My journey as a mom began about 4 years ago. Like any new mom, I was desperate to bond with my baby, to feel his every breath, to take my new baby to my breast, and watch his body slack with relief as he latched on to my breast. I tried every trick under the sun to get him hooked to my milk, but alas – it was not to be! My baby was a ‘formula baby’ as I referred to him.
Time rolled on, and I got a second chance at motherhood. This time, I was ready!
I have been a second-time mom for just over a year now, and my experiences with my two babies could not have been more different! Thanks to my experience the first time around, I anticipated all the challenges, but more importantly, I was well aware of the unsolicited advice and judgy looks I would get. Only this time, I felt so confident in my instincts as a mom that I deflected all the unwanted advice with elan.
But this did not mean, I didn’t need or take any advice! This time, I looked for advice from the right people and joined a breastfeeding group for new moms that was all encouragement and practical advice. They alerted me to the fact that the advice for top feed can come from many quarters and I, as a mom, had the right to decide what’s best for my baby. I felt empowered.
After the big push, and feeling like a million trucks had hit me, I mustered enough strength to refuse any top feed for my newborn. Gritting my teeth, I sat up and put her tiny mouth to my breast, every time she was hungry. My back felt like it was shattering in a thousand places, but the peace that my baby transmitted to me through her obliviousness to my discomfort somehow became my solace.
The skin-to-skin contact seemed to hasten my healing, as I immersed myself into those squishy hands and toes, stroking my daughter’s head and cuddling up to her.
Benefits of Breastfeeding
All infants have a weak immune system and the properties of breast milk work as a shield protecting the body against foreign organisms. When my diaper rash creams prove ineffective to clear the diaper rash, I use breast milk on the affected area and see the difference within hours. My daughter has eczema and every time these rough spots appear, I massage her with breastmilk and it surely does its magic.
Studies show that breastfeeding also helps the mother, physically and emotionally. The very act of breastfeeding releases oxytocin and prolactin, hormones that relax the mother and make her feel more nurturing toward her baby. Breastfeeding soon after giving birth increases the mother’s oxytocin levels, making the uterus contract and return to its normal size more quickly and even reduces bleeding.
The challenges with breastfeeding
With the evolution of our fast lifestyle and it’s repercussions on our physical and mental health, breastfeeding has truly become a challenge.
The first month post-delivery was the most difficult for me as my hormones were still trying to find a balance and my body was trying to heal against all odds. With a preschooler to tend to as well, I felt a huge weight lift off me when my breastmilk supply improved enough to satiate my baby daughter. I discovered that breastfeeding is simple and easy once the milk supply is established, but reaching that stage requires constant effort and willpower.
How long can a woman produce milk?
The World Health Organization states that breastmilk is the ideal food for infants and women should exclusively breastfeed their infants for 6 months, and continue to breastfeed along with solid food for over 2 years. Some women have been known to breastfeed their children all the way up to 5 years.
Also Read: How to: Boost your kids’ immunity through 5 factors.
Tips For Breastfeeding Success
My goal was to breastfeed my child as close as possible to the 2-year breastfeeding recommendation by WHO above, and I changed my diet to help my body fulfill this challenge. I took some time to think back to the way of our ancestors when breastfeeding was the only way of feeding a baby. With the absence of formula milk, popularly known as top feed today, our ancestors developed and documented several natural ways to increase breast milk in lactating moms, while helping accelerate her healing.
My first step was to incorporate a healthy diet to help my body deal with the major overhaul it has just experienced.
My diet consisted of home food with lots of fenugreek and green leafy vegetables, plenty of water. Even after all this, there were days where I felt I wasn’t producing enough milk and that I needed something more. My body needed more. My feelings of inadequacy were only intensified every time my baby cried, piling feelings of guilt on top of my helplessness.
How Zandu StriVeda Satavari lactation supplement changed my life as a new mom:
It was then that I sought the recommendation of moms on the online breastfeeding group. I was advised to try an ayurvedic lactation supplement StriVeda from the well-known Indian Ayurveda brand, Zandu. I dug into the research and came up fully satisfied that this is an all-natural supplement with no side effects for lactating mothers like me. It has the Satavari herb(an ayurvedic galactagogue), which increases the production of milk without causing any harm to the baby or the mother.
I took it once a day mixed in a cup of milk and some days I even took it twice. Knowing that fellow moms on the breastfeeding group had recommended this and it was a tried and tested product, gave me the confidence to try it. I have been on it ever since and my baby is quite the happy baby!
3 Benefits of the Zandu StriVeda Shatavari Lactation Supplement
It’s my breastfeeding “SOS”
It’s my breastfeeding “SOS”This supplement worked for me within two days and became my one and only “breastfeeding SOS”. Being a mother to a preschooler and an infant, I am forever short on time, so this instant mix proved to be a lifesaver(quite literally!)
It is natural and safe
This all-natural Ayurvedic supplement guaranteed no side effects and was safe for consumption for my baby and me. Being able to exclusively breastfeed, boosted my confidence as a mother and I was certain that I had made the right choice.
It is easy on the palate!
The highlight for me was that it tasted just like any other health drink powder. I never felt that I was taking medicine to boost my milk supply and for me, it was easy to get accustomed to as it can be simply taken with milk.
In closing…Happy Mama, Happy Baby
In my own journey as a mom, I have exclusively breastfed one child and given formula to the other. With the sea of information that is available today, we, as mothers have everything at our fingertips to make informed choices. Trust that your motherhood does not depend on what you should have done in the eyes of others. Trust that we each know what is best for our baby and pour our hearts out to ensure we raise happy, healthy, and responsible children.
The Zandu Striveda Lactation supplement is available for purchase on Amazon.
Disclaimer: This article is not meant to be medical advice. Please consult your doctor before taking any supplements in case of medical conditions.
Ill ask my daughter in law to try Irs insightful
Sounds super, wish I knew about it at my time. Will definitely recommend it to others
Not being a mother, I can’t fully understand these precious tips, but I certainly appreciate them very much. Detailed and interesting for those who are and must breastfeed!
It was great!!!
Sharing your journey will be helpful to others. New mothers need these tips.
Keeping your milk supply up can be tough! I agree…diet is so important and I definitely like the sound of a lactation supplement for those who need a helping hand with milk supply.
This is such a beautiful journey, and thank you for sharing this with us.
This definitely inspires others in choosing breastfeeding instead of formula milk.
I remember the frustration when I first started to try breastfeeding. Took time to get it right.
Breastfeeding has many benefits! All my kids are breastfed. And yes, diet is very important.
many of the new parents now don’t see the importance of breastfeeding but this is such a great reminder. And thanks for sharing your journey
I breast fed with all four of mine
My daughter tried to breastfeeding. It was a lot of tears and tries and she finally went to formula. I think the journey varies for us all. I have never heard of this lactation supplement. That is good to know about.
Ooohhhhh…I am glad to know it’s easy on the palate! We wouldn’t want to hurt the baby in a moment that’s intimate like feeding. Thanks for sharing about it.
When my daughter was born, breastfeeding was a challenge at first but with the assistance of my wonderful midwife, it finally worked out like a charm.
While we all know breast feeding is great way to build the immunity of the baby, I never knew there were supplements for lactation. Good to know it worked.