Breastfeeding Awareness

While most countries acknowledge National Breastfeeding Month in August, Jamaica celebrates National Breastfeeding Week during the third week of September. The reason that Jamaica chooses to celebrate one month later is to avoid interference with their Emancipation and Independence Celebrations (Jamaica Information Service, 2005). 

Breastfeeding can be a difficult journey and not everyone chooses to breastfeed or is able to and that is alright. I am the proud mom of two sons who are now 8 & 4 years old and I chose to breastfeed both of them. I breastfed both boys until they were about 15 months old, but it was not always an easy journey. When my oldest son was born, we had a very hard time getting started. I thought it was going to be so easy, breastfeeding is natural, I thought my body should know what to do, but it didn’t at first. My milk did not come in super fast which was frustrating to me. My son also had a tongue tie which made it hard for him to maneuver his little tongue and he struggled to latch. The hospital I delivered at had lactation consultants available and we ended up requesting their support. They were able to provide suggestions and guidance to help ease the transition into breastfeeding. They taught me different ways to hold my son while breastfeeding him to make it a little easier on him  and myself. What ended up being the best trick for us, was holding him like a football to give him a more direct latch. Once we got the hang of it we were all set to go. 

Both of my boys were cluster feeders. This means that they feed frequently within a short time span. Sometimes cluster feeding can even be continuous for several hours. At times, it felt like all I did was breastfeed all day, and if I wasn’t breastfeeding I was pumping in between feedings to increase my milk supply. It seemed like a never ending cycle of feedings. Breastfeed, pump, put the milk away, wash the pump, and repeat. It was exhausting, and a lot of hard work.

As difficult and exhausting as it felt at times, I would not change our journey or give up the opportunity to have breastfed my babies. Those moments where it was just the two of us are some of the most special moments. Having that skin to skin contact and that time to just look at your baby and talk to them is such a great time to bond. My favorite part of breastfeeding was actually those very late night feedings. I would rock my babies in the rocking chair while feeding them and sing them songs as they drifted back off to sleep. I would always stay there for a few moments longer and just watch my tiny babies sleeping in my arms and hold their tiny little hands a little longer before going back to bed.

The journey of breastfeeding can be rocky but it can also be beautiful. It is up to each woman to decide if breastfeeding is the journey she wants to take, and if it is not that is perfectly acceptable too. No matter the path, what matters most is that both mom and baby are healthy, supported, and loved. 

Reference:

Jamaica Information Service. (2005, September 17). Mothers encouraged to breastfeed 

exclusively for first six months. https://jis.gov.jm/mothers-encouraged-to-breastfeed-exclusively-for-first-six-months/