Breatfeeding is hard to do

I thought that when I made the decision to breastfeed my child, milk would just fly out of them.  I’d pump and dump as they say and that would be the end of it.

Forget about the term latching on and engorgement, I have never in my life had heard those terms.  I thought that every woman and newborn automatically know how to nurse.

The media makes it seem so easy.  I was wrong, wrong, wrong!  It’s a hard task my friend.  There are problems with the latch.  You get raw nips, engorgement, and swollen, painful breast.  Not to mention clogged milk ducts on occasion. It’s hard work to feed that little hungry baby.

And! Let’s touch on the subject of introducing a bottle! Man, those nurses and doctors make you feel like you’re the worse mom in the universe.  Forget crack mom, smoking and doing lines while they’re pregnant.  No! You’re far worse because you want to give you baby a bottle and pacifier.  You’re the devil.  Evil, evil mom! 

I should have listened to my mother because my son hates bottles!!!!! He hates pacifiers! He only wants me!   He took a bottle a few times and that was the last of that. 

Why do I have this fancy breast pump?

My son is nearing 7 months.  The lactation consultant suggested I start introducing a Sippy cup and forget about the bottle altogether.  The cup wars have begun. He looks at it, takes it and try’s drink from it.  It mostly spills it all over himself.  But at least he tries.

My son is a boob man! Straight up!  But he’s healthy, He’s striving and growing.

The bond that we’re building is unbreakable.  Its’ all worth it when he looks up at me.   It that special moment that can never be understood by anyone else.

It’s mommy and baby time.  Even at 4 am.  It’s beautiful.

There should be more information on breastfeeding!  I’m not talking about the benefits and all that. We already know the benefits.  We want to know the truth.  Women need to now about the blood, sweat and tears that goes into breastfeeding!

We only see pictures and videos of women nursing her baby with a smile on her face and the baby correctly latched on.  They don’t show the woman that’s crying because her milk hasn’t come.  She’s in tears because it hurts so much that you have to take Tylenol, apply warm compresses and wants to cut off her right breast because it hurts that bad!

That woman was me.

Eventually we got it! We had some bumps I the road but I think that we finally have it down.

I hope that I you do choose breastfeeding you baby that you’re greatly informed about the details that people forget to talk about.   I’m here to tell you that it gets better. 

Also, don’t feel like you can’t give your baby a bottle. My suggestion is to do it.  I wish I would have.  Your boobs will thank you if you ever have a clogged milk duct. 

Some women can’t produce enough milk and sometimes their bodies just can’t make it happen.

Don’t worry.  You’re not a bad mother.  You’re a beautiful mother and you shouldn’t feel guilty. And you shouldn’t let anyone tell you different.  Many times, people like to judge. But until you’re in that seat you shouldn’t say anything. 

Bye for now!!!

Breast pumping in the air;

Mayra