C-section Delivery & Breastfeeding...

Today, I want to talk about the achievements of my beautiful journey named "Pregnancy". As a Nutritionist by profession, I was having many targets to be achieved during my pregnancy. My beautiful journey started of pregnancy exactly a year before. On April 7, 2019, we came to know that we are expecting a baby. It was a mixed feeling. We were very happy as well as bit tensed as to how we are going to travel this journey. I, being a nutritionist, was more worried about my healthy pregnancy. When I conceived I was obese and required only a few kgs to gain during my entire pregnancy journey, and the best part was I achieved this target. I also wished not to have gestational diabetes and I have achieved that too. I also wished to eat healthy and that too was achieved.

Days and months passed and delivery was near. I and my family were expecting a normal delivery but the situation created was against our wish. Yes, we had to go for a c-section delivery. Honestly, the word c-section itself is very scary but there was no other choice. Now with this, I had another target that was to be achieved, was to initiate breastfeeding within one hour of birth of my child. The global data says that if early initiation is not done then we are risking the child's life and the child may get various infections.

I had seen that after delivery (c-section or normal ) the children were given formula feed as the mother is unaware or not mentally prepared for doing breastfeeding. Breast milk is the best milk for the child and if the child is attached to the mother's breasts within one hour they can start sucking and can effectively breastfeed easily as they are most active in that one hour. 

I always wanted to achieve this, and I was confident. I consulted my doctor and my family members to attach my child within one hour and do that every 2 hours because I never wanted to give formula milk to my child. The first 24 hours are most important to start the breastfeeding and with c-section we need support. It was very painful but my mind was strong. My mind was so strong for breastfeeding that a sleeping injection also didn't work and I was feeding in the night as well, of course with the support of my family. After 24 hours when I was allowed to get up and sit, I started breastfeeding by myself. I wanted to share my experience with you all because I want to promote the initiation of breastfeeding and with my experience you just have to make your mind strong. If we are bringing an individual to this world, it is our due responsibility to comfort that individual.

That was my story. Being a nutritionist, I am following the Infant & Young Child Feeding Practice. In my next blog, I will talk about IYCF and my other experiences.