During pregnancy we did a fair share of research on the stages of labour and on the baby’s development. We also read a few books on delivery and prepared with various exercises. Our son Khayali was smoothly delivered by a midwife and nurse at home next to Pondicherry.
We had however not focused much on post-delivery. We assumed all would go well and we would naturally know what to do. This included breastfeeding. Unfortunately, after our baby was born, we tried to feed him and he wouldn’t latch. The next day, approximately 10 hours after delivery, the midwife and nurse came by our home and we tried to feed Khayali. Again, he couldn’t latch on. The midwife said we needed to feed him as he had not yet peed or pooped and suggested formula. My husband and the nurse went to the pharmacy to buy formula and a bottle. We fed him formula for the next 24 hours, waking him up every two hours at night as suggested by the midwife. During this time, colostrum was coming out of my breasts so we tried to get what we could with a syringe to feed it to Khayali. Leaking colostrum while not being able to feed,felt sadly ironic. The following day my husband bought a pump and some nipple shields. Thus, we began more than three weeks of pumping, bottle feeding, nipple shield feeding, etc.
Desperate and depressed, we had googled trying to find help and had found Dr Jayashree online after a few days. However, we didn’t feel confident in driving to Chennai (3-4 hours) with such a small baby. We asked her to come to Pondichery but she was unable to due to prior commitments. After a couple of weeks we started chatting with her on WhatsApp and she gave us some advice, namely to stop using the bottle at all costs. We tried feeding with a cup or spoon but about half our (precious) breast milk would go to waste. We then started finger feeing with a syringe and would leave Khayali close to the breast after feeding as suggested by Dr Jayashree. Three days later, after a feeding, Khayali opened his mouth and I took the opportunity to “push” my nipple in (pinching it into a sandwich as a family member and friend had suggested just a few days earlier). He latched and started eating. We were speechless. For the next few days, we latched him on the breast but kept feeding him with the syringe as well. After more than 3 weeks counting how much he was eating (in ml) we were somewhat afraid to make the full switch to the breast, not having control over how much he was eating. We therefore decided to go to Chennai anyway as planned.
When we met Dr Jayashee, she immediately sat me and latched Khayali within seconds. In her opinion, there was never a real problem, only lack of guidance on technique. We stayed in Chennai a few days during which time she showed us how to hold the baby and the breast to help with the latch and from then on we have exclusively breastfed!
We are very thankful for her help, although if only we had met her on Day 1, it would have saved us a lot of tears, stress and sleepless nights!
Zaina
Babies are a blessing from god & mothers give them the best in their life, starting with nutrition.
I am a second time mom & things should have been easier for me. But it was like first time mom when it came to nursing my baby. After being unsuccessful in nursing my first child, this time I had strong thoughts of not offering formula. But unfortunately, like the first time, formula was offered to baby soon after birth as I was still in the labor room. But thanks to my husband that this time he offered it with a spoon & not a bottle. And the lesson learnt from past, taught that babies accept bottle quicker than breast. Hence, I tried to feed my baby once I was shifted to room. But just like new moms, I was unable to do so. Then came the 4th day when the actual milk came in & I was trying to feed my baby with no directions & guidance on breast feeding. That led me to have sore nipples as I could not position my baby, make her latch properly etc (though I read & prepared a lot before delivery. But doing things practically is different!). To add to this, my baby was very sleepy, who did not wake up for feeds also. And elders at home denied me to wake her up. As I put her on breast, she would suck for a few seconds & sleep. Pediatrician strictly guided me to breast feed, but the baby never took. Not knowing that baby is denying breast due to poor latch, I used to sit for an hour or more trying to wake my baby & expressing milk to initiate her sucking. I was tired all the time. Not knowing what to do, I fed her whenever she woke up. On the 6th day, we got to know that she is suffering from Jaundice & one of the duty doctors informed that this is caused due to dehydration. I panicked & started formula along with nursing her (still trying to wake her up & expressing) in the hospital as she was going through phototherapy. The doctor guided me & gave me tips on how to do, but didn’t work! At this point, I was trying to feed my baby in the morning & supplement in the night. Things were getting difficult & I realized that I need some support to be successful at nursing. With many questions in my mind, I approached Dr.Vinodha, who counseled, guided & gave me tips to follow. By following it strictly, today I am able to nurse my baby & thank god, no supplements!!
I really request the mothers not to feel shy when things are not working. Ask for help!
My experience with Happy mom has been wonderful. I have no words to describe the warmth & comfort received which helped me a lot to get to know a lot of things in detail.
Big Thanks to Dr.Vinodha for her patience to help & teach me how to nurse my baby! Here’s my angel’s pic!!Dur
