The Nursing Baby - Your Breastfeeding Stories

I have four children. My eldest is Aironne, when I was pregnant with her, I was determined to breastfeed her. I did nurse her while in the hospital but during that time (6 years ago) the hospitals in here in the Philippines does not support breastfeeding, so we (new moms) go into the nursery once or twice a day to nurse our newborns. During the time we're not breastfeeding the babies are given formula. When we were discharged from the hospital I was given by my doctor antibiotic and I was advised not to nurse until I'm finished with the medication.

I week after my daughter is on formula, I tried breastfeeding again but I felt she's hungry most of the time so I gave supplement. It was our routine for almost a year. I mixed feed her.

After a year and a half Izzy boy was born. I nursed him a couple of hours after I gave birth. On his 3rd day of life, he had to be hospitalized due to jaundice, in the hospital, I nursed him vigilantly because I believe my milk will help him recover from his illnes. Fortunately my husband is very supportive. I breastfed him for only 4 months because I have to go back to work and that time I was not really educated in breastfeeding and pumping so I gave him formula.

Another year and a half, Gabriel arrived. This time I am more aware of the benefits, techniques of breastfeeding and pumping. When I went back to work and Gabriel was 3 months old (I'm a high school teacher) I express my milk manually and give him the expressed milk and nurse him all through the night. At that time I was only expressing 1 ounce of milk every 2 hours and I was discouraged because I felt my expressed milk is not enough to sustain him during my absence so I gave him formula.

On Gabriel's 2nd birthday Ramiel is born. This time I am more determined to exclusively breastfeed him. Ramiel is already 5 months old and breastfeeding exclusively. I express my milk everytime I have a chance and store it in the freezer so he will have mommy's milk while I'm out. I surf the internet, read a lot of books on breastfeeding, asked a lot of questions, wrote a lot of email (esp. to LLLI) to further educate me on breastfeeding. I quit my job to be with my baby full time. 2 weeks ago, Ramiel and Izzy boy had Chicken Pox and I was really worried. I nursed Ramiel more frequently, I put breastmilk all over his body (which was covered with rashes) and his rashes has not been infected!and it was already dried up after 3 days unlike that of his brother Izzy. Izzy's rashes healed after 6 days. I also discovered that breastmilk can cure sore eyes or minor eye irritation or infection.