Superwomom A-S-Ks (on breastfeeding questions, help and support)

“Welcome to the Milk Mama Diaries Carnival (August). For this month, we join the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action in it’s “Talk to Me!” theme where participants will share personal experiences, insights or recommendations in communicating breastfeeding intentions and goals to their support system. Please scroll down to the end of this post and check out the other carnival participants.”

The Rainbow Sisters - Rainie and Sunnie - Happy Breastfed Kids

It wouldn’t hurt to ask.  I put this mantra to heart when I was breastfeeding.  And a huge part of my success can be attributed to this.  I always feel that if ask, whether it’s a question or a request for help or support, I sort of communicate to the world my current state of mind and somehow, it urges the universe to conspire, so everything will go my way or would happen exactly as I planned.

As a new mom, I have zero knowledge about breastfeeding.  But I really, really, really like to breastfeed.  So I researched and I read a lot.  But the most crucial part for me was asking questions.  I needed a warm body to discuss the rudiments of breastfeeding.  The newlyweds at work e-group was very helpful in bringing the different issues about breastfeeding on the table.  And since I know that I will be a full-time working mom, I gobbled on every piece of information about pumping tips and techniques.  I have two daughters, the first one I exclusively breastfed for seven months and went on to breastfeed her until the 11^th month.  My second, I was able to exclusively breastfeed for 10 months and we continued until the first year.

Another thing that I realized I should not be ashamed to do when it comes to breastfeeding is ask for help and support.  Since I’m the only one who knows what’s happening to me, I need to get it out in the open so that friends, colleagues and family members would be able to understand and eventually be solved in my idea to breastfeed.  I need the buy in of my husband.  His role is very important.  My husband is my right hand.  He assisted me with everything – from washing the pump to thawing the milk to feeding the baby.  I need to orient our whole household, my parents and my in-laws included, as to the proper way of handling frozen breast milk and feeding it properly.  I also need to make them understand why it is of utmost importance that we move as a team to be able to give the best food to Danie and Ramir’s children.  Convincing was easy but the real work is tedious. But I really, really, really like to breastfeed. So I’ve got to work it. It wasn’t a walk in the park.  But it’s definitely worth it.

I also asked help and support in the office.  Making my boss and colleagues understand that I need to step out of the office every 3 to 4 hours on 15 to 30 minute intervals to pump in the female comfort room is not just uneasy, it’s also a momentum buster.  But I need to stand my ground.  They need to see how much this means to me and my baby so whether in the middle of a meeting, or a brainstorming session, or a presentation, I need to excuse myself for a very special mommy duty.  And now that I’m done with breastfeeding, I look back with gratitude to the people in the office because they didn’t give me a hard time nor made me fall into the guilt trap.

It wouldn’t hurt to ask.  At worst, you’ll probably get a “no” for answer but at best, it’ll give you success. Never hold back.  If something is really, really, really important, go all out. Ask questions. Ask for help. Ask for support.  Three letters. Ask. Very Powerful.

Here are the other participants of the carnival.  All good reads. Please visit them too.

DaintyMom’s Creating a Pro-Breastfeeding Culture in the Family (Facebook and Twitter: @Dainty_Mom)
Wifely Steps’ On Breastfeeding: Say It, Claim It, Get Support! (Facebook and Twitter: @macaronigirl)
Truly Rich Mom’s How To Get Others to Support You in Breastfeeding (Facebook and Twitter: @tinasrodriguez)
EthanMama’s My Best Breastfeeding Support System – My Husband (Twitter: @ethanmama)
Raising Baby Lia’s A Shoutout to my Breastfeeding Buddies
Jen CC Tan’s I’m Breastfeeding, and That’s That! (Facebook and Twitter: @next9baby)
Project Blog by Kate’s Talk and Make it Happen (Facebook and Twitter: @kate_demetrio)
My Mommy Kwentos’ How I Recruited my Top Breastfeeding Buddies (Facebook)
Apples  & Dumplings Communicating and First Time Breastfeeders (Twitter: @apple_dumplings)
I’m a Newbie Wife’s How I Taught My Family to Breastfeed
TouringKitty’s Communication Through Breastfeeding (Twitter: @Touringkitty)
Mec as Mom’s Pre-Natal Pediatric Consultations Are Necessary
Escie’s World’s Ready, Get Set, Go! for Breastfeeding (Twitter: @Escielicious)
Nanaystrip’s BreasTALK : Text, Retweet, Share your Knowledge and Experiences (Twitter: @bunsonimaestro)
Superwomom’s Superwomom A-S-Ks (on breastfeeding questions, help, support)
Go Help Yourself’s “6 persuasion tips for breastfeeding moms and advocates”
Legally Mom’s Breastfeeding Talk Between Me and My Formula Fed Daughter (Facebook and Twitter: @legallymomPH
Handy Mommy’s Couple’s Communication and Decision: Key to Successful Breastfeeding
Chronicles of a Nursing Mom’s Effective Communication Bucket List (Facebook and Twitter: @mamababylove)