Having two babies and successfully breastfeeding them, I realized that breastfeeding is unlike formula milk that one can fits all. I want to share some personal thoughts about breastfeeding.
I was in MOA one Saturday afternoon to meet my cousin and I used their breastfeeding station to express milk. There I got to chat to two breastfeeding moms. I felt sad upon hearing their outlook on breastfeeding. One wants to wean her baby, as she said "Hindi ako makaalis, gusto sa 'kin lang," and she does not know too how to introduce the bottle to her child, so she thinks that totally weaning her baby is the solution. I asked her who gives the bottle, she said she does, I shared with her how most babies won't take the bottle directly from mommies, wherein they know mommies breast is just around. The other mom I talked with shared that they only go to MOA and SM Manila cause they are the malls near them which have breastfeeding stations, and she cannot leave her baby when going out. I shared a little of what I do. She was surprised to know that I'm fully breastfeeding while working. She was looking for my baby then, and I told her I left the baby at home, and that's the reason why I need to express milk.
Hearing these moms and their circumstances, both of them seem to be really tied to their babies and breastfeeding. I am saddened by what I heard from them. First, it is because that in spite of their wanting to breastfeed, they seem to know little of other options in breastfeeding. If only they can read books, online resources, etc! Another, they seem to be stress with breastfeeding. They appear to find it hard to find personal time and they seem to feel that their babies and breastfeeding are tying them down.
Another mom I know said while pregnant that she wants to exclusively breastfeed her child. I just heard from her mom that she was eventually mixed feeding because her milk is not enough, and she was having a difficult time breastfeeding. She said that she'll wean her baby when she turns 6 months. She wants to stop breastfeeding because it was hard for to express milk at work. The thing is she has all the gadgets you can name for breastfeeding – dual pump, single electric pump, manual pump, breast pads, nursing cover, cooling agents, etc. Even extra pump parts! She said that she researched a lot about breastfeeding and prepared all that she needed for it.
Now I'm looking at those kinds of moms, I came to the realization that some have the heart, but do not have the technical knowledge, that's why they feel their options are limited. These are the usual moms around. I'm surprised to see the other kind of mom who has the knowledge and all the gadgets needed, yet the dedication may not be 100% and so she longs to stop the breastfeeding relationship because it's becoming difficult for her. So more than the milk supply, it is possible, that that the success of breastfeeding a child, no matter what circumstances there is comes with knowledge and dedication. It is combining the heart, the mind and the body. Knowledge might be there, but the dedication would fuel it up.
Heart (Dedication) + Mind (Breastfeeding knowledge) + Body (of course, good milk supply) = Happy Successful Breastfeeding Moms
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