Babymama Yannah Kristine Guiao
I am a mom of a baby boy who just turned 9 months last July 7. I have been exclusively breastfeeding him since birth. I delivered him through induced normal delivery at 3.2 kilos birth weight. So far, he is very healthy and meets the milestones on his age.
My first born was not breastfed. I didn’t have enough knowledge and support when I had him and we resulted to formula feeding right away, he was already nipple confused when I tried to offer my breasts. I wasn’t able to exert much effort because I thought it was okay not to breastfeed. And that I regret everything, he got sick at 9 months and there were developmental delays including speech.
That’s why when I learned that I was pregnant for the second time, I decided to breastfeed my baby and joined breastfeeding advocate groups, checked for resources about breastfeeding, pumping, storing milk, etc. I didn’t buy feeding bottles and formula milk because I was determined to exclusively breastfeed him, because I believe that I can.
Though during my first weeks of breastfeeding, I also experience problems. Of course, sore nipples and engorgement especially at night. I pumped at 3 weeks postpartum and I was afraid of oversupply so I had to wake up every 2hrs and have an alarm to make sure my breasts gets empty even if my baby sleeps through the night.
But nothing beats the smile and eye to eye contact I get when my baby latches. It really feels good to be a mom. The love and happy feeling I get whenever he sees me is so heart melting.
As a stay at home mom, my daily routine usually starts at 6 am. Since I am the only one doing all the chores, I wake up early to prepare breakfast for the family, my husband leaves for work around 8am. I have to bathe my baby in the morning too, do direct latch, give solid food, direct latch again and when he plays, I’ll do some household chores.
Then, I prepare for lunch, direct latch, give baby his lunch, direct latch and eat our lunch (my husband goes home from work for lunch time), do chores and direct latch while having our siesta. In the afternoon, I have to prepare for dinner while baby wakes up and play, then direct latch, cook dinner, direct latch, eat dinner (husband and I will have to alternate eating to have someone watch over the baby), household chores, warm bath for me, direct latch until bedtime. I usually wake up at 2am and 5am to pump.
I get most of the support from my husband because he’s the first person who sees whatever I am doing. All the struggles from the start of my breastfeeding journey, the morale support and of course, having him to take care of the baby when I’m too tired already.
