Today's The Star carried an article about mummies who could not breast feed and how society has viewed them and the agony of it all.
As I was reading this article, I felt a sense of regret for mummies who want to breast feed but could not for whatever reasons. Over the years, most of the mummies I know who could not feed successfully was because they were not properly informed, or they lacked support.
And in these instances, they could have been avoided if only someone was there to offer support and guidance. Some mummies tell me they are convinced that they do not have milk because their breasts are small, their mothers could not do it too, their kids reject them, the nipples are sore, they are too tired, the baby is not full, the baby is always waking up to feed, their babies are nursing too long etc.
I always feel sad when I hear this. I really wish there was a way to reach these mothers to share with them the experience and the knowledge. I think that for mummies who tried and failed, you should always remember that you are great mothers anyhow.
I feel blessed that I am able to give my babies the best and I intend to help spread the word on this God sent nutrition to as many mothers as I can. One of the ways I know which can help prepare us in advance is to attend talks on breastfeeding. I attended one sometime back which was conducted by Gina. You can read about it here. Although I consider myself an experienced breast feeding mum, I still learnt a thing or two from this course. It is really worth it, please check it out. I think the next one is running early next month, sign up now!
Showing posts with label Breastfeeding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Breastfeeding. Show all posts
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Hoarding milk powder
This post is inspiried by Kiasu Mom.
Fortunately for me, I pumped till Ryan was 2 years old. And so, I started to buy milk powder only from then. And since I bought it till now, I think the price has increased by 50%! Thanl goodness for the power of the breasts!
Whenver I go buy any of the Enfa series, I am told that this is the milk powder which increases its price fastest and yet, still has the most number of people buying it. And whenver I am told of a possible increase in prices, I will hoard and hoard the milk. I know, I am contributing to the inflations but then ...
The only reason I buy it is because it is from Mead Johnson and now I am beginning to think if the manufacturer is really so important.
Many years ago, I read some where that mothers are a funny kind. Whenever they pick up a can of milk powder, it must contain the most ingredients and that will be the can of choice. And it does not really matter WHAT those ingredients are nor how much is in it. But it must be the longest.
What about you? How do you choose your kid's milk powder?
Fortunately for me, I pumped till Ryan was 2 years old. And so, I started to buy milk powder only from then. And since I bought it till now, I think the price has increased by 50%! Thanl goodness for the power of the breasts!
Whenver I go buy any of the Enfa series, I am told that this is the milk powder which increases its price fastest and yet, still has the most number of people buying it. And whenver I am told of a possible increase in prices, I will hoard and hoard the milk. I know, I am contributing to the inflations but then ...
The only reason I buy it is because it is from Mead Johnson and now I am beginning to think if the manufacturer is really so important.
Many years ago, I read some where that mothers are a funny kind. Whenever they pick up a can of milk powder, it must contain the most ingredients and that will be the can of choice. And it does not really matter WHAT those ingredients are nor how much is in it. But it must be the longest.
What about you? How do you choose your kid's milk powder?
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
I dropped my milk
I was cleaning the fridge last night when one of the ice-cream milk bags fell out. I had just put it in, so the milk has not frozen yet. The whole thing just fell on the floor with a soft thud and the milk were all over.
I had a sudden heartache. Although my production levels this time round is great, I still felt that I had wasted my precious liquid for Megan. I could not help but to feel a little agitated about myself. I supposed I should be thankful that it was the small tube that fell out instead of the big bag.
Sigh, breastfeeding is really not easy. I always feel very defensive about my stand to breastfeed and even more so when it comes to pumping and storing. I really hate people who ask me whether it is safe to feed a baby frozen and thawed milk, if it is fresh, if the nutrition is still there etc. And I always feel that I have to "protect" my stock, all the time.
To have one of them fall out the fridge and spill all over made me cringe with anger, at myself. Argh, stupid silly me!
I had a sudden heartache. Although my production levels this time round is great, I still felt that I had wasted my precious liquid for Megan. I could not help but to feel a little agitated about myself. I supposed I should be thankful that it was the small tube that fell out instead of the big bag.
Sigh, breastfeeding is really not easy. I always feel very defensive about my stand to breastfeed and even more so when it comes to pumping and storing. I really hate people who ask me whether it is safe to feed a baby frozen and thawed milk, if it is fresh, if the nutrition is still there etc. And I always feel that I have to "protect" my stock, all the time.
To have one of them fall out the fridge and spill all over made me cringe with anger, at myself. Argh, stupid silly me!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Breastfed babies and their poop
Megan did not poop over the weekend and up to yesterday, she still did not poop. Nanny was getting a little worried and said that she is perhaps heaty.
However, I assured her that Megan is perfectly fine. In fact, the doctor said that it is normal even if the baby did not poop for up to 14 days. This, provided the baby is exclusively breastfed. If the baby has mixed feedings, then this is not healthy.
As I look up the Net, the following was revealed as to the reasons for this peculiarity.
Breast milk is a miracle milk. It contains all the nutrition that the baby needs in the exact combination that is needed. What is even more amazing is that the milk content changes as the baby grows.
As the baby's intestines mature, she is able to digest the breast milk more completely, therefore, the amount of waste the baby produces becomes lesser. And this in turn would cause the baby to go for days without pooping. Apparently this starts to happen when she is about 6 weeks till 6 months, when she is exclusively breastfed.
However, I only noticed this with Megan in the recent weeks. Thank goodness I have this knowledge, else I would have been very worried too.
And you know what? She pooped this morning, after hubby left for work - guess who had to clean her then?? Love it!
However, I assured her that Megan is perfectly fine. In fact, the doctor said that it is normal even if the baby did not poop for up to 14 days. This, provided the baby is exclusively breastfed. If the baby has mixed feedings, then this is not healthy.
As I look up the Net, the following was revealed as to the reasons for this peculiarity.
Breast milk is a miracle milk. It contains all the nutrition that the baby needs in the exact combination that is needed. What is even more amazing is that the milk content changes as the baby grows.
As the baby's intestines mature, she is able to digest the breast milk more completely, therefore, the amount of waste the baby produces becomes lesser. And this in turn would cause the baby to go for days without pooping. Apparently this starts to happen when she is about 6 weeks till 6 months, when she is exclusively breastfed.
However, I only noticed this with Megan in the recent weeks. Thank goodness I have this knowledge, else I would have been very worried too.
And you know what? She pooped this morning, after hubby left for work - guess who had to clean her then?? Love it!
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Sharing the goodness of breastfeeding
For those of you who know me, you already know that I am a breastfeeding (Bfg) fanatic. For those of you who do not know me, well, I am.
I did not start out to be one though. When I was pregnant with Ryan, I already decided to feed him with infant formulae and even researched on which was a better one. All things changed when a nurse at the hospital gave us a Bfg talk after our delivery. From that moment on, I decided that there will be no other milk but mine!
Hubby was a little confused because we had already decided on the type of milk to buy. When I got home, I just threw out the can, he was not very happy with me tossing out RM50!!
After 3 years of bfg, including 2 years of pumping, Ryan decided that he had had enough and weaned himself. After ending one journey, I started another one with Megan. This time, I knew for certain that she will not be fed infant formulae, although there were a couple of feedings done during the first night at the hospital - I was in too much pain.
From the third day onwards in the hospital, I had major engorgement and began pumping. While there were some feeds which I was too tired to do, the nurses used my expressed milk to feed Megan. Later I found out that the hospital charges infant formulae by the ounces fed - aiks, no wonder Ryan's bill came up a lot more than Megan's!
Anyway, I digress. This post was meant to say how I shared the goodness of bfg. In a visit to the ped some days ago, there was another couple there who wanted to know how to put the baby on a 4-hour feeding schedule. The baby was only a month old and I guess the mother must have been losing some sleep over feeding the baby.
The ped, seeing me there, asked me to talk to the new parents and share my experience. For a brief 10 minutes I felt like I was really helping the baby and his parents, for a brief 10 minutes I felt like I was making a difference to their lives.
The father asked how did I manage to bfg even though I was working, I said I pumped 3-4 times a day. He whistled in admiration. I also told them about my initially painful cracked nipples and the father buried his face into his hands, obviously trying to feel the pain his wife was suffering. But the good thing was, all these problems could be solved easily by correct latch-on positions and perseverance. Of course, the lactation consultant was invaluable too (who happens to me my kids' ped - how great is that?!).
After all the talking, the father was a little disappointed to know that we cannot schedule a bfg baby. They are the kings and queens and their little tummies are the rulers of OUR schedule. It's called feed on demand. With Ryan, he was demanding a feed every 2 hours. Megan is a little further apart although there were times I was feeding her 2-3 times in an hour. But I take these as times I bond with them, times where I look into their tiny faces and wonder about their future.
I feel very blessed to have been able to breastfeed successfully and I would like to share its goodness in every way I can. The best thing about it is, it's free and it is custom made to my babies!!
I did not start out to be one though. When I was pregnant with Ryan, I already decided to feed him with infant formulae and even researched on which was a better one. All things changed when a nurse at the hospital gave us a Bfg talk after our delivery. From that moment on, I decided that there will be no other milk but mine!
Hubby was a little confused because we had already decided on the type of milk to buy. When I got home, I just threw out the can, he was not very happy with me tossing out RM50!!
After 3 years of bfg, including 2 years of pumping, Ryan decided that he had had enough and weaned himself. After ending one journey, I started another one with Megan. This time, I knew for certain that she will not be fed infant formulae, although there were a couple of feedings done during the first night at the hospital - I was in too much pain.
From the third day onwards in the hospital, I had major engorgement and began pumping. While there were some feeds which I was too tired to do, the nurses used my expressed milk to feed Megan. Later I found out that the hospital charges infant formulae by the ounces fed - aiks, no wonder Ryan's bill came up a lot more than Megan's!
Anyway, I digress. This post was meant to say how I shared the goodness of bfg. In a visit to the ped some days ago, there was another couple there who wanted to know how to put the baby on a 4-hour feeding schedule. The baby was only a month old and I guess the mother must have been losing some sleep over feeding the baby.
The ped, seeing me there, asked me to talk to the new parents and share my experience. For a brief 10 minutes I felt like I was really helping the baby and his parents, for a brief 10 minutes I felt like I was making a difference to their lives.
The father asked how did I manage to bfg even though I was working, I said I pumped 3-4 times a day. He whistled in admiration. I also told them about my initially painful cracked nipples and the father buried his face into his hands, obviously trying to feel the pain his wife was suffering. But the good thing was, all these problems could be solved easily by correct latch-on positions and perseverance. Of course, the lactation consultant was invaluable too (who happens to me my kids' ped - how great is that?!).
After all the talking, the father was a little disappointed to know that we cannot schedule a bfg baby. They are the kings and queens and their little tummies are the rulers of OUR schedule. It's called feed on demand. With Ryan, he was demanding a feed every 2 hours. Megan is a little further apart although there were times I was feeding her 2-3 times in an hour. But I take these as times I bond with them, times where I look into their tiny faces and wonder about their future.
I feel very blessed to have been able to breastfeed successfully and I would like to share its goodness in every way I can. The best thing about it is, it's free and it is custom made to my babies!!
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Breastfeeding amongst Malaysians
Today's article in The Star highlighted that the rate of breastfeeding among Malaysian mothers is “very low” -- a mere 14.5% breastfeed their children up to six months, according to Health Ministry statistics.
I am feeling a little sad about these numbers. Having been a breastfeeding mother before, I find that there is still so much more we can do to improve these statistics. The obstacles highlighted here were mothers' ignorance, lack of support from family members/ healthcare providers, mothers returning too soon to the workforce and the availability of infant formulas everywhere telling the mothers that it is better than breast milk.
When Ryan came some years back, I had the exact same obstacles, but I also had a great lactation consultant whom I called and plead and cried to, even before I met her. Through her support and wisdom, I managed to make it through that horrible first week, and then, the confinement month, then 6 months later and then a year and finally, the God sent 2 years where I had not bought a single can of milk powder. Yeah, I don't think the milk company likes me very much. We only stopped breastfeeding completely when Ryan was 2 years and 11 months. The good doctor was very pleased and so was I. Hubby was extremely horrified when we started to buy milk powder - he wondered why they cost so much!!
I am not saying that mothers who choose not to breastfeed are bad, but what I am saying is that if only mothers were given more support, there would be many more who will succeed. We were led to believe that it is ok to substitute breast milk with infant formula, that a cow's milk is just as good as a mother's milk. Now, how can that be? and companies should stop saying that!
These new codes highlighted in the article are supposedly help in monitoring how the formula is advertised etc. But at the end of the day, if the healthcare providers do not start advocating it, there will not be any improvements.
There was a paed that I went to to get some cough syrup and the entire clinic was filled with every imaginable brand of infant formula there. Sure, there was a small rack set up to distribute leaflets about the goodness of mother's milk, but that was it. And if I were an unfortunate mother who goes there for that first jab for the baby, I would obviously have been convinced that formula will be just as good for the baby, minus the hassle of me waking up at night to feed frequently. With formula, the baby is also supposedly be able to sleep longer because the milk composition is harder to digest and thus the baby feels fuller, for a longer period of time. Now, why do you think having the baby feel fuller because of something that is more difficult to digest be better??
While writing this, I am feeling a little angry for all the little babies out there whose mothers were misled, angry with all the milk companies claming that their milk powder is the best, angry with all the healthcare providers who provides free samples of infant formula (I received 2 cans and they were thrown immediately), angry with the milk companies who have caused so much pain and suffering to the babies in China. Really, I am angry that the public see us nursing mums as freaks, thinking that there is something wrong with us for wanting to have this little thing latched on to us.
I can actually go on and on about this. But really, we have to stop thinking that we cannot breastfeed our babies because the doctor/ milk companies/ friends/ relatives etc. said so. We have to believe in ourselves and stand up for our rights, our babies' rights.
With my little one due in the next 2 weeks, I am determined to provide her what I have provided Ryan with - nutrition, love and plenty of tears. And that's about how motherhood is defined in the first place.
I am feeling a little sad about these numbers. Having been a breastfeeding mother before, I find that there is still so much more we can do to improve these statistics. The obstacles highlighted here were mothers' ignorance, lack of support from family members/ healthcare providers, mothers returning too soon to the workforce and the availability of infant formulas everywhere telling the mothers that it is better than breast milk.
When Ryan came some years back, I had the exact same obstacles, but I also had a great lactation consultant whom I called and plead and cried to, even before I met her. Through her support and wisdom, I managed to make it through that horrible first week, and then, the confinement month, then 6 months later and then a year and finally, the God sent 2 years where I had not bought a single can of milk powder. Yeah, I don't think the milk company likes me very much. We only stopped breastfeeding completely when Ryan was 2 years and 11 months. The good doctor was very pleased and so was I. Hubby was extremely horrified when we started to buy milk powder - he wondered why they cost so much!!
I am not saying that mothers who choose not to breastfeed are bad, but what I am saying is that if only mothers were given more support, there would be many more who will succeed. We were led to believe that it is ok to substitute breast milk with infant formula, that a cow's milk is just as good as a mother's milk. Now, how can that be? and companies should stop saying that!
These new codes highlighted in the article are supposedly help in monitoring how the formula is advertised etc. But at the end of the day, if the healthcare providers do not start advocating it, there will not be any improvements.
There was a paed that I went to to get some cough syrup and the entire clinic was filled with every imaginable brand of infant formula there. Sure, there was a small rack set up to distribute leaflets about the goodness of mother's milk, but that was it. And if I were an unfortunate mother who goes there for that first jab for the baby, I would obviously have been convinced that formula will be just as good for the baby, minus the hassle of me waking up at night to feed frequently. With formula, the baby is also supposedly be able to sleep longer because the milk composition is harder to digest and thus the baby feels fuller, for a longer period of time. Now, why do you think having the baby feel fuller because of something that is more difficult to digest be better??
While writing this, I am feeling a little angry for all the little babies out there whose mothers were misled, angry with all the milk companies claming that their milk powder is the best, angry with all the healthcare providers who provides free samples of infant formula (I received 2 cans and they were thrown immediately), angry with the milk companies who have caused so much pain and suffering to the babies in China. Really, I am angry that the public see us nursing mums as freaks, thinking that there is something wrong with us for wanting to have this little thing latched on to us.
I can actually go on and on about this. But really, we have to stop thinking that we cannot breastfeed our babies because the doctor/ milk companies/ friends/ relatives etc. said so. We have to believe in ourselves and stand up for our rights, our babies' rights.
With my little one due in the next 2 weeks, I am determined to provide her what I have provided Ryan with - nutrition, love and plenty of tears. And that's about how motherhood is defined in the first place.
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