Paula Peralejo shares her challenging but rewarding breastfeeding journey

Actress-turned-vlogger Paula Peralejo recently shared her breastfeeding experience at the virtual discussion titled, “Sekaya Prescribing Nature Series: Mommy, Are You Okay?”

In the said online event hosted by Issa Litton, Paula along with other breastfeeding advocates like Dr. Anna York-Bondoc talked about the challenges in breastfeeding and how to overcome them, so that fellow moms can learn from their experiences.

Paula Peralejo shares her challenging but rewarding breastfeeding journey. / Source: Sekaya/Buensalido PR and @mama_the_explorer (IG)

According to Paula, the first few days and weeks of her breastfeeding journey went fine, but it was after two weeks when she noticed something wasn't quite right.

“Come birth, okay naman. And then after about two weeks, ayan na, medyo may sumakit na.

“Actually, within those two weeks, masakit na siya pero parang nung second week, hindi ko na kaya. Gusto ko nang mag-give up. Ang sakit-sakit talaga.

“So, I went to the doctor to have my son checked for tongue-tie, and apparently meron siyang tongue tie.

“Mas nahihirapan silang mag-latch kasi parang shallow yung kanilang tongue.

So, they had her baby's tongue-tie condition fixed and thought that was the end of her difficulty in breastfeeding. However, a few months later, another trial came Paula's way.

“Parang mga third (or) fourth month, ayan na naman. Tapos masakit na talaga siya na hindi ko na ma-explain.

“Every week, there's one day in that week for maybe about…I don't know, it went on for several months, until my son was almost one or maybe even passed one na…

“Once a week, I would be so down. I would have chills, fever, and my husband literally had to bring my son to me while I'm lying down, so that he could latch. Kasi ganun ako ka-useless for that day.

Paula said she experienced redness and pain in her breasts, which are known symptoms of mastitis.

During the discussion, Dr. Anna York-Bondoc provided more information about the said condition that some women suffer from during breastfeeding.

“Mastitis is an inflammation of the breasts itself, usually brought about by plugged ducts. So, may nababara dun.

“Habang bumabara siya, it can't get out and bacteria builds up behind that and that's where the infection starts.”

Paula struggled with mastitis for almost a year because it kept coming back. At one point, she went to the E.R. because she really wasn't feeling well. Moreover, Paula had to take antibiotics many times to combat mastitis.

After a while she also developed yeast infection, which she said was more painful than mastitis and also caused itchiness.

So, she consulted with several doctors and it turned out that Paula's immune system was really down and was having a hard time fighting off infections.

That's why to boost her immune system, Paula started taking malunggay or moringa again.

Paula said even before giving birth, she had already been consuming malunggay to help with lactation. But she had to stop for a while because she had an abundant supply of breastmilk and didn't to deal with oversupply of it.

Fortunately, Paula's immune system started improving, and when she finally beat mastitis and yeast infection, her breastfeeding experience became easier and more pleasant for her. Up to this day Paula says she still breastfeeds her son Pablo.

“It wasn't easy, but yes, I'm glad naman I did it (breastfeeding). I don't regret it.”

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Check out also other celebrity breastfeeding moms.