My Journey to Motherhood
Nona D. Andaya-Castillo
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (2004-2024)
I was a bottle-fed baby, so when I learned that I was pregnant, I eagerly read books on natural birthing and breastfeeding. Having experienced numerous illnesses and hospitalizations since childhood, I was determined to breastfeed my baby, fully aware of its health benefits.
In 1987, while working as a lay missionary, I became pregnant. I considered myself lucky that my pregnancy coincided with that period, as living in the provinces meant our meals were primarily made up of fruits and vegetables. My work and pregnancy prompted a lifestyle change. I conquered my sweet tooth, stopped drinking soft drinks and coffee, and switched from eating junk food to healthier meals and snacks. My husband and I also did a lot of swimming and walking, and my pregnancy was smooth and problem-free.
My only regret was that my husband wasn’t around when I gave birth. I went into labor two weeks earlier than expected, and he was still out of town. Fortunately, I was fully prepared for the birthing process.
At around midnight, I went to the toilet and noticed a slightly red mucus plug—a sign that my cervix was open and labor was near. I couldn’t contain my excitement but tried to sleep while paying attention to the contractions. The next morning, I excitedly told my in-laws I was about to give birth. They could hardly believe it, especially with the big smile on my face!
I went to the hospital with my aunt, who lived nearby. The nurses assisting me thought I was a nurse myself because I kept asking questions during the internal exams, such as “How many centimeters? What station?” During contractions, I felt elated—there was no pain! I smiled through each contraction, breathing confidently.
In the delivery room, I requested the nurse not to touch me so I could focus on the contractions. After some time, the head of the hospital came in and did an internal exam, which was the first time I felt pain. He told me that an episiotomy was necessary, and it would need to be longer than usual to allow the baby to pass through. After several pushes, my daughter, Belle, was born.
Belle weighed 6 pounds, and her umbilical cord was neatly wrapped around her neck. The doctor expertly unwound it and handed her to the nurse, who cut the remaining cord. She was taken to the nursery after the usual procedures. I wanted to breastfeed her immediately, but I was told I couldn't enter the nursery and couldn’t breastfeed her. Instead, Belle was given formula. Unaware of my breastfeeding rights, I followed the hospital’s policy until the third day when my breasts became painfully engorged. I asked the nurses and doctors to allow me to breastfeed to relieve the pressure. After several requests, they finally agreed.
Holding my baby for the first time, I marveled at her eyes and tiny fingers and toes. She had been inside me for nine months, and now, she was in my arms. It was frustrating, though, that I hadn’t been allowed to hold her for the first two days. After breastfeeding her for a while, I was told to return to my room, and she was taken back to the nursery. Though I felt relieved, the engorgement returned after an hour or so. A nurse gave me pain relievers, and the swelling subsided, allowing me to sleep.
The next day, my baby and I went home with my aunt and father-in-law, and a hot meal prepared by my mother-in-law was waiting for us. It was a joyful homecoming, and I thought I could finally breastfeed as I had read about in the books. I tried to breastfeed Isabelle immediately to make up for the lost time. But soon, I noticed that my breasts weren’t getting engorged anymore. When I squeezed them, only a few drops of milk came out, and I thought my milk had dried up. This realization was devastating since I had desperately wanted to breastfeed. My husband arrived that night and reassured me that everything would be fine, though he didn’t know much about breastfeeding to help me.
For the next 15 days, I bottle-fed my baby. With the hormonal changes and lack of breastfeeding, postpartum blues set in, and I found myself crying often, feeling guilty for not being able to breastfeed. Motherhood, which had seemed so exciting, now overwhelmed and frightened me.
A friend suggested I contact a breastfeeding support group. I initially thought I was just looking for the best formula, but after reading the labels, I felt confused about which one to choose. That’s when I connected with Ines Fernandez, the Executive Director of Arugaan. She reassured me that I still had breast milk and encouraged me to return to breastfeeding. She also reminded me that there’s no milk as good as a mother’s.
By Isabelle’s 15th day, she was exclusively breastfeeding. I threw away all the bottles and formula and began the process of relactation. That night, Isabelle slept in the family bed, as encouraged by Ines, and I had a restful night while breastfeeding. Thankfully, Isabelle had no nipple confusion and latched on eagerly. Together, we worked hard to establish a solid milk supply.
At first, I was thrilled to exclusively breastfeed my child. However, she only urinated twice that night, far fewer than when she was bottle-fed. I became worried that she wasn’t getting enough milk, but Ines reassured me that we were doing fine. She explained that cow’s milk is full of artificial components that are too heavy for a baby’s immature digestive system.
The next challenge was sore nipples. Isabelle nursed for long periods, and it was painful each time she latched on. My strong commitment to breastfeeding kept me going. Looking back, I realize that my latch and positioning were incorrect, but my determination helped me persevere. In 1996, I became a breastfeeding counselor, and in 2004, I became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant.
My mother-in-law, who had breastfed her two sons, was a tremendous support. She helped with household chores at first and later hired a helper. She also cooked delicious vegetable soups for me. My husband provided lots of encouragement. However, my mother and aunts were concerned about Isabelle’s initial weight loss and slow weight gain and advised me to bottle-feed. One of my aunts even remarked that my small breasts surely didn’t produce enough milk! Despite their concerns, Isabelle remained an alert, perceptive, and active baby. By her fourth month, her weight and appearance improved, and we became a happy breastfeeding duo.
Although I had planned to return to work when Isabelle was four months old, I decided to stay home and breastfeed her until she was one and a half years old. At that point, I thought my milk supply had dwindled because my breasts had returned to their pre-pregnancy size. However, when I went to a conference and was away from home for a week, I was surprised to find that I still had plenty of milk. I became engorged, and even had a fever during that week.
My breastfeeding journey didn’t end there. During trips, I left Isabelle with my mother-in-law, and when I returned, I was surprised to find that my mother-in-law had been breastfeeding my daughter! At the time, my mother-in-law was 47 years old, and her youngest son was 27. I was grateful to God for giving Isabelle another chance to breastfeed. Isabelle continued breastfeeding from my mother-in-law for another year.
Now that Isabelle is 26, she is rarely sick and has never had a bout of diarrhea. She is also very intelligent—at the age of five, she could read the Bible. Raising a teenager is challenging, but I believe breastfeeding established a bond between us that has helped us navigate this stage of life. I am deeply thankful that, despite all the challenges, I was able to breastfeed my daughter. She is very close to her father, my mother-in-law, and me.
My experience inspired me to help other mothers breastfeed and actively work to promote, support, and protect breastfeeding. While my volunteer work in maternal and child health didn’t provide a regular income, it gave me great fulfillment as I helped underprivileged communities and honed my skills in training, adult education, and public speaking. It also gave me the chance to travel extensively and work with people from diverse cultures.
In 2004, I earned international accreditation and became one of only three Filipinas to be recognized as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. It was the culmination of 10 years of helping mothers nurture their babies. The greatest reward in this profession is seeing a baby suckling at their mother's breast with deep satisfaction—reminding me of how nature nurtures us all.
I’ve adjusted some sections for clarity, punctuation, and flow, but the essence of your beautiful story remains intact.
Nona D. Andaya-Castillo
International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (2004-2024)
I was a bottle-fed baby, so when I learned that I was pregnant, I eagerly read books on natural birthing and breastfeeding. Having experienced numerous illnesses and hospitalizations since childhood, I was determined to breastfeed my baby, fully aware of its health benefits.
In 1987, while working as a lay missionary, I became pregnant. I considered myself lucky that my pregnancy coincided with that period, as living in the provinces meant our meals were primarily made up of fruits and vegetables. My work and pregnancy prompted a lifestyle change. I conquered my sweet tooth, stopped drinking soft drinks and coffee, and switched from eating junk food to healthier meals and snacks. My husband and I also did a lot of swimming and walking, and my pregnancy was smooth and problem-free.
My only regret was that my husband wasn’t around when I gave birth. I went into labor two weeks earlier than expected, and he was still out of town. Fortunately, I was fully prepared for the birthing process.
At around midnight, I went to the toilet and noticed a slightly red mucus plug—a sign that my cervix was open and labor was near. I couldn’t contain my excitement but tried to sleep while paying attention to the contractions. The next morning, I excitedly told my in-laws I was about to give birth. They could hardly believe it, especially with the big smile on my face!
I went to the hospital with my aunt, who lived nearby. The nurses assisting me thought I was a nurse myself because I kept asking questions during the internal exams, such as “How many centimeters? What station?” During contractions, I felt elated—there was no pain! I smiled through each contraction, breathing confidently.
In the delivery room, I requested the nurse not to touch me so I could focus on the contractions. After some time, the head of the hospital came in and did an internal exam, which was the first time I felt pain. He told me that an episiotomy was necessary, and it would need to be longer than usual to allow the baby to pass through. After several pushes, my daughter, Belle, was born.
Belle weighed 6 pounds, and her umbilical cord was neatly wrapped around her neck. The doctor expertly unwound it and handed her to the nurse, who cut the remaining cord. She was taken to the nursery after the usual procedures. I wanted to breastfeed her immediately, but I was told I couldn't enter the nursery and couldn’t breastfeed her. Instead, Belle was given formula. Unaware of my breastfeeding rights, I followed the hospital’s policy until the third day when my breasts became painfully engorged. I asked the nurses and doctors to allow me to breastfeed to relieve the pressure. After several requests, they finally agreed.
Holding my baby for the first time, I marveled at her eyes and tiny fingers and toes. She had been inside me for nine months, and now, she was in my arms. It was frustrating, though, that I hadn’t been allowed to hold her for the first two days. After breastfeeding her for a while, I was told to return to my room, and she was taken back to the nursery. Though I felt relieved, the engorgement returned after an hour or so. A nurse gave me pain relievers, and the swelling subsided, allowing me to sleep.
The next day, my baby and I went home with my aunt and father-in-law, and a hot meal prepared by my mother-in-law was waiting for us. It was a joyful homecoming, and I thought I could finally breastfeed as I had read about in the books. I tried to breastfeed Isabelle immediately to make up for the lost time. But soon, I noticed that my breasts weren’t getting engorged anymore. When I squeezed them, only a few drops of milk came out, and I thought my milk had dried up. This realization was devastating since I had desperately wanted to breastfeed. My husband arrived that night and reassured me that everything would be fine, though he didn’t know much about breastfeeding to help me.
For the next 15 days, I bottle-fed my baby. With the hormonal changes and lack of breastfeeding, postpartum blues set in, and I found myself crying often, feeling guilty for not being able to breastfeed. Motherhood, which had seemed so exciting, now overwhelmed and frightened me.
A friend suggested I contact a breastfeeding support group. I initially thought I was just looking for the best formula, but after reading the labels, I felt confused about which one to choose. That’s when I connected with Ines Fernandez, the Executive Director of Arugaan. She reassured me that I still had breast milk and encouraged me to return to breastfeeding. She also reminded me that there’s no milk as good as a mother’s.
By Isabelle’s 15th day, she was exclusively breastfeeding. I threw away all the bottles and formula and began the process of relactation. That night, Isabelle slept in the family bed, as encouraged by Ines, and I had a restful night while breastfeeding. Thankfully, Isabelle had no nipple confusion and latched on eagerly. Together, we worked hard to establish a solid milk supply.
At first, I was thrilled to exclusively breastfeed my child. However, she only urinated twice that night, far fewer than when she was bottle-fed. I became worried that she wasn’t getting enough milk, but Ines reassured me that we were doing fine. She explained that cow’s milk is full of artificial components that are too heavy for a baby’s immature digestive system.
The next challenge was sore nipples. Isabelle nursed for long periods, and it was painful each time she latched on. My strong commitment to breastfeeding kept me going. Looking back, I realize that my latch and positioning were incorrect, but my determination helped me persevere. In 1996, I became a breastfeeding counselor, and in 2004, I became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant.
My mother-in-law, who had breastfed her two sons, was a tremendous support. She helped with household chores at first and later hired a helper. She also cooked delicious vegetable soups for me. My husband provided lots of encouragement. However, my mother and aunts were concerned about Isabelle’s initial weight loss and slow weight gain and advised me to bottle-feed. One of my aunts even remarked that my small breasts surely didn’t produce enough milk! Despite their concerns, Isabelle remained an alert, perceptive, and active baby. By her fourth month, her weight and appearance improved, and we became a happy breastfeeding duo.
Although I had planned to return to work when Isabelle was four months old, I decided to stay home and breastfeed her until she was one and a half years old. At that point, I thought my milk supply had dwindled because my breasts had returned to their pre-pregnancy size. However, when I went to a conference and was away from home for a week, I was surprised to find that I still had plenty of milk. I became engorged, and even had a fever during that week.
My breastfeeding journey didn’t end there. During trips, I left Isabelle with my mother-in-law, and when I returned, I was surprised to find that my mother-in-law had been breastfeeding my daughter! At the time, my mother-in-law was 47 years old, and her youngest son was 27. I was grateful to God for giving Isabelle another chance to breastfeed. Isabelle continued breastfeeding from my mother-in-law for another year.
Now that Isabelle is 26, she is rarely sick and has never had a bout of diarrhea. She is also very intelligent—at the age of five, she could read the Bible. Raising a teenager is challenging, but I believe breastfeeding established a bond between us that has helped us navigate this stage of life. I am deeply thankful that, despite all the challenges, I was able to breastfeed my daughter. She is very close to her father, my mother-in-law, and me.
My experience inspired me to help other mothers breastfeed and actively work to promote, support, and protect breastfeeding. While my volunteer work in maternal and child health didn’t provide a regular income, it gave me great fulfillment as I helped underprivileged communities and honed my skills in training, adult education, and public speaking. It also gave me the chance to travel extensively and work with people from diverse cultures.
In 2004, I earned international accreditation and became one of only three Filipinas to be recognized as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. It was the culmination of 10 years of helping mothers nurture their babies. The greatest reward in this profession is seeing a baby suckling at their mother's breast with deep satisfaction—reminding me of how nature nurtures us all.
I’ve adjusted some sections for clarity, punctuation, and flow, but the essence of your beautiful story remains intact.
