Helen, 27 years old, shares her journey of becoming a first-time mother
Becoming a mother for the first time has been an emotional and challenging journey. It’s an experience I will never forget for the rest of my life. When I found out I was pregnant, I felt immense joy. I imagined countless sweet moments, from witnessing my child come into the world, watching them grow up, and especially holding my baby close to my chest – a sacred bond between mother and child.
Preparing for motherhood
As a first-time mom, I prepared meticulously: reading parenting books, attending postnatal care classes, and learning tips on raising a child from various Facebook groups. I wanted to equip myself with all the necessary knowledge to take the best care of my baby. For me, breastfeeding was a top priority because I wanted my baby to have the best start in life.
The First Few Months of Motherhood
In the first few months, seeing my baby sleep soundly and grow healthy thanks to my milk made me feel like the best mom in the world. But everything seemed to turn upside down when my baby turned four months old. One day, my little boy no longer wanted to breastfeed. Each time I tried to feed him, he would cry and become distressed. At first, I thought he might be unwell or going through a phase of reduced appetite. But after a few days, the situation didn’t even improve – it got worse. Was my milk not enough to satisfy him, or was there something wrong with the taste? Doubts about myself kept flooding my mind…
The feelings of anxiety and stress grew stronger each day. I felt like a failure as a mother. I blamed myself, thinking I wasn’t capable of being a good mom. I explored various methods on “mom forums” to encourage my baby to breastfeed again, like changing feeding positions, altering the environment, and trying to create a more comfortable atmosphere for him. However, no matter how hard I tried, my baby still wouldn’t cooperate.
If this situation continued, I feared my little one would not get the necessary daily nutrients for healthy development. So, I started researching formula milk as an alternative source of nutrition for my baby. This was a tough decision because I had always been cautious about using formula milk for my baby and believed that breastfeeding was the best, irreplaceable option.
Breast milk and formula milk
I began looking into different formula brands available in the market, studying the essential ingredients needed to meet my baby’s daily nutritional needs, and learning how to prepare and store formula milk safely. I also consulted doctors and nutrition experts to make sure I was on the right track.
See more: Top foods high in Omega-3s
During my research, I read many articles about combining breast milk and formula during the early stages of a child’s life. I realized that I am not alone on this journey, as many other mothers are also in similar situations. According to many nutritionists and pediatricians, combining breast milk and formula can be an excellent choice for both mother and baby. Although breast milk is the most natural and best source of nutrition for newborns, when mothers face challenges in supplying enough milk or when babies refuse to breastfeed, using formula is a helpful and safe solution to ensure the baby still receives the necessary nutrients.
Austramilk – an Australia formula milk brand
In my moment of desperation, I stumbled upon Austramilk while reading through some useful posts about formula milk for babies. After researching, I learned that with its essential nutrients like protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals, along with its unique 6 in 1 benefits. Austramilk would provide the necessary nutrition to help my baby gain weight naturally, boost his immune system, and support brain development. After many days of careful consideration, I chose Austramilk to accompany my baby on his next journey.
Austramilk is similar to organic milk. It has a light, refreshing taste that is easy to drink. Especially when breast milk doesn’t meet the nutritional needs of the baby, this product provides essential nutrients during this critical stage of development.
After a period of combining both formula milk and breast milk, I noticed a significant change in my baby. Not only was he more cooperative with feeding, but he also seemed healthier and more energetic. I noticed he was more active and responsive during playtime. Most importantly, his digestive system remained stable without any unusual signs – that I was most concerned about when I started him on formula milk.
Valuable lessons from my 1st motherhood journey
Through the challenges I faced during this first-time motherhood journey, I realized that not being able to breastfeed exclusively does not mean failure. Every mother has her unique journey of nurturing her child, and the most important thing is that we are doing our best to ensure our babies grow up in the best possible conditions.
Motherhood is a journey filled with challenges, but also immense joy. There is no one-size-fits-all formula for raising a child; there is only unconditional love for them. Each day in the journey of motherhood (not just for me, but for all mothers with young children) is a wonderful day.
Finally, I want to send a message of encouragement to all the mothers who are facing challenges similar to mine. Believe that, whether you choose to breastfeed or use formula, you are still an amazing mother as long as your child remains healthy and active.
