You are thrown into motherhood immediately, with choices you have to make the minute your baby is born. This is an exhausting time for you but you still have work to do. Right when the baby is out you’re told you have to start breastfeeding immediately. What?! Breastfeeding? Who’s going to teach or show me how? These questions are running through your mind while your baby is being plopped onto your body to do just that, breastfeed.
Yes it is instinctive and natural, but that doesn’t mean it is easy. As easy as it sounds to just plop a baby on your chest every time they’re hungry, it is anything BUT that. Breastfeeding entails a great amount of work.
- Firstly, you have to make sure your baby can latch or has a good latch. Generally, this is instinctive and many babies will know how to latch on their own right away. They will smell the colostrum, latch, and start sucking. However, some babies cant latch to the mom’s breast right away. This is where a lactation consultant usually aids both the mother and baby BUT you can imagine just how frustrating this is to a new mom and hungry baby.
- Secondly, even if the baby knows how to latch right away, like I previously mentioned, you have to make sure your baby is latched on properly. Improper latch can cause many issues down the line, such as pain for the mother and baby not eating enough. Also, breastfeeding a baby with pain caused by improper latch is anything but fun.
- Third, in the early days of breastfeeding, you’re not actually making “milk” yet. You are making colostrum – milk usually comes in after a few days, depending on the mothers’ body. Generally after about 3 days. In this time, most moms are worried their baby isn’t drinking enough since breast milk isn’t measured during a feed and you cant physically SEE the amount of milk your baby is actually intaking. While your baby is sucking, you have to make sure theyre actually drinking. To make sure they’re eating enough, you have to become an inspector and listen to cues, listen to gulping – which seems easy, but again because they’re so little they don’t make it that obvious they’re actually drinking. Also, it is important to note how many wet diapers your baby has and how often. This is a big indictor as to whether they’re actually drinking the milk or not.
- Lastly, in the first few days of giving birth, your baby will probably cluster feed every few days – which means sit on your chest for hours upon hours eating, and eating, anddddd eating. It is tiringggg – trust me. Cluster feeding continues for a few months after giving birth as well.
Did I say tiring enough times yet?! You get my point.
Now keep in mind, everything I mentioned above, starts happening immediately after birth, which means when you’re still trying to heal from the actual process of giving birth.
Sure you could have prepared for this moment, read books, taken classes, watched videos – but nothing is like the real experience. Every experience depends on your baby and body.
SO – Why did I choose to breastfeed instead of formula feed?
I am going to start out by explaining why I don’t think I “chose” to breastfeed. To be honest, I don’t view breastfeeding as a “choice”. I understand that in today’s world it may be viewed as a choice because of the availability of another food option, formula. To me, this wasn’t a choice. In my mind, as long as my body produced milk, I was going to breastfeed.
However easy or complicated it was, I was going to do it. Why? Why was I so determined?
My answer is simple: its provided by God – it is natural- it is perfectly made by my body for my baby. How extraordinary is that? How miraculous?! No wonder it has been given the name Liquid Gold!
I view breast milk as my baby’s human right. I don’t believe I have the choice in determining whether he gets to have it or not. I believe just like God so perfectly formed my baby, he also so perfectly formed the most nutritious food for his early stages in life. How am I allowed to just make a choice of not providing him with it?
Other than all the other extraordinary facts found on breast milk and its benefits to both my baby and myself, this is simply my answer. (If you’ve never read facts about the benefits of breastfeeding, I would urge you to do so – it’s astounding!)
My Breastfeeding Journey
When my baby boy was first born he was brought to me right away to breastfeed.
He latched on right away and started feeding. Again, this was miraculous to me. A baby, not even five minutes old, knew how to drink his milk instinctively.
The next few weeks were a little challenging to say the least. A couple days after giving birth, I experienced my first cluster feed. It lasted for hours – cluster feeds, accompanied with the baby blues, pain from labour and little to no sleep is exhausting. I remember sitting on the couch from the morning until mid afternoon just breastfeeding my baby – no shower, breakfast, or even a 5-minute break.
I also chose to exclusively breastfeed and did not pump at all. With exclusive breastfeeding- it takes more time, you get zero help feeding the baby, and it’s harder when you go out in public. I made the choice to exclusively breastfeed because again, it’s the most natural way to feed a baby and because I wanted to strengthen the bond between my baby and I through breastfeeding. Although my main priority was for my son to receive my breastmilk, it was important to have him feed from me directly, instead of a bottle. (With that being said, I am not against pumping at all – I think the next best way to feed a baby is through pumping your breastmilk. However I should mention, if you do choose to pump milk, it is not recommended to pump during the first six weeks after giving birth because it can create an oversupply and cause an issue for both you and your baby – unless you’re planning on exclusively pumping.)
During the first six months of my baby’s life, I exclusively breastfed him and did not feed him any solids foods. Up until about six months of age, my baby was feeding every 2-3 hours during the day and would feed about 4 to 5 times during the night (he slept 12 hours every night from the age of 2 months – I know I’m lucky!)
Once my baby turned six months, I started him on solid foods slowly. With solids, he was breastfeeding every 3-4 hours on average.
My baby boy just turned a year old a few weeks ago! He is now eating three meals a day along with some breastmilk. He now breastfeeds about 3-4 times during the day and doesn’t breastfeed at night anymore.
I plan to breastfeed my baby as long as I produce milk – up to two years of age. Breastfeeding a baby for two years is reccomended by the Islamic religion as well as by The World Health Organization – which is why I have made this choice. Babies can start weaning themselves by the age of 18 months -if my baby weans himself before the age of 2, then thats when I’ll stop. Remember, its important to recognize your baby’s desire as well.
Lastly,
I will admit – Breastfeeding has been one of the most challenging things I’ve done my whole life. It is hard – plain and simple. It requires a lot of patience, energy, and self sacrifice. I have come to a point in my breastfeeding journey where I finally enjoy it. The love my baby has for breastmilk is beautiful. Knowing that I was able to provide him with such a blessing makes me happy and content. Through all the struggles, I know it’s worth it. I know it will benefit my son and that’s the most important thing to me.
I also know that one day I’ll miss these days. I’ll miss cuddling with him for every feed. Anytime I’ve felt challenged or pressured by breastfeeding in the past, I always reminded myself how temporary it is and how I should enjoy these precious moments with my baby. These thoughts are what have gotten me through this journey during the tough times. Keeping a positive mind and attitude about it is my biggest advice to anyone that is currently breastfeeding or plans on breastfeeding in the future.
DISCLAIMER:
Keep in mind that I am not against anyone that chooses to formula feed their baby; everyone has their own situation, their own mindset, and can make their own choices. This is just the way I feel and the reason behind why I breastfed my baby. I was fortunate enough to be able to stay home and exclusively breastfeed – I understand some people have to get back to work, cant produce an adequate amount of milk, or just physically aren’t able to breastfeed. Again, to each their own, everyone knows what they’re capable of doing and can make their own choices towards themselves and their babies.
Also, all the power to all moms in whichever way they choose to feed their baby – whether it be exclusive breastfeeding, breastmilk through bottles, or formula!
Hope my thoughts and journey has helped someone out there!
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