 Realizing that there are a large nos. of new mommies and mommies-to-be in Multiply, I hv decided to share my breastfeeding experience. Things u can look fwd and things u cud avoid. Husbands can read this too as I feel that husband's support is impt! After all, ur wife is nurturing ur precious child :)
When I was pregnant with Huzaifah, I told myself that I would breastfeed all my children. I read a lot on breastfeeding. But when it comes to the real thing, I wasn't prepared. Practical is totally different fm theory. I got panic when Huzaifah screamed his lungs out for milk. He wasn't patient enuff OR maybe I was slow. When I got panic, I couldn't latched him on properly. But I noe I had lotsa milk coz it's always dripping.
Being a 1st time mother, I needed all the support fm the femmes in my family. Nenek breastfed all her 8 children till they turned 2. Same goes to all my aunts. All breastfed up to a year. Ibu & Mak only breastfed their children for 2 mths. But ALL of them forgot the technique of latching on. I couldn't remember the lesson I learned on the 1st day at East Shore coz I was tired fm labour. Wat was I to do? I didn't noe any SG breastfeeding support group back in 2001.
Engorgement was a pain during the 1st week. I had a fever coz I didn't pumped out my milk as often as I shud. I felt heaty up there. My aunt advised me to put cold cabbage leaves on each side. Alhamdulillah, it worked! :o)
To avoid another engorgement, I kept on pumping out my milk to bottle-feed Huzaifah. My milk quantity decreased after 2.5 mths. I was depressed that I cried. A lot. I felt that I didn't complete my duty as an Ummi. But I hv personally experienced the benefits of breastmilk. Huzaifah got an eye infection when he was 2 mths old. My neighbour nurse told me to squirt a drop of breastmilk into his eye. The red was gone instantly. Alhamdulillah! The wonders of Allah's creation; Breastmilk.
How long to breastfeed ur baby? In surah Al-Baqarah verse 233 : "The mothers shall give suck to their offspring for two whole years, if the father desires to complete the term. But he shall bear the cost of their food and clothing on equitable terms. No soul shall have a burden laid on it greater than it can bear. No mother shall be treated unfairly on account of her child. Nor father on account of his child, and heir shall be chargeable in the same way, if they both decide on weaning, by mutual consent, and after due consultation, there is no blame on them."
But in another surah, u cud breastfeed ur baby till 30mths. In surah Al-Ahqaf verse 15 : "We have enjoined on man kindness to his parents: in pain did his mother bear him, and in pain did she give him birth. The carrying of the (child) to his weaning is (a period of) thirty months."
Some mothers produced less milk. You cud try eating fish, green leaf veggies and drink lotsa water. Try to avoid tea/coffee as they cud drained out ur nutrients when urinating. If u need to pump out milk/breastfeeding ur child, its best that u compose urself. If not, it cud affect ur milk poduction. Btw, as a Muslimah, reciting Tasbih Fatimah (SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, Lailaha illallah, Allahu Akbar, Lahaulawala kuwata illa billah) while pumping/breastfeeding is just appropriate. With prayers, hoping that ur child grows up to be a healthy, happy, intelligent and pious child.
I was pregnant again. I wudn't let history repeated itself. I picked up my courage when Mu'az was born. I forced myself to fully breastfeed Mu'az no matter wat happened. Alhamdulillah, Mu'az wasn't screaming and that made me calm. I tried 3 times before I successfully latched Mu'az on. Alhamdulillah! Thank U Allah =D
I proved to myself that I cud breastfeed Mu'az more than 6mths as suggested. Wearing a veil is an advantage. I dun have to look ard for a nursing room. I cud breastfeed him just anywhere, anytime. I breastfed standing up while cooking. Yes! Standing up, hehehe. I breastfed while folding the laundry sitting down. After Mu'az turned 1, he cud find his way to his milk fm his official milkmaid. Its OK if we were at home. But in public? I hv to constantly keep my veil down fm his 'peek-a-boo I want milk' action. Kinda embarrased sometimes, heehee. :S
I got pregnant 3rd time. I stopped breastfeeding Mu'az coz the production dept. was forced to shut down. It stopped naturally when I was 4 mths pregnant. But Mu'az still wanted me. Tried ways to make him stop. Putting asam was 1 of them. He disliked the taste but he eventually come back for more. Sour? He loved it! By now, he was 1 mth into 50%breastmilk-50%cowsmilk. Everytime he wanted me, I wud pulled down my clothing. I was afraid if a breast suction cud trigger an early labour. I was confused. Pity my boy u noe. But wat was I to do? Maybe there's a hikmah. Allah made me strong mentally. I persevered! I succeeded! Alhamdulillah, I got over the challenge! Despite all this, I hope Mu'az was happy with his 18mths breastfeeding marathon. Kekeke :D
I noe that some bottle-fed babies may gain weight faster than their breastfed counterparts. The quantity of breastmilk is adjusted to the need of the growing baby, whereas formulae are given in the quantities and strengths the mother wishes, and she may give more than necessary in order to make sure her baby gains weight. This may make some parents happy, but we know now that such babies are more prone to obesity, hypertension and coronary disease in adult life.
The West, after exhaustive investigations, has come to what was ordered 1400 years ago in the Holy Quran. For the newborn Muslim child, the intimate breastfeeding relationship is a right. It is beyond dispute that two full years of breast-milk provide a baby with long-term health benefits such as the prevention of ear infections and allergies, as well as providing a foundation of trust between mother and child. It has been proven that a bottle-fed baby will be a weaker child, and that breastfed babies often have higher IQ's and are more emotionally well adjusted.
Benefits that you gain when breastfeeding are :
Convenience : There is no need for bottles, sterilisation or temperature check.
Cleanliness : Breastmilk is free of germs and washing your nipples with water once daily is sufficient.
Cost saving : Breastmilk is FREE and saves you paying for formula feeds.
Contraction of the womb : When baby suckles, it reduces the chance of severe bleeding and speeds up the return of the womb to pre-pregnancy size.
Confidence : It builds the mother's confidence as she fulfills the child's emotional and physical needs.
Child spacing : For some women, breastfeeding delays the return of menstruation and can help you plan your family if you are fully breastfeeding for the first 6 months.
Cancers : Risk of breast cancer is reduced in women who breastfeed.
Calories : During breastfeeding, calories are used up and the fat stored around the hips and thighs during pregnancy may be lost if a sensible diet is followed.
Breastfeeding is so natural. Not only are the physical qualities of breastmilk the best, the emotional and spiritual bonding that takes place between mother and child is immeasurably vital to life. Allah has given women the role of nurturer of life, the role of providing the warmth, comfort, security and compassion that sets life on the best course.
Although, I breastfed Huzaifah for 2.5 mths, Im still proud that I hv achieved my goals in breastfeeding Mu'az for 18mths and breastfeeding 'Ammar is still a journey. This is impossible without saying a prayer to Him for help...Alhamdulillah, He hears me till now. Aren't you proud to be a muslim mother? :)
To all mothers who has successfully breastfed their children eventhough u didn't reach ur 6mths mark, give urself a pat on the back! At least, U did try @ breastfeeding! With World Breastfeeding Week coming up in August, Kudos!
Useful Links : Breastfeeding Mothers' Support Group (Singapore) --> La Leche League International --> La Leche League (Singapore) --> Association for Breastfeeding Advocacy (Singapore) --> Breastfeedingmums.com --> The Militant Breastfeeding Cult --> Ask Dr. Sears (breastfeeding) --> World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action --> The Birth Den
Have breastfeeding experiences to share? Y not share it here...I cud be learning a thing or two :) 
 | You're lucky sis..dpt jugak menyusukan ketiga2 anaknya. as for me b4 gave birth to Mirza i told myself i nak sgt2 breastfeed him as long as i could but unfortunately my wish didn't come true, there wasn't much milk at all! Mirza had to stay in hospital for 2wks for weight gain & cardio check and i was told to pump out my milk at least 5 bottles and to bring them everyday to feed him, but everytime when pump out the most i could get only 2-3oz within 1 whole day!!! not even 1 bottle full!!! imagine that it was so stressful & heart-wrenching experienced!! so depressed that i cried a lot...thot is it something is wrong with me or memang tak banyak susu! hmmmmm..colleagues also adv to eat more fish & veg tapi sama jer... even when latched him on he screamed his lungs out for milk...so sad...leave me with no other choice so hv to feed him on formulas milk...alhamdulillah even i couldn't breastfeed him as long as i wished...at least walaupun sikit dpt jugak Mirza rasa his mum very own Breastmilk!!.. |
 | I cud really relate to ur experience. Being a 1st time mommy, high expectation is always there coz we want the best for our newborn child. But Alhamdulillah, at least our children, urs & i cud taste our milk. My fren wasn't allowed to breastfeed her child at all coz she is a Hep B carrier. It is understood that she cud pass Hep B to her child thru her milk. wat a pity. Although rewards fm Allah is partly y we wanted so much to breastfeed but Im more thankful to Allah now that at least my child cud taste my milk even if its just a drop! Alhamdulillah... |
 | I agree wf dis topic. I fully breastfed both my kids for 3 solid yrs each and enjoyed very much during 'dat' close bonding time while b-feeding. When i was expecting my 2nd child, my firstborn was still on breast milk. It did cause me to go into early labour cos there was little water in my body & de baby in womd might dehydrate. When i finally stopped b-feeding, i suddenly felt loss. Like i'd lost something in myself. It took me almost 4mths to overcome dat 'loss'. Still, I never regretted my decision back then to FULLY b-feed them...
P/S:- To those mums who think thy hv little milk, try this. Massage gently 'there', keep squeezing. Let baby suckle 'it' as and when. Cos de more baby suckle, more milk will produce. Milk ducts in breast work dis way :- For as long as it's being 'sucked', milk will keep flowing, Insya Allah.. |
 | wah i envy u all mom who get to breastfeed ur child. i get to breastfeed my son abt 2 wks je, lepas 2, no more milk...lyk u experince the 1st baby, i get panic wen my son cry so loudly wen he nd milk...N since im a 1st time mother, i abit kancong...Wen i start pump my milk, day by day it become lesser n now no more already...So sad, dpt 2 wks je...I really hope if im gonna hv another baby, i wanna try to breastfeed as much as i can, insyallah ;p |
 | Wow! This is an amazing entry. Its very informative and useful. I have no idea that breastfeeding is quite a challenge. I appreciate my mom and all other mothers better. Thank you! |
| irwanirah wrote on Aug 2, '06, edited on Aug 3, '06 couple of things that i wud like to convey here.
my aunt ada buat urutan lepas bersalin utk bangsa lain juga. Dia ada bercerita dat some mothers actually ask their gynae for pills to stop their milk production. How selfish is that!! Hanya kerana nak mengekalkan kecantikan payudaranya. Tapi alhamdulillah, saudari Islam kita belum lagi tergamak buat begitu. ;) Adakah itu salah satu sebab mengapa generasi muda byk mencari kasih sayang di luar rumah kerana masih kemerahan bayi lagi ibunya sudah menyekat kasih sayangnya? *ponder*
another, 2 groups of children were put in 2 diff rooms. 1st group - breastmilk children. 2nd group - formulae milk children. Both groups were woken up for solat Subuh.
Breastmilk children woke up with lesser complaints but formulae milk woke up with difficulties. They gave more reasons and complaints not to perform solat Subuh. Remember that mothers are suggested to recite tasbih fatimah when pumping out milk/breastfeeding. To always remind our child of Allah even while breastfeeding.
That cud be the reason why breastmilk children cud perform ibadah with ease. Plus, breastmilk children will have closer bondings with their family members even as adults...SubhanAllah... A fren told me that the research was done by a local ustaz at a pesantren in Indonesia... |
 | Askom, my wife breastfed our first child too - and yes it IS a challenge. you can always share personal notes with her at absyed.multiply.com
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 | mistermoo wrote on Aug 3, '06, edited on Aug 3, '06 chak! i was just like you, sis. i tell myself that i must breastfeed my newborn and read up on breastfeeding...downloaded demo videos even..haha. i bf Aisyah for barely 2wks only. i asked the nurses whether I'm doing it correctly and was happy to know that she latched on correctly. Alhamdulillah, there was colustrum the night I had my csect even though I know that it was going to be a bit slower for csect mommies.
On the 2nd day, I had cracked nipples because Aisyah was sucking too hard (according to one of the nurses) but I didn't stop and bear the pain. One nipple bled and I only gave her the other working one and I still pump the bleeding one. I began to hope that the bleeding one can recover quickly while I breastfeed Aisyah with the other one. But the other too bled and I started giving her formula milk because i didn't really have a choice.
I contacted up all my mommy frens how to recover my bleeding nipples asap. At the same time, I also pump to allow the production of milk to continue. I was really desperate that time. I know that as soon as I stop breastfeeding, this will be the end of my desire to breastfeed her. And true enuff, after one week...Aisyah refused to drink my milk and screamed even louder when I persistently wanted her to breastfeed. I read that once the child goes hungry, they will breastfeed but with Aisyah, she didn't!
Furthermore, comments like me being less-endowed really really hurt me and causing me to be depressive. I was like all alone in my mission to breastfeed and hearing people saying they never breastfeed their kids but their kids turned out well too made me even more down. I decided to give Aisyah the formula milk. I still continue pumping hoping Aisyah will drink it one day. But Aisyah's refusal to accept my milk and comments like mebbe not enuff milk to feed my lil one made me totally gave up. I really felt I have failed as a mother. Only Allah knows the sorrows of a mother who can't breastfeed her child. And was terkilan when the tukang urot asked me everytime why I never breastfeed my baby when I have so much milk for someone small sized like me. Wah manz...I was distraught and blamed myself for not trying harder. After this experience, I'm more determined to breastfeed if I ever do have children again....insyaAllah.
btw, this is yammy. hehehee...Aisyah says, "Assalamu'alaikum, Aunty Irah.." |
| irwanirah wrote on Aug 3, '06, edited on Aug 4, '06  One nipple bled and I only gave her the other working one and I still pump the bleeding one. I began to hope that the bleeding one can recover quickly while I breastfeed Aisyah with the other one.  hi yammy! i knew it was u coz of ur nickname mr. moo ;p~ wa'alaikum salam Aisyah...aisyah sihat? family aunty semua baik cuma 'ammar ada demam. doakan ya semoga 'ammar cepat sembuh.
btw, after reading ur entry on cracked nipple wic later bled, i baru teringat dat i experienced it too. but only with my 3rd boy 'ammar. although he's got the lightest weight at birth, he has the largest appetite among his bros afterwards..hehehe..my cracked nipple bled n lasted for a week. But only on the left.
persuade myself to give my left coz i was told by my masseur aunt dat left is water n right is food. true enuff i began to believe its true. ini kata org² tua. bcoz 'ammar cried even after drinking for quite sometime on the 'food' breast. he stopped crying after i gave him the 'water'. my 2nd boy mu'az the same too. he loves to drink 'food' so much that the left-side of his head is not nicely round.
bila teringat masa time nak kasi my left tu, hanya Allah saja tahu sakitnya. urat susu kita adalah dari shoulder blade hingga ke payudara. sebab itu for all 3, everytime my aunt urut di bahu, susu pasti meleleh kluar.
aisyah mcm my 1st boy Huzaifah. he refuse to take my nipple on de 3rd day even when he's screaming for milk. susu dah meleleh tapi anak tak mahu minum direct..inilah cabaran irah with the 1st. dan itu jugalah yg buat irah kesal kerana tak sampai 6bln. dgn kesedihan dan penyesalan berbuku di hati, timbul keazaman utk buat yg lebih baik pada zuriat seterusnya. dgn anak pertama, walaupun sudah berusaha, berdoa dan berikhtiar sedaya upaya kita, namun Allah Maha Mengetahui mengapa tidak diizinkan kita menyusu anak pertama dgn lebih lama. itulah yg dinamakan rezeki...bahagian masing-masinggggg... |
 | i breastfed all my 5kids. The most recent is my 1yr old daughter. I had to force myself to stop breastfeeding coz i had to travel. Fortunately she is on bottle now. Otherwise can you image the engorgement in Dubai with 42deg weather???? But I missed breastfeeding so much when I was in Dubai! Cos even she had stopped, i still breastfed her at night! Its so convenient when she wails for milk at night, i just had to pull my blouse, let her suckle....wham!!!....she went to sleeeep! Including me! So I end up not having enuf sleep cos the routine is stucked with me....:)
After 4days, when I finally back in Singapore, guess what?? She ran to me and want me to breastfeed her. Fortunately though, there's still milk! You should see how she suckle!!! So, mother & daughter is reunited again through breastfeeding....i just love the bond!!!
To all new mothers or soon to be mother.....breastfeeding is the best!!! |
 | for i'm 90% bf momma.. another 10% or less will be fomula n plain water.. case darurat like i have to leave him @ home or we outside and no nursing room even i pakai veil, still cam malu gitu.. but still hoping mana tahu i could totally bf him coz he dont fancy fomula milk.. imagine nak habiskan 3oz of fomula, he took ages untuk habiskan.. |
| 'ammar pun tak suka formulae milk..he literally puked it all out. a struggle for him perhaps. or maybe it got to do with the rubber tits too...*keras* kekeke |
 | This is a great entry especially for new ummies like myself. Thank you for sharing. Kalau ada lagi cerita tulis lah ye : ) |
| irwanirah wrote on Aug 7, '06, edited on Aug 13, '06 allo dear dotty...kalau ada crita menarik insyaAllah akan dikongsi sama. btw thanx for taking time reading my long entry and other sistas' replies too. cerita² nya semua best² walaupun pembacanya yg dah beranak 3 mcm i ni..hehe~ |
 | Excellent post, as always.
Syukran. |
 | time i gave birth pat mt elizabeth, they dun encourage pumping out milk for the first mth. according to them, not all colostrum will be pump out. Currently i'm taking this supplement calld 'bio tonic' from a homeopathy clinic. It helps to regain back our memory, hair, terangkan mata, tambahkan calcium, boost our immunine systm wch we'll pass to bb..& etc..insya-allah. So far i baru makan for a week & i can fel the diff esp time engorgement. Tak sakit. Furthrmore their ubat takde drugs like ubat doctor biasa, so insya-allah its safe.I'm actly veri2 new to homeopathy, so mintak maap byk2 kalau ada info yg salah. :> |
 | alhamdullilah, i stumbled upon ur multiply. Was looking for a fellow breastfeeding mother, here... |
 | Salam to all bf moms. My experience with my 2 kids earlier on bf were not so great :-( I kinda have mental block and give up hope when they screamed for milk and I guess there are also influences by my mom who pushed me to make them not crying by simplygiving them formula milk. Feeling really guilty, i promised myself to do better next time. Alhamdulillah, with my newborn now almost 3 weeks I bf him though he cried to the max, I cekalkan hati dan continue bf him until he's calm down. Not too gud in experience in the beginning, my nipple sored (both), rasa nak menjerit pun ada once he starts latch-on but I tahan saja sampai ok. I really hope I can survive by bf time until 2 years. One question, the bigger he gets, the more supply to provide, mcm mana nak tambah susu lebih banyak ye apart of continuous bf & eat food that can increase supply? Thanks for all the tips, I learned a lot from u all. |
| Irah suka minum fresh milk & soyabean milk. Ate lotsa green leaf veggies like bayam, sawi...Tak tahu pulak kalau ada exercise that would help in increasing the milk volume. Yg penting relax & be happy selalu bila menyusukan anak. ;-D |
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