Miriam Quiambao shares painful breastfeeding experience as she suffers from mastitis

Miriam Quiambao took to Instagram to share her painful breastfeeding experience as she suffered from mastitis.

On Monday, the host and actress posted a photo of herself grimacing in pain.

"This was me a couple of nights ago when I was suffering from mastitis and I was making Baby Ziki suck on the affected breast to drain the blocked duct," Miriam wrote.

"Earlier that afternoon, Elijah was snuggling against me and accidentally elbowed my breast," she added.

Later that day, Miriam said her breast became "engorged, warm, sore and tender and by 9 p.m. I was starting to feel feverish."

Miriam said she texted her obstetrician-gynecologist, who suggested she “take a paracetamol and quadruple my intake of advanced omega pills to help reduce inflammation." 

According to Mayo Clinic, "mastitis is an inflammation of breast tissue that sometimes involves an infection. The inflammation results in breast pain, swelling, warmth and redness."

The former beauty queen said getting her baby to drain her breast was "super painful."

"I really winced in pain and teared up at some point but it had to be done. Took this photo as a reminder of that night. By God’s grace, now, I feel much better," she said.

"I reminded myself that I’ve been through worse pain before (spiritual, emotional, mental, financial, physical … such as the pain from my suture post-CS)," she added.

"Surely, even this, I can handle with God’s grace."

She left a message to her fellow breastfeeding moms who might also be going through the same.

"I don’t know what challenges you are facing— whether you are a breastfeeding mom like me or if you suffering through depression, a physical, financial, emotional or spiritual challenge," she said.

"Know that God will never give you a challenge that you cannot handle," she added. "His grace is always sufficient and you can rely on Him to give you the strength you need at any given time."

Miriam ended her note with a bible verse. "I can do all things in Christ who gives me strength- Phil. 4:13."

The 46-year old beauty queen gave birth to baby Ziki on July 12.  Miriam and Ardy, who tied the knot in 2014, announced that she was pregnant with their second child in December.

Miriam, who expressed her happiness after finding out she was pregnant at 43, gave birth to their first child Elijah in 2019. – Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/RC, GMA News