Why I Believed in the Importance of Breastfeeding from the Start
When I was expecting our daughter, I began reading about what a baby truly needs to grow up healthy — and it quickly became clear that besides love and care, breastfeeding stands out as one of the most important foundations. That’s why my partner and I decided our child wouldn’t go to daycare before the age of three: so she could get as much breast milk as she needed, and I wouldn’t have to worry about working outside. It allowed me to focus calmly on breastfeeding and caring for her.
At first it was difficult — I didn’t know how to nurse properly — but fortunately milk supply was ample and our daughter accepted feeding well. By about six months she was exclusively breastfed, and then we slowly introduced purees. She nursed on demand until nine months, and after that only at night because she ate solid food well during the day. Nighttime feeding continued every three hours until she was about 18 months old.
Breastfeeding With Our Son – Determination, Patience and Trust
When we were expecting our son, many told me that with Down syndrome maybe we’d need tube feeding or artificial methods. I didn’t accept that. The midwife told me: “If you are motivated to breastfeed, you’ll likely succeed,” and she was right. He was born smaller and weaker than his sister, so nursing took time. I pumped and fed with a syringe at first. But gradually — milk supply increased, and soon we established regular breastfeeding. He nursed roughly every hour until 18 months. Weaning was gentle and natural: when the night feedings stopped, we simply cuddled, said we were sleeping, and that was it. After that both children slept through the night — and so did I. I’m so grateful I could breastfeed both for over a year.
Why Breastfeeding Matters — More Than Just Food
Breastfeeding is much more than nourishment — it’s closeness, touch, attention, immune support, and many things a baby needs to thrive. Human breast milk contains valuable immune-boosting factors that help protect babies from infections while their own immune system develops.
Infants who are breastfed experience fewer respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, lower risk of many illnesses during early childhood, and overall better health outcomes.
My Message to Other Parents
I’m often surprised when I hear from mothers who say they don’t have enough milk. Scientific literature doesn’t support that — only a small percentage of women have real medical reasons to be unable to breastfeed.
If you can, trust your body. Seek support, ask for help when needed, and know that many babies thrive with breastfeeding, even when there have been early difficulties. For us, nursing both our children was one of the best choices — emotionally, physically, and for our family’s well-being.
📚 Scientific Article to Read More About the Importance of Breastfeeding
You can read this recent open-access study demonstrating how breastfeeding reduces inflammation and infection burden in infants:
The protective effect of breastfeeding on infant inflammation — BMC Medicine (2025)
You are not alone in this.
If you would like to go deeper, you can buy the e-book Our Journey – A Different Path for honest reflections and lived experience beyond this post: https://payhip.com/b/c9s3b
You can also purchase supportive routine templates designed to help parents and children navigate daily life with more clarity, structure, and understanding: https://payhip.com/b/RYA65
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