Breastfeeding Successfully

As a mom, all I want is the best and only the best for my kids. I know, one of my best decision in life was to breastfeed my little girl. I haven't able to do that to my eldest. The number one reason is lack of information about breastfeeding. I thought I don't have milk after trying to feed him for a day and my baby is still crying. Thinking that he doesn't get any milk from me, we decided to buy him formula milk. That is why when I got pregnant to my second baby, I started searching the internet about breastfeeding, and big thanks to the Facebook group breastfeedingpinays. They really helped me a lot. Supplied me with a lot of information I need. To this moment, I am proud to inform you all, I am exclusively breastfeeding my little girl for 21 months and counting and hopefully until she quits on her own.

Breastfeeding is not as easy as it looks. It takes a mother's courage and dedication, time and effort. I will be sharing you some information, tips, and everything that I could share from my breastfeeding journey.

Let's start from preparing for the big day.

Cleaning your nipples and areolas. It's simple and easy, but be very careful. Just scrub some warm water and soft cloth around areolas and nipples. This is to remove the dry skin that covers the holes of our nipples and residues of soaps we used. When we start to breastfeed, is it not recommended to clean our areolas and nipples anymore especially with soaps. From what I've learned, they self clean.

The First Latch. Yey! The baby finally arrived. The first time the baby gets milk from you is the best feeling indeed. The first milk which is the colostrum is the healthiest ever. So never ever allow anyone in the birthing area wherever you are to take away that moment from you and your baby. Sad to say, there's a lot of hospitals and birthing clinics who choose to suggest and sometimes forced the mothers to not breastfeed there babies. Fight for your right. it is for the best of your baby. You may also report them.

The First Week. Some mothers like me saw white milk after 3-5 days. Yes it's normal. So don't ever think that you don't have any milk. You have enough milk from the very first day. The baby's stomach at day one is as small as the size of a calamansi. Day three is as seniguelas. One week is like a tomato. One month is as an egg. It's not easy I know. Not enough sleep and rest taking care of your little one. Feeding him every 2 hours is not easy and it hurts. Yes. your nipples will be painful and sometimes cracks. Just continue feeding him. The milk and the baby's saliva will heal your nipples.

The Second Week. I have sore nipples and breast for two weeks. Still, I feed my baby. It is the best way to heal. I cry. A lot. Bit my lips. Dance. Whistle. Number one tip is to check the right latch of baby. The lower lip should be aligned with the outer line of the areola. Next is when your breast is sore and full of milk, use warm compress for five minutes or have a warm enough water in a bowl and put your breast in for 20 minutes, then massage your breast in circular motion to the areola, then press. Learn the right way of hand expression. You can check it on YouTube or join the Facebook group breastfeedingpinays. You have to press before feeding your baby to lessen the milk, and you have to empty your breast after. At this stage, you will have a lot of milk.

The First Month. Yey! You did it! No more sore breast and painful nipples. All healed. You have been in painful first month but your baby is healthy and full. Sooner or later, you'll have your normal milk supply. It's demand and supply. How much the baby needs, it is then how much milk your body will produce.

Okay. So that's it. The rest of the days, will be you supplying your baby the best milk. Practice the every 2 hours feeding or the feed on demand. If baby wants to latch, feed him. He poops most of the time after feeding. It is normal. Our breast milk is easily digest. For as long as no blood on his stools, it's all good.

Strickly no water and vitamins for exclusively breastfed babies. Always do the lab.test to make sure if your baby do really need the vitamins recommended by the doctor. Sometimes they just promote the products.

No foods before 6th month. Any amount. Wait for the 6th month before giving your babies something to eat. Focus on fruits and vegetables only for the first year. No meat. No seasonings. No sugar. No honey. Kindly check Tamang Kain on Breasfeedingpinays facebook group.

So after the first painful month, some months will be challenging too. What I really hate a lot is the Milk Bleb/ Blister. It is seriously painful. And again. I cried a lot.

Milk Bleb just a small white dot on your nipples. Just a little tiny dot. hmm..  

Milk Blister a small blister on your nipples with milk inside.

These two are breasfeeding moms' enemies. It is because of oversupply of milk. From what I've experienced, I got my milk blebs/blister when I forget to feed my baby or skip the other breast to offer her. It happens. I sometimes forget which breast I offered her the last time. Then the other breast will gets oversupplied milk. Bigger, hard, and painful. The best way to empty your breast is to let your child latch.

Then do the warm compress or the warm water in bowl then massage and press. Sometimes the bleb goes away after but sometimes not. The last thing to do is prick it with a sterile needle. You can do it on your own, just be very careful or go to your doctor and let them do it for you. 

Some frequently asked questions..

Is it necessary to take malunggay, and some other milk booster products?
A. For me no. Based on breastfeedingpinays group, not really. It is always demand and supply. You don't need lots of milk than how much your baby needs. Let the baby latch, and hydrate yourself. Always have a glass of water beside you when you feed your baby. Drink before and after feeding.

Foods and drinks to be avoided.
A. None. Everything in moderation is okay.

Baby is allergy to my milk.
A. For me, not really from my milk but from what it have. Like when my baby got diarhea and vomits, lab.test results is it is because of the milk fat content of my milk. So the doctors advised me not to have instant coffee like the 3in1. And avoid milk products too. Another one is my baby has skin asthma. She is not allowed to eat eggs and chicken, and so the doctor told me not to eat those too.
From what the breastfeedingpinays group says, our milk is always perfect. It also have the best anti allergies.

I think that's all I can share with you guys. Thank you so much for reading my first ever blog and I hope the information above will help my readers. 9-16-2017


UPDATE: 4-23-2019

I am proud to inform you all that I have successfully breastfed my little girl for three years and four months. She weaned by herself.

So breastfeeding mommas, you can do it too. I did.

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