kesan kurang ilmu breast feeding

Memang banyak ilmu tentang breastfeeding yang kita boleh dapati baik online atau offline dan kini ramai breastfeeding consultant yang ibu-ibu boleh hubungi untuk mendapatkan nasihat atau penyelesaian tentang masalah dalam penyusuan susu ibu. Namun saya terpanggil untuk menulis tentang kesan kurang ilmu penyusuan susu ibu terhadap ibu atau kata lain secara positifnya kebaikan penyusuan susu ibu kepada ibu.

Antara topik yang banyak dibincangkan adalah kebaikan breastfeeding kepada bayi dan ilmu untuk menambah produksi susu ibu tetapi agak kurang tentang kesan kepada ibu. Selama saya berada di jabatan pembedahan am, saya bertemu dengan ramai ibu-ibu yang masih dalam tempoh berpantang sehingga setelah 2 tahun menamatkan tempoh penyusuan. Mereka datang dengan 'nanah di dalam payu dara'.

Saya amat kasihan kerana kebanyakan mereka tidak tahu cara menyusukan anak, beza antara mengepam dan direct feeding kepada bayi, dan bila ingin mendapatkan rawatan.

Image di sebelah ini saya browse daripada google image tetapi gambarnya adalah amat hampir dengan yang saya temui. Gambar paling atas ketika belum dirawat, gambar tengah incision to drain the pus dan bawah sekali setelah sembuh. Adakalanya tidak sembuh baik dan menjadi parut dan mengganggu secara kosmetik utk ibu.


Ibu-ibu itu datang dengan bengkak di dada, demam kebah dan surut berhari-hari, bertukar warna kulit dada. Apabila pemeriksaan dilakukan memang dada keras dan panas. Ultrasound akan menunjukkan 'abcess or multiloculated abcess'.

Antara sebab yang diberikan:

1) saya hanya mengepam kerana anak tidak mahu susu direct (pengepam tidak akan keluarkan susu secara lengkap)
2) saya berhenti menyusukan dengan serta merta dan membiarkan sahaja dada bengkak dengan harapan bengkak dan susu akan kurang sendiri (masih perlu keluarkan susu itu tetapi jarakkan waktu penyusuan sehingga lama-kelamaan kering sendiri)
3) puting tidak sesuai untuk mulut anak (pasti ada cara penyelesaian, sekiranya inverted nipple boleh cuba suction method untuk keluarkan nipple itu)

Kesannya, apabila susu tidak completely emptied, pus developed and it grows bigger and need either aspiration or incision and drainage to resolve it. Antibiotics only work once it is still small.

Direct breastfeeding is the only effective method to prevent this. Dapatkan nasihat dan rawatan awal sekiranya ada masalah dengan penyusuan..

My BF journey for 2nd caliph..

As I mentioned in my previous post, I only manage to bf umar for 1 month. This due to few reasons;

1. Distance -umar went back to malaysia earlier than me

2. Lack of knowledge

3. Stress as I had my final year 3 exam 2 weeks after umar's birth thus my milk production reduces tremendously. I put very few effort on boosting the milk production..sigh~

4. I had very bad cracked nipples and breast engorgement again due to poor knowledge and support

But now, with Thariq Ziyad is my golden oppurtunity to start Breastfeeding again! I have this long holiday since before labor so I had enormous time to read and gather information on bf in addition to what I've learned in my O&G and peads posting. This is to prepare for the challenging time to come in my bf journey especially during confinement e.g. bought breast pump, how to prevent cracked nipples, how to deal with breast engorgement, how to boost milk production, how to store EBM etc.

this excellent book is a gift from my dearest ukhti Suya (visit her online shop here)

However no matter how prepared I am, there are still challenges in the process. I had cracked nipples again but alhamdulillah it was not as bad as previously. I applied some breast milk on the cracked area, let it dry instead of 'keeping' it inside the bra. The easiest thing is to be topless (at the right place ok:) )

The cracked is quite deep so it takes time to heal. While healing I still bf Thariq directly on this breast. So what I did was feeding Thariq using different position e.g. From craddle hold to football position so that I can avoid the wound. It still painful but less coz baby hard palate not touching the cracked area. Every time I will pray to Allah to heal the cracked area. Alhamdulillah so far it works for me.

I already starts pumping for EBM stock for my working and oncall days. But still could not pump from the cracked breast coz need to allow some times for it to heal. So the milk stock not as much as expected but I'll keep working for a better amount...:) Alhamdulillah..

It is a challenged to be firm on my stand to bf as some relatives suggest to give formula. The rational why I want to bf besides the health benefit etc, is I want to have exclusive time with my baby when I start working. By hook or by crook I need to bf him even I am tired back from work. So I will have 'special' time with him. And for umar I will find time to be with him too. I know this is the best gift for my kids..Pray for me please..