Breastfeeding

Most of us have every intention of breastfeeding. Let's take a blast to the past 11 months ago

I intended to breastfeed my baby until he was at least 6 months old. I am pro breastfeeding HOWEVER I am totally in tune and understand that many moms can't. For whatever the reason. Be it work,( it's hard to pump at work.) They might have health issues, or in my case, my son had a great latch, but he just wasn't sucking strong enough to get the milk going or more of it. (I did not own an automatic pump I had a hand held. OH THE TEDIOUS WORK.)

I was so upset. Not just from that ordeal but  all the breastfeeding sites I'd been too, told you that it was best, and tried to offer instructions on how to do it, or what to do if your nipples get sore, BUT they didn't tell me that some babies want to eat every 1.5 hours (not 2-3 hours like formula fed) and when they hit a growth spurt which is often in the first 6 months, they eat every 30 to 40 minutes. That means YES they are basically attached to you all the time during the growth spurts.

I was so sleep deprived I don't to this day  remember all the details of the first 3 months. I do remember how much of a failure I thought I was due to never mastering breastfeeding. My lactation consultant told me that it wasn't me, sometimes it just happens.

SO why the long winded post? Because of the back lash many mothers get when they "fail" at breastfeeding. Those Mothers that haven't had issues with it, and have mastered it have a tendency at times to look down on those that don't breastfeed or had to give it up.Like me, some moms don't know that you can buy an automatic pump and still get the baby breastmilk. I to this day wish it would have worked for me, but I know that it wasn't lack of trying, it was lack of information. Lil boy didn't have strong suction. I didn't even think that was possible.

If and when I decide to have another baby, I'll try it again and this time I'll have a good automatic pump. (Each baby is different so you know this time around it won't even BE an issue.Pfft figures)

Mommie Magic only goes so far :) sometimes we have the best of intentions but things just don't work out. It doesn't make you a failure. You're baby will still get good nutrition from formula. If you can get the colostrum to the baby the first two days that's GREAT! That gives the baby the antibodies. So don't stress over it. Breastfeeding is difficult and it's time consuming, no doubt about it, You'll have days where you feel chained to your bed. Remember it doesn't last forever.

Be good to yourself. When the baby first comes home its not a time to brow beat yourself. You're human and you're learning. The world won't stop if you decide to formula feed. I do encourage you to try breastfeeding.

Do what's best for you and the baby,and don't worry about what other people think. 

If you do good for yourself your baby automatically benefits.