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Shared Experience
by Yianoulla
My Experience as a
Breastfeeding Mother
My husband and I had
been married for four years and we had been planning for a child for
the last two years nearly three. Month after month we waited but
without avail. Our doctor said there was nothing wrong with us, it was
just a matter of time.
I can still remember the
day that I actually missed my period and after about 8 days I did a
pregnancy test which resulted positive. I could not believe my
eyes. I did the test again and again, resulting positive all the
time. You can imagine our happiness. The best thing is
telling your parents. Both sides were overjoyed.
From day one I decided I
wanted to breastfeed. The pregnancy was a wonderful experience
although I had a fibroid in my uterus growing with my baby.
Throughout my pregnancy I was told that I was to have a caesarian
section but although I knew this, deep down I wanted a natural birth.
I had read so much about natural birth, that I was actually looking
forward for this experience.
I went for my last
ante-natal visit and I was booked for the 23rd of March.
My labour was induced, which is something I regret as midwives come
and go poking things and applying gel, not a good experience, but when
my waters broke at 4.00 am I was in labour.
My midwife was gorgeous.
I told her that I was supposed to have a c. section and that I would
do all I could to avoid it as I wanted a vaginal birth. She
helped me through each contraction treating me as one of her
daughters. My obstetrician kept insisting that I have a c.
section and my midwife said that I could do without it as the fibroid
was not in the baby’s passage. At 1.00 pm we had a baby boy.
I did not have a c. section, he was born vaginally and it was a
wonderful experience.
I had read in books that
it is important to put your baby to the breast immediately after
childbirth as the hormones of childbirth stimulate the baby to suck at
the breast making it easier for the baby to latch. This I did and the
midwife was amazed at how anxious I was to breastfeed. She asked
me if the baby was drinking and being my first child I did not know.
All I knew was that I had the feeling of ants marching down from my
shoulder to my breast. The midwife laughed and said that we
would be fine.
Like most mothers when
breastfeeding for the first time, I had some problems. I had
sore nipples and cracked nipples. I used to dread the next feed,
but what kept me going was that this would only last a day or two and
above all my baby was having optimum nourishment.
My husband supported me
all along and still supports me to this very day as I am now still
breastfeeding my second baby who is one year old. I would never
have breastfeed my first son for twenty months if it was not for him,
so my thanks goes to him.
I do not think I would
have breastfed for that long if I had not come in contact with Babes
and Bumps organised by Christine Borg from Cana. We used to meet
every month and Christine was all ears to listen to our problems. I
also used to phone the Breastfeeding Counsellors for problems which
came up. They were always very helpful. A very big thank you
goes to all these people who made my breastfeeding experience a
pleasurable one. I have breastfed my two sons and am very proud
of it.
The bonding created by
breastfeeding is something out of this world. It is an
experience you will not have if you bottle feed. I stopped
feeding my eldest when he was 20 months old and I was pregnant with my
second. I stopped as I was bleeding in my 2nd month
of pregnancy so doctor’s advice was to stop immediately. I was
worried that I was going to miscarry and on the other hand I was
missing breastfeeding my first born son. Emotionally I was torn
apart.
Breastfeeding is natural
and in my opinion it is a phase in your life that when it passes you
will have something to look back on. I have been breastfeeding
for 3 years and over with a stop of 7 months during my second
pregnancy. Maybe I have 1 or 2 years more of breastfeeding and
then I will only be left with memories of this wonderful experience.
This is a message to
mums-to-be or to you if you are breastfeeding don’t miss out on
this experience or you will regret it. Remember that you are
giving the best to your child. It is a lifetime investment
towards your relationship with your child and your health.
Yianoulla
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