Hello friends! So on my Twitter page, I asked my fellow Kenyan Moms this question:
What is the most important breastfeeding lesson you’ve learned that you can share with a pregnant or new mom?
And these were their various responses, which you can share with your friends as they are insightful and very helpful:
- Gatuiri
If you plan on exclusively breastfeeding your baby, I’d say pump milk and store as soon as you are ready. Especially if you’ll be resuming work after three months. That way, you will have less anxiety when you know you have stock.
- Rachel Ombaka
Knowing what type of nipples you have during your pregnancy really helps determine if you need intervention after child birth. With my first baby I didn’t know anything about inverted nipples and didn’t breastfeed as there was too much blood. My second baby breastfed for four months thanks to a nipplette that I wore during pregnancy and the nipple shields I wore after baby came (a nipplette helps with inverted or flat nipples).
- Mama Rigz
Fed is best. A well-fed child is better than a dead child due to dehydration. There is nothing wrong or shameful about using formula if you cannot breastfeed for one reason or another.
- Vivian Gaiko
Breastfeeding is not as easy as one may think, so please accept to be shown how to do so. Also, you are not a bad mum for asking and accepting help. If you have older children, the breastfeeding experiences may not necessarily be the same. Exclusive breastfeeding (#EBF) is also possible.
- Samoina Wangui
Breastfeeding and proper latching is not automatic. Takes practice for many moms. Glad my mom was at hand to help the best way she could… it went a long way. I however got a bit of cracked nipples so that wasn’t interesting.
- Doula Wambui
My first son enjoyed breastfeeding and had a good latch from day one. My second one struggled with the latch and it took me a week to accept I was struggling. Ask for help. Every child has a different journey.
- Alison Kiriinya
Expressing milk is not easy. I had to learn how to express again with my second born despite having expressed milk for my first born.
- Njeri Njoroge
Milk doesn’t come right away. I had to get medication. When the milk came, latching became a problem but eventually baby boy got it right. Breastfeeding isn’t easy!
- Ainda
Proper latching is not automatic. Milk supply is not automatic. You could be an over-supplier or a low supplier. Drink lots of fluids and rest. Don’t try doing pre-pregnancy things. Do what works for you and baby… Do not think of what “others” will say.
- Bella
Avoid mastitis. It can be as painful as childbirth! If you have a lot of supply, pump pump pump!!!!
- Maryann
During my third trimester, I was advised to massage my breasts and nipples everyday with Arimis to reduce the rate at which nipples crack during breastfeeding. It worked! Latching isn’t easy, day one after delivery a nurse showed me how to.
- Patricia Lelei
Please please before you deliver buy a huuuuge tube of Nipple Cream and Nipple Shields – to help with the cracks and pains that come in the early days. You can get them from the shops in Biashara street.
- Wachuka
Please please before you deliver buy a huuuuge tube of Nipple Cream and Nipple Shields – to help with the cracks and pains that come in the early days…you can get from the shops in Biashara street.
- Agola Linda
If the latching is not done properly from the start, brace yourself for a painful breastfeeding session.
- Imelda Njoroge
Pump as much as you can and store the milk. If overwhelmed just give formula baby will be okay. Preterms however need breast milk so hopefully you get some.
- Dorcie Mutheu
My baby was a preterm. My milk supply was low from the beginning (due to medical reasons) and by five months there was nothing, so we just had to do formula and she’s done pretty great. A fed baby is what is important.
Related Breastfeeding Stories for you:
Breastfeeding Did Not Come as Easy as I Thought it Would – Wanjiku Wanderi
Why I Hid my Breastfeeding Experience from my Relatives – Grace Katiku
5 Breastfeeding Tips for a New Mum in Hospital
So those are the experiences of a few Kenya mothers on breastfeeding. How about you? How was your breastfeeding experience and what advice would you give a pregnant or new mom? Share in the comments section down below.
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Featured image by Brian Odwar from Pixabay
