Breastfeeding Week ends today, Saturday August 7. The annual event is organised by the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (Waba), the World Health Organisation and Unicef. To make this, we speak to mothers about their breastfeeding experiences:
Caroline Wanjiru
Motherhood is great. It’s actually the best thing I ever experienced. Being a first time mother though, is a unique experience. Nothing, and nobody prepares you for the responsibility at hand.
I won’t call my breastfeeding experience difficult; rather I’ll say it was challenging.
I had inverted nipples – a condition that prevents a breastfeeding baby from latching onto the nipple to suckle – and somehow hadn’t researched enough about alternative methods of breast milk expression to keep the baby well-fed.
To make matters worse, I hadn’t grasped enough on supplementing with formula milk. This situation was worsened by the fact that I delivered upcountry in Kirinyaga, having fled Nairobi at the onset of Covid-19.
I delivered my daughter in May 2020 through Caesarean Section after complication at childbirth.
To make matters worse, I had inadequate breast milk, I was jittery about putting my baby on formula milk.
My worst experience was the feeling of helplessness – particularly before I left hospital – of my baby crying all night, after several unsuccessful attempts to latch onto the nipple.
My hubby would seemingly be the most concerned. When he visited, for the few minutes allowed under the Covid-19 restrictions, he held the baby and tried to press the nipple to her mouth. I actually recall those moments and smile.
I thank him so much for his support in the subsequent days that we needed to try the formula milk with consistency, sometime around the third week following my delivery.
My elder sister also held my hand and helped me around dietary issues for breastfeeding mothers. It worked magic, increasing my milk output.
First-time motherhood is challenging but I think with the right support around you, it’s the best experience in a lifetime
We also did extensive online research around inverted nipples.
With the partial solution in the nipple shield and formula milk, we also purchased breast pumps – first a manual one and thereafter an electric – to have reserve milk for the baby.
I remember several nights earlier when I didn’t have enough milk to breastfeed my child, I felt so helpless. She would wake up at night and cry uncontrollably.
There’s no magic to generating adequate breast milk. Just eat healthy, drink healthy and have enough rest.
Motherhood is great. Very adventurous, for first timers!
Doris Ochanda
Breastfeeding is an amazing experience. It’s an unexplainable bond that you have with your child and fulfilling. I would never forfeit it.
For my firstborn, I did it for a year and a half and for my second-born 10 months (due to unavoidable circumstances). When I went back to work, it was an issue since I had so much milk I ended up having an infection, but thankfully managed to get treatment.
If you get an opportunity to breastfeed your child, please do it as much as possible, and at least up until two years if you can. I wish I had that chance.
I wouldn’t say it’s a surprise as such, but it’s amazing how the babies always know that this is their source of food without being taught, and can easily use it to identify the mother as early as two months.
Gathoni Waweru
Breastfeeding is a beautiful feeling. The mere aspect of being the source of food for your tiny human gives one a sense of importance that nothing else on earth can.
Learning how rich in nutrients breast milk is also really boosted my psych for breastfeeding.
My firstborn were twins so I only managed to breastfeed for a year. I hope to go longer with the second.
Breastfeeding twins is tough. First, you need to look for a comfortable position for yourself because most of the time (especially when they are younger) their urge to feed comes at the same time.
I’d place each of their heads on my lap, with the rest of their bodies on the couch/bed (completely unusual).
Advice: You need to have fed well to be able to breastfeed! That body you want will come later. Your baby deserves it.
Surprise: Babies don’t sleep at night
Kavata Kiaro
Wow, let’s start from having no idea how to breastfeed. I appreciate that it took a lactation manager (yes they exist) to show me how to breastfeed. No one warned me that it would mean pulling out your mammary glands for the lactation manager to help you to latch as well as to confirm that one has milk. No milk means not being discharged from the hospital!
I am grateful that eventually I did get milk and I was able to exclusively breastfeed for six months. I used to hear mums say it was an opportunity to bond with the baby as they breastfed, but at some point I think I was on auto pilot. It was not always stars and fairy tales. I mean midnight calls and all. I would do it again though.
When my little one grew teeth, at about one year, she bit me with her very sharp teeth. I cried, and had to remain calm so I do not scare her and get bitten again.
Suffice to say, that was how we stopped breastfeeding I mean she was already one year, I was too traumatised to go back and also I actually did not have much milk at that point. It was more of a soother for her.
I was happy to teach her independence and to self sooth!
However, once we stopped breastfeeding, I realised my little girl was learning independence, and did not need me as much. I guess I missed that she would just come to me even though it was just for food.
I’ve had to learn to intentionally build a relationship with her that it is not based on need. Need for food in this case. All in all, I am glad and grateful that I was able to breastfeed her and that I had the milk.
I am also grateful for the miracle that is breast milk. It contains all the nutrients a child needs to grow. It was always so encouraging going for her clinics and seeing that she was developing well.
God is amazing really. I mean what is in this milk?
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