Breast Feeding is NOT easy!

I repeat - breast feeding is NOT easy!

When we found out we were pregnant I began researching the benefits and disadvantages of both breast feeding and formula feeding.  I read countless articles and skimmed what felt like hundreds of websites.  They all said the same thing (even the formula company websites) Breast milk is Best.  So, I decided that I would select a formula to be my back-up and I would give breast feeding my best effort but would take it one day at a time and not be upset with myself if it simply wasn't an option.

Well, I am proud to say that I have made it 3.5 months and things continue to go well despite my being back at work full time.

Breastfeeding is not easy.  It it physically and emotionally demanding.  Conor likes to nurse to sleep which means I have to be home every night to put him to bed (not that I mind too much but it means I am currently the only one who can put him to sleep which means Dad misses out on that time with him).  Conor is still so young that he likes to comfort nurse when he is scared, not feeling well, growing, or overwhelmed by his surroundings (this is all normal behavior for a baby of his age that is breastfed) so that once again leaves things up to me.  He will take a binkie for a little bit of that time so Dad does get to participate in the soothing but in the end Conor wants his mom. 

Also, while Conor is taking a bottle each bottle requires pumping.  I dislike pumping with a passion but I am willing to do it for Conor.  I have managed to replace every bottle that Conor has taken while I have been working despite my unpredictable schedule and the lack of a specific place to pump or allocated break times.  This makes me so proud of myself and I am even more hopeful that I can continue to provide Conor with milk until his first birthday.  If you are out and about and offer a bottle - you have to be prepared to pump either shortly before going out, while you are out (so you might as well just nurse to save the time), or right when you get home so that you don't overflow or - if done too often - damage your supply.  Breastfeeding is not easy.

Remembering to drink enough water and eat the extra 300 calories a day is not always easy!  Having breasts that change sizes throughout the day and therefore need extra support at different times is not easy and can be frustrating.  Breast feeding isn't always easy.

Currently our freezer is full of frozen milk to be used when I am not home and can be used when he turns 6 months old to make baby food.  As so many ladies in my support group (mommy class) have milk supply issues (for a variety of reasons) I am very thankful for the abundant supply that I have and my ability to maintain this supply even with the stress of working, running the business, and keeping up with Conor/Hunter and Josh!

Breastfeeding is not easy but it has been made easier for me by having a large group of women, whom I now call friends, who support my decision and offer great advice.  Access to a lactation consultant on a weekly basis has also made the transition to work much easier and helped to ease the pain of feeding Conor by identifying his tongue-tie and recommending an ENT to snip it.

Breastfeeding is not easy - we have had some stumbles along the way but, for me, it was worth sticking it out.  When I look at my little 14.5lb 3.5 month old baby and I know I provided him the nutrients to grow him that big it makes me proud.

I would never shame a woman for choosing not to breast feed her baby (many people who I call friends have not) I would encourage every woman I know to at least try.  But remember, it's not easy so expect there to be struggles because, according to the lactation consultant, many women give up or fail because they expected it to be easy and were too easily frustrated when it was challenging.

Why did I write this post?  Because everything else I read seemed to send me the message that breastfeeding was natural and easy.  The writing seemed to want to shame women that didn't breastfeed or make them feel guilty and that is not ok.  So - my lady friends out there reading this know this:  breastfeeding is natural and it is rewarding and does create an amazing bond between you and your child but IT IS NOT EASY.  This, of course, does not mean it is the most difficult thing in the world to do but just expect there to be bumps in the road or to have to put a bit more effort into it in the beginning than you expected. 

But, it does get easier with time and I am proud to say I think Conor and I have reached that point where it is easy and natural and entirely rewarding!