I am happy to say that I have been successful in my attempt to exclusively breastfeed Anika. Aside from an ounce of formula milk on her fourth night (which I attribute to a moment of weakness because of exhaustion, lack of sleep, and sore nipples), she has had nothing but breast milk. We tried using the bottle with her even with pumped breast milk but even that I decided to give up and to just focus on direct feeding. It’s less hassle anyway.

Unfortunately, it leaves me with very little time away from her and no one can really help me out once she cries for milk. But I’m happy because she’s getting the best milk she could ever get and we’re not spending a cent for it.

I’m in this for the long haul, maybe for as long as I’ve breastfed Mateo which is two and a half years. Hopefully, Anika, my breasts, and my milk ducts are up for it as well.