By Barbie Kyagulanyi
“Congratulations! you are now a mother” say all your loved ones. Apart from the excitement that this baby brings, your major question at this particular moment is: what next? Before you even start on a plan of sorts, this cutie is crying. You can’t tell whether you should call a nurse or try out a few things on your own! Well, this is what you as a new mother should do. BREASTFEED.
Well, breastfeeding is easier said than done and most mothers can testify that it’s no walkover. Last month, I was in a line waiting for my baby’s turn to be immunised when she began to cry. I pulled my booby out. As she squeezed and gulped the milk, a mother seated next to me without hiding her excitement said “Wooow you also breastfeed?” Smiling at her, I calmly said “Yes.” Then she quickly explained to me; “I don’t. I find it hectic. My elbows hurt from the night’s none stop feeding; my back aches. My teats have wounds, I get dizzy and lose my sight every time my baby starts breastfeeding.”
I could relate. I had similar challenges when I had my second child. Shalom barely breastfed. It’s my auntie that came to my rescue. She taught me how to use a pillow for proper positioning. My back ached no more. I put a pillow between my back and the chair every time I breastfed and this made things easier.
Today, there are feeding pillows specifically designed for breastfeeding and they range between Shs20,000 to Shs40,000. As I shared my experience with this seemingly new mother, I also advised her to drink lots of warm liquids and treat the wounds either with warm salty water or see her gynaecologist for medication.
Our other neighbours who saw me and were equally surprised but couldn’t gather the confidence to speak out, joined in on our talk. As we spoke, they shared their different experiences. Although some agreed that they have lost extra pounds, had reduced bleeding after birth and also realised that their babies had high immunity levels while breastfeeding, some chose not to walk that troublesome path.
I realised at the end of our talk that most mothers would rather do formula and cow/goat milk not because they have some serious problems like the one I talked to first but only because this hectic part of motherhood has easier means of being dealt with and choosing not to breastfeed is the new trend.
I would understand if mothers who work 8-5pm and must go back to work after three months of maternity leave decided to introduce bottle feeding training before they go back to work. But I don’t see why a stay at home mom who has no health issues would choose not to breastfeed.
So here’s to working mothers who carry breast pumps and pack breast milk for their babies to feed on in the mom’s absence and amidst the stress at work, still breastfeed all night anyway. Babies who have been breastfed for at least six months are healthier and happier, so quit worrying that your breasts are going to sag like sapatu or that breastfeeding is tiresome. Just breastfeed away.
