My breastfedding Story

This week we started the World Breastfeeding Encouragement Week and Golden August (in Brazil). Campaigns to share information and incentives around the world.

Everyone is tired of knowing that breastfeeding brings several benefits to the baby and the mother, from the physiological (physical health) to the mother-baby relationship and the emotional development of the baby.

For ME, breastfeeding has always been a great desire! It is a dream! I thought that moment of connection where a mother nourishes her baby from her own body was so beautiful and splendorous. However, little was said and breastfeeding seemed to be something so natural and instinctive, so simple and easy! That's how I saw it! Until you get pregnant! And study! And to know and demystify many things!

BREASTFEEDING LINDO! It's still a dream (come true!) for me!

But not everything is perfect! And we need to talk about this too! Because among the flowers, there are many thorns, but I want future mothers to know that, among the thorns, there are always pruning tools and dressings to heal the scratches and thus be able to appreciate the beauty of the flowers again!

Here breastfeeding was exclusive until 6 months. Afterwards, food presentation and we continued with a lot of tetê, and so it is until today, and we completed 11 months of breastfeeding on that date!

And in these 11 months, we had a troubled start, with a tongue brake, hyperlactation, incorrect handling, clogged duct, baby blues running through these processes, insecurities and pain! I cried sometimes while breastfeeding, or while ordering. I felt insufficient! It was really hard! Very much! For some women, the puerperium can be filled with anxious feelings and experience more challenges in breastfeeding, a task that they said should be easy and instinctive, that the baby would know how to suck as soon as it was born and that's it... it's quite desperate!

My trump card: I PREPARED MYSELF TO BREASTFEEDING! I prepared myself and still, I wasn't prepared! Yes that's right! We need to study, create a professional support network for possible difficulties and accept that even then we will not be prepared for what lies ahead!

I could count on excellent professionals all the time and knowing that I could have this made my breastfeeding story have a happy ending!

I could have given up, thought it was natural to feel pain and breastfed until the pain was no longer tolerable, given up! But, I knew something wasn't going well, and I sought support!

The professionals who assist me also help guide me, from the Doula, who are accompanied by me at all times during pregnancy, delivery and postpartum, the IBCLC who taught the breastfeeding preparation course that they carry out, the Midwives and the consultants of breastfeeding that I consulted.

I am immensely grateful to them and for the knowledge they had to support and encourage me on this journey that, even today, after 11 months of beautiful happy and nutritious moments, still presents challenges (Now it's the teeth!)

Breastfeeding for me is an endless responsibility and honor! Yes, it is renunciation, it is being dependent on another human being! And delivery!

Those mothers who do everything to breastfeed and are unable to have their final and happy stories, my best regards.

Those who chose not to do it, I hope it was a life choice, not a lack of information!

Therefore, I would like to leave some important suggestions for future mothers:

Get ready! Even if that doesn't prepare you! Study, read, take a preparation course! (Take advantage of the fact that Camila Valente has openings for a classroom class and an online course for September, here in Toronto!)

Know what the possibilities are and what might signal that something is not working well, so you know when to ask for help!

Talk to your support network about your desire to breastfeed and the importance of their support!

Do not have bottles and pacifiers if your choice is exclusive breastfeeding. (Understand about nipple confusion and how much these items can harm and even rob you of your breastfeeding. Choose to use one knowing the risks.)

Have a friend who is going through the same moments as you, to share and vent, and support yourself!

In times of difficulty, remember: THEY WILL PASS! Seek help! This can get better!

If you need support, information or vent, or be welcomed: you can write to me!

I wish all women the POWER OF CONSCIENT CHOICE over BREASTFEEDING and the wealth that this beautiful act can provide you!

And, after all that, but actually from the beginning, I turned this story into a JEWEL, to always remember it with great affection and to have in my chest forever a little of the food that nourishes my baby. I was also able to present my parents with an affectionate memory with my breast milk, to share with them so much love that I carry in this story. Not familiar with AFFECTIVE MEMORIES? And it's not just breast milk that you can make! So, I recommend running to the @memory.gem profile and checking out what they are and how you can have yours!

Below are the Instagram profiles of the professionals I mentioned who were supportive, encouraging and guiding:

IBCLC (Breastfeeding Preparation Course): @camilavalentelc

DOULA: @leoamaterna

BREASTFEEDING CONSULTANT and Mothers group member: dra.pollianagomes

BREASTFEEDING CONSULTANT who assisted me: luanamidwife.student

PREPARATION MATERIAL TO FREEZE BREAST MILK AND INCREASE PRODUCTION: formula-free babies

A hug!

Laís