The ability to produce milk was my primary concern while pregnant with my firstborn. I have kept myself informed and prepared by reading every newborn related articles from umbilical cord stump maintenance to postpartum depression; I was confident and ready. While my mind was set on breastfeeding my baby, reading, plus increasing my daily intake of protein, calcium, and iron does not give a guaranteed ability to nurse successfully. Reading about raising and nurturing a child is one thing. Doing it on your own is something else.
On the twenty-first of February, six hours after giving birth, my first child was brought in to my room. Once I had him cradled in my arms and after finding the perfect breastfeeding position, I brushed my finger against his cheek and tried breastfeeding him for the first time. He had difficulty latching on right, so no stimulation means no milk production. But I was lucky to have a nurse present who urged and encouraged me to have patience and keep trying every 3 hours until I my body was able to produce colostrum. After more than twenty-four hours of “nursing” my newborn, my body started to produce colostrum. Mature milk flowed days later.
My children were exclusively breastfed until they were completely on solids; my firstborn self-weaned at the age of two, my second child self-weaned at the age of one, and my newborn is still breastfeeding. I have had my share of cracked and bleeding nipples, frustrating decrease of milk supply, felt the inconvenience of breastfeeding discreetly in public, and almost gave in to the pressure of switching to infant formula or try mixed feeding just to make sure that my baby stays well nourished. So, why breastfeed? Because I have also seen the health benefits and advantages of breastfeeding to believe and know that breast milk is the optimal source of nourishment for babies.
The list of benefits of breast milk is endless and ever-growing but off the top of my head, these are the reasons why I continue to choose breast milk over formula:
- Breast milk contains antibodies so day-to-day protection is provided. Because of my second child’s strong immune system, he never caught any of the common colds and flu that I have had in the past 12 months, thus lowering medical care costs for us.
- It’s free. Although one-time purchase of breastfeeding essentials is beneficial, the total cost is surely nothing close to what one would spend on formula and bottles.
- Convenient, clean, fresh and is always ready at the right temperature. There are no bottles and nipples to wash and sterilize at the end of the day, no need to pack clean water and bottles in the diaper bag and night feeding do not take up minutes of preparation.
- It is a built-in, automatic comfort for babies.
- Breastfeeding, on average, burns 200 to 500 calories. By the time my first child turned 4 months old, I was able to wear a two-piece swimsuit. Breastfeeding releases the hormone oxytocin, which causes the uterus to shrink back to its normal size much quickly.
- It’s empowering. Being able to able to produce milk confirms a mother’s ability to nourish her baby in the best, natural way possible.
- Breast milk is nutritionally complete, balanced and adapts constantly to the changing needs of the growing and developing infant.
I do not judge women who opted to choose formula over breast milk because of their inability to produce milk, or are taking medications that hinder milk production, or simply cannot juggle work and breastfeeding. However, I am disgusted by mothers who are capable of producing milk, have the luxury of being a stay-at-home mom, lucky enough to be given the chance to nourish their child the healthiest way possible but still chooses infant formula for selfish reasons. Formula is just a supplement and will never be an equivalent replacement to breast milk.
They convinced our mothers that if a food item came in a bottle — or a can or a box or a cellophane bag — then it was somehow better for you than when it came to you free of charge via Mother Nature… An entire generation of us were introduced in our very first week to the concept that phony was better than real, that something manufactured was better than something that was right there in the room.
– Michael Moore, Here Comes Trouble