The Breast Thing You Can Do
By Bronwyn in 
I had read all there was to read about breastfeeding in books and magazines before giving birth but breastfeeding is just one of those things where there is no “pre-race warm-up”. I had been to a breastfeeding workshop which was really informative. I knew breastfeeding was what I wanted to do especially with the draw cards of possible prevention of allergies and the cost effectiveness of this nutritional diet.
As luck would have it, this eager breastfeeding beaver gave birth to a 4,4kg boy who had no idea what a sucking reflex was. The next few days were not pleasant. I tried to express the colostrum and fed it to him with a spoon. The amounts were insuffcient and his blood sugar began to drop. By the third day, we began to supplement him with formula (NAN HA). I used a cup which was a great because he never got used to a bottle and later accepted the breast with ease.
Although the attempt to breastfeed was at first, truly trying, with the help of a breastfeeding clinic and sound advice from friends and family we progressed! My babe eventually took to the breast once we were home from the hospital. Everything seemed better after we arrived home from the hospital! I was determined to not supplement anymore. I tried expressing but the pump I had added to my frustrations. Then, two weeks after his birth, my baby had to be readmitted to the hospital to be put under lights because he looked a bit like Julio Iglesias after a few too many sun bed sessions(i.e: jaundice).
This is the dramatic part! I want to warn all keen breastfeeders against the following: The pediatrician attending to my baby said my boy was not getting enough milk from me and that I needed to put him on formula. I went with my gut on this one. Even though with every visit he commanded me to suppliment, I didn’t listen. He even came into the breastfeeding clinic and in front of all of the other mothers,( in what seemed like a booming voice) said: “Are you giving him formula yet?” He then huffed off when I said “no”. I phoned a friend and after her encouragment, I gave up going against my gut and just breastfed. I showed him!
At six months, my tiny tot weighs in at about 10kgs, mainly due to my “insufficient” breastmilk. I can hear the triumphant tune of chariots; although there was no pre-race warm-up and there was some tough competition, I won the breastfeeding race! Sure, at times it feels like you’re a cow being milked and that your breasts are going to be empty teabags when it’s all over, but it’s “udderly” worth it!
I’ve had a similar experience, my little Amber was also a hefty 4,1kg when she was born. We lived in the Netherlands at the time where they cannot be more natural and promote breastfeeding very well.
At her 6 week immunisations, we were in South Africa and the sister at the Diskem we went to told me that I need to be feeding Amber with “hungry baby formula” I couldn’t really understand why, considering she was putting on weight perfectly! Obviously, I ignored her and am still exclusively breast feeding Amber at 4 months.
What worries me is that they are probably telling people this who don’t have the defiant personalities that we have (not to mention that I have also read everything there was to read, pre birth! And had decided I would try and EBF for the first 6 months if possible) and so many people are giving in when being told by so-called experts to suppliment.
This is likely why there is are so many overweight kids out there! Aside from the obvious financial benefit!
Bronwyn, as being one of the “friends” who told you to ignore the doctors and go with your gut, I marvel every time I see your baby. He’s happy and healthy and growing at an amazing rate on your “insufficient” breastmilk. Good for you!
Hello
Just came upon this site. I also experienced the “you must give him formula” (at 3 days old) from a paediatrician at a Medi-Clinic, and then at a another private hospital 2 weeks later.
My baby was 2.1kg at birth, quickly dropped to 1.8kg and developed jaundice. Luckily i had researched breastfeeding and breastfed my first baby for 2 years, and was also able to express copious amounts of colostrum when my little one struggled to latch.
I let my baby do his own thing for the first 2 weeks regarding sleeping and feeding (not more than 4 hours between feeds), but then he hadn’t picked up much. so against a 2nd pediatricians advice, i continued to breastfeed only, but now every 2 to 3 hours. And now he is picking up between 200 and 300g per week!
At 4 months old, he is still exclusively breastfed, with not a drop of formula or water, even though I’m back at work full time!