Milking that Liquid Gold

Besides actually giving birth to my daughter, breastfeeding has been one of the best experiences that I’ve had as a mother.  It strengthens the bond between Fati and I and increases my confidence and sense of competence as a mother.  There is nothing quite like exchanging gazes with my little girl as I nurse her, knowing that I’m participating in one of the most ancient and best practices a mother can do to give her child a happy and healthy foundation.  I’m amazed when I lay with Fati at night nursing her. She seems totally in control of what she’s doing and so content.  I read an article about BFing personalities and my girl definitely seems like a gourmet type.  She loves to savor the feed, often moving around, making these cute noises and hand gestures, and stopping for a second to look up and stare at me before going back to enjoying her 'meal' and the comfort she gets from it.

Modern medical evidence is finally supporting what mothers around the world have always known - that breast milk is liquid gold for your baby.  The American Association of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for at least 1 year, with solid foods being introduced after 6 months and the World Health Organization reports that a lack of exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life contributes to over a million avoidable child deaths each year. See these 10 Breastfeeding Facts.

However, many moms forgo the process and opt for formula.  To each his own...and I'm certainly not one to judge any decision a mother makes.  But, from my conversations with some moms I've learned that many women see breastfeeding as difficult and burdensome or don't have enough information to do it in a way that works for them and their baby.  In fact, talking to my own mom I found out that she received a lot of resistance to BFing me.  Society and the medical community were pushing Similac for the modern mother and child!  Anyway, I'm no expert or lactation consultant, but I have been engaged in happy BFing for almost 4 months now.  Thought I'd share a few general tips that have helped me so far.

• Keep site like Kellymom and Infant Risk Center on deck.  They offer all types of information imaginable on BFing, from practical advice to research backed articles on pumping and working, keeping up your supply, troubleshooting feeding problems, medications, etc.
• Hook up with a support system of other committed BFing moms.  I have been attending a mommy and baby BFing group at the hospital where I gave birth.  It's been great to learn form other mom's concerns, get expert advice from the lactation consultants and know there's a comfortable place to nurse Fati in public with other moms.  I also subscribed to the list serve where moms share all sorts of BFing and parenting issues.
• Get your husband/partner and at least one other family member on board.  Studies show that the biggest single factor that determines how likely a mom is to stick with BFing is whether the child's father is supportive.  You can keep dad involved by pumping your milk and letting him feed baby regularly and having dad do lots of skin-to-skin contact with baby.
• Co-sleep if you can and if you agree with the practice.  It makes BFing much easier and strengthens your bond with little boo boo.  You can even use a co-sleeper bassinet that attaches to the bed if you don't want your baby in the bed with you.  Dr. Sears has lots of great scientific info on the benefits of co-sleeping.
• Invest in a good breast pump for times when you may need to express milk for someone else to feed baby, if you plan to go back to work or to help you keep your supply up when you are away from your baby for extended periods.  I have the Medela Pump in Style Advanced double pump, but there are hundreds of options out there.
• Keep your eye on the prize and have confidence that it will only get better.  Don't be afraid to talk to a knowledgeable friend or lactation consultant about nursing positions, latch problems, nipple pain, poop color and any other BFing problems.  BTW, most pediatricians, unless they've had lactation training or are experienced moms, don't know jack about BFing, so don't depend on them for all your advice! 
• Savor the special time you have with your sweetie, even if it does feel like you're a walking milk machine with a baby constantly hanging at your breast!  Sooner than later it will be time to wean and you'll get all nostalgic about the good 'ole nursing days.
• Oh, and keep a tube of lanolin gel/cream accessible at all times.  Relieves the sore nipples like magic. Lansinoh 
• And, you can always sell or give your extra milk away.  Really.  A friend of mine had a bacterial eye infection.  I gave her a bit of my antibody-rich milk to put on her eye and the next day it had cleared up almost completely.  Now how's that for some liquid gold?  Besides, they're even making a breast milk ice cream now.  Breast milk ice cream goes on sale in Covent Garden.  Seriously though, check out this article in which the author wonders How milk from African women could end poverty on the continent.  Hmm, I'm not so sure about that... 
• Finally, find your spiritual center as you move through this and other parenting challenges.  As a Muslimah, I am humbled by the fact that breastfeeding is supported in divine scripture.  The Holy Quran states ,‘The mothers shall suckle their children for two years completely for those who desire to complete the term of suckling, but the father of the child shall bear the cost of the mothers food and clothing on a reasonable basis… if they both decide on weaning by mutual consent there is no sin on them. And if you decide on a foster mother to suckle your children there is no sin on you provided you pay what you agreed on a reasonable basis’ (Surah2:Ayat 233)