How has breastfeeding made an impact on your relationship with your baby?
Having once led Milk Matters as the service head of the sorority, Mommy Gienah once thought breastfeeding would come naturally. But when it was her turn, she realized it’s something both the mother and baby have to learn together. The journey wasn’t easy, as she faced latching difficulties and even painful fissures. But through it all, she remained steadfast, knowing her baby needed her.
She describes the early mornings, when her baby feeds every three hours, as their most special moments. “It’s just the two of us, calm and quiet, like we’re in our own little bubble,” she says. Those moments remind her why the hard days are worth it.
During her maternity leave, she devoted herself fully to learning the rhythm of breastfeeding — adjusting, pumping every 3 to 5 hours, and finding a system that worked for them both. She also found comfort in a friend who gave birth around the same time, and together they supported each other through the challenges of early motherhood.
For Mommy Gienah, breastfeeding is more than just nourishment. It is a bond that deepens her connection with her baby every single day. “She learns how to feed from me, and I learn how to take care of myself to produce as much milk for her,” she says. “It’s difficult, but it’s the most rewarding thing. It’s something not everyone gets to experience.”
Were there any difficulties encountered during breastfeeding? If yes, what are these and how did you overcome them?
For Mommy Gienah, the early days of breastfeeding were far from easy. Recovering from a C-section while caring for a newborn meant dealing with pain, sleepless nights, and figuring out feeding rhythms from scratch. Still, she pushed through, counting diaper changes, trusting her baby’s cues, and reminding herself that “the more you stress, the less milk comes out.”
With the help of her husband, family, friends, and sisses, she learned to pace herself, seek help, and find comfort in fellow moms who reassured her that every journey is different. “You’re healing, figuring out who you are again, balancing your baby, your work, and yourself. But knowing your baby depends on you keeps you going.”
If you’d do anything differently when you first started breastfeeding, what would that be?
Looking back, Mommy Gienah wishes she hadn’t pressured herself so much. As a first-time mom, she compared her milk supply and progress with others online, thinking she wasn’t doing enough. “I was so stressed in the beginning,” she admits. “My baby was happy and healthy, but I was worrying for no reason.” Now, she realizes that every mother’s journey is unique and that stress only makes things harder. “If your headspace isn’t right, your baby feels it too. You have to relax, but also ask for help when you need it.”
What were your realizations during breastfeeding your child?
Through her experience, Mommy Gienah learned that there’s no such thing as a “perfect mom.” “You can be the perfect mom for your baby,” she says. She realized that while there’s so much research and advice out there, not everything will apply, and that it’s okay to make mistakes along the way. “You just learn as you go,” she shares. “Even as a doctor, there’s so much about taking care of a newborn that you only truly understand when you become a mom yourself.”
What advice or tips do you have for new moms considering breastfeeding?
Mommy Gienah encourages new moms to trust the process and find a supportive community. “Find your circle of people who can help — friends, family, or even colleagues who’ve gone through the same thing,” she says. She also reminds others not to equate being a good mom with self-sacrifice. “I used to think being a good mom meant thinking only about my baby. Now I know that taking care of myself means taking care of my child.”
Indeed, what matters most is love, patience, and the willingness to learn together with your baby, for it is what makes mommy and baby closer in every way.
