My Secret
Recipe for Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is a very rewarding experience that most moms
enjoy. In addition to its physical advantages for both baby and mummy, it
creates a special bond and gives the child a unique sense of security and
warmth.
Knowing and believing in the benefits of breastfeeding, I
decided to fully commit to it back with my first child. It was a painful struggle that lasted for
four months. I had bleeding blisters, and my baby would not even consider a
bottle. Not that I wanted to stop breastfeeding, but the pain was unbearable. I
tried every single remedy I crossed, and none of them worked. With my teeth
biting my lips, I continued to breastfeed until by coincidence I came across
Lansinoh – lanolin breast cream, and breastfeeding became paradise.
I consider that I have successfully breastfed all five kids,
including the twins, and I am delighted that I did. Not that it was smooth and
easy with all of them, but ‘When there is a will, there is a way.’ I strongly
encourage all moms to try their best to breast feed since it is the best that
you could offer to your baby.
I do understand, however, that not all women are able to
breastfeed, and one of the main problems is the fact of not having sufficient
milk supply. Once a mom decides she
wants to breastfeed, she has to focus on following a healthy diet which helps
in increasing the amounts of milk. Following a diet to lose the baby weight
must be put on hold, and the focus should be more on the foods that are good
for the mom’s milk. ‘Foods with lactation-promoting properties are called lactogenic
foods.’
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Here are the best supply-boosting foods for
breastfeeding moms;
Papaya, asparagus, oats, halva sweet known as
‘halawa’, carrots, almond nuts, spinach, chick peas, brown rice, apricots,
and salmon.
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Frequent nursing or pumping in addition to drinking water and
other fluids boost the milk supply. One of my favourite and finest herbal
fusions is a drink which I have inherited from my great-grandmothers. And the
recipe is simple and easy; two to three cinnamon sticks, a knob of dry or fresh
ginger, and some anis seeds.
Put all the ingredients in a big kettle. Fill it with a half a
litre of water. Bring it to the boil and let it simmer for a half an hour.
During the first two months you could add around one teaspoon
of fenugreek. The latter helps in cleaning the womb and in boosting the milk
supply. However, you should not exceed the intake of fenugreek as it might
decrease the sugar level in the blood.
Finally, a breastfeeding mom should try to rest and nap
whenever she could in order to be able to stand up to the required demands.
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N.B: Please note that these recipes suited me well. If you have any allergy to any of the above mentioned ingredients, avoid trying them.
