1000 Hour-Nursing

Nursing is a momentum that means a lot to me and Little Rei. That’s the moment when we get better understanding on each other. He looks deeply into my eyes when sucking, and together we smile and laugh. This is so thrilling. What a wonderful moment. Every nursing, I always repeatedly tell him that he’s special and that I love him so much with all my heart. Then I touch all parts of his body and raise my prayers. He would be a good man.

I usually nurse about 10 times a day, 15-30 minutes each. That makes  150-300 minutes a day. If I commit nursing at least for one year, then I spend 900-1800 hours. It’s a rough counting, which could be less when baby starts to eat solid food or UHT. Longer, if nursing continues in the second year.

For the lengthy time momma spends, nursing should be a joyful activity. Yet, I should be frank that in times, nursing becomes a boring task. So many things to do, so many inspirations to handle, and there I can’t do other things because I’m stuck with a little creature on my tummy. Additionally, I’m a momma with a Let Down Reflex (LDR) monster, coming too frequent in every nursing, which frustrates me and Little Rei sometimes. There are also times when I become a nervous momma, realizing that a human is dependent on me and that I should be the one doing best for him.

Anyhow, all that worries are spices. The fun of nursing is much greater.  This is honest. It even becomes the greatest of all baby treatments because I have the supporting husband and mother in passing through this 6 month-exclusive breastfeeding. I have read other stories and even heard directly from other mommas on how limited support they got from husband and families, and thus breastfeeding became a stressful activity and I can’t imagine how stony their 1000 hour-nursing journey was.

Like most mom, I believe that nursing builds connection of mom-baby, where baby feels to be loved and cared for, and this is undoubtedly positive for child’s mental development. For this work, nursing mommas should be appreciated and supported by husband, relatives and public facilities. They are human resource managers, and so their roles should be valued the same as productive role (job with income). And you should agree with me. Can you imagine how a mom dedicates her body, mind, soul to prepare a wonder man or woman, which people call human generation? She gives her whole life.