Would you agree that just like every baby, her mother is different from any other too! She has dealt with different situations, has a different perspective and a zillion experiences of trial and triumphs up her sleeves.
Breastfeeding being one of the most significant “Mom Jobs” tops the list of things to-be mums research about. But inspite of that, what your experience teaches you, no class, doctor or online article can. During my pregnancy, I had attended a pre natal class, I had a lot of friends who were new mums, and I’d constantly read about breastfeeding and YET When I became a mom, I felt naive.
So here is a list of things no one told me about breastfeeding and how I dealt with a few challenges when I met face with them.
#1 Exclusive breastfeeding is a thing
I knew I’d breastfeed my baby and I knew I’d do it for as long as I can. But I learnt exclusive breastfeeding is a thing only after my baby was a day old. But once I heard of the term and benefits of it, I knew I had it give it a shot with all my heart. A little encouragement, truck load of persistence and a bucket full of tears later we got a hang of it and are still breastfeeding at three
#2 Breastfeeding hurts
You can only know what that pain is like, when you experience it. The correct latch does not come naturally and instantly sometimes. It may take a few days or even weeks. While most lactation experts say breastfeeding shouldn’t ideally hurt, I was in shock when I experienced chapped nipples, milk blisters and nipple soreness.
The one way to deal with the pain is to express milk feeds and give the boobs a break. The other way is to endure that pain, persevere and continue with what you are doing. But yes! If the discomfort persists for more than a few days, taking expert advice would be the best thing to do.
#3 Most moms have a lazy breast
How I wish I had known this much earlier. I always felt comfortable feeding with one breast because of an instinct that the other one was underperforming. However that does not mean you aren’t making enough food for your baby. It can be a tad annoying for the mom and her baby but it is absolutely normal and you’d get through with one breast keeping up.
#4 Babies don’t just breastfeed when they are hungry
They breastfeed not only to satiate their hunger but to quench their thirst, feel secure, for comfort or just like that. There could be days when your baby may root for you within 30 minutes of a feeding session.
The only way to deal with it is to remind yourself that it is a phase and it’s a beautiful one.
#5 Nursing covers are a scam
When I decided to exclusively breastfeed my son, nursing in public felt like a cake walk because of all the fancy and pretty looking nursing covers available online. But when you get on to using them, you realise, they only make the baby and the mother more uncomfortable.
Had I known this before I would have saved myself some serious money I wasted on buying nursing covers.
#6 Some Quite a few times people may get weird about breastfeeding
Women have breasts for a reason and that reason is to breastfeed! It is the most natural thing in the world but don’t be surprised if you are judged, Stared at, made to feel uncomfortable or worst asked to stop when breastfeeding in public.
When I met face with this fact, I learnt to give two hoots about people who found this act weird or scandalous.
#7 You won’t be able to get much done for a while
So no one must have told you that you can’t really get much done when you are breastfeeding. I mean not even scroll through your phone while you are at it.
However, the fact is you can actually do a lot. what you can do is feel those silky cheeks, run your fingers through those velvety strands of hair, stare back into those beautiful eyes gazing at you, and express gratitude for what a bliss motherhood is.
It took me a while to understand that no one really cares if my house is clean or not. I can do without a workout for a few days. Life is pretty sweet even when it’s a mess.
#8 You will constantly wonder if you are making enough for your baby
Even if your breasts are leaking, you will still be succumbed by thoughts of self doubt. I guess it takes a mother to be able to comprehend that feeling of insecurity. Also because you cannot measure how much your baby has had adds to the doubt.
At one point in my breastfeeding journey I was totally convinced that I wasn’t producing enough because my breasts had stopped leaking. The experts then explained that my body and my baby are in sync with each other and so I produce just as much as he needs. I needed that shift in thought to gain the confidence back.
#9 Breastfeeding may or may not burn calories
This article was suppose to have only the aforementioned eight points and then I thought of how disheartened my breastfeeding friends were because it did not help them loose any weight.
You must have heard breastfeeding helps you loose those extra pounds faster. Well! Not necessarily so. Hence, the best thing to do as a new mum is to focus on your baby and your health.
This was my list of things I learnt as a breastfeeding mom that no one really told me about beforehand. But the idea behind penning it down is to give you a more realistic picture of what breastfeeding is like.
No matter what the struggles have been like breastfeeding is a unique experience that you wouldn’t want to exchange for anything else.
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