Making breastfeeding work

Every two hours, I open my bag, take out my "gadgets," and prepare the bottles and pump.

That's what I have done every single day, five days a week (sometimes six when I have NewsTV Live anchor stints), for the last four months since returning to work from my maternity leave.

This has been my routine because I made the choice to exclusively breastfeed my child.

The choice wasn't easy

Looking back, I never thought I'd be exclusively breastfeeding my child (she's never had formula milk!) for six and a half months and counting, considering the tough start we both had.

As early as our third day, we had to ask for breastmilk donations from my sister-in-law, because I had to limit our direct latch to one session a day to allow my cracked and bleeding nipples to heal.

As it turns out, my daughter couldn't latch correctly because she was lip tied—a common condition that makes breastfeeding a bit hard for some babies. For about a month and a half, I endured excruciating pain after every feeding session. I would almost curse taking a bath because even a drop of water on my breasts gave me inexplicable pain.

But I never gave up. I fed her by the minute or hour that she wanted to, did not mind the physical pain and limitations we both had, and just tried harder each day.

Now it's been six and a half months and counting.

Making breastfeeding at work, work

It was a different story altogether when I chose to continue breastfeeding, given the demands and the erratic schedule I have as a reporter.

When I was still pregnant, I armed myself with the best pump I could get. At the time, I wasn't sure how I'd be able to do it. And if I could survive it at all, but fortunately, I did and continue to do so.

Every day, despite the coverage I am given, I find time to express my milk—anywhere, everywhere, anytime.

Literally, I found myself pumping milk on the road, while waiting for my subject, while waiting for a press conference or coverage to start, during a press conference, during an interview.

I have also found myself expressing milk in between writing and editing my report, doing live reports and phoners, and even in between having my make-up done and doing news bulletins as an anchor.

Name it, I've done it.

Religiously, I follow the two- to three-hour rule of expressing milk at work to be able imitate the frequency my daughter feeds while we're not together physically. This way, my body produces the amount of milk she needs for the next day, and I am able to keep my supply up.

My "pumping" bag, as I like to call it, has been my most important bag of all time. I bring it with me even on interviews and coverages, more than the bag where I keep my essentials, because I don't want to risk my milk getting left behind the crew cab which may be parked under the heat of the sun.

(Note: The milk I express is stored in bottles kept in an insulator with two ice packs that can keep the milk cold for 8 – 10 hours.)

But it's not always easy to follow the 2-3 hours interval of pumping milk.

One time, I missed it because my coverage started late and I left my pump in the crew cab, I felt really bad about myself and expressed milk as soon as I can.

Afew other times, when I forgot my flanges at home, I had to hand-express milk and ask my colleague in my former beat to switch places with me so I could hand-express in a more secluded area in the press office.

Best choice I've made

My choice to breastfeed has also limited me in the sense that I had to turn down out-of-town coverages and being assigned to the campaign trail—because as much as I am able to express milk away from my daughter, I still believe directly feeding her is the best thing to do.

So as to maximize the time I can directly feed her, I make it a point to breastfeed her as soon as I come home from work.

Fortunately, while my baby feeds on my stored breastmilk via bottles, she never had the nipple confusion most working breastfeeding moms fear. She would always excitedly feed as soon as I come home, and that has always been my best reward for the day.

Like most breastfeeding moms, I have also struggled with my supply, many times. But I always make it a point that I do something about it—direct-feed more often, massage my breasts, eat and drink lactating goodies, and rest. I always choose to believe I can sustain it...and then I am able to do it.

If you think about it, and if you see me actually doing the pumping at work, you'd probably say I could make things easier for myself and just stop. I'd free myself from the bondage breastfeeding has limited me to, allow me to normalize my routine again, et cetera, et cetera.

I could, but I won't. I won't give up my choice to breastfeed tomorrow, next week, next month, and the months afterward, for as long as I can.

Because breastfeeding has been the best gift I've given my daughter. At only six and a half months, Aiyah is already 17 lbs healthy, has never been sick (aside from the usual fevers brought about by routine vaccinations), can stand on her feet when carried, can turn and crawl, can utter "Mommy" and "Daddy", and already has two teeth! She's growing up to be an extremely healthy and happy baby.

When I made the choice to give her only breastmilk, I never thought we'd be able to actually do it. But now, it seems like it's the most natural thing for me to do.

They say some things or events make us advocates for something. And this journey definitely turned me into a breastfeeding advocate.

And I am proud to be one breastfeeding Pinay. — BM, GMA News