Breastfeeding is a fun yet challenging journey, one that you will miss once the journey comes to an end. I am sure, everyone who has breastfed/ is breastfeeding their child will have many stories to tell. Here are some of mine:
1. After giving birth to my eldest, I did not use a nursing cover for fear that baby J might get smothered by the cover. So every time she would latch on, my mom had to hold my shawl around us to give us privacy. It was tiring having to hold the cover for 15-20 minutes. We continued doing it until I found a nursing cover that I felt was safe for my baby, a nursing cover that would allow me to keep a close watch on her while she fed.
2. Because most malls did not have a dedicated breastfeeding room, my only option if I wanted privacy, was to run to the nearest toilet. I would normally close the toilet seat and sit there while my baby latches on. However, there were some toilets without a seat cover! So, in those moments, I had to let my baby feed while I was standing. It was very tiring, but mothers will do anything for their children.
3. During our trip to the Vatican Museum, because the tour took most of the afternoon, our baby naturally became hungry. By the time we were in the bottleneck leading up to the Sistine Chapel, she was already inconsolable. I had no choice but to let her nurse while stuck amidst all the displayed tapestry around us, inside the infant carrier, while continuing to walk. That was the first time I did that!
4. Due to the terrible Manila traffic, I always brought a manual breast pump with me so I can express milk before I start driving home, so when baby A becomes hungry on the road home, she can be fed from the bottle while I continue the drive home. One day, while expressing milk before the drive home, I was so surprised that I could only produce 1 oz of milk despite all my efforts. I thought something was happening that's why I suddenly could not produce milk. But lo and behold, as I was washing the breast pump, I noticed that the valve was torn. No wonder I could not seem to produce more than 1oz of milk.
5. At baby A's baptism, I wore a dress for the ceremony and reception, thinking I would just express milk and let the baby drink from the bottle. But, our baby decided that she did not want to drink milk from the bottle that day! I tried to nurse her in the toilet, but because it was occupied, and she was crying non-stop, the waiters of the restaurant decided to use a table cloth to prepare a makeshift breastfeeding room for me. As for me, I had to remove my dress while feeding baby A, in my makeshift room.
Pretty fun breastfeeding moments, don't you think so? Please share with us your memorable experiences as well!
I never used a nursing cover and preferred low neckline tops so I can easily pop a breast out when needed. I was I guess your obscene breastfeeder, covered only by my child's head (love those knitted beanies that look like a boob and would have loved to get one!). :) Breastfeeding outdoors in -12 C in Minnesota. Breastfeeding while walking around in IKEA. Giving the opening remarks at a symposium of about 100+ people I organized with a child firmly latched on. Some of my best memories.
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