Breastfeeding has always been part of my advocacy. I
strongly believe in the benefits of it to both mother and child. So this time,
I really wanted to breastfeed my little one exclusively. So I thought.
During the hullabaloos of my birthing story, I just thought
how would I achieve it if I can't even help myself? One thing more, hospital
policy says if you are going to bring the baby inside the room, we can't bring
him back inside the nursery but I really wanted to but the excruciating pain
didn't let me.
So here's what happened, they gave him formula milk! At 4 in
the morning my husband went out of the hospital and went looking for formula
milk in every drugstore nearby. Too bad it wasn't available and went back empty
handed. Two hours after, my mom tried her luck and she resorted to the big can
available.
The whole time we were in the hospital, he had formula. On
the second day, I tried my luck ambulating towards the nursery despite the pain
just to make him latch, but he was so full from the formula they were giving
him. So on the fourth day--our discharge, my breasts were already sore and
engorged! I tried a little harder to make him latch and this time it was
successful. Still, my breasts were still so engorged from improper emptying.
After several feedings, I noticed that the pain is slowly progressing and it
has already radiated to my shoulders. I couldn’t bear side lying position
anymore and the discomfort it brings me just made everything painful. Little
did I know that both of my nipples were already bleeding! I squirm on the
thought that I had to express my milk given that it hasn’t been six weeks since
I gave birth. And to tell you honestly, manual expression is one thing I didn’t
know how! Went searching on youtube ways to do it but to no luck. I was already
stressed for trying out so bad at the same time bothered on the thought that it
might affect my milk production in the long run. So I had to resort to my
five-year-old breast pump. It was quite liberating but I had to do it at a very
slow pace so as not to damage my breast tissues. For four consecutive days, I
had to store milk and feed him through a bottle temporarily in order to allow
recuperation.
During nighttime, I allowed my breasts to air-dry so that
the wound could heal easily. Four days past, the wound has healed yet there is
tad tingling sensation to it whenever I feed my baby which made me cringe
everytime.
Honestly, the pain and hassle it gave me could make me give
up easily on this journey. But still, I choose to give what I think is best for
my child and me. Had I given up on it will make me regret and probably more
inconveniences in the days to come.
In journey won’t give us all the conveniences we need.
Whatever we decide to take, it must be coupled with a lot of dedication and
hard work in. order for us to achieve what we really wanted.
And that was the start of my breastfeeding journey the third
time around. It was a bittersweet start and I know it will have a lot of
hullabaloos along the way.
Share your breastfeeding story. I would like to know it.
Give some love on the comment box.
