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A pat on the boobs

It feels incredible to think that almost a year has gone by since the day my water bag leaked just when the 100 boxes of shipment from Sweden arrived at my doorstep. I can still vividly recall that though I looked as cool as a cucumber on the outside, there were countless butterflies fluttering in my stomach as I mentally prepared myself to go through giving birth a second time.

22 December 2013 will not only mark the special day that my little princess Ariel turns one, it will also be a milestone for me because well, it means I have been a second time breastfeeding mum for one whole year. And not just breastfeeding, but exclusive breastfeeding for the first almost half a year and even up till now, the little one has not drunk a single drop of formula. Hip hip hooray! For the pockets, for my achievement, for the goodness of breast milk, for the baby.

How did I do it? I don't know, I guess it comes easier as a second time mum. For Angel, I breastfed her for 16 months but when she was 9 months old, I was not confident that I was providing enough so I started supplementing with formula. It was a big struggle as she would reject, vomit and simply put up a war every time I took out the bottle and not the nipple.

For Ariel, I learnt to take the cue from her. I learnt to take it easy on myself. I learnt to listen to everyone's unsolicited but goodwill advice yet not let it affect my mind. I learnt to nurse a crying baby in public and returned weird stares from strangers with a smile. I learnt to be a cool but unwavering mum.

Things I learnt about breastfeeding:

1) Size doesn't matter and big boobs don't mean more milk. Likewise, having small boobs *ahem* doesn't mean there will not be milk to sustain for a year or two.

2) Breast milk is liquid gold. It is sold on the Internet for $4 per ounce. That’s about 262 times the price of oil.
 
3) Adolescents and adults who were breastfed as babies are less likely to be overweight or obese. Is it just me when I say I only like bulging tummies on my kids when they are small?

4) Breastfeeding triggers the release of the hormone oxytocin which relaxes both the mum and the baby. I guess I am lucky to experience that feeling. For most of the time, at least.



5) According to experts, the metabolic energy needed to breastfeed a baby each day is the amount you would use to walk seven miles. Now, who says I don't workout? 

6) Formula does not provide the full range of nutrients contained in breast milk, nor does it contain the antibodies that can protect infants against disease. Read more on why breast is best in my previous post.

7) Breastfeeding is one of the best ways to regain your slender figure. It contributes to gradual, healthy weight loss because it can burn an extra 300-500 calories per day.

8) It works like magic. Seriously. Fussy baby? Crying baby? Cranky baby? Tired baby? Fidgety baby? Screaming baby? Just latch him/her on and voila, it works almost every time. How did I manage to make the baby sit through seven movies? Well, the boobs.

Seeing my baby growing up into a toddler, I just wish to be thankful for all the wonders and that irreplaceable mother-baby bond breastfeeding has brought us. Even though this girl has a tendency to wake up at least 3-4 times every single night hunting for my boobs to suckle, by the way who needs a pacifier when you have the two best in the world, I am still going to survive waking up at wee hours in the hope of breastfeeding her for at least half a year more.

That, is one of the best gifts I can give to you, my child. And just so you know, it is also one of the best rewards you gave to me as a mum.

6 comments:

  1. Good on you making the 1yr mark. I too can't be bothered what others say and breastfed both #2 and #3 for 2.5yrs each.

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    1. Thanks Dom! Yarr, I am sure you are very experienced after having three! 2.5 years is a lot, kudos to you!! Fwahhh! That's over 5 years of your life!

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  2. kudos...time flies..i remember when i first read your blog...you just popped Ariel and was giving away maternity gowns...congratulation....i just past my half year mark of total breast feeding..except for a bottle of 2 rtd fm during light therapy, my 6 month old has not drank a drop of fm since..i am running for the 1 yr challenge now!
    n i dont use pacifier as well..i just let my baby latch ..he wakes up once or twice a nite..i dont really care really haha..
    btw i love the hello kitty PJ that ariel has..too bad my baby is a boy..if not i am so gg to get that!

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    1. Hihi, thank you for reading my blog for the past year! Congrats to you for reaching the half year mark too! I am sure you can do it for even longer than me! Haha yesh, I kinda got used to all the night waking up too, it will actually feel weird if I get to sleep through 8 hours and I will be wondering what happened to my baby. =p Yes I love that PJ too, passed down from the big sister~

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  3. Haha yar lar, girl girl where got fat. People actually say that to you? Aiyoh. Kids fat then good mah, can't say the same for teenagers! Anyway I really didn't care much about what others were saying, especially when it was my second time as a mum and I'm not sure what I was doing was the best, but it worked for my first child and so I am going to do it for my second. Just trust our motherly instincts! =)

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  4. Lol. So that's how you got Ariel to sit through the movies! I was always wondering when I see your posts about bringing the girls to matinees. I had not caught a movie in the theatre since Bailey was born!

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Yoohoo, thanks so much for reading my blog and leaving your comment! I am feeling the love! (^.^)