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A former Bahrain resident has curated an anthology to highlight the immense challenges faced by breastfeeding mothers and also bust the myths, misinformation and misconceptions around the process.
Dilraz Kunnummal’s book Drops of Nurture: True Stories of Love, Resilience & Community records the breastfeeding journeys of 30 mothers, their ups and downs and above all, strengths and vulnerabilities.
Born and raised on the island, Dilraz studied at the Indian School Bahrain. In 2014, she moved to Qatar, where she had both her children, but continues to visit the Kingdom as her parents still live here.
After the birth of her first child, she started a blog, ‘Mommy Dil’, where she shared her journey as a mum. In 2020, she released her first children’s book, See You Soon, a 15-page illustrated story for mothers and their toddlers dealing with separation anxiety.
“I resumed work when my first-born was just two months old, and later, when my younger one was four months,” Dilraz, a communications manager in a university in Qatar, told GulfWeekly.
“However, I knew that I absolutely wanted to continue to exclusively breastfeed (as opposed to resorting to formula or other substitutes for) my children. I pumped for about a year and a half for each of them, and it definitely was a momentous journey filled with so much heartbreak and tears, but also an immense sense of achievement.”
Drops of Nurture reassures parents who choose to breastfeed that they’re not alone in their journey, regardless of the challenges they might be facing.
The idea of the book is not to say which path – breastfeeding or formula – is correct. It simply aims to support mothers who opt for breastfeeding by sharing several empowering and educating stories from women around the world, including Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland and India. While the contributors are predominantly Indian, their experiences have universal appeal.
“Breastfeeding is a learned skill, and mothers need support to get there. Even when it looks like you’ve mastered it, there might be new challenges. If breastfeeding is what your choice is, then you deserve access to support and information. That’s what inspired me to take up this project,” Dilraz added.
Bahrain resident and mother of two boys Parvathi Ramanandan, who has also contributed to the anthology, said she felt the need to share her journey as ‘there is so little talk about the many issues that mothers face’.
“I hope the stories would help instil confidence in other women who might be going through the same,” she said.
Like many first-time mums, Parvathi, who lives in Old Juffair, started from a blank slate. In the days leading up to the birth of her firstborn, she gathered information through reading and online support communities.
“By the time my first son came along, I was aware of the intricacies and challenges of breastfeeding,” she said, adding that she had a smooth journey for three and half years.
“After that, I developed an intense aversion to breastfeeding, which, until then, was a proud bonding experience with my son.
“It was extremely difficult to process my emotions, which were triggered during feeding. I never overcame the feeling, but learned to work around it until my son weaned off on his own. Through my story, I want parents to know that an aversion to nursing is normal and can strike at any point during the breastfeeding journey. But also, that it’s manageable and, in many cases, can be overcome.”
Drops of Nurture highlights that while breastfeeding is a natural process, it’s not easy, even for women who have a smooth experience. It sparks an important conversation around the hurdles nursing mothers face and the support they require.
“Efforts need to be made as a community to normalise breastfeeding, especially in public places,” said Parvathi.
“We need to make people aware that it takes a huge amount of emotional and physical stamina and dedication from the mother. However, with the right support system, it’s possible.”
Indeed, it takes a village to raise a child.
The book, released this month, is available on Amazon, Flipkart and Pothi.
For details, follow @mommydil on Instagram.
