Breastfeeding Awareness

I was very fortunate that I was able to deliver P back in Sydney. The facilities such as prenatal exercise with a physiotherapist, aquanatal, breastfeeding support and a huge team of pro-breastfeeding midwives (just to name a few) truly prepared me for life with a baby. 

Which is why, now that I am in Jakarta and I listen to so many stories of mums struggling to breastfeed, it irks me. Those who know me would know that I am very pro-breastfeeding and am thankful to have received the education I did.

Many new mums have told me they resorted to infant formula because of low milk supply or the nurses told them that their newborn (under 3 days old) was hungry and needed formula. Thus begins the vicious cycle of poor latching, slow let down and lack of milk supply. These new mums do not realize that only 2-5% of breastfeeding mothers have low quality or low milk supply. 

It is very frustrating when the mother is keen on breastfeeding yet isn't provided the moral support and education vitally needed during the first few days in the hospital. I'm not sure about other cities in Indonesia but I do know that not all hospitals in Jakarta allow rooming with your newborn. How then ,would mother and baby establish a breastfeeding routine? Not to mention bonding!

To all soon-to-be mummies who intend to breastfeed. EDUCATION is KEY! Knowledge, moral support, determination and  patience are vital in successful breastfeeding. Also remember ,that you should never judge your milk production with others as no two babies are alike. Just like how we adults have varying appetites. 

Perhaps Indonesia needs to begin a breastfeeding awareness campaign of sorts and have them instilled within all hospitals. I will not go on about the superiority of breastmilk, the abundant benefits the child gets nutritionally and how latching in itself is a positive stimulation as that would be a whole other long winded entry.

A midwife once told me, bearing in mind most infant formulas are made from cows milk.

"Compare a human brain and a cows brain. Now, would you still feed formula to your infant?"

Something to think about isn't it?

December - Month to be Merry, Jolly & Thankful!

Activities with a 6 month old.

P has a very active weekly schedule that takes him out of the house for half a day most days of the week. Partly because I need adult conversations rather than babbling and acting like a clown each day of the week.

Initially, when we first got back to Jakarta I would have weekly lunches with my girlfriends at the mall. After a while I found that P would get restless even when we were in the mall hence I would only spend half my time at the table catching up on the gossip.

On top of that I would rather P be exposed to a more interactive setting where he can see, touch, feel, learn and play. 

Then viola, Ps super Grandma suggested and actually searched out playgroups for P.

On top of that, the playgroups only cost Rp20,000 ($2) per session and I get to mingle with other women outside of my regular social circle & P gets to meet other kids.

For those in Jakarta, I cannot recommend enough the playgroups run by ANZA and BWA. The women are friendly, the coffees are good and it gets you out of the confines of home.

One thing that does stand out from these sessions is how quickly a little person adapts and learns. P has had much quicker progress with his motor skills, crawling and sitting just by attending playgroup and simply....playing!

Although I have to admit that Ps attendance at Kindyroo has also helped a great deal. I am however, still a little apprehensive about continuing Ps classes for January and thinking of trying out either Gymboree or Kindermusik. Would love to hear comments from other mummies (if there are any other there reading this). Preferably within the Kemang, Kebayoran Baru or Senayan area.

Oh, I might also add that playgroups at BWA also has infant/toddler swim lessons run by a certified swim instructor!

Motherhood

Here I am sitting in bed next to a snoozing lil P and I wonder how I came to this point in my life.

How quickly time has flown by and how much of a whirlwind it has been since finding out I was pregnant, giving birth and bringing him back to Jakarta at a mere 6 weeks of age.

I ask myself, how much have I accomplished? What have I accomplished? Is this what I expected my life to be?

It is difficult to scrutinize oneself and even more difficult to do so now that I am responsible for another being.

Before being a mother my life was simple, I answered to no one but myself. Perhaps it is a selfish but you've got to admit that married or not we would rarely think of consequences be it good or bad. Decisions were generally made based on the lesser of two evils. Sacrifice wasn't part of the equation should it be helped. But most of all the first person to be pleased would be ourselves.

Now as a mother I find greater meaning and clarity in the word sacrifice, I act and decide only for my child irregardless of the affect or toll it might take on me.

I do not measure my life by tangible accomplishments or monetary value but rather I measure it by the smile on my sons' face, his laughter and his accomplishments. 

In short, I live through my child and await the many life lessons he will undoubtedly teach me.