Walking the Talk: My Personal Breastfeeding Journey

By Ruth Fisseha, REACTS-IN Gender Specialist, World Vision Canada

As a REACTS-IN Gender Specialist, I have spent years promoting maternal nutrition and the importance of exclusive breastfeeding. I understood the science, the recommendations, and the lifelong benefits breastfeeding provides for both children and mothers. Before my son, Simcha, was born, I was determined to exclusively breastfeed him for the first six months. I believed that with enough knowledge and commitment, I could achieve that goal. 

Immediately after giving birth, the doctor placed my son on my chest. He latched well, and I felt an overwhelming sense of joy. I thought our breastfeeding journey had begun perfectly. 

Later that night, however, my son cried continuously, and a nurse told me he was probably still hungry. I explained that I had just breastfed him, but she replied, "He is a big boy. Your breast milk may not be enough, and it is better to give him infant formula." 

As a first-time mother, I immediately began questioning myself. 

When we returned home, I continued breastfeeding despite the physical pain and exhaustion. Although my son breastfed well, I constantly worried that I was not producing enough milk. Only two weeks after giving birth, our family had to move from Toronto to London, Ontario. My husband gently suggested postponing the move until I had recovered.  "No," I replied. "We waited so long for this home during my pregnancy. We can do it." 

Looking back, I realise I underestimated how much my body still needed rest. After moving in the middle of a snowy December, I quickly settled into daily life. I went shopping, completed paperwork, unpacked boxes, and tried to organise our new home. I felt productive, but I didn't realize that my body was paying the price.

Like many mothers, I believed eating well was enough. I didn't fully appreciate how essential rest was for successful breastfeeding. 

Gradually, my milk supply began to decline. I started buying formula to supplement my son's feeds, especially during the afternoons and evenings. I felt disappointed because exclusive breastfeeding had been my goal from the beginning. 

Then my elderly neighbour, whom I lovingly call my Canadian mother, noticed how tired I looked. She gently told me, "You need to eat well, but you also need to rest." 

I assured her that I was already eating healthy meals. She smiled and said, "Rest is just as important. Let go of stress. Sleep whenever you can. Your milk supply will improve." 

She also encouraged me to prepare traditional Ethiopian foods such as atmit and bulla, which are commonly enjoyed by breastfeeding mothers to support recovery and nutrition. 

I decided to follow her advice. Every morning I ate a nourishing breakfast, enjoyed Ethiopian foods, and then went back to bed while my husband cared for our son. He planned balanced meals, encouraged me to rest, and reminded me that my health mattered just as much as our baby's. 

Within days, I noticed an incredible difference. My breast milk supply increased significantly, and we were able to stop buying formula altogether. For the remainder of my breastfeeding journey, I focused less on my own weight and more on nourishing my body, knowing that everything I ate and drank became nourishment for my son. 

Today, Simcha is a healthy and energetic 20-month-old boy. 

Breastfeeding takes support
Looking back, I have learned that sometimes it is harder to live the messages we teach than to share them with others. 

My experience reminded me that breastfeeding is not simply a mother's responsibility or a matter of determination. It depends on support, rest, good nutrition, encouragement and a family that shares the responsibility. 

My journey also helped me better understand the challenges many mothers face. Too often, women return to busy lives before their bodies have healed. Many do not get enough rest, worry about gaining weight, experience stress, or believe that breast milk is not enough and that formula is an equivalent substitute. These pressures can make exclusive breastfeeding far more difficult than many people realise. 

This World Breastfeeding Week, I celebrate not only the science of breastfeeding but also the support systems that make breastfeeding possible. This year's theme, Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works, reminds us that successful breastfeeding depends on more than knowledge alone. It depends on the support systems that surround mothers every day.

Whether that support comes from a caring husband, a wise neighbour, skilled health workers, or community groups like the REACTS-IN Care Groups, strengthening what works means ensuring that no mother has to breastfeed alone.

Because when we support mothers, we nourish generations.

Read how REACTS-IN Care Groups are strengthening breastfeeding support for mothers in Kenya.