Mamalactea

re morning with me trying to latch the baby on. But he was so upset, that simply was not able to grab my breast. I didn’t know much about breastfeeding at that time, I just wanted to do it, and I was willing to do whatever it took me; it was more like a challenge to me, or probably instinct. Finally, at 3 pm we managed to latch him on for 5 minutes, only five minutes; and then, he fall for a long sleep. Three hours later, Kate called me to ask about the baby. I told her he was still sleeping “everybody here told me to let him sleep”. “Ok..., that’s not OK”, she said, “you must wake him up; pump, and give him whatever milk you can get in a syringe; and then try to latch him on”; and then, she added: “it’s almost 24 hours for your baby without any food, you’re in the border line of an emergency; so, if this doesn’t work, we’ll have to take other measures...”

Woa! I didn't know exactly what that meat, but she sounded worried... So we did exactly what she said. I pumped, and got about 2 ml of colostrum, and gave it to my baby. Right after that, I began to nurse him, and magically he latched on! From that moment, I remember myself praying and thanking G-d every time he was able to latch on and nurse, it seemed to me like a miracle. And that’s how this relationship started for good. But the most important thing that I want to highlight here is that I breastfed my child for the time I decided to do so, and no one else and nothing else interfered in my decision. As a professional in law and conflict resolution, I always thought on breastfeeding as a health science, and probably thought about that very few times in my life. Breastfeeding certainly is a woman’s choice. Yet, sadly, most women lack of enough information and support to make it, and sustain it for the time they truly want to. So, with this thought in my mind constantly, I decided to take a step forward -from being a breastfeeding mom to become a lactation educator/consultant- when I realized I was thirsty of knowledge, and I must be able to pass it on. In these industrialized formula-feeding times, breastfeeding is a woman and baby’s right. I want every woman to make a conscious choice for the sake of her children. I want to empower women in their right to feed their babies the way they believe is the best for them. Breastfeeding is the natural way to feed a baby; but ironically, it does not come so “natural” to most women. The cause of that is not just the mother; the whole society is involved in this dyad. The well-known expression from that song “it takes a village to raise a child” is true! It takes a village, a whole city, to breastfeed. Mothers need support, not only from their partners and family; they need good laws, employers, health care providers, and facilities, all committed to breastfeed. In my opinion, breastfeeding is a whole experience, it has its ups and downs, but it is definitely a privilege. Been able to feed your child, making him grow, to soothe him, and even to cure him, is such a blessing. I believe every mother should experience the joy of breastfeeding, as much as every child should receive the benefits of his own mother’s milk. That is my goal: to help every mother who wants to breastfeed, and to reach every woman I can to deliver this valuable message.