Another Side of the World: Our Breastfeeding Journey : Part Two

In the name of Allah s.w.t.

All pictures above are credited to their photographers.

I am a breastfeeding mom and it's been three months of exclusively breastfeed my daughter. Alhamdulillah.

Aku terpanggil untuk menulis sesuatu yang nggak bisa dicapai oleh akal sesetengah manusia.

First of all, I want to deeply thank my husband, my mom-in-laws, my sisters-in-laws, my grandmother, my aunts, as well as two of my fellow classmates for supporting our breastfeeding journey in this current modern societies.

Why do I breastfeed my daughter?

1. It's challenging.

2. Al-Baqarah 2:233

3. Bonding

4. Convenient

5. Economic

#1 Challenging

When someone wishes me "all the best" when I decided to breastfeed my daughter, I take that as a challenge. Nowadays, breastfeeding seems to be an 'alien' for most human being on earth. I am still wondering why do humans oppose humans milk for their generations.

I am not talking about breastfeeding in public (of course it's going to be a ridiculous issue), I am talking about objecting breastfeeding as a whole.

Personally, breastfeeding is not just a talk. The moment I decides to breastfeed my child, I armed myself with all the information I can get for exclusive breastfeeding. My husband and I attended the antenatal class as prescribed by the doctor in the community clinic as we were first time parents. Alhamdulillah. I gain some basic information on breastfeeding.

The key of a successful breastfeeding is latching. Latching means, as a mom, 'the burden of proof' lies on you - guide your little ones to latch properly. My daughter latched properly on the forth times I taught her to latch. Newborns are gifted with suckling instinct. They are also gifted to reach for moms' breast. Trust me, I tried the breast crawl and I burst into tears to see the miracle really happens in front of my eyes! That moment was so beautiful.

When I say breastfeeding is a challenge, I really mean it. I read about the basic things of breastfeeding and I agree that

the first two weeks were crucial in terms of pain.

I suffered from breast engorgement for the first two weeks as well as nipple sore.

I also encountered inverted nipple for a week.

Trust me, I cried a lot for the first two months!

Did I quit? Nope.

Why?...because I am aware that,

breastfeeding seems pretty harsh for the first two weeks.

I overcome those painful experience with knowledges. My fellow classmate told me three major keys to breastfeed : One, get the support from your husband, two, READ A LOT; and three, drink gallons of water.

Indeed, those three keys were the secrets of breastfeeding.

When she told me to read a lot, now, I realized why. Some people told me quite a number of misinformation on breastfeeding. Honestly, by reading, especially through reliable sources such as books, private and public breastfeeding awareness websites, I finally get the right information on breastfeeding.

...and hold onto your words cause talk is cheap.

#2 Al-Baqarah 2:233

translation : "Mothers may breastfeed their children two complete years for whoever wishes to complete the nursing [period]. Upon the father is the mothers' provision and their clothing according to what is acceptable. No person is charged with more than his capacity. No mother should be harmed through her child, and no father through his child. And upon the [father's] heir is [a duty] like that [of the father]. And if they both desire weaning through mutual consent from both of them and consultation, there is no blame upon either of them. And if you wish to have your children nursed by a substitute, there is no blame upon you as long as you give payment according to what is acceptable. And fear Allah and know that Allah is Seeing of what you do."

This is a guide for muslims. I want to highlight the underlined translation. Substitute here means 'nursing mother' or known as 'ibu susuan'. It doesn't mean, 'go and pay the cashier for formula milk'.

Once you are a mom, I believe, God will grant you wisdom. It is up to you to treasure the gift.

Lupakanlah soal cukup ke tak susu untuk bayi, this is the main reason of breastfeeding.
Susu manusia itu dicipta untuk manusia. Pernah dengar tak pasal susu mommy ada kaitan dengan air mani daddy. Hehe.
Thats why, adanya istilah 'ibu susuan'. So, buktikan cinta kamu pada anak, isteri dan suami kamu dengan supporting each other with this golden liquid.

#3 Bonding

Do I have to explain this? Well, do you know why some mothers prefer to bottle feed their child? It's because they need some rest and by bottle feeding their child, anyone can assist them in this particular 'duty'. It sounds quite harsh but this is the truth. Let's face it. I really appreciate my husband and people around who supported our breastfeeding journey because, this is the best feeling that ever happen to me.

Seeing a toddler nursing her doll, is sweet.

How about, feeling the sensation of nursing our own child.

Holding our little angels in our arms, look into her eyes, feel her skins, smile at her, and sometimes, when her eyes locked into mine, she stops suckling and smiling back to me. She forgets her milk. She just smile and locked her big round eyes and I have to remind her of her feeding session, sometimes I just hold her and talk to her to reassure whether she gets enough...

these are the true feelings of being a mother.

Those were how our late ancestors did. They see us.

...and you know what? Once I breastfeed my daughter, I suddenly become the doctor and the nurse to her. Alhamdulillah.

#4 Convenient

I option for direct breastfeeding over bottle feed breastmilk since it is super easy and I don't have to bring all that feeding stuffs everywhere I go. I just have to bring my nursing cover and of course, a muslin washcloth (sometimes I forget about this and just pat her mouth dry with my shirt. LOL.)

I have to agree that, my back hurts since I am still learning to master the right breastfeeding posture.

#5 Economic

In this modern days, breastfeeding is consider as poverty due to the fact that, mommy and daddy are not able to provide their baby with nutritious food - the formula milk. HAHA. This is a total lie. Why?

Let me put it this way. In a more adult way. Feeding a baby is like an investment. People invest in expectation of some benefits in the future.

From my personal view, why should I invest on infant formula milk (cow milk source, soy milk etc.) that causes a lot of trouble to newborn baby, when all I have to do is investing on myself - the mom of my human baby.

Our monthly expenses.

1. Disposable breastpad

2. Satisfying my hunger cause my daughter suckles all the nutrition that she needs, i.e. fruits, veges, carbs, proteins sources etc.

3. Mineral water

Extra essential expenses.

1. Nursing bra

2. Nursing cover

3. Washable breast pad

4. Breastmilk storage bags

5. Cooler bag

6. Thermal water bottle

7. Breastmilk collecter

8. Breastmilk pump

9. ...that cost a lot, maybe you need a deep freezer to store the breastmilk for up to 6 months!

10. and that super comfy nursing pillow! (never try any).

Instead of complaining on the price of a formula milk, and bragging on feeding your child with the most expensive or the most popular formula milk ever, I choose to invest on myself.

ummi's eating carbs and protein for you, Zulaykha.

Not to mention, doctors visit for lactose intolerant infant. Me, myself had a tummy issue after drinking fresh farm cows milk, imagine of my few days old baby, consuming cows milk for months. Why do I have to invest in such things when everyone is aware of the benefits of mommies milks, right?

...

So here's the deal. Feeding a child is the biggest deal for every parents. For me, Alhamdulillah. Our breastfeeding journey is stepping miles and miles ahead. Everyday, every weeks, every months, every seconds past, I pray, for my strength in exclusively breastfeeds my daughter. Hours in labour room, I finally made it. Now, I just have to provide her with the best nutritions to watch her grow. Forget about the weight gaining comparing to other babies. A healthy and fit baby is a goal.

All I want to embrace here is...for my next generations, I want a true human being to rule this planet.