“Breastfeeding is the most natural thing in the world. Women have been doing it for millennia.”
I don’t know about you, but I naively imagined breastfeeding as this serene, effortless, easy flowing process that would just “happen.” What I failed to account for was the fact that all good things in life require a little, if not a lot, of work. Even when the breastfeeding process goes exactly as expected, it’s still a commitment of time, personal freedom and energy. After nine months, your body is still not your own again and you have to be conscious both of what you put into your body and in how your body is responding to the task. Waves of hormones, frustration, and unchecked emotions can become overwhelming during the process.
The great news though is that there is a world of help, support, and advice sitting at our fingertips these days! And believe me, support is key! As a breastfeeding mom, especially a solely breastfeeding mom, we have the tendency to feel isolated and blame ourselves for having some shortcoming that has resulted in every bump in the road that we experience on our nursing journey. We feel that because we are our child’s source of nutrition that we must do this alone, but that’s not the case! Whether it’s support from your parenting partner, family, friends, or even some understanding strangers online, it is vital to have support! It takes a village after all. A doula or lactation consultant as well as your OB/GYN and pediatrician can be an invaluable resource if you find yourself encountering technical issues as well. The more resources you have on your team, the easier and less daunting the process becomes.
That brings me to my next point, GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK! Remember that your well being is a crucial part of success when it comes to nursing. There will be bumps in the road, whether it be issues latching on, thrush, milk production, balancing your work-life schedules, etc. The important thing is to remember that you are not the “cause” of these little hurdles, you are not alone and that you are doing your very best. Give yourself room to learn this process. Walking is a natural process too, but as you will soon learn, it takes time and comes with it’s fair share of bumps and bruises. This isn’t the Matrix and these natural processes aren’t just loaded into your brain fully developed! So step back and remind yourself as often as necessary that you’ve got this.
Finally, just like your baby will develop at a different rate than the baby next door, so will your nursing journey. Sometimes that process looks drastically different from one mom to the next. Maybe you’ll need nipple guards, maybe you won’t. Maybe you’ll need hormonal assistance to aid in your milk production, maybe you won’t. Maybe you’ll need to pump exclusively, maybe you won’t. Maybe you will need to share milk or use a milk bank, maybe you won’t. Take some of the worry off your plate by not comparing yourself to other moms. Let you be you and remember that breastfeeding is definitely not a destination, it’s a journey. Don’t be afraid to embrace that journey, harrowing adventures and all!
Yes, breastfeeding is a natural process and yes, women have been doing it for millennia. That does not mean it’s always easy or carefree. However, like all the good things in life we work for, I will tell you it’s worth it. Not just for the benefits it provides for your baby, but for the journey and lessons you will learn as well!