Being a breast cancer survivor, my pregnancy wasn't an easy journey. Since right breast was removed, operated side had hand-leg swelling and enormous chest rib pain, as the baby was growing in 3rd trimester. I bore all the pain by thinking it will be over soon. Once the baby was born, I was relieved as the toughest part was over. Never knew it was the tip of the iceberg. The day I started producing milk on the left side, I wasn't feeling the bliss of milk flowing as my mother described. Rather I was feeling tickles & bites. Baby had a shallow latch & I was feeling sharp pain everytime I nursed my baby. By 1 week; I had wounded nipple and was crying with each breastfeeding session. Baby was on mixed feed - majorly on formula milk by bottle provided by the hospital at the time of discharge.
Many moms from the BSIM group suggested LC visit. We were totally unaware till then that there are specialized consultants for Lactation. I met LC in the hospital I delivered. She ensured me no problem at all apart from a shallow latch. Taught football hold for deep latch. Family was feeling that I am experiencing pain & wounds because of continuous feeding from the left side only. Within a month we made a 2nd visit with no improvement in latch. Again was advised to practice deep latch & pumping. Pumping was helping but the baby wanted to suckle directly specially in the night & kept rooting.
When my baby was 1.5+ months old I went to my maiden home in Mumbai. My supply had dropped drastically as the baby wasn't able to empty the breast. I decided to take a 2nd opinion this time with IBCLC as someone suggested on the BSIM group. My gynaec recommended Dr. Manisha Gogri. I started a consultation with her. I liked the detailed information she asked for pre appointment - containing each & every detail about pregnancy, childbirth & nursing. After 1st video consultation itself I felt improvement in supply & pumping output. In 2nd consultation, on a personal visit Dr. Manisha diagnosed reason for the shallow latch issue which was tongue tie. We released my son's tongue tie with the help of pediatric dentist she recommended. Then I weaned the bottle & formula gradually as per Dr. Manisha's guidance & by the baby's 3rd monthly birthday, he was an Exclusively Breastfed baby with no pumping at all. I exclusively breastfed my baby till 6months& now he is on solids & breastmilk. Thanks to Dr. Manisha my dream to exclusively breastfed my baby was fulfilled & baby got his liquid gold.
- A Thankful Mother
