I've been breastfeeding my baby for more than 7 months
By Lee Ka
@kaka135 (14931)
Malaysia
October 6, 2009 4:04pm CST
It's always said that it's good to at least breastfeed the baby for 6 months, and it's even better to breastfeed them up to 2 years old.
I'm really happy that I've achieved my short term goal for breastfeeding, and I am working hard happily to the 2-year plan. It can be a bit tiring and time consuming, as I need to spend time expressing the breast milk a few times a day, and every time it takes about 30 minutes. I try to cut down other activities, as I try to express more frequently so that the milk production will be better. I am also really grateful as my boss doesn't stop me from expressing milk during working hours, and the colleagues are understanding too. After months of breastfeeding, expressing milk already becomes part of my "past-time", I am quite used to it. Counting the hours since last express, counting the milk production, thinking of producing more milk, it has become part of my life now.
I still believe that thinking positive can help to produce more milk, this is what the nurse told me when I was in the labor ward.
7 people like this
6 responses
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
7 Oct 09
Congratulations! I didn't manage to nurse mine for more than 4 months for the first and 3 months for the second since they both needed more nutrients than my milk could provide. My mom had the same problem, but managed to nurse all four of us for at least a month before we all began to suffer malnutrition. It really broke her heart to have to feed us artificially. You apparently have very rich milk!
I'm sorry you're not able to be at home with your child, though. It really is the most priceless gift of life to be able to watch our children grow. I hope you're able to be at home more in the future.
1 person likes this
@kaka135 (14931)
• Malaysia
12 Oct 09
Hi there, thanks for your response.
I feel sorry for not being accompany my son all the time too, but I suppose this is the better solution I can find at the moment. Of course the best solution will be I do not need to work, but look after my son by myself.
@weasel81 (2496)
• Australia
7 Oct 09
well done, my mum fed me for 12 months. but i was only able to feed my son for 4 months, inlaws didn't help on the issue. they would feed him the bottle when i wasn't there, and not listen to me not wanting to feed before 3 hrs, and cause my son was a chuckie baby they wanted me to fed him again after he'd been sick. i wouldn't do it and stuck to my thing about it, things improved when my son went on to solids at 4 months.
@suzzy3 (8341)
•
7 Oct 09
I often wonder why in laws insist on bottle feeding when you are not around,maybe they just don't understand.I think they go to mother in law school where they are sat down and told to be as awkward as possible an make things almost impossible for the daughter in law.Such a shame.my mother in law used to give my new born son custard with cows milk when I was not around.When I found out they were no longer allowed to have any time alone,I would pop up to the loo and they would get out the custard and shovel it down him.My husband got a right earful of me when I found out.He was hopeless with his mother but I put her straight,it was my baby,he was two weeks old,you could poiso him with the salt and sugar in birds custard powder,I took him to the doctors and he said it was suprising what mother in laws pushed down babys throat,they would survive alright,but stop it happening.
@weasel81 (2496)
• Australia
8 Oct 09
we have something in common inlaws and their interfering ways. i would go a milk the cows, so they'd look after my son. it stuffed up my routine with his feeding and i didn't like it. it's hard enough when it's your first child to navigate things with out extras getting in your way of learning for your self. they even didn't like me riding the horse. i was back riding 2 weeks after giving birth, i felt ok to do it as well. so then my father inlaw said my milk was not right cause my son would chuck and it was curdled (wonder why) he seemed to think it was from riding and not what milk does when it's brought back up after being in the stomach.
they still don't listen to what i say about things. must be something with the older generations at times.
but the best advice my mum was given was steer clear, and i'll ask for help if i need it. that was from her sister.
@jessi0887 (2788)
• United States
7 Oct 09
I just wanted to give you cheers and congratulate you. It is such a great thing what your doing. And you dont realize how lucky you are to be able to go that long. I couldn't because my son wouldn't latch on. It was the most discouraging thing and i feel if i would of had more guidance then maybe i could of done something more.
@vingyan06 (2486)
• Malaysia
11 Oct 09
Hi Kaka,
Nice to hear from you! Glad that you are giving the best milk to your baby. Always mother's milk is the best for baby. You are lucky to have a good and understanding boss.
For me, when I have my first baby. I try my very best to give mother's milk for her. But sad to say my supply isn't that much. But I still try my best to give her at least once or twice feed with mother's milk. I am glad that I was able to feed mother's milk for her until 6 months old. After that I try to give up as the supply become less and less.