I remember being consumed in sheer unbridled joy when I discovered that I was pregnant. In the days that followed, I envisioned myself as a new mommy, doing the little things that new mommies do; changing, breastfeeding and caring for my new little love. I soaked in the newness of pregnancy, floating along on a dream-spangled cloud of elation. Even then, as I carried my baby in my belly, I contemplated how I would conduct my life as a new mommy. In my roster of activities, breastfeeding occupied a prime spot. It was a dictum deeply emblazoned in my mind. I would breastfeed until my baby was two years old, I decided.
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On 12th December 2016, we became parents to a beautiful baby girl, whom we named Advika. It was on the second day that I noticed something wrong. I had had a C-section, so it was natural for my milk flow to be tapered. But as the days slid by, it just didn’t seem to gain momentum. As a result, Advika never learned how to latch onto my breast. For the next fortnight or so, I depended on formula to nourish my little baby. About two weeks into motherhood, I decided to seek help.
I sought an appointment with Sister Ruth at Cloudnine Hospital, Jayanagar. Ruth noticed that my breast muscles were weak, making it difficult for my baby to suckle. She suggested a variety of techniques that would promote my milk production and surely enough, my milk reserves grew slowly, yet steadily. As a three-week old mother, I was finally able to breastfeed my baby.
I encountered so many fears, insecurities and false information in those first few weeks of motherhood. I was constantly coaxed to flip the breast over for the bottle. I was assured that I would never be able to breastfeed my baby if the milk hadn’t started flowing by now. But in my heart, I knew I wouldn’t let formula win. In those early days, my newfound spirit of motherhood was swallowed by a downward whirlwind of hopelessness. I grew to believe that I’d started motherhood off on a grim note. Sometimes, emotions subjugate realism. Trust me, I know.
Having overcome psychological and physical obstacles to give my baby the nourishment she deserves, I can tell you that there’s always a way with breastfeeding. Don’t believe anyone who tells you otherwise. If you have challenges, seek help from a lactation consultant and derive encouragement from your family. Breastfeeding is an experience unlike any other that I believe every mother should have the privilege of experiencing. It brings you closer to your baby and provides a nourishment that no brand in the world can match.
In a world where we are perpetually surrounded by pollution, artificial additives and synthetic ingredients, giving my baby an all-natural start was important to me. If there were one piece of advice I could give a new mother like me, this would be it: overcome your challenges and work towards breastfeeding. There’s no better start you can give your baby.
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WHO recommends breastfeeding should start as early as possible – within 1 hour following birth. The baby should be exclusively breastfed until 6 months of age, and breastfeeding should continue along with other solid foods. WHO also emphasizes educating mothers on the techniques, positions, and benefits of breastfeeding, and training hospital staff to assist new mothers in breastfeeding. It also recommends skin-to-skin contact, avoiding artificial nipples/ pacifiers, and connecting mothers to support groups to handle various challenges of breastfeeding.
The 6-6-6 rule refers to the storage of expressed breastmilk. Doctors recommend that expressed breastmilk is safe for a baby to consume for 6 hours at room temperature, 6 days in the refrigerator, and up to 6 months when frozen. Parents should also follow precise instructions for heating the milk before feeding it to their baby.
The first hour following birth is known as the golden hour for breastfeeding. Feeding within the first hour of birth provides many benefits, such as stabilising the baby’s body temperature, heart rate, and blood sugar, and delivering antibodies-rich colostrum. It also helps the mother by triggering uterine contractions, which help shrink its size and control the bleeding.
You can increase your breastmilk supply by eating more galactagogue foods, such as oats, fenugreek, fennel, leafy greens, seeds, and nuts, if you don’t have any nut allergies. Including whole grains, legumes, and green vegetables in your daily diet will ensure you receive all essential nutrients, sufficient fibre, and increase your milk supply. You can also find lactation cookies made with selected ingredients to help increase the milk supply.
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