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From EBM to Direct feeding In the first week after delivery, my nipples were very sore. So, I gave up feeding directly from the breast and gave my baby expressed breast milk instead. After a few feeds, I thought it was better this way as the frequency of feeding was more regular (3 hours apart) and I was also able to tell how much my baby was taking. This continued for 1 month. However, I realised that it was a big hassle and inconvenient to pump and feed and sterilise the bottles, so I decided to switch back to feeding directly from the breast. But of course, my baby was already so used to the bottle that he refused my breast. This was definitely a very trying period, getting my baby to suckle from the breast, but I persisted. Initially, I kind of regretted the decision to do away with the bottle and just let my baby suckle directly from the breast, because it was really so stressful and tiring. He was literally crying almost every hour, sometimes even after 45 minutes or so. I think it was also because I had sort of "under-expressed", having expressed only every 3 hours in addition to the fact that he was not used to the breast, I was feeling very down, and remembered vividly telling my husband I wanted to give up and switch back to bottle-feeding my son. In fact, I gave up the next day and switched back to giving him EBM from the bottle. Fortunately, my determination got the better of me and I called up the BMSG(S) hotline. I was advised to first step up my supply by expressing every 2 hours instead, for at least 2 days. So I was back to expressing again, and for the next 2 days, it was nothing else but expressing, storing, washing and sterilising bottles as well as my breast pump! After the 2 days, I tried putting my son to the breast again, but he just did not like my breast! The frequent crying continued for about 3 weeks, but I persevered and my efforts finally paid off. I finally succeeded. During this period, I was worried that he was not drinking much, but was pleasantly surprised at his routine check-up to find that he had actually put on 1 kg! After this trying period, he was so "skillful" at breastfeeding that he took only 5 minutes to nurse from 1 breast every 2 hours. I have not looked back since, and breastfeeding my son has been just plain sailing. We have both grown to enjoy the warmth and convenience of nursing, as well as the closeness and bonding that develops with it. I felt good that I was my baby's main and only source of food. I also feel a very close bond when I hold him close to nurse him. Introduction of other foods & drinks My baby was exclusively breastfed till almost 6 months. I gradually introduced solids from 6 months as he could sit up on his own and took some interest in other food. However, I continued to add breastmilk to his cereal instead of adding water up to when he was 12 months old. From 12 months, I introduced formula and cow's milk as I wanted to get him used to them before I wean him off breastmilk. Night waking My baby continued to wake up at least 3 times at night up to about 15 months. By then, I really couldn't take it anymore and got my husband to sleep with him with the hope of making him stop the night waking. It worked for a few nights (when hubby slept with him), but it started again when I slept with him again. For now, baby still wakes up about twice at night, but I refuse to let him nurse until the next morning. The lack of sleep for so many months really was and is tiring, but I try to catch up on my sleep when baby naps in the day. And somehow, I've gotten used to it. Weaning My original target was to breastfeed my baby for 3 months, then it was increased to 6 months, 12 months and now, I've been breastfeeding him for 18 months! The reason of course, is because breastfeeding just gets easier with time, especially since I'm a stay-at-home mum. However, I now intend to gradually wean him off. What I enjoy most about breastfeeding & mothering Breastfeeding is wonderful as it's free, convenient and hassle free. It has also helped me lose weight fast, made me feel 'indispensable' to my baby and delayed the return of my menstruation. And of course, it's great to hear comments from others about how strong and tough my son looks because of the fact that he's breastfed! Mothering is tougher than going out to work, but it's definitely much more rewarding too. Though the rewards are mostly, if not all, intangible, his spontaneity, smile, hugs and kisses, more than make up for all the lost sleep, his naughtiness etc. And of course, mothering is fun as I get to see him taking his first step, get to know him really well as I'm with him so much. BMSG(S) and counsellor training I attended a seminar and a few workshops and talks organised by BMSG(S), and was impressed that so many breastfeeding mothers could do so much outside their homes-some mothers carried their babies in slings and were nursing and moving around seeing that things ran smoothly! This made me realise that I too could be equally mobile, since I've chosen to breastfeed and have the benefit of not needing to lug bags of sterilised bottles around. From then on, I took my son out to the parks, the beach, the zoo, etc more often. I also learnt much more about the benefits of breastfeeding and was more confident about it, especially when relatives or friends say something to the contrary. I got tons of encouragement and advice from the counsellors, especially during the period when I switched from giving my baby expressed breastmilk to direct nursing from the breast, so I decided to train as a breastfeeding counsellor and help more mothers breastfeed successfully. I also learnt more about breastfeeding from the trainer as well as from exchanging experiences with other breastfeeding mothers in the course. Jessica is a Stay-At-Home-Mum. She was trained as a counsellor in August 2001.
This article is originally published in Keeping Abreast, July-December 2001 issue © BMSG (Singapore)
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