Feeding... Feeding.. and Feeding! 24-hr round the clock, everyday! On-demand feeding, comfort feeding, feeding to increase volume...
Nothing has prepared my mindset in this area! Not from the books I read, not from the antenatal classes we attended, and definitely not from friends. In books, I used to see pictures of breastfeeding mother and baby looking contented, peaceful, and lovely. That has been so misleading, at least to me! The reality is.. it is a very tiring task, and you need to have great perseverance to endure so that you can continue. During this period, I think encouragement and help from people around you is very important.
However, there are still people around me, who will give negative remarks, eg milk supply is low - baby do not have enough, baby is hard to take care (because she is always crying), give her a "dummy" i.e. pacifier. So who is this people? Its my mother! Was really disappointed in her. In hospital, she said that, at home she said that. Everynow and then.. How can I trust her to look after my baby in future? Why cant she stop giving feedback if whatever she has to say is so negative? And if you ever try to stop her from talking, she will speak even louder, and this usually woke Evelyn who has just fallen asleep! And the whole nightmare will start all over again.
Nothing has prepared my mindset in this area! Not from the books I read, not from the antenatal classes we attended, and definitely not from friends. In books, I used to see pictures of breastfeeding mother and baby looking contented, peaceful, and lovely. That has been so misleading, at least to me! The reality is.. it is a very tiring task, and you need to have great perseverance to endure so that you can continue. During this period, I think encouragement and help from people around you is very important.
However, there are still people around me, who will give negative remarks, eg milk supply is low - baby do not have enough, baby is hard to take care (because she is always crying), give her a "dummy" i.e. pacifier. So who is this people? Its my mother! Was really disappointed in her. In hospital, she said that, at home she said that. Everynow and then.. How can I trust her to look after my baby in future? Why cant she stop giving feedback if whatever she has to say is so negative? And if you ever try to stop her from talking, she will speak even louder, and this usually woke Evelyn who has just fallen asleep! And the whole nightmare will start all over again.
To keep myself going, I always psyco myself to think that 1-hr of breast feeding would be equivalent to 10g fat lost! And to see Evelyn's pleasing smile after every feeding is the greatest reward for me
*will post her photo later when I have uploaded from camera*
Well, I do send all the long distance support I can. I know in-person is much better though.
ReplyDeleteHugs and comfort.