30 Years| Mother of an almost 4 month old

Love the group for the support, knowledge & sanitised content. It is very well moderated with to the point information.

So some three months ago; I got started on the parenting journey. I had not read up anything on the breastfeeding bit but had a faint resolve at the back of my mind that I want to ebf. And so I had said to my friends & colleagues. I was stocked up on breast pads & had not even carried a bottle to the hospital because i was cent percent sure that I had to only ebf!

On 18th March, Ahad was born via c section. Before my operation; I had asked for skin to skin with the baby immediately post op but it did not happen. When the nurses brought Ahad for first feeding, nothing happened NA DA & therefore, he was given his first bottle. I was too cut up, bruised & sleepy to argue. By night; no milk had come (just some drops of colostrum which I knew from my reading is sufficient); I was crying because I thought i won’t be able to bf & my mom was insisting on formula. Only one nurse was helpful & proficient technique wise. Eventually; during his hospital stay; Ahad only had mostly formula. Once home, same happened. Inverted nipples, lack of technique, incessant crying meant I was about to give up & go into depression. Ahad also lost more than okay weight in his first visit which made my anxiety heighten.

That is when I came across Hareem who has literally been my lactation fairy god mother. Through her constant encouragement, late night phone calls and general pep up, I was able to ebf & now I am a happy lactating mama! She is the one who coached me on concepts like going cold turkey on formula, demand & supply, comfortable positions, required dietary intake & much much more!

This post is a thank you to this amazing woman who free of cost & without knowing me helped me give a healthy start to my baby!