You too can produce enough breastmilk for your baby; we did

Before a mother has breasfed their child exclusively, you cannot convince them that they can have enough breastmilk for their babies, so most supplement it before it even fails, depriving their babies of a healthy start. Mothers who have made this mistake share their stories and lessons with Jonathan Adengo

Fortunate Mbabazi: I barely breastfed my first born, thinking I could not have enough breastmilk. I knew better for my second born

“Fortunate Mbabazi, a mother of two started using food supplements before breast feeding her child for the recommended six months.

“I gave birth to my first born child to a normal birth, but when it came to breastfeeding him, I rarely used to follow what mothers were supposed to do which was breast feed the child for six months. When I delivered, they took us through steps of breastfeeding and the doctors told us that we were supposed to breast feed the child exclusively for six months. But when I got home, I started using food supplements before the six months.

This was due to laziness on my part. This not only put the baby at risk because his intestines were not yet used to these other food supplements but I also failed to produce enough milk for him, which I later learnt came as a result of not breast feeding him enough. I did not know that even stress can limit breast milk production. When I took long without breast feeding, I started getting nipple problems.

However, when it came to my second born, I visited a clinic that specialises in breastfeeding where I was told the only solution to the little breast milk and painful nipples was to actually breastfeed the child. Now with my second born whom I breast feed exclusively, I no longer feel the pains I used to feel, and the child is also responding well.

The baby is actually healthy. It is so true that as the baby continues to suckle, the milk production also increases.”

Angela Kakooza: My mind was set on formula before the children were even born

“I have three children aged one and two and a half years, and three months old. When I first gave birth, I thought I would not breastfeed my child, there was, after all, formula. So I went ahead and bought the formula, which I used to give to my children. Actually, I did not breast feed my first born child, I simply did not make the time to breast feed.

I thought I did not have enough breast milk for my baby so I relied more on the formula, people had said formula was actually good for the child. However, I did not know that I was depriving my child of the nutrients that come with the breast milk, which actually helps to strengthen the immunity of the child. As a result, my child was always sickly because he probably did not get enough nutrients from the formula I fed him on in place of the breast milk.

When I had my second born, breastfeeding, concerned experts from a breastfeeding centre called Life Care Initiative, came home and taught me the importance of breast feeding my child. They also taught me about pumping and how to pump breast milk and store it for the baby. I started breastfeeding my child and with that I even started producing more milk for my baby. I can now pump milk and go to work knowing that my child is going to feed on my breast milk. I have a lot of breast milk stocked in the refrigerator.

My second born is healthier compared to my first born whom I barely breastfed. I’m now dedicated to breast feeding my child at least for the first six months. I also encourage all those working mothers out there who think they do not have breast milk to allow the child to suckle, as this also helps to stimulate milk production as I have come to learn. I have also been able to save money because I no longer spend on formula. My child feeds on my milk.”

Amina Hassan: Five of my six children did not breast feed; it just seemed so hard to have enough breast milk

“Breast feeding my first child was difficult; I used to give my child formula because I did not have enough breast milk for him.

I also knew that formula used to help children grow very first. I had also come to think that I could not produce enough milk for my baby which led me to rely on formula. Also with formula, I was able to know how much my child was drinking as opposed to breast milk which the child would just suckle without you knowing how much the child had taken. This happened for five of my children.

I kept on using different formulas as my friends recommended. However, when I gave birth to my last born, I learnt from a health centre that I could actually breastfeed my baby. I started breast feeding and realised that it is actually easy.

My breast milk production is high now contrary to what I had thought. I realised I had made myself believe that I cannot breast feed my baby , which was actually not true. I stopped using formula on my baby and I’m now able to also express and store breast milk in the fridge.

I have also realised that I’m bonding very well with this child compared to the one’s before. My baby is also very strong and playful. I have come to learn that it is very possible and important to breast feed your child. Any woman who has given birth can actually produce more than enough milk for the baby. ”

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10 Facts about breast feeding

1. Every mother who has just given birth should carry out the recommended exclusive breast feeding for the first six months of life.

2. Breastfeeding should not be decreased when starting complementary feeding after six months.

3. Breast milk is the ideal food for newborns and infants. It gives infants all the nutrients they need for healthy development. It is safe and contains antibodies that help protect infants from common childhood illnesses.

4. Breastfeeding also benefits mothers by reducing risks of breast and ovarian cancer later in life, helps women return to their pre-pregnancy weight faster, and lowers rates of obesity.

5. Breastfeeding contributes to a lifetime of good health. Adults who were breastfed as babies often have lower blood pressure and lower cholesterol. There is evidence that people who were breastfed perform better in intelligence tests

6. Infant formula does not contain the antibodies found in breast milk. Also when not properly prepared, can lead to malnutrition due to over diluting the formula. If formula is used but becomes unavailable, a return to breastfeeding may not be an option due to diminished breast milk production.

7. Every woman has the ability to produce enough breast milk for the baby; however the amount of breast milk produced depends on how often a mother breast feeds her baby.

8. Breastfeeding has to be learned and many women encounter difficulties at the beginning. Nipple pain and fear that there is not enough milk to sustain the baby are common.

9. Working mothers can breast feed even when they are out of home, pump milk and bank it when your home. Milk can last up to 8 hours at room temperature and longer when refrigerated.

10. HIV positive mothers can pass on the infection to the child during pregnancy, delivery and breast feeding. Together, breastfeeding and ARV interventions have the potential to significantly improve infants’ chances of surviving while remaining HIV uninfected.

Sourced from WHO, and Life Care Initiative; a centre that offers support and consultation to breast feeding mothers, especially working mothers, advocating for exclusive breastfeeding. It is located on Rubaga road.

-Mwana Mugimu in Mulago also offers breastfeeding support services.
-Compiled by Jonathan Adengo