The other day, a colleague chatted with me about breastfeeding. She just gave birth and was worried she’s doing something wrong because when her baby latches, she still feels pain. I was flattered because of all the people, she asked me about breastfeeding. Of course I was very excited to answer her questions. Breastfeeding is one topic I can talk about over and over again.
I breastfed Ayex, my eldest girl, for 3 years, almost exclusively for the first two years. Now, I am breastfeeding Maxyn for 5 months already. While I was talking to this colleague of mine, I realized that I only have one content tagged for breastfeeding. Ang tapang ko pang ilagay na breastfeeding advocate ako! So I told myself I should populate my content based on my own experiences and this is the start of my breastfeeding posts.
I know I will never be successful in breastfeeding without these tips. I will be forever grateful to everyone involved because without them, I will never discover this miracle.
- Hand yourself with information. Read everything you can and do your research.
The package I got from my Tito, who is based in Guam, contained a pamphlet about breastfeeding. I read over and over again until I feel I am already knowledgeable. I also read forums to get insights from other moms.
- Have a support system.
Inform your husband, your parents, your helpers, and your colleagues about your decision to breastfeed. You will not be successful if there would be someone who will keep on insisting about feeding your baby with formula milk each time they will hear your baby cry during feeding because you can’t make him/her latch properly or he/she is not getting enough milk. When your colleagues are informed of your decision, it is easier to go back to work (if you work outside home) after your maternity leave and still continue breastfeeding your baby.
- Gear up.
During Ayex’s time, there was a very few selection of pumps. I had a manual Avent pump then and I make my own ice to keep the milk cold until I get home. Now, we invested in a single electric pump (ISIS Uno) and I have gel packs that turn into ice when placed in the freezer. Also, instead of storing in milk bottles, I now use milk bags, which are great space saver, specially when you have limited freezer space. Having tools that suit your needs will definitely make your life easier and you will be able to feed your baby with the best milk available – your milk.
- Live by your values.
Patience, perseverance and dedication, for me are the key values why I successfully breastfed Ayex. Also, I was not shy to ask for help if there’s anything I don’t know. I still live by these values in the hope that I can breastfeed Maxyn as long as she wants to.
How about you, are you a breastfeeding mom too or know someone who is? Why don’t you share with us your tips?
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