“After 13 Years, Graduate Na Ako!” Mom Shares Bittersweet Ending Of Breastfeeding Journey

Breastfeeding seems easy, to those who've never tried it. It’s often imagined as merely sitting down and feeding the baby. However, the reality of breastfeeding is far from just sitting down. It’s a journey on its own, with ups and downs and advantages and disadvantages.

That’s why Hieidie Mamauag, popularly known in social media as Mommy Hieds, compared the end of her 13-year breastfeeding journey to graduation.

She shared on Facebook, “After 13 years, graduate na ako!!! Grabe straight 13 years!!! Nagpapadede ako!!!” Mommy Hieds is a stay-at-home mom to four children: Niña, 13 years old, Afiara, 10 years old, Asher, 6 years old and Ava, 4 years old. 

Mommy Hieds said, “Dahil stay-at-home mom ako at mahirap ang buhay, pinili ko talagang mag breastfeed at hanggat gusto nila at may nakukuha pa silang milk sa akin, sige lang. Kaso nasasakto na kapag plan ko na awatin (wean), siya namang nabubuntis ako. Kaya back to zero ulit.”

“Pero napakalaking bagay na wala sa grocery list namin ang gatas dahil sobrang mahal. Nag-tandem feeding din ako sa dalawang bunso dahil medyo napaaga nasundan.”

RELATED: 'No Matter How Long Or Short, Breastfeeding Taught Me A Lot,' Real Stories Of Breastfeeding Moms

“At ngayon nga’y mag-aapat na taon na ang bunso ko, inawat ko na siya. Nakakalungkot din pala ano? Nakakamiss..”

“Pero parang nakalaya ako. Ako na ulit ito.. Ako naman ngayon.. Makakapag-push up bra na ako kapag lalabas ng bahay! Yeheyyy!!! Makakapag-kwentuhan na ako na walang dumedede at dumudukot sa dede ko. ”

Mommy Hiedie continued, “Akala ng iba, napakadali mag-breastfeed, pero ang totoo, nakaka drain ito. Parang inuubos ang enerhiya mo kahit nakaupo o nakahiga ka lang, habang iniisip mo yung naghihintay na tambak na trabaho sa’yo.. Nakakagutom din ano? Ang mahirap pa yung gutom ka tapos wala kang makain, tamang inom ng tubig na lang.”

“Kaya kudos sa mga padede mom na kagaya ko, hindi madali pero piniling bigyan ng nutrisyon ang kanilang mga babies! Salamat Panginoon sa biyaya mong gatas para sa aming mga anak.”

13 years of continuously breastfeeding four children with tandem feeding—that’s an accomplishment to be proud of!

Smart Parenting asked Mommy Hieds about her breastfeeding journey. “Kung ako po ang tatanungin, naku, mga mommy, magpadede po tayo,” Mommy Hieds said.

She also added that because of her continuous breastfeeding, they didn't need to budget for milk in their grocery list. “Ang advantage naman po, hindi kami gumastos sa milk. Kaya hindi ako maka-relate sa mahal daw magpagatas ng baby.” 

On tandem feeding: 'Yung dalawang bunso (youngest) ko, two and half year old, tapos may newborn ako. As in sabay. Na parang maiiyak ka na lang. Kasi bukod sa mabigat sila na kalong ko, parang kinukuha pa lahat ng energy ko.' —Mommy Hieds

She said, “Kung tig-2K ang gatas na bibilhin [monthly], tapos apat ang anak ko, ang mahal po nun.” All her children didn’t experience bottle-feeding and did not take formula milk. “Hindi po talaga. Sa akin lang talaga nag-dede. Tapos nag-solids po sila. Pero yung milk, hindi talaga. Ngayon na naawat ko na po sila, hindi kami gumastos sa milk.”

Additionally, breastfeeding also helped her children build stronger immune systems. “Hindi sila sakitin,” Mommy Hieds said.

“Nakatulong sa amin ang pinalibutan ko talaga ang bahay namin ng limang puno ng malunggay halos araw araw yan ang sabaw ko,” Mommy Hieds shared a ‘secret’ in having continuous milk supply.

Mommy Hieds also knows that breastfeeding is not a walk in the park. It’s full of sleepless nights with lots of back pain. It’s always shirts with stains and the smell of milk. It’s always dressing up with the easiest breastfeeding access in mind.

Her biggest challenge, throughout her breastfeeding journey, was her mobility. “Yung hindi makalabas ng matagal, or totally hindi makalabas. Kasi hindi sila mixed feeding. Talagang sa akin lang. Na minsan nakaka-frustrate na parang nakatali ka sa kanila.”

That’s why on her Facebook post, she said, “Parang nakalaya na ako.” It feels like a graduation! And with the 13 years, Mommy Hieds graduated with flying colors!

Another challenge for her was when she tandem-fed. She said, “Yung dalawang bunso ko, two and half year old, tapos may newborn ako. As in sabay. Na parang maiiyak ka na lang. Kasi bukod sa mabigat sila na kalong ko, parang kinukuha pa lahat ng energy ko. Sa gabi din pag nagigising ang isa, papatulugin tapos babaling naman ako sa kabila para padedein din.”

There’s nothing a mom won’t do, for the sake of her children.

Mommy Hieds has an encouragement to moms who want to pursue breastfeeding, “Unang una, sa hirap ng buhay ngayon, pilitin nilang i-breastfeed ang baby nila. Ang laking bagay na hindi kasali sa grocey list mo ang gatas na libo ang halaga. At pansin ko po sa mga anak ko, madalang po silang magkasakit.”

Want to know how to wean your child from breastfeeding gently? Read this article.