Now that my baby is 8 months old and I am officially eligible to have some wine without having to wait for any intervals, I have decided to break the myth on producing breast milk.
I am a 100% supporter of giving babies breast milk. Having said that, I do not vouch for completely relying on breast feeding. To start with, I had C section as our daughter was breech. After delivery, I couldn’t produce any milk until day 3. So, we had to give our daughter formula. It was obvious that we couldn’t starve her to give her exclusive breast milk.
After the lactation consultant came in and checked me, she said I had to use nipple shields. And she asked me to pump every 3rd hour to produce more milk. And I did it.
But I was as dry as a well in a desert. For the first week, I could pump only 5 ml per session and it wasn’t enough for the baby. When I tried to breast feed, she would wake up crying for milk within half an hour. So, we figured, we had to rely on formula milk. I was pro formula too. There’s no harm in feeding babies formula milk when necessary.
What mothers want to feed their babies is their choice. No mother wants to harm her child. And it’s her call completely.
Whoever visited our house had to throw their two cents on how I should be feeding my daughter breast milk. I was already depressed about me being dry and this was nothing but adding fuel to my dryness! However, I took it positively and tried everything to increase my supply.
There was a point where I used to gulp methi seeds. Take 6 pills per day to increase supply. Pump every 3-4 hours. Breastfeed every 2nd hour. Drink 5 glasses of milk. Eat very healthy food.
Result- still had to give her formula milk because my supply was less. I used to cry my heart out and never understood why I couldn’t produce milk. I should thank my husband in this who supported me throughout. I realized that Certain bodies are different and no matter what we do, we cannot increase the supply.
Sometimes I felt guilty and sometimes I brushed it off. It was a mix of emotions for me. But then, as a mother, I did my best to feed my daughter the healthiest of the food.
Now, she’s 8 months old and my supply is completely stopped. Whenever people see me feeding her from bottle, they ask me why I am not breastfeeding her. When I tell them, I can’t, they tell me how women produce milk for 2 years and how I should eat healthy and continue breastfeeding her. All I do is just smile and tell them I am different. I don’t feel bad or blame them. I just feel they’re trying to help me. But there’s nothing I can do about it.
So, my post is for those who are unable to produce milk- don’t feel guilty. Don’t feel sad. You are a mother and you will definitely give your kid the best life.
It is good to give your kid at least some amount of breast milk as long as possible. But there’s no harm in feeding formula. And if your kid is not latching or if you have any doubts that you are producing less milk or your kid is not having enough milk per feeding, pump and feed. Whether it is latching or pumping, giving your milk is important, not how you feed. At the end, you know it well.
And my heartfelt Salute to those moms who dedicate themselves to breastfeed.
This blog is purely based on my experience and is completely my opinion.
