My breastfeeding journey begins from here…
I was waiting for the golden hour since the last trimester, when I heard about it first. I don’t want to miss it anyway if it’s a possible one. After C- section I was shifted to the ICU, where I felt no one cares much about you, only the instruments monitor you properly. Around 2 pm, I have asked the staff about my baby and they told it takes few more time to finish the procedures for baby. I’ve waited 2, 3, 4 hrs and enquired in between about nursing my baby. Every enquiries end in futile and I got my baby with me after long 4 hrs. Even though , I didn’t get upset for any reason and I was happy when my mother put her on my chest. A few moments later, I recognized her struggle to get a proper latch. But me and my mother were helpless. We have tried whatever possible, but only her struggle remains. It was only 20 minutes allowed for nursing at a time. But we have taken more than that since there was no one to help or monitor. During the second visit, we got a helping hand from a nurse to get a proper latch fir my baby on my breast. Both me and my mother found peace in her presence and I will always remember her with gratefulness. Next day morning, I was shifted to the room where my parents, husband and my grandma to help me for anything. That day was ok for me except an unbearable pain due to gastric issues. The days went on with frequent breastfeeding, lot of visitors and different consultations in between. The second day, my baby got vaccinated (BCG, Hep B1 & OPV). So the baby will be slightly yellowish for the coming 2-3 days. On the third day, doctor said about dehydration in my baby and advice to feed frequently. Fourth day, baby’s weight was monitored and showed 15% reduction. So a nursing staff came to the room and mention about starting formula. Since, I’m confident about my milk supply (since I got colustrum by hand expression) and my baby was seemed to be fine with enough urine count, we refused to introduce formula for my baby. Everything went well upto the 5th day, it was a sunday, when we were supposed to get discharged. Since I was ok, I got discharged that day. But, for my baby, it was not the case. They insisted me to buy formula as per the prescription. Finally, I agreed to buy it in order to avoid a conflict. But, I thought it was my decision to provide formula milk or to breastfeed if I have both the choices. I said no to formula and my family stood with me. Suddenly, the situation get worsened as they told to take the blood sample of my baby once more to check bilirubin level again. It was already in a normal level as per the blood test done one day before. So, we felt something not right happening. As we expected, they refused to give discharge for my baby on that day. Instead, they mention about putting baby in the incubator. So we decided to leave the hospital and consult a nearby pediatrician for further opinion. Next thing happened in the hospital room was little cinematic. A young doctor came to the room with five to six other staffs (nursing staffs and junior doctors) in a hurry with some emergency talks, creating an urgency situation. The doctor initially explained the current situation of my baby having dehydration and weight loss as per their findings, in a very peaceful way. And then, explained about the worst situation my baby have to go through, if I deny the formula milk in a very alarming and threatening way. I got little nervous at that time. But kept my fear inside and talk to him about my decision. After hearing me, he told to examine whether I have enough milk for my baby. He also agreed that it’s ok. Even though, he refused to give discharge and threatened me and my family in a wrong way. Definitely a doctor should not speak this way to a feeding mother. I don’t know if I was acted courageous or I was really courageous to stand straight and fight for my baby’s rights at that moment. But when the group left the room, my eyes were filled with tears and it begin to drop all the emotions. Only I want at that moment is to protect my baby, as all mothers wish. With the shedding tears and sobbing sound I immediately called Vindyechi for getting an opinion on dehydration and weight loss in new-born. She picked up the call and calm me with the right words to regain myself from flooding emotions and it helped me to understand my baby is ok for the time being. At the same time, my husband called another doctor to know whether there’s any risk for the baby, if we left the hospital today itself. Since we get a big yes for our decision from all side except the hospital authority, we left the hospital by signing the consent form. On the way to home, we have consulted the nearby doctor and he said she’s perfectly all right. So, this the beginning of my breast feeding journey, that reveals me the importance of self education on breastfeeding and its challenges during pregnancy time itself. Definitely, it give us confidence and courage to protect our child from target oriented hospital interests and currently trending formula trap.