As we come to the end of World Breastfeeding Week 2017, let's check out this post by celebrity mum Joanne Peh. We think it deserves your attention. For it reminds us to be empathetic and non-judgemental, and to celebrate mums all over the world, breastfeeding or not.
Joanne Peh's post on breastfeeding
Joanne writes on Instagram, "Happy Breastfeeding Week everyone! When I had my first baby, I hadn't set myself a goal when I was going to wean her off breastfeeding. I wanted to do it for as long as I could because I enjoyed the bonding, felt it was a lot more convenient to do so, and believed in the nutritional benefits of breastmilk."
Joanne also reminds us that breastfeeding is never easy for working mums, "I went back to work when she was 7 months, and my first assignment was a travel programme. I had my cooler bag with me throughout the trips, faithfully pumped, froze and checked-in all that liquid gold back when I returned."
"But it did come to a point where I found it stressful to keep up with the pumping schedule. I couldn't travel light (have to lug a cooler bag and breast pump wherever I go) and always had to find a nursing room every 3-4 hours during my filming -- it was getting inconvenient for me who was always on the go."
"By then she (Baby Qi) was also more interested in food than milk and then one day just after she turned one, she just decided she didn't want to latch anymore."
So how has her experience been with baby No.2, Baby Qididi?
Joanne reveals, "With my second child, frankly I'm not sure if I can do the same, and I am sometimes filled with guilt thinking that I'm not being fair. But the rational side of me knows that it is ok even if I don't/can't breastfeed my son for a year because we still have formula milk to supplement if necessary👌🏻."
Now before staunch supporters of breastfeeding come up in arms, she elaborates, "My philosophy has always been that while we try to give our children the best, we mustn’t neglect our psychological well-being too."
"Because happy parents raise happy kids, so to all fellow moms who might be stressed one way or another, know that you are not alone on this journey."
We loved this post because, while we know that breastmilk is liquid gold for babies, and nothing can quite compare to it, so many mums are unable to breastfeed, due to physical, emotional, psychological or logistical factors.
That does not mean that they are bad mums!
In her latest essay on breastfeeding, Melinda Gates throws light on the struggles of a new mum, "A mum has to worry about whether her baby has properly latched, whether her baby is gaining weight, whether she’s producing enough of that milk that everyone keeps lecturing her is so essential to her baby’s survival and success."
"If she works outside the home, there’s a good chance that even though she’s been advised that she should breastfeed for at least six months, she’s not getting anywhere near that much time off.
"The bottom line is this: Motherhood is a tough balancing act, and every mum deserves the chance to do what’s right for her and her family. If that means breastfeeding, great. If that means formula feeding, that’s totally fine, too. I just want to make sure that every mum truly does have both options."
We can't help but agree. How she chooses to nourish and raise her baby is a mum's choice, what is important is that, she has the freedom to make that choice, without having to deal with the world's bullying and mum-shaming.
Also READ: This Singapore mum's post on mum-shaming is a must-read!