This brings up discussion sometimes among mothers when it comes to how or what is best to feed their little ones.Whichever among the two,its mommy's choice and whatever it is mom's need help, for any of the two is exhausting at times.However,as a full time mother of 3 beautiful kids Im gonna share my experience on this so called journey of motherhood on childrearing.
I have breast fed all my babies after giving birth and I would say Im blessed that unlike what other new moms face is the absence of breast milk right after birthing,I have plenty.And I was able to give the mostly needed nutrient for all my babies during those time I gave to each of them,the collostrum.We all know that this thick, yellowish milk substance is full of nutrients and antibodies which is essential in boosting the newborn's low resistance against antigens.Hence,being able to give this to my babies is grace.
But unfortunately my first born was sickly not until he was more than 6 years old.On his second month,he would frequently catched colds and cough despite being provided with vitamins.Though I'm suffering from mastitis,cracked and sore nipples during the first two months I patiently breast fed my baby for I know the benefits.I did not give up despite the sleepless nights,body aches, flu like pains and bleeding,painful nipples.Still I manage to feed my baby who's always looking for his "dede" even if Im crying while feeding due to the burning pain one can't bear.Imagine your skin being slowly peeled off,thats the severity of the pain.Yet for the sole purpose of providing your lo with the most nutritious food you can offer,a mothers love and endurance would conquer all.
At more than 2 months,my cracked nipples were slowly healing.Body pains begun to subside and Im beginning to enjoy breast feeding my baby.But,still my baby's health not improving.Frequent check-ups and changes in prescribed antibiotics is what I guessed that led him to refuse to be fed.No matter how I tried,he would turn away his head everytime I feed him.This made us buy a manually pressed breast pump and a feeding bottle.At first there's an ample amount of milk I collected.I would not give it immediately to the baby,I'll try to give him my breast to encourage him to latch but everytime I do he always moved his face away.That I need to give him his bottle with pumped breast milk.
Slowly my milk supply begun to decrease,not enough to feed him 24 hours.I did not stop trying to make him latch but to no avail,we need to buy formula milk.So there, I fed him formula during the day and breast milk at night,until one day not a single drop was collected nor a drop that the baby would latch on at night.So that when he reached age 4 months he was already pure formula feeding.It was the time he was first hospitalized due to severe cough with fever,though he was on antibiotics.
Just as the doctor said he needs to be admitted I felt my body gone weak,Im going to faint but I fought the feeling.The thought of needle being injected to this tiny baby was unbearable,I tried to fight back the tears thats forcing its way out of my eyes and I did.
One morning during the doctors round she noticed the formula milk and other paraphernalias for bottle feeding are overcrowding our hospital bedside table and ask why I dont breastfeed my baby.Upon learning the reason,she encouraged me to try make him latch back as it would bring back the supply of milk from my breast.However I tried,my baby really refused to latch.
Having my baby hospitalized 2 to 4 times in a month made me not only physically drained but mentally and emetionally stressed out,depression strikes.Sleepless nights due to countless waking up to prepare milk at night and hospital stays are the worst.There was a time I thought I woke up already and making milk for I heard baby crying but it was only a thought until my husband finally woke me up.I always tell myself,I can endure this sleepless nights and expensive formula but please stay healthy,baby.Its too much to bear.This went for more than 2 years..
He's improving and the number of times my son got hospitalized in a month reduced.until he was 5,the last time he was admitted to the hospital.Now that he's 7,though he's thin but at least he is healthy.
The second time I experience formula feeding was with my daughter,my first born was 3 year old when I got pregnant again..Mix emotions,the thought of having a sickly baby still lingers.But I tried to shrugged it off and tell myself that every child is different.Like my son,when i gave birth to my second baby there's plenty of milk supply from me.Not until she reached 5 months that the supply of milk began to decrease.No matter she latched on and me consuming lots of stew to be able to produce breast milk but it just dried up like that..We need to introduce formula to her.Luckily,there's no issue when we tried to give her a cheaper one..Unlike her brother,she is healthy and much bigger than her kuya when he's her age.
This time I have a 15 month old baby boy and still on pure breastfeed.There were times during his 3rd to 7th month when his milk is very little to none no matter how I drink lots of water and chocomilk,and consuming lots of sabaw,little it really was.I would sometimes bring him to our neighbor,my distant cousin and friend who has a breastfeeding baby older than mine and she would feed him on her breast.Thanks to her.
Up until now,there's generous amount of milk I need not to worry anymore.I can sleep soundly at night and no need to wake up during the wee hours to prepare milk,I would just give him his dede everytime he wakes..He's much healthier,and does not catch colds easily.I will be breastfeeding him until he turns two if milk supply would not diminish.
Im not saying that formula feeding makes babies sickly,of course not.One baby is different from the other..Thus, I must say that breastmilk is the best for babies.
Momshies,how's your breastfeeding or formula feeding journey was/is?
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@z_graeden
I remember a joke I've read a long time ago. It says if a child lived on breastmilk as a baby he/she is more likely to be closer to his/her mom when he grows old, but if a child lived on formula and bottle milk as a baby, he/she is more likely to be closer to bottles when he grows old - bottle of GSM, bottle of Redhorse, bottle of Wine, bottle of emperador 😂 haha that was hilarious but it somehow makes sense a bit😅 Anyways, kudos to moms out there who gives breast milk for their babies, I know it requires patience and effort (specially the sleepless nights just to feed their babies)