Roshan's Blog: Breastfeeding Awareness Month

Written Monday, August 17th 2009 by Administrator

Roshan's Blog: Breastfeeding Awareness Month

August is global Breastfeeding Awareness Month and I would like to start by honoring all those moms who have and are currently nursing their babies to provide them with the advantage for optimum health.

There are so many people that deserve kudos for continuing to support and believe in the power of breastfeeding. There are lactation specialists who nurture and encourage women to breastfeed so that they don't give up in those first few days. They help moms through the sore nipples, tears and sleepy babies who won't nurse plus a host of other normal issues that women experience in the beginning. There are also the educators and writers who with heart and soul try to inform women and families that this is the best gift they can give their baby entering into this life.

I am a lactation specialist and I nursed 3 babies. I was raised in Tanzania, East Africa and seeing a baby attached to their mother's breast was so natural to me, I never questioned that there was another option when I was expecting my first child. I sometimes wonder about this as I am a registered nurse, who bottle fed babies in the nursery, and yet I never considered I had an option when it came to feeding my child- it was such a natural instinct to breastfeed.

Was it easy? Not entirely. I got the latch on down, but those "engorgement days" were a total surprise. I developed udders no cow could compete with- going from a size 34A to a 36E was something I had not anticipated. The other challenge was the constant feeding demand of my 5 1/2 pound baby boy. Breastfeeding,  I discovered, was a total commitment with not much else going on between feedings except to maybe get into the shower sometime within 24 hours before the next hungry cry from him.

I know there are many moms out there who struggle with nursing in the early days, but with help from a lactation specialist, at any time it can turn around the whole experience to be a memorable and loving relationship you can treasure for life.

After our third child was born, the days were hectic with 2 young boys. I can still recall how I actually enjoyed those quiet 2 am feedings I had nursing my daughter which I treasure to this day.

Nobody said it would be easy for everyone, but once the team of mom and baby is in place the benefits will last a life time.

-Roshan

Roshan Kaderali is a registered nurse, midwife, lactation specialist and CEO of Baby's Bliss^® and Mommy's Bliss^®. Originally from Tanzania and later a resident of Scotland, she has lived permanently in America for over thirty-five years. You can read more about Roshan here.

Tagged as Roshan's Blog
Written Monday, August 17th 2009 by Administrator
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