Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding - A word which 普天下的妈妈 (of all generations) will know!

Breast milk is good for babies! There are many advantages of breastfeeding. Just do a search using goggles & you will find many topics on it.

Despite the advantages of breastfeeding, some mummies will still go for formula milk for their babies. Most working mums will fall into this category. They need to go back to work after their confinement. There is no way they can do direct breastfeeding during working hours. Another way for their babies to drink breast milk will be to express out. Working mums will have to do it in the office & then bring home for their babies. I have a few friends doing that for their baby. This is what we called "母爱的伟大".

Breastfeeding is not easy & need a lot of moral and physical support from husband & family. Tho like some people had say, babies can just drink it anytime & anywhere. That's good news for babies. But how about mothers? For any breastfeeding mums, they will sure had went through tough days likes blocked ducts, sore nipples, "sour words" from relatives & friends etc. Husband & family must give a lot of support & not "泼冷水".

My son was born in Yr2003. As a new & inexperienced mum, I had difficulty in breastfeeding. Tho I did try to latch but was unsuccessful b'coz baby just can't latch & I really dunno how. So, I opted for formula milk. Being a newbie, pils & sils were very "helpful". Everyone gave me their own "tips" on feeding my baby. When I tried to latch, they will ask: "got milk or not? USE BOTTLE lah"; "u dunno how to latch, USE BOTTLE lah!"; "cannot let baby cry, USE BOTTLE lah!"; "u just come home, nei nei "ciao sng" cannot let baby drink, USE BOTTLE lah!"

Aiyah, they really can think of all sort of funny things! Really buey tahan them, so "扫兴"! So, I gave up on breastfeeding after pils keeps complaining my son cried non-stop when I try to latch. Thought changing to bottle-feeding & I would have a better life but I was wrong. No more pumping of breast milk too b'coz pils insisted that frozen breast milk is unhealthy & cannot give baby. Okie, give up & use formula milk!

Things were not over yet! Pils & sils "suggestion/order" was that I should/must put a lot of milk powder (more spoonfuls than required) b'coz according to them, baby will then feel "full". Which end up, my poor son got constipation since infant. And it was my fault b'coz I did not give him enough water. Hiazzz... My son had never like water then.

Pils will "spot-check" (they would ke ke linger around when I'm preparing) the milk that I'm going to give baby & at every feed (how many feeds a day, can you imagine?) they will "talk" about the amount of milk powder used is not enough. They were very "helpful" in a way that they will keeps checking the clock & "remind" me when 3hrs is up, FEEDING TIME! "Talk" non-stop at me to make milk even if baby was still in dreamland & insisted I waked him up for milk. Alamak, I dun have enough rest already & they were giving me more problems.

That's include night feedings. Once they heard baby cry, they will come knocking at my door & insisted I must wake up asap to make milk. Really felt like, opening the door & gave them a good scolding! Lucky, we moved out when my son was about 9mths old & my life got much much better! At least I had enough sleep in the day if my son woke up for night feeds.

My girl in Yr2005, tho "experienced" but still new to breastfeeding. I decided to try out breastfeeding this time as no one will come & disturb me! Tried on my own but still could not succeed. Lucky, my friend Paw Paw stepped out & helped me thru'!! Really tks her, she is my saviour! :)

But just like what my gynae had commented, I had "over-did" it! As now my girl is already coming to 22 months & she is still on total-breastfeeding! She took solids but still she wants to latch on 24hrs / 7 days. Especially now I told her I want to wean her off. This is so tiring! I SHOULD have stopped latching since she is 6-12mths but I was lazy & continued to let her latch! Hiazzzz.....

How am I going to wean her off!!!!!!!!!!