Dear Brand-New Breastfeeding Mama,
I’m not going to give you fluff about how magical breastfeeding is. I’m also not going to try to convince you to keep trying, if that’s not what’s best for you and your baby. I’m not going to guilt you, nor shame you, nor give you a biology lesson.
I don’t know you, nor am I your doctor, and I don’t presume to know what is possible for you. What I will do is say that it’s okay to acknowledge whatever your truth is and honor your experience, no matter what that is.
My truth is that while it can be really freaking hard, I’m so glad I have been able to breastfeed my babies.
For me, especially in the beginning, it can be painful. Breastfeeding can be inconvenient and expensive, despite what I was told. It seems to require many unnatural products to support a natural phenomenon.
It can be draining to be the single source of food and comfort when some days I wasn’t fed nor comforted. It can be mentally and physically grueling.
The nights seem to sulk on in slow motion. For me, in the early days, I sometimes felt literally trapped underneath a leeching tiny human.
It is okay, if like me, breastfeeding feels burdensome sometimes. It’s okay if you don’t love every minute. It’s okay to acknowledge that you’d rather be sleeping, or bathing, or eating, or whatever else you want to do.
And it’s also okay to feel the good stuff, too.
I’m learning it’s okay to be proud of my determination while knowing I’m lucky my body and my babies figured it out.
It’s okay to feel special that you are the only person on the planet who will have this bond with your baby.
It’s okay to look down at your baby, hold their tiny, little hand and revel in knowing only you have that view.
