According to the data released by Philippine Statistics Authority on Breastfeeding, Immunization, and Child Mortality last year, 92% of Filipino children between 6 months to 2 years old had been breastfed at some time. It also states that 34% of poor children were exclusively breastfed while for non-poor, it's only 24%. The latter data made a lot of sense since exclusive breastfeeding is very economical and if you do not have enough dispensable income to buy formula and you care enough for your child's health, you would really go to that direction.
When I was pregnant with my first child, I was excited to breastfeed her and was wondering why some mothers would rather formula-feed than exclusively breastfeed when it's obviously the best way to go. Breastfeeding has numerous benefits for the mom and baby:
1. It makes your baby healthy because breast milk has the exact amount of nutrients he/she needs and it strengthens their immune system by transferring your antibodies to them. It's also easier for the baby to digest which prevents them from getting constipated.
2. Breastfeeding creates a special bond between you and your baby since you hold him/her closely more frequently than when bottle feeding.
3. It saves you from buying that expensive formula as well as bottled water, feeding bottle and other bottle feeding paraphernalia like brush, sterilizer, cleanser,etc.
4. It helps mommy get back into shape because you burn calories when breastfeeding. It also aids in the contraction of your uterus so that it goes back to it's normal size faster.
5. A recent study now also shows a link between breastfeeding and lower risk of postpartum depression.
Yes, the list of breastfeeding pros is definitely much longer than the cons (if there actually is any). But these materials, meant to encourage new moms to breastfeed, doesn't say how difficult it can be as well.
My plans to breastfeed my first child went down the drain when I couldn't produce enough breast milk for her. It didn't help that I gave birth thru CS and she was instantly put in the nursery while I was recovering from the operation where she was given formula. When we requested for her to be roomed in, she would cry when I try to breastfeed her and nothing seems to come out so we'd ask for formula. It became worse when, after one night of rooming-in, we had to return her to the nursery where she stayed for a week more after I was discharged due to blood infection. I tried to pump milk at home and was only able to produce about one or two ounce per day. But since we want the best for our child, my husband would dutifully transport this from our place in Quezon City to the UST Hospital everyday until she was discharged as well. My milk supply didn't improve, though, even when Hailey was already at home with us so I just stopped trying and consoled myself with the fact that, at least, she was able to take the colostrum I produced during the first week.
Since my first try at breastfeeding was a failure, I was determined to succeed with my second child. Thankfully, St. Luke's Medical Center is actively promoting breastfeeding. I gave birth to Tamara through a repeat CS but, unlike with my first daughter, she was immediately put on my chest after they cleaned her up to encourage her to latch on. I also woke up in the recovery room with my daughter just a few feet away from me and they helped me breastfeed her once I was checked by the doctors. St. Luke's also had a lactation consultant who teaches new moms the benefits of breastfeeding, the correct position and storing breast milk. But I wasn't prepared for how painful and difficult it was going to be. Two weeks into it and I was crying during night feedings because of sore nipple, fatigue and the fact that I'm up while everyone's sleeping. I must say, though, that I was still pretty successful with Tamara since I was able to exclusively breastfeed her for two months and then mixed feeding for about two more months after I went back to work.
I had to stop expressing milk and breastfeeding around her fifth month because it was already taking a toll on me. I came back in the middle of marketing plan preparations and I have a pre-schooler to attend to in the morning before leaving home and help with her studies when I get back at night. I was so stressed that I began to have dandruff and developed what I thought were skin allergies. It turned out I had seborrheic dermatitis which, according to my dermatologists, was probably due to inadequate sleep and stress. So before it could get any worse, I stopped mixed feeding and gave in to formula.
With our third child, I know I wouldn't be able to breastfeed her as long as the recommended length of exclusive breastfeeding which is 6 months. In a month's time, I'll be going back to work and catching up on the reports that were left undone for the 3 months I was gone. I don't want to push myself any longer and trigger my dermatitis again. By then, I feel like I've already done my best and to be able to give all three of my children the attention they need without going insane, I would have to go the more expensive way - bottle feeding. I know that breast milk is best for baby. But she's not the only baby in our lives and breastfeeding wouldn't do us any good if I'm too worn out to function properly. As mothers, we can only give so much of ourselves.
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