Life as a New Mother and
Her Initial Extreme Parenting Stance

“I had cracked nipples. They were exquisitely painful
and covered with scabs. So my kid swallowed the shed scabs
with breast milk. It was so painful every time I breastfed.”

At age 26, many people work hard to establish their new family. Some pursue further studies. Some start their own business. And some lead a freewheeling, independent lifestyle. But, Ms. Tanyawan “Maa-Meu” Suppasert, harbors firm determination to assume the most important role for women, to be a ...mother.

“Having a child is one of my life missions. Deep down, I have a high sense of motherhood inside me. I love caring for and playing with children, and I am a natural with kids. So, I set my mind on having my own baby. My husband agrees with having children. After a year of marriage, we ceded birth control, and I became pregnant.”

First pregnancy -- easier than expected

Tanyawan and her husband were well-prepared to make the pregnancy as smooth as possible. They had prenatal checkups and thalassemia carrier screening, took folate supplements many months in advance, and learned about fetal development and self-care during pregnancy.

“When I was pregnant with Hobs, I had no morning sickness and hardly any vomiting. During the first three months, I was heavy-eyed and wanted to sleep all day. After that, I was happy and enjoyed eating food. No severe complications occurred. With Hope, I had nausea sometimes. If l let me get hungry, I would feel nauseated and want to eat more. Compared with others who had severe morning sickness and couldn’t eat, I only had mild symptoms; no acne or puffy face, if any.”

Since pregnancy leads to fundamental changes in the body, good preparation can help reduce the risk of complications and prime you to handle potential changes over 9 months, whether physical or emotional. Moods during pregnancy were what Tanyawan prioritized. She tried to live peacefully and avoid stress because it could affect the baby in the womb.

“There were concerns with my second pregnancy due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It was not safe to go anywhere. And if I got Covid, it would affect my baby in the womb, so I stayed home most of the time. I started reading. Normally, I like reading spiritual books. I read them more and prayed more. I didn’t do these things in earnest before. So, these activities spurred my self-development.

Life of a new mother with a low milk supply

Pregnancy was easy, but things got unexpectedly complicated after the delivery. Any new mother would know how exhausting it is to care for their newborns. Sleep deprivation is also another thing to cope with. Hiring nannies or asking relatives to help raise their newborns may help lighten the load to some extent. However, Tanyawan and her husband were bent on raising their children without help.

“We probably could handle it. We didn’t need any helping hands. Initially, I kept working because it was a family business at my house. I could look after my kids while working. Then, I adjusted the work routines, curtailing my frontline duty time. When the bits fell in place, I could spend more time with them.”

Having studied the ins and outs of raising newborns in advance, most new parents become at sixes and sevens when facing the live situation, especially when the milk supply runs low. Maa-Meu understood very well how vital the nutrients in breast milk are to newborns. She refused to supplement her kids with formula milk whenever anyone suggested it.

“Back in the old days, there was only exclusive breastfeeding. I was opinionated from the outset that the baby needs breastfeeding from birth. But when Hobs was born, my milk supply was low. She was not getting enough milk; constantly hungry, she wouldn’t stop crying. I opposed formula milk whenever anyone suggested it. I knew I was super extreme -- breast milk only. But whenever I became tense, my milk supply dropped even lower.  

“I also had cracked nipples. They were exquisitely painful and formed scabs. So, my kid swallowed the scabs with the breast milk. It was painful every time I breastfed. So, I consulted with Dr. Sutheera Uerpairojkit. She advised me to properly position myself for successful breastfeeding with a good latch and no nipple drawing. I was not skillful at latching on to the baby, so my kid could suckle properly. It took patience to overcome the ordeal.”

After adjusting the breastfeeding position and making her baby suckle longer, her milk flow increased, and Hobs became captivated by the breastfeeding and did not wean until two years old. Shortly afterward, the family received the good news that a new member to be Hob's playmate was on the way. For her second child, there was certainly nothing for Tanyawan to worry about concerning breastfeeding.

"For my second child, Hope, I was well versed in the technique. When Hope emptied my breast, she fell asleep; it was that easy. I realized she had regular breastfeeding and sleeping schedules, repeating at the same times every day. Dr. Sutheera gave us great advice for raising Hob and Hope, which soothed our minds. I had personally gathered a lot of information, but if I had questions, I would ask a few more. She gave answers that were easy to understand. Learning of her move to MedPark, I took my kids for vaccination here. Since Hob has an allergy, we take him here for regular treatment and follow-up too."

Driving 180 kilometers, from Khao Yai, Nakhon Ratchasima, to Bangkok for scheduled vaccinations and Hob allergy follow-up care, taking about three hours, was a memorable moment for her family.

 “We traveled far, but it was for the health of our kids. We wanted to consult with the doctor we trusted. The distance doesn’t matter. MedPark has everything. It’s new and clean. There are many restaurants here too. We can have our meal after seeing the doctor and then go home. The location is convenient, with ample parking spaces. During school vacation, we would stay at a hotel and go sightseeing for 1-2 days before returning home, giving the kids new excursion experiences.”

Treat kids like adults to understand the real world.

To describe Maa-Meu’s parenting style, hers would be “kind but firm”. Hobs and Hope are neither over-spoiled nor over-pampered. Their parents do not want them to be a burden on society when they grow up. The kids must give in to the truth. One day, when the parents are no longer with them, there must not be sibling rivalry and infighting. They should be able to deal with problems on their own.

“When we play games, say, musical chairs, most adults would let kids sit first, right? But I would mischievously make them lose. They would cry a lot. Then I teach them that it’s okay to feel disappointed, but hurting others is unacceptable. They must accept the rules: when you lose, you lose. You may win next time. If everyone lets the kids win and does not make them experience losing, they will always want to win when they grow up. It is bad for others.”

Besides teaching the children they don't have a birthright with privilege in everything, Maa-Meu cultivates fundamental human rights principles and teaches equal rights and mutual respect. For example, the kids must seek permission to play with toys belonging to others, regardless of seniority.

“In a democracy, everyone has equal rights. Older siblings don’t need to let their younger siblings have it their way every time. That’s not how things work. We treat our kids as adults. Sometimes, there are issues that we have to take control of. But they always have the right to speak their minds. So, they aren’t hurt or upset because no one is favored over the others. Eventually, they will love each other.” Maa-Meu added.

..........................................

How should new mothers deal
with “low milk supply”?

One of the most concerning issues among new mothers is low breast milk supply or inadequate milk production. Before we move on to the causes of a low milk supply and bits of advice on how to have more breast milk production, we need to understand the process itself first. 

Breast milk is produced and stored in the alveoli of mammary glands. When your baby suckles, it stimulates nerve endings in the nipples sending signals to the brain. The hormones oxytocin and prolactin are then released. Oxytocin stimulates the contraction of alveoli, expelling the stored milk through milk ducts. Prolactin stimulates mammary glands to produce more milk.

Causes of a low milk supply

According to the process mentioned above, it’s clear that the more a baby suckles and stimulates a breast, the more milk is produced and released. This process will be most effective if a baby can suck fast and correctly within 30 seconds after birth.

However, mothers will be exhausted after giving birth and need time to recover. Some may have trouble getting up due to discomfort. This results in breastfeeding delays, affecting milk production. Furthermore, feedings spaced too far apart, less than two times a day, breast disorders, such as mastitis or plugged milk duct leading to infrequent stimulation, can play a role in milk production interruption.

How to increase your milk supply

All new mothers can breastfeed their children if they do not have obstacles due to comorbidities. It is best to learn the techniques on how to breastfeed correctly. Try these to help increase your milk supply: 

• Get enough rest. Ease your mind and relax in your preferred way.
• Massage your breasts and nipples. Use your palm to massage your breast toward the nipple and gently rotate the nipple with your fingers.
• In the first 2 – 3 weeks after birth, you should breastfeed at least 8-12 times daily or every 2-3 hours. Feed immediately if the baby is hungry; do not wait until the scheduled feeding time. 
• During breastfeeding, notice if your baby is suckling correctly. The little one should gnaw on the nipple down to the areola.
• Alternate feeding between the breasts. If not possible, empty the unsuckled breast with a breast pump to prevent a decrease in milk production.
• If engorgement occurs, remove the breast milk often instead of waiting until it is engorged.  

If you still have questions or are worried about your milk supply, contact the Breastfeeding Clinic (Pediatric Center) at MedPark Hospital. You will learn how to make your babies suck fast, suck frequently, and suck correctly. We also teach about latching and breastfeeding position. And returning to work when your maternity leave is over, you will know how to pump, store, and build your milk stockpile.

Cracked nipples: causes and treatments

Many moms give up on breastfeeding due to the pain from cracked nipples, which require extreme fortitude to continue breastfeeding. Cracked nipples can occur from several causes:

• Uncomfortable or improper breastfeeding position causes drawing on the nipple.
• A warm shower with too high a temperature can dry and crack nipple skin.
• Restrictive lingual frenulum (tongue web) restricts the mobility of a baby’s tongue. A simple surgical cut by a doctor is curative.
• Suction is too strong or use a suction cone that is too small.
• Breast infections or fungal overgrowth due to trapped moisture.
• Milk pad allergies.

When cracked nipples occur, they should be dealt with immediately by expressing 2 – 3 drops of breast milk, lathering on the nipple and areolar, and allowing them to air dry before clothing. For nipple fissures, apply oral T paste for 2 – 3 days to gradually heal the wound. You can breastfeed without wiping it out. If they are not healing, use medicated cream containing antifungal or antibacterial drugs and steroids. Always consult your doctor before applying these medications.

For further consultation regarding pregnancy and delivery,
contact the Pediatric Center, 12A Floor, Counter C - D (WEST Lift)
at 02-090-3138, from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm.