#Voicethisout

Hi! This is Megala new mom of 9wks baby boy. I would like to highlight my ongoing breast-feeding journey as it is not less than a roller coaster. I myself being a doctor by profession, I didn’t know how difficult breast feeding is. I had undergone C-section in a big private hospital trusted my doctor in all aspects but nowhere did I know that my doctor wouldn’t be available later for checking onto feeding process.
I didn’t have skin to skin contact, I didn’t have the chance to even carry my baby for 14 hrs. that too when a senior nurse visited and asked if I have given the feed. There comes the twist- she passed on the statement that I have flat nipples and I cannot breast feed my baby. I tried all the painful methods syringe pulling, nipple puller, pumping at the highest number to help my nipples evert but everything in vain.
My doctor on rounds didn’t even bother to check me and suggested nipple shields and I have tried them too but disappointed. The hospital has already started formula with Paladai again not informed me nor my family. On the day of my discharge, the morning shift nurse was so reckless that she gave bottle to my MIL and asked her to feed my boy. I have visited LC 3 times, starved my baby for 1 whole day, had tantrums and taunts from my In-laws saying what kind of girl are you with no nipples, you cannot breastfeed your son, he will not be healthy, his teeth wouldn’t develop good and lots more. And I couldn’t live with that guilt of not breastfeeding and went into depression too.
Just because of my husband and my mother support, I came out of that guilt and it’s 65days today that I am pumping every feed and giving him in the bottle and I am extremely Happy.
I would like to voice out the point of EBF- Exclusive Breastfeeding need to be also taken as Exclusive Breast Milk Feeding as in no ways pumping is easy instead it’s sacrificing the baby-mom time and tiring to sit for hours to pump and again feed the baby back.
Unfortunately, Exclusively Pumping moms are not appreciated for the double efforts they put to make sure that their baby gets the best. I dedicate my support and wished to all the exclusive pumping moms- Be proud of yourself, to be a mom!!