One of the biggest misunderstandings in China is that women believe that they don’t have milk in the early days after birth and thus start with bottle feeding. This can lead to several problems.
Incorrect bottle-feeding practices. When helping moms, who started out bottle-feeding, but want to breastfeed, my main goal is to help with latch and teach the basics of breastfeeding. But I also ask the parents how they make up the feeds: some don’t even have a measuring spoon, many don’t pay attention to the ratio formula-water, they don’t wash their hands, they don’t know how to properly clean the bottle and the teat, they leave made-up formula on the table next to their bed (sometimes in hot water to prevent it from getting cold) and use this for the next time baby wakes up… So, the need to give some instruction on the proper way to bottle-feed, make-up feeds and store the milk is certainly there! (Of course, in line with the WHO Code, one-to-one instructions only.)
Sore nipples. Latching problems often lead to painful feedings and sore nipples. Surprisingly enough, I haven’t encountered this problem as much as expected. But when I do, I am so glad that a befriended LC from Holland donated hydrogel pads (not easily available in China at the time), which I can give to these mothers for some relief, whilst also working on improving latch.
Of course I can add to this list… But I also want to share a story of one mother that was quite miraculous to me. In the hospital they advised the mother not to breastfeed the first days after birth, because of an ABO incompatability. Two weeks after the birth of her baby, this mother started breastfeeding. After a couple of weeks, I was asked to come and help her, because she didn’t have enough milk. She was feeding with a nipple shield. The baby did drink, but not effectively and not long enough. They also supplemented with formula. After hearing her story, I knew she needed a good double-sided electric pump to stimulate milk production. At the time I didn’t have one. Buying one was too expensive for this family. I could only offer her a hand pump. Months later, I heard that this mother was still breastfeeding. Not only that, she was exclusively breastfeeding! Doesn’t mother nature surprise us at times!