The Working Mom’s Breastfeeding – Weaning as the Solution
To stop lactation is a decision that every mother must face, especially if duty already calls. During our mother’s time when they just stay at home, caring for the kids, doing the house chores and being there for our fathers when they need a sounding board.
Nowadays, the modern mom still does all of that, with an addition to the list – working as an employee or a business woman or what-have-you. Not to mention that around the corner lurks a condition called post-partum depression (PPD); what with all the stress and commotion, a woman can only take so much.
Breastfeeding is supposed to be an enjoyable time for both mother and child. But when work piles up, the noise of other children increase by the decibel, and you don’t get enough emotional and physical support from your partner, then the quiet, relaxing time that is breastfeeding becomes a quiet time for stress and reflection. If negative vibes surround your aura, then your child feels it too – and that’s not really good for a child’s developing psyche.
Let me clear one thing though: I still stand by my belief that breastfeeding is and will always be best for baby. Breast milk has all the essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients necessary for your baby to hold out on his own when he is unfortunately exposed to common infections like colds, fever and cough. Colostrum (or the first breast milk a mother breastfeeds her child, which lasts for a couple more days later) is very rich in proteins, vitamin A, sodium chloride and antibodies which provide immunity from pathogens or other infections. It even encourages the excretion of baby’s first stool, which in turn helps prevent jaundice – a sign of possible problems with the liver that starts with having yellow eyes.
Also, breastfeeding is the key to a solid bond between a mother and her child. No other bonding activity in the world can top that, and it can never be severed – the trust of a baby in the one who loves him the most.
But weaning should also not be underestimated. If you wean your child, it doesn’t mean that you love him less. Rather, it is quite the opposite. You wean your baby in preparation for the independence from you that he will eventually have – to be free from having to depend on you.
Unfortunately, that is a depressing though for us moms. Sometimes, we even wish that our babies would just stay babies longer. But that is not to be. Breastfed babies actually grow a lot faster compared to babies who weren’t breastfed. Also, if the boss comes calling for you, then it may be time to consider other means of support for the baby. Unless you own your own business, employment can easily come and go. As much as I hate to admit it, employees are usually indispensable, especially if a lot of people depend on the work that you do.
Not all employers have day care centers for those who just gave birth. Should you leave your child with a nanny or a trusted relative, make sure that you leave an ample supply of milk for feedings. Expressing milk is great, especially if you have an abundant supply of it. Also, it will make your mind at ease knowing that your baby is still receiving the same benefits from the milk he is feeding on.
About a few weeks prior to you joining the labor force again, test out bottle feeding. Should he reject the bottle on the first few tries, don’t panic. Remember that your child will be leaving a comfort zone, so it is understandably difficult for a baby to accept. Give it a couple of days and try again … and try again should he refuse again. Don’t force it on him as it will make your baby even more scared. Try it out on his less favorite feed. It will eventually catch his curiosity and he will take to the bottle like a fish takes to water.
Weaning your baby shouldn’t be a scary process. What matters is that you are still giving your baby sufficient nutrition while you are working.
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