Do you want to win over breastfeeding challenges?

"Is he getting any milk?"

 

"Are you sure you have milk?"

 

"Maybe your milk is not enough."

 

"Your child is already a toddler. It's time to give him formula."

 

These are some of the questions and statements that many breastfeeding moms get from people around them. And these questions can a lot of times discourage a breastfeeding mom.

 

Have you experienced being asked any or all of these questions?

 

Did you also doubt your capacity to nourish your child through your breasts when you were asked these questions?

 

You are not alone.

 

You are not the first to experience that.

 

I have also heard these questions and statements from many different people.

 

Like most first-time moms, I was easily affected by those remarks. I chose not to give up easily though.

 

By the grace of God and with a lot of hard work and sacrifices, I was able to achieve my breastfeeding goals for both of my sons. I was able to overcome the breastfeeding challenges that came my way.

 

I consider it a win every time I experience something that was initially doubted by other people.

 

For example, one of the common questions people would ask is if the baby is getting any milk from us, breastfeeding mothers.

 

Thus, I consider it a win every time I hear my child swallow milk while breastfeeding from me. I also consider it a win whenever I hear my child burp after each feeding session. Sometimes, while my youngest child breastfeeds from me, the milk from my other breast where he is not latched would squirt when he pinches my other breast.

 

All these disprove what others were saying or thinking about me and my capacity to nourish my children.

 

To date, my almost 28 month old son is still breastfeeding from me and I don't supplement him with formula. He already eats solid food but that's all. So far, he's healthy, very active and smart. 

 

Aside from those wins I mentioned above, I'm most grateful for the win of having a strong bond between me and my children.

 

Yesterday, my youngest son said, "Thank you, Mommy."

 

"For what?" I asked.

 

"For dede (he was referring to my breasts)," he said.

 

Then, he hugged me as usual. And I kissed his forehead and his chubby cheeks.

 

My husband and I watched a movie before where the husband and wife would ask each other their high points and low points each day. We adapted it and made it our nightly habit before sleeping. Our kids eventually joined us. When our youngest son finally learned how to speak, he gamely joined in our conversations as well. Guess what his usual answer is when asked what his high point for the day was? "Dede!"

 

That has always been his answer until very recently when he would also add "playing with toy bulldozer and car" or "going to Mass."

 

Do you want to experience these winning moments also?

 

If you are a first-time parent, an expectant parent or a mom who wants to try breastfeeding for the first time or again, I invite you to join How to Win Over Breastfeeding Challenges, my upcoming talk and bok signing event on March 29, 2014 from 1 to 5 PM at the Medela House (#29 1st Street, New Manila, Q.C.). I'm excited to share with you more about how I won over my breastfeeding challenges in the past years that I had been breastfeeding my two sons. 

 

 

 

There will be another speaker as well -- Ms. Joyce Martinez. She's a registered nurse, a certified lactation consultant, and the in-house lactation counselor of Medela Moms. She was also a Lactation Manager at St. Luke's Medical Center. She conducts talks on the ABC's of Lactation Management for nurses and breastfeeding classes for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.

Here's what will happen when you register and join this event?
* You'd be able to distinguish between breastfeeding myths and facts.
* You'll learn breastfeeding basics (breastfeeding positions, common challenges and how to handle them).
* You'll learn tips on how to win over breastfeeding challenges from the author and other moms who have triumphed over their breastfeeding challenges.

* You'll meet other moms/expectant parents who can support you in your decision to breastfeed your baby.
* You'll get a signed copy of the book Breastfeeding: A Journey Worth Taking as your hand out.

* You'll get free snacks courtesy of Mama Chows and Moringana.Pregnant and breastfeeding moms who will attend will get free lactation cookies from Mama Chows. All guests will get giveaways from Moringana and anti-skid baby socks from St. Patrick.

You'll also get a chance to win raffle prizes.

The learning fee is only P600 for individuals. Couples only need to pay P1,000. I highly recommend that moms come with their husbands because much of your success would be dependent on his support and belief in your capacity to nourish your child through your breasts. This learning fee is a small investment compared to the savings that your family will get from months or even years of breastfeeding your child. A family sometimes spends around a thousand pesos in a week for formula and that can go higher or lower depending on the brand they choose or that their pediatrician would recommend. (Thus, I also recommend that you choose a pediatrician who's a breastfeeding advocate.)

 

You may pay through bank deposit (BPI or BDO) or through Paypal.

 

You may register for the event by clicking here. 

In case you are not free on that day, please feel free to share about this event to your friends or relatives who might benefit from these talks and book.

You can also order a copy of my latest book by sending me an email at teresa@fulllifecube.com or by sending a PM at my book's Facebook Page. It's only P499 per copy plus shipping fee of P100 for Metro Manila/Luzon area and P150 for other provinces. Click like and follow so you'd get updates on future events or offers.

Let me share excerpts of what other moms who read my book say about it.

"I am thankful that Teresa thought of writing this book. It is just pure inspiration for moms who really plan to breastfeed for the first year/s of their child’s life. I recall turning to Google for answers that I needed when it came to breastfeeding, but with this book, you get so much more. You get to read not only the technicalities and the straight-forward facts, but you also get a glimpse into the life of REAL women; women who have experienced the same situations and problems. They share, not only facts, but even what they felt during these experiences." - Mommy Ginger, Mompreneur and Blogger (Click her name to read her complete book review.)

"This can actually be every nursing mom’s BFF – breastfeeding friend. It will constantly remind her that feeding her child, (who developed in her womb and came out from her body) through her breasts is indeed, one of the purest and ultimate forms of LOVE." - Mommy Amihan, Writer for Philippine Online Chronicles (Click on her name to read the full book review where she enumerated 5 reasons why my book is different from other breastfeeding books.)

 

"Breastfeeding: A Journey Worth Taking by  Teresa Gumap-as Dumadag is formatted to make reading easier for busy moms. This book is very useful for firs time breastfeeding moms and for those who are encountering some challenges. With the author’s and the shared stores, this book will inspire and empower moms to breastfeed, no matter how challenging and that breastfeeding is definitely a journey worth taking." - Mommy Que, Blogger (Click on her name to read the full book review.)

Here's an email from one of the moms who read it.

"I'm currently breastfeeding my 3week old child, and I never expected that breastfeeding will be this challenging. Thanks to your book, it has inspired and encouraged me to pursue breastfeeding." - Mommy Alica