Breastfeeding is everyone's job: 15 testimonies of mothers with successful breastfeeding thanks to the support of their environment

Today ends the World Breastfeeding Week, which is celebrated every year from August 1 to 7, and whose theme on this occasion was "Let's empower ourselves, let's make breastfeeding possible", alluding to a reality that concerns us all: support breastfeeding

It is proven that when mothers have support from those around them, breastfeeding rates increase. For sample, we share 15 testimonies of mothers with successful breastfeeding thanks to the support of their environment.

Lactation, a team work

The issue of breastfeeding is one we have talked about several times. We have talked about its lights and shadows, the difficulties that may arise, the myths that exist about it, the benefits it has for mom and baby, and also, the role of the couple in breastfeeding.

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On this last point, we have talked about the important support role that the couple plays in the mother's breastfeeding, however, she is not the only person who can and should support her. Therefore, through these different testimonies, We share how from the family, to co-workers, they can do their part to support nursing mothers.

When your friends and family support you

The people closest to us are the people who most influence our life and our decisions. That's why when we talk about breastfeeding, our family, couple and friends are key people to support us.

An example is the case of Karen Andrea, 28, and mother of a seven-year-old boy and a one-year-old baby, who tells us that her breastfeeding has been successful because her husband has always been in charge of supporting her:

He was in charge of having an excellent diet, too many liquids all the time and has worried that the environment is conducive for me to relax, now more than with our first child. He does homework at home, now takes care of our oldest son. All my family have actually made me live my motherhood happily, giving myself time when I need it, because sometimes it is overwhelming.

In the case of Ivette, who is 32 years old and is the mother of a boy of 8 and a girl of 4, she is currently no longer with her partner, but he always defended his breastfeeding from outside comments, because he had also been informed:

The father of my children read a lot about this subject, it was documented a lot. And all the pregnancy we always had the firm idea that I was going to breastfeed. When other relatives made inappropriate comments about breastfeeding or wanted to convince us with other ideas, he defended our decision and let them know what he had been reading and investigating. There was an occasion when they scared us by saying that they were going to dehydrate because the baby was not drinking water and was only three months old, the father responded with what he had read and learned.

For Araceli, 30 and mother of a girl, The support of his family was not only important, but decisive at the beginning of his lactation, thanks to his mother:

From the minute one of my daughter's birth, in the hospital the nurses tried to bottle feed her without our consent. Being a Caesarean section, I was in an operating room and my daughter was taken for review, where my mother, seeing that she was being given a bottle, opposed it, and I think that helped me a lot when she took my baby when they took my baby to the room. No problem.

My mother also advised me: "stick it to my chest immediately", I replied that I still had no milk because nothing came out, but she insistently told me: "you do not see it, but the two or three drops that come out they are very important to her, it's like gold. " I obeyed his words and put it on my chest every day at all hours. His insistence helped me establish breastfeeding.

Another important support from my husband was when he left home, because I had a lot of shame to breastfeed in public, but he very firm told me: "you do what you have to do for our daughter, if someone dares to telling you something will see them with me ", and those words made me feel very powerful.

But also, other people who can play a very important role in breastfeeding are friendships. This happened to Lucila, 27, and the mother of a child:

My best friend was the person who best informed me about breastfeeding and brought me closer to online groups. I think, without it I would not have achieved it since I had doubts but with the correct information I could achieve it. Also, for my good luck I didn't fight with cracks, bad grip, nothing. It was something very natural since he was born.

When your work environment supports you

One of the aspects that undoubtedly influences the duration of breastfeeding is the work environment. Unfortunately, many mothers leave her when her maternity leave ends and return to work, but These stories show us what companies should look like when supporting nursing mothers.

For Yadira, 29, and mother of a 2-year-old boy, the understanding and support he received in his work, were key To breastfeed beyond two years:

It was amazing, because really everyone at work is very sensitive to the issue of motherhood and breastfeeding, I had the opportunity to enjoy this moment, sometimes my son came to breastfeed at noon and they lent me an office where I fed. When I grew older, I drank the milk in that space and kept the milk that was extracted in an ice chest, I currently have a permit where I can arrive an hour after my entry time or leave an hour before, whatever I decide.

In the case of Adriana, who is 38 years old and pregnant with her third child, the flexibility provided by his boss, and the facilities that were offered in his work, helped him to exclusively breastfeed his two children during his first six months of life:

With my first daughter I could leave an hour before my normal departure. We still didn't have a breastfeeding room, so during my workday I used the laboratory incubation room or a boardroom and stored the milk in the dining room refrigerator. With my second child we already had a suitable breastfeeding room with a refrigerator and the company gave us the possibility to leave two hours before. In both situations my boss never rushed me in the time that I could take in the extraction and even reminded me when it was time to go get the milk.

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For Lupita, 38 and mother of a boy of 9 and a girl of 3, think ahead and advocate breastfeeding at work, helped him to have the necessary conditions for when the time came:

Before I got pregnant, I managed to designate a place for breastfeeding in my work, so every three hours I escaped a few minutes to do my extractions, bought a conveyor and froze so that in my absence they gave her that milk. Before returning to work, the last month, I dedicated myself to my milk bank, made extractions between his shots to achieve it.

In the case of Patricia, 32, and mother of a child, even though they did not have adequate facilities in their work, his classmates were always understanding and kept a flexible schedule:

In my work they allowed me to express milk from time to time, I did it every 2 or 3 hours because I had too much milk especially the first months after returning to work. At first I struggled a little because there is no specific place for breastfeeding and I had to improvise somewhere or in the kitchen while there was no one. They allowed me to store my milk in the refrigerator and they were all very understanding. For 3 months they allowed me to leave 1 hour before normal time and as soon as I arrived with my baby my breasts began to secrete a lot of milk and the happy one of our meeting.

When difficulties arise and do not leave you alone

A time when the support of the people around us is extremely important is when there are some difficulties during breastfeeding. The knowing that we are not alone, and that our family and friends motivate us, helps us to cope better.

For example, for Melanie, 31, and mother of two children, Having a support network helped you establish breastfeeding by having a premature baby:

My first child was born a month before and it cost him to catch his chest, he slept and did not drink enough so he did not gain weight. I had to complement it and it was hard at first, very tiring, I felt frustrated. My partner supported me a lot; It helped me give milk with syringes at night. He also accompanied me to a baby farmer to inquire about how to put the baby on the chest. A friend lent me her electric breast pump and left me a note giving me words of encouragement, and my mother held me back when I was distressed to feel that I couldn't get her to drink.

In the case of Irisdea, 27, and mother of a daughter, The support and understanding of your partner was essential to overcome a difficult stage in which your baby hurt her a lot Before having surgery:

At first my breastfeeding was about to be unsuccessful since my daughter had a short bridle but my pediatrician was very knowledgeable and realized. When he was born he gave him a week to see if he adapted and despite the short bridle we could have a successful breastfeeding but that did not happen.

The first week was very painful, I went with 3 consultants to practice the grip (I wanted to avoid phrenotomy at all costs) but it did not work and it hurt me a lot, to the extent that every time I was going to give it milk I started to cry and I got a lot blood.

My baby's dad at all times behaved very understanding and did everything to stop me from suffering, brought me compresses, talked to the doctor, and so on. Always supporting me and encouraging me, without him I would not have been able to continue. After a week they operated and everything changed, both she and I were 100% better.

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For Fatima, 28 years old and mother of two children, the team that formed her husband and mother-in-law helped her cope with a time when cracks formed, while with the help of a friend I learned more about how to improve your breastfeeding so it wouldn't be painful:

With my first child, I had a bad grip and I got to have very painful cracks in both nipples, feeding him for me was a great suffering, I cried every time I had to give him, but I never retracted and despite the pain I continued to breastfeed. My husband helped me a lot emotionally, he supported me, gave me words of encouragement, looked for information on how to improve my grip. My mother-in-law supported me taking care of my son at times in what I "healed" my wounds, a close friend who also had more time breastfeeding gave me tips to improve the grip, videos, readings and that's how I managed to improve it and so we continue After 2 years, with my second child there was no problem since all this information was still very fresh.

To Mabel, 34 years old and mother of two children, her first breastfeeding was difficult at the beginning due to the complications that arose, but With the support and understanding of her husband, she was able to get ahead:

When I started breastfeeding we had problems of coupling, cracks, then pearls of milk and also a son who asked to breastfeed everywhere. When I put on a face of pain, my husband contained me, went to get water, did not talk to me until the painful trance passed and accommodated our son's mouth. Later, when he looked great, many people thought that the milk did not serve me, that it was whey, that it was harming him, that he covered me, my husband, also empowered, often answered for me saying: "My milk wife is the best for my son, "which empowered me even more and I didn't care what they thought.

For Roxana, 33, and mother of a son, the support of his family and doctor when he felt distressed, he managed not to give up and could go ahead with your breastfeeding:

At first, breastfeeding was very difficult for me. Even though I read and informed myself a lot, putting all that knowledge into practice was super difficult! I did not lower my milk, the baby did not grab correctly, cracks in my nipples that bled horrible, I cried and thought I would not succeed! But the advice of the grandmothers about the baby's grip, which I had to stick to my chest, the comfort and patience of my husband when I looked tearful and desperate, and my doctor's help to heal the cracks were the best.

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When you learn from the experience

And finally, another moment in which the environment is important, is when you have more than one breastfeeding, and after an experience that perhaps was not very good, you have the necessary support to try again despite not having achieved it as you have You wanted the first time.

This was the case for Ana Yesenia, 23 years old and mother of two children, who had problems at the beginning of her first breastfeeding, but With the support of her husband she had the opportunity to devote herself fully to having two successful lactations:

With my first baby the first two months was mixed breastfeeding, since they told me that my milk did not fill it and the nipple pain was fatal. I began to inform myself and I saw that my body was able to feed my baby and my milk to heal my wounds, so I started breastfeeding on demand. My husband strives to give me the opportunity to be with my children all the time. With my second baby, I was already super informed and from the first moment we made skin with skin, and immediately we started exclusive breastfeeding.

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For Citlaly, 24 years old and mother of two children, something similar happened, because her first breastfeeding was mixed, but thanks to the support of her husband, she made her second lactation free of formula:

As a first-time mother, you let yourself be carried away by what grandmothers say that milk is water, that it doesn't fill it, that you have to drink teas and formula. But with my second daughter I have informed myself much more, I am exclusively for her at the time I want to breastfeed does not take only pure formula teta! We have already been 4 months and so I will continue until I turn 6 months. And they keep repeating the same thing to me but I turn a deaf ear. My family pressures me a lot so that I can try other things but my partner is a great support for me, since he lets me decide, he always helps me and he likes to listen and know what I have learned about breastfeeding.

The most important thing to be able to have a successful breastfeeding

All the mothers who kindly shared their testimony have something in common: they were surrounded by a circle of support, whether by family, partner, friends, co-workers and medical staff, who supported them to be able to move on and give their babies the best.

But in addition to having an environment that was by their side to continue their breastfeeding despite the difficulties, they know that the experience of other mothers also serves as a motivator to move forward. Therefore, they share their best advice:

"Seek support, the truth is that for me it is the most beautiful thing that happened to me, find someone to support me during this process, if you have doubts, ask, sometimes we feel sorry but really there are situations in which it is very simple the solution, inform yourself, knowledge is power, empower yourself, defend your motherhood and breastfeeding, defend that you can, that your body is food, defend the bond you have with your child, and above all love, love is the basis for a Breastfeeding is successful, remember that breastfeeding is not painful, there is no reason to suffer, enjoy and if you have doubts or problems with it you can go to a lactation consultant, there are many people who are experts in the field and can help you and let yourself be cuddled, that as new mothers we are born at the same time as the baby "- Yadira

"Information is power. Do not doubt that breastfeeding brings great benefits for you and your child. Also do not doubt your decisions. Sometimes it feels like the longest road, and you do not see the benefits at first, but you are doing it good "- Lucila

"It is good to inform, go to courses or read about breastfeeding. It also helps a lot to turn to nursery women in case of doubts or difficulties, or if not a dear friend or someone of trust who gives emotional support. It is not easy at first but it can achieve a successful breastfeeding "- Melanie

"Enjoy, it is one of the best stages of life that connection that only you will have with your baby is unmatched, at first it can hurt, but everything you achieve with just breastfeeding is beautiful! Lactate until your baby decides no matter how old "- Citlaly

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My advice is that before giving birth they inform and go with someone to help them and tell the people around them to support them. Breastfeeding should not be so complicated and if it is, it is because something is not right and it is not your fault ... talk to your gynecologist and ask him everything. Contact a lactation consultant, and above all, do not listen to the people around you who judge you. Ideal breastfeeding is what lasts as long as you decide and in your own way. Empower yourself and make your decisions informed and with lots of love "- Irisdea

"Read a lot (that they are reliable sources), if there are groups or courses about it, do not think about it and go, if it is in a much better couple. Document yourself and it is also important that your doctor supports you because many at the first you cannot They say that the formula has nothing wrong. We all have different experiences, do not be scared, when they tell you something, listen and take it as an experience but do not let them predispose you. The process of breastfeeding with your baby requires a lot of patience and peace, if your family members are only pressing and obstructing the truth, withdraw them and come back later. It is a moment of yours and your baby "- Ivette

"Having children is a great decision, which teaches us to choose well, because we love these little beings dearly and we relentlessly think about their wellbeing every inch, every time, every minute ... that's why breastfeeding is the best decision we can to take, to breastfeed in spite of everything, and of all, because it is the best for them, it strengthens them, and we alike, as mothers, as women, it is our body and our children, divinely connected, bathed in the grace of nature. No one should say, or know what is better, just mom "- Karen

"My best advice is: find out, read, see, ask, nobody is born knowing and less in an environment that bets more on the formula. Lose the fear of knowledge, look for professionals to guide them as lactation consultants, but above all defend your breastfeeding by layer and sword because it is the only thing that anyone else is going to be able to give your child, more than physical nutrition, breastfeeding nourishes their hearts and a unique bond is made that will never be compared to another experience "- Fatima

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"My biggest advice would be TRUST. I think that is the magic word, trust you, your body, your baby, surround yourself with people who support you a thousand on the issue of breastfeeding and ignore people who only advise without knowing Talk with your circle of trust and always express your feelings if you are tired, worried, etc. Many times we do not want advice we just want to be heard because breastfeeding is a super job 24/7 without breaks, but in the cost-benefit ratio clearly the benefits are much greater "- Araceli

"Ask about experiences, talk with mothers who have successful experiences or have had them, hearing more problems can be contradictory for the empowerment of breastfeeding and most importantly: do tribe, women and families that support breastfeeding. That is essential. so little that it deserves to be enjoyed by everyone "- Mabel

"My advice would be to be informed, to block from your mind the negative comments of people who are not informed and to follow their maternal instinct" - Ana Yesenia

"At the beginning it is complex but time goes by very quickly and the bad days are forgotten. Consult a lactation consultant in case of doubt, look for pediatricians and gynecologists updated on this issue. And stay firm in your decisions. that worked for me a lot was to repeat myself whenever we are mammals, and as mammals it is normal for babies to drink our milk, we all have the ability to give milk, which does not convince them otherwise "- Adriana

"The most important thing is the information, it is the best tool to have a successful breastfeeding, approach before with support groups, with lactation consultants, not be afraid, be convinced of all the benefits that both have, not give up because they are tired, or because he drinks cries and stays hungry because you don't fill it. It's going to happen so fast and it's the best we can give our children, breast milk "- Lupita

Do not be distressed! You can, even if you think it is impossible and you are about to throw in the towel, do not do it, be patient and you will see that you will get a successful breastfeeding! Read, inform yourself, go to a lactation consultant, listen to the women of your tribe who have already gone through the topic of breastfeeding (mom, mother-in-law, grandmother, sisters) And remember that the best for your baby is you! "- Roxana

"Read a lot, this dispels many doubts, nobody knows how to be a mom, there is always fear, and you never finish learning, the baby who is on the way or what has already arrived, is your best teacher, form a team with him, create that bond unbreakable, learn together, let him occasionally guide you. Don't be sad if your child is hungry and they are on the street; in your work fight for your right to breastfeed and ask for your time to pump you out. With your family, or close circle, maybe they come from the time when packaged food and bottled milk made them believe that it was practical and healthy. You have to go further back and let them see that grandmothers were right and that there is no better food than that your body can give your child: "nature is wise and fantastic, almost magical and knows what it does". " - Patricia

As we can see, all the mothers who shared their personal experiences, coincide in Two keys to successful breastfeeding: get informed and have a support network. Breastfeeding can be a wonderful experience when you have both, and we should not be afraid to ask for help or ask questions.

Remember also that the best thing is that you and your baby are well, and that should always be the engine that takes you forward, to continue breastfeeding as long as you both need it and feel comfortable.

Photos | iStock