Dede: Tales from a Breast-feeding Mom

Giving birth to two girls via the C cut is something, but breastfeeding tells a different story; a more interesting story indeed!

I have always believed in the power of breastfeeding. That’s why I try to breastfeed my two girls; unfortunately for my first born, I was only able to breastfeed her until her 2^nd month, when we had to transfer her to my parents’ place (as I was about to get back to work) because we were afraid to leave her to a yaya when we were still staying in Betterliving. A good thing, though, is that I was able to give her “colostrum”, which is the important substance found in breast milk.

My second child is lucky to still get the benefits of breast milk as I am up to now breastfeeding her. Yes, at 11.5 months, Jet Li still feeds from me. She just drinks formula milk when I have to be away from home. And it is just recently that I had my period back, due to breastfeeding I suppose.

I am writing this as Jet Li wakes me up to breastfeed in the middle of the night: 2:45 am to be exact. Yup, we have been doing this since she came home from the hospital. They say this is an unholy hour, but I don’t mind really. I mean, I am already used to it, and she needs it so who am I to object? And so to pass the time, I thought maybe I should write something about this. So here I am in front of the laptop, in the middle of the night, writing about my experiences with breastfeeding.

When Scout was born, I was already determined to breastfeed just like what my mom did to us three siblings. It was very difficult the first time. I can say that because I hardly had the difficulties of first-time breastfeeding with Jet Li. I guess, sore nipples are the first hindrance that moms experience when they breastfeed. I cry with the pain because it is very uncomfortable to start with. My nipples got so sore it hurts to wear a brassiere because the wound will stick to the bra fabric. Then my mother-in-law told me that it would be the baby’s own saliva that will heal the soreness. And it was indeed Scout’s saliva that did the trick! Now I don’t have any difficulties with breastfeeding other than having less time for sleeping during the night.

And speaking of sleepless nights, it is more difficult to sleep when the baby is sick. Jet Li, during fever spells, wants to stay attached to my nipples for the rest of the night! So you can imagine sleeping while sitting and cradling the baby at the same time. Removing her from my teats will mean waking her up and starting a crying session. And it is during these moments when I feel that my child needs me more than anything else in the world. She can live without formula milk for a day but not without getting milk from me. That’s why I refuse to wean her even when my husband says it is just about time to do so. I will wait for her to wean herself; besides, she’s a good “breastfeeder”. She never bit my nipples, not even once! So I will give her a reward for that! No weaning until she feels so.

SM malls are so convenient for breastfeeding moms! And I am one of those thankful for their Breastfeeding Clinics! Jet Li and I are frequent visitors of that area of SM City Batangas. When we are “malling” and Jet Li feels the need to breastfeed, we just go there and do our stuff for as long as we want to! The clinic also has a diaper-changing area, which is ultra-clean! Of course, we have to sign a logsheet after we have finished our session.

One funny (and shameful) experience I have with breastfeeding is when Jet Li urges me to feed her in a crowded place: a jeepney, a church, etc. She wouldn’t stop positioning herself in front of my breast and pulling my arms to show her my “dede”. One time during the baptism of my best friend’s first born, Jet Li once again did that. She was like so irritated and was crying that I have to give in! That was inside the church and our friends were like teasing me that I was a Bomba star or something! Toinks!

Oops! I may have been carried away with all these breastfeeding stuffs that I forgot I was breastfeeding Jet Li. She’s finished and I am, well, sleepy. It’s already 3:30 am. I have to close for now; I will be up again after an hour for her 4:30 am snack. So, happy reading you guys! And good morning too!