Breastfeeding journey..10 years ago

10 years ago breastfeeding is rare. People looked at the idea as “left-behind”, “outdated”, “a waste of time”, “uncivilised”. Unfortunately, I was one of the 4 above mentioned names. My breastfeeding journey was sad but I refused to let go. I fought with people mostly mothers and grannies how breast milk is the best milk for a baby.

I faced series of low supply and I cried a lot. It was really tensed. I have always wish that I would want to breastfeed all my children for at least 6 months exclusively. It would be great if I could reach 2 years or more. That’s a bonus for my baby.

I got married in 2006 and got my first child, Maryam late 2007. I planned for the preparation the moment I got married. Reading books of breastfeeding and browsing the internet to find suitable sites and articles to support me. Luckily, a friend of mine who seems to be as passionate as I am recommended a website, www.susuibu.com.

I went for a counselling with Ms Kamariah and rented a book to read on breastfeeding. I read the book in a hospital where I was admitted due to plasenta previa stage 3. I was there for 2 weeks just enough for me to read and write notes. I was surrounded by mothers in the hospital who does not believe in breastfeeding. Luckily that hospital has already started a breastfeeding campaign. No bottles are allowed but many of them smuggled in bottles and formulas to feed their newborn with formulas. They even mocked me for taking breastfeeding seriously. At that moment, I have already read many books of breastfeeding, I feel sad for them and at the same I was angry because the baby should be drinking mother’s milk not cow’s or goat’s milk. Even a cow feeds its calf with cow’s milk, why aren’t we giving human’s milk to human baby? Okay, steady Lis…obviously, I am a bit emotional right now…

At home, after giving birth to my daughter, my family and in-laws are against this idea. Me and my husband stand for our believe. There are times when I was psychologically being forced to believe that my milk does not provide enough milk for my baby. That’s why the baby keeps on crying. This sentence was being played again and again like an MP3 to stop me from breastfeeding my own baby. I don’t buy them.

My Breatsfeeding Kiddos : Maryam, Ahmad & Ali Karimi

Time flies and from one year to another I keep on receiving questions about breastfeeding and new mothers or even mother of 2 asking me for advice on breastfeeding. I realized these mothers need to be educated. Someone has to show them the beauty of breastfeeding and that’s how it all started and that is why now I will share my stories to those who enjoys reading my post for advices and tips on how I get through 5 years of breastfeeding ( eeerrr…I got pregnant again and again while I was breastfeeding).

Well, more posts to come on my breastfeeding journey. Have fun reading!