My Breastfeeding Journey with Tara | World Breastfeeding Week | TicTalkToe

Writing about one’s breastfeeding journey on a public domain is not an easy task. Specially when we live in a country where breastfeeding in public (or even writing about it) is still frowned upon. Yes times have changed, we now own nursing gowns and have breastfeeding rooms in airports and malls, but it is accessible only to a privileged section of the society. Majority of women drop out of work force due to non-availability of creches near workplace, coupled with no breast feeding/pumping rooms in the office to keep the supply going and several other issues. However, this post is not about this. This is about the bitter-sweet breastfeeding journey that I share with my little one.

Tara was born through a planned lower abdominal caesarean section. I was not sure if I would start producing milk immediately. When she was held close to my chest within an hour or so after I delivered her, she latched immediately and kept suckling. I did not know if I produced any milk, but she kept latching. Early initiation of breastfeeding, within one hour of birth, protects the newborn from acquiring infection and reduces newborn mortality. It facilitates emotional bonding of the mother and the baby and has a positive impact on duration of exclusive breastfeeding. She was not exclusively breastfed at the nursing home, because she was barely brought 3-4 times during the entire day for nursing. I did not know much about breastfeeding then, and did not bother to enquire what she was put on. All I knew that she was in the safe hands of the hospital staff and that she is being taken care of.

On my day of discharge, I came home with Tara and zero experience on how to take care of her! Her pediatrician wrote on the prescription “Exclusively breast feed on demand”. After we came home, she naturally cried out of hunger. I held her close to my chest, but she would not latch. I cried out of pain when she bit me out of hunger. She was unable to latch and bit my breasts. Adding to my woes was covid, and lack of support from family members due to the risk of infection. I was clueless and did not know how to make her latch.

Next few hours, I tried ordering every possible thing on amazon – nipple shield, creams, breast pump, but sadly nothing worked. I had almost given up on my dream of breast feeding her. Meanwhile Tara was kept on formula mostly. However, a kind friend, whose daughter is 4 months elder to Tara guided me in this journey and taught me how to latch her. With a lot of practice and patience, finally she latched perfectly when she was around 3 months old.  Later on, another doctor friend also informed me about the stages of breast milk – colostrum, transitional milk, and mature milk. I kept breastfeeding her for longer periods at one go so that she could have mature milk that would fill her tummy. I never ate anything for increasing my supply. Neither did I abstain myself from eating anything when she was feeding. I have never pumped out my breastmilk for her (Somehow the manual pump never worked for me).

Tara was never an exclusively breast fed child. We would use formula during nights, specially when I was tired and needed rest. In the daytime I would nurse her. I have nursed her everywhere. In hospitals, railway station, airport, flights, train, bus, auto, shopping malls, durga puja pandals. It was not an easy journey. The initial days were rough. But with proper guidance and support, we overcame it.

I am not writing why breastfeeding is ideal for infants. If you have reached out for my blog, am sure you would be aware about its benefits by now. I was an exclusively breast fed child and seldom fell sick when I was an infant, so that speaks for itself! However, here are a few bitter facts about breastfeeding that very few people talk about –

• Breastfeeding can be painful and difficult at the beginning – specially if you do not have enough guidance about how an infant latches to the mother, or have an inverted nipple.
• Breastfeeding can be stressful – Sitting or lying down with the baby latched to you for long hours can induce stress.
• It requires healthy lifestyle choice – Yes, you need to abstain yourself from consuming alcohol.
• You have less freedom – I could not go out as often, or wear clothes that were not nursing friendly.
• You are the ONLY person who can feed the baby – Yes the pressure was tough! 

World Breastfeeding Week is held in the first week of August every year, supported by WHO, UNICEF and many Ministries of Health and civil society partners. This is celebrated to promote awareness about breastfeeding and its numerous benefits. Let us all do our bit to support this cause – encourage breast feeding, specially in public places. Do not stare and make it awkward for a mother, she is already going through a lot. Exclusive Feed or Non-Exclusive Feed, it is you who knows the best for your baby. Also, there is no ideal age to cut down or stop breast-feeding. Do it as long as you both are comfortable and enjoy it. Tara is now 38 months old and still breast feeds. She does not feed as often, and does so more out of habit or comfort zone. I know she will outgrow this phase soon. Till then, we shall have beautiful memories of our breast feeding journey etched in our minds. Do not let anyone, and ANYONE, tell you when to call it quits. One fine day, when your baby stops asking for it, you will feel relieved as well as hollow. Cut the guilt mamma, you are already doing a lot for your baby!

Will end this blog post by listing a couple of things to be kept in mind while you breast feed –

• Stay hydrated. Drink enough water, juice, coconut water.
• Stay calm and happy while feeding your baby. It will help you connect to your child.
• Take enough backrest in case you are sitting. Lie down and feed in case you are tired and unable to sit.
• Do not wipe your breasts after you feed every time. 
• Stop doubting your supply if your child feeds in multiple gaps. Breast milk works on the principle of demand and supply. If your child is demanding for it, you are making enough of it.
• See a lactation consultant if you are unable to latch or feed.

Was your baby exclusively breast fed? How was your breast-feeding journey? Rough, tough or smooth? Let us know in the comments below.

Till then, stay healthy, stay happy!