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Mommy Anika

8/21/2021

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Mommy Anika shares her experiences through 17 months of breastfeeding her baby, Lucia. 

I had quite a tough start to my breastfeeding journey. When Lucia was born, she was diagnosed with jaundice, so she needed to do some blue light therapy. We were advised by her doctors to give breast milk from the milk bank to supplement my supply as the blue light tends to dehydrate the baby. This made me feel so sad, and I started to think that because my milk was not enough, I wasn’t doing enough. At just 2 days postpartum, I tried pumping to increase my supply. But after 30 minutes of using the hospital pump, I was only able to produce less than an ounce of milk. My nipples had become sore, my breasts easily got engorged, and my attempt to produce more actually made it more difficult because I was oversupplying already. We then decided to give Lucia breast milk from the milk bank instead to supplement with my direct feeding. It satisfied her and relieved some of the pressure from me to produce. It was a win-win situation for us both. 
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Throughout my breastfeeding journey, I’ve realized that breastfeeding is not easy. It takes commitment and dedication to see it through. In the beginning, it was exhausting to feed 15-20x a day. I have never felt more exposed, and I really felt like my body was no longer my own. Now at 17 months of breastfeeding, while feeding is much less and no longer as painful, it takes the same amount of dedication and commitment to continue and keep my supply up. It is hard work from the day you start until the day you decide to stop.
After all these months of breastfeeding my daughter, I look back and think that if I could do anything differently, I would have put less pressure on myself.
After all these months of breastfeeding my daughter, I look back and think that if I could do anything differently, I would have put less pressure on myself. I would trust that my body knows how much to give my baby and that my supply, whatever the amount, is just right for my child. I also wouldn’t have worried too much, and not have felt bad for having to resort to breast milk from the milk bank at the beginning. Even though it wasn’t my milk, it was still breast ​​milk - the best form of nutrition for my child. Since then, I have donated so much of my pumped milk to other moms and babies who needed it. Just like me, I’m sure the moms who receive my breast milk feel relieved, that while they are unable to provide their own breast milk, they are still able to nourish their child with the best milk available. 
Truly, breast milk is so powerful and special! I mean, what other drink (or food) can shift its components and adapt to exactly what the child needs? It's amazing how even just a few drops of colostrum is enough to nourish a newborn baby, or how milk with COVID-19 antibodies is enough to protect and keep a child free of COVID-19 despite exposure in the environment. Not many people realize this, but once they do, it is no surprise that they will try to keep breastfeeding for as long as possible. 
My advice to moms who are thinking about starting their breastfeeding journey, or thinking about continuing, is to just keep going, just keep trying! The benefits and the results are worth any struggle you might have or feel. But if after trying and giving your all, and you realize that breastfeeding is just not possible, there is no shame in asking for help--
        Breast milk is still powerful and special, even if it doesn’t come from you.
        It will still nourish and protect your child, even if it doesn’t come from you. 
​Breastfeeding my child has truly strengthened our bond. What many people don’t realize is that it is more than just providing food and nourishment for your child. Breastfeeding is providing protection, security and comfort in a way only a mother can. And now more than ever, I truly love and appreciate how much breastfeeding has given us special moments that only the both of us share.
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Mommy Yuki

8/15/2021

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Before becoming a mother, I thought breastfeeding was a simple task that moms can easily do for their babies. I thought that it was just an option for families who don’t want to include infant formula milk in their monthly expenses. It was very common for me to ask other parents, "Is your child breastfed?". As I became a parent myself to my firstborn, my perspective on breastfeeding changed.

Our breastfeeding journey began during my pregnancy. In my third trimester, my husband was very supportive. He knows better when it comes to breastfeeding essentials – from fixing up an electric pump to choosing the best breast milk storage bags and containers. He even bought all of those for me. But yes, I still felt the pressure was on me!

When I gave birth in September last year, my milk production didn’t kick in immediately. I felt sad as days passed, and still my milk supply was not coming in. I was about to lose hope, desperate to 
breastfeed our newborn, until one day I prayed and asked God to guide me and our baby in our breastfeeding journey. If He would allow, I asked Him to use me as an instrument to help the preemies in the NICU or the babies in the nursery. I made a promise that once I am able to build a stash, I would donate to public hospitals or NGOs. Day after day, I kept praying. Every time I pumped, I prayed for God's help. A month later, my husband and I decided to purely breastfeed our baby since we both thought that my supply was already enough to satisfy his hunger. It was on that day when I finally collected enough to build my very first stash!

Last January, I gave a dozen of my breast milk to my sister as she was about to give birth. In that same month, I made my first donation to PGH through Milk Matters. This donation really made a big impact to me as a person because I realized that becoming a mother won’t only give you the role of being a mom to your newborn, but also a mom to those who are in need. Through breast milk donations, mothers can help newborns have the best nutrients and immunity that they need, especially during this pandemic. ​
"This donation really made a big impact to me as a person because I realized that becoming a mother won’t only give you the role of being
​a mom to your newborn, but also a mom to those who are in need
."
I also realized that apart from the physical benefits, breastfeeding can also contribute to a child’s mental health as it helps moms communicate with their babies. Knowing that newborns are not yet used to the outside world, proper nursing can give them the warmth and cuddle they had when they were still in the womb.
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My key takeaway from my experience is if I could do things differently before giving birth, I would definitely educate myself with enough knowledge in breastfeeding. If I just knew earlier that a mother’s breast milk supply is enough from day 1, then we would not have purchased the infant formula milk for my baby, and I would not have felt bad for thinking that I was not enough for my baby.

​Yes, breastfeeding is indeed difficult as it requires patience and determination. Having someone who is heavily dependent on you 24/7 can be exhausting. While it may have caused a drastic change in my life – from eating habits to lifestyle, I always kept in mind that the challenges are outweighed by the physical and mental benefits breastfeeding has on my baby’s growing years. I am glad that up until now that he is 10 months old, our breastfeeding journey continues. I thank the Lord for giving me the opportunity to help in this special way. Salute to all moms and supportive dads that are on this journey!

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Mommy Gi

8/8/2021

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Mommy Gi is a proud mom to 5-month old Alon. In celebration of National Breastfeeding Month, she shares with Milk Matters her experience in breastfeeding her baby. 

Unlike most moms, I did not feel the instant connection with my baby while he was in the womb. In my mind, I knew he was my son, but I did not feel the “baby fever” nor the usual giddy feeling that moms talk about. It wasn’t magical for me. Everything was so sudden because I had to have an emergency cesarean section. Even when I first held him in my arms, it didn’t sink in yet. Suddenly, I’m cradling my baby when a few moments ago, he was just kicking in my womb. It was disorienting.
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Thankfully, being a mom finally felt real to me during Alon’s first latch. We simply clicked. Breastfeeding brought us closer together. He would cling to me as much as I’d cling to him. Every moment he was away from me, like when my in-laws would watch him in the morning as I caught up on sleep, I would miss him already.


As a first time mom, I did not have a hard time like I expected to. Despite giving birth earlier, my milk came just in time, so supply was not a problem. Alon also latched like a champ, although he was picky with breastfeeding positions. I had to experiment with what was comfortable and efficient for us both. I had to deal with nipple blisters, ensuring I had nipple balm on hand and that I would ice my breasts in between feedings. Luckily, pain was not much of an issue for me because I have a relatively high tolerance for it. What worried me the most was when I had a bad episode of diarrhea and my supply tanked for a few days. But after much rehydration and eating right, I was able to regain my supply.
Breastfeeding has many benefits; ultimately, the practical aspect of it drew me to practicing it with my baby. I hope people see that breastfeeding is natural. It doesn’t only feed or provide, it also nurtures and soothes. There are a lot of misconceptions that need to be dispelled. One comment I heard while breastfeeding was “ginawa nang pacifier yung suso mo,” which shouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing, because breastfeeding brings comfort. Furthermore, comfort nursing should be normalized. Society shouldn’t sexualize breastfeeding just because milk comes from breasts. The workplace and society in general can still grow to be more open, understanding, accommodating, and accepting towards working mothers. They deserve to be be given protected time and a safe space for pumping in between work hours.
 The workplace and society in general can still grow to be more open, understanding, accommodating, and accepting towards working mothers.
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I’d also like to remind new mothers that breastfeeding is hard work. It will take a lot from you - physically, mentally, emotionally. This is why you will need to nurture yourself as much as you nurture your child. Eat right, hydrate, and rest as needed. Know that it’s okay to hand your child over to someone else while you recharge because you need to replenish your energy. 

​My advice to new moms who are breastfeeding like me is to give yourself some grace; there is no need to wallow in self-guilt and self-pity. I was too hard on myself at first because I was really determined to breastfeed my baby. Whenever I couldn’t soothe Alon by the usual methods (cradling, latching for comfort), negative thoughts like “I’m a failure” or “I’m a bad mother” came to mind. Hormones are crazy after giving birth, but with an adequate support system behind me, I was able to get past this. I’m sure you can, too.


​For those who are contemplating breastfeeding their newborn, I encourage you to do it. Do it 100%, not simply half-baked. Do it for you and your baby, and not for anyone else. Listen to your body. Listen to yourself. If you are in for it, consider breastfeeding and set little goals - aim to breastfeed for 6 months, then 1 year if you can. It’s not easy but it’s manageable, given the right resources and support system. If it’s not for you (even if you have exhausted all efforts), don’t beat yourself too much about it. Don't label yourself a failure. No matter how you feed your baby - be it by breastfeeding, pumping, or formula feeding - what matters is your baby is fed and nourished. At the end of the day, your baby loves you no matter what.
 If you are in for it, consider breastfeeding and set little goals - aim to breastfeed for 6 months, then 1 year if you can. ​
 ​
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    Express Yourself

    ​In line with our objective to empower Filipino mothers to breastfeed, Milk Matters presents Express Yourself, an online movement that sheds light on the breastfeeding experiences of Filipino mothers, families, doctors, nurses, and other members of society. Our vision is to inspire other mothers to continue breastfeeding through these stories.

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The Phi Lambda Delta Sorority is the premier sorority of the UP College of Medicine. Since its founding in 1969, the Sorority has shared in the vision and mission of the College of Medicine to produce a community of doctors who possess a heightened social consciousness through a firm commitment to excellence and leadership in community-oriented medical service directed especially to the underserved.

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