Breastfeeding is hard work, I told myself and the many moms I meet. You won’t succeed unless you try.

I tried, and so much more, that we are still standing, or nursing while standing (pun intended) I should say, for 29 months.

Sometime last year, I had excess frozen breastmilk at home. It was just a few bags but I know it mattered to moms who need it for their premies and newborns. So I immediately called the nearby hospital and asked if they accepted them.

After several phone transfers, I was told they were not accepting milk donations. This then led me to sending them a Facebook message inquiring about this. I know some hospitals already set up milk banks or at least be able to accept donations and transport them to milk banks, but I knew our hospital could easily have done this.

On a brighter side, I donated milk through Human Milk for Human Babies, a Facebook page where one either requests for or gives out frozen milk, and I met one mom and her daughter who benefitted twice through my donations. I even delivered the second batch to them in the hospital, so I was able to meet the baby.

Likewise, I also inquired why the pedias of our hospital aren’t that supportive of breastfeeding, which was the reason why my daughter had three pedias, though our current one is in another hospital. Is it lack of knowledge and experience with breastfeeding moms, especially extended breastfeeders? I really don’t know. They were following the Unang Yakap protocol down to the brim but are not keen on breastfeeding.

I am glad that months after that message, the hospital replied, and they refered this to the pediatric unit. I confirmed this with my OB-GYN last week when I had my Anti-HPV vaccine. I am awaiting for the results, so exciting! They will inform and update me about their future plans, and maybe, I’d offer to do talks and invite other experts who could inspire.

During a lunch with some like-minded women (one wasn’t even a mom, but was instrumental in the breastfeeding success of some moms), we all agreed that not only moms should be educated about breastfeeding, but the community who surrounds them. If they go back to their families postpartum and be influenced with formula feeding, then success rate would dip. Next project: promoting breastfeeding in the lower income communities who need to be equipped with knowledge, support, and confidence to ensure success.

That’s the key: information. The more people informed, the more they’ll be convinced to at least try.

~ Touringkitty

One night, my daughter tested my patience.

She does every single night that I put her to sleep anyway, but this particular night, it was horrifying. I was horrifying. And it wasn’t me.

As she was literally tumbling from mattress to mattress (our beds are two floor mattresses linked together), I cried out, “anak, para kang nasapian” (seems like a bad spirit entered). Our helper chuckled, and turned off the lights. My husband slept ahead because he was not feeling well.

So I started dragging my daughter to her sleep area, and she cried all the more, banging her head on the rubber mat-protected walls. I was appalled, really frustrated, that she still hasn’t slept after an hour of chasing her round the room then some Skype-ing with my sister and mom (who just live on the other street).

I forced nursed her just to get drowsy. It worked.

I have skipped days of not nursing her to sleep, and succeeded with just singing and hugging. But this night she so wanted to nurse, specifically on the right side, which I have made her avoid for the day because it was hurting after she pinched and bit it waaaay hard. It’s more painful nursing her now at 28 months and with complete set of teeth than when she was just a newborn.

Besides, nursing her reconnected us after being away for eleven hours at work. It’s how she communicates with me that no one else would understand. Just us.

Sometimes, though, I did wish I didn’t nurse at all, if only to avoid her being clingy. There are times I can’t eat nor pee or poo and end the day being dehydrated because my daughter would nurse for most of the day. Even if she had just eaten or drunk. It might be an isolated case, pregnant moms who consider nursing, so don’t get discouraged. I knew of some families who also exclusively breastfeed and their kids grow mature and independent early on.

As for us, we will continue nursing. That’s what helped me avoid most sickness because of the immunity we pass through the milk and through her suckling. I also didn’t get huge after giving birth! Quickly I lost the packed pounds during pregnancy. It is a great diet pill actually.

No other way but to breastfeed. And I’d be very delighted if more families at least try. We pray for you and your babies.

~ Touringkitty