Then and there I truly understood what unconditional love is.

They often say that “The moment a child is born, the mother is also born”.  True enough, motherhood is a life-changing experience for me.  It made me go through a bundle of firsts. For me being a mother means that my heart and my soul are no longer mine, I already surrendered it all to my daughter.

 To me, my daughter is one of the most beautiful miracles in life, one of the greatest joys I’ll ever have, and one of the reasons why there is a little extra sunshine, laughter and happiness in my world today.

       To my sweet Victoria, I still do not know what the future has in store for us but one thing is for sure, I’ll hold you tight as we walk in life. And together, we’ll paint this world sizzling HOT PINK! I love you.