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Breastfeeding

And What They Don't Tell You

By Amanda VadeboncoeurPublished 5 years ago 3 min read
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So you're about to have a baby. CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Time to make some decisions! Picking names, decorating the nursery, buying clothes, furniture, toys, and car seats. You will carefully weigh each decision you have to make because you only want the best for your new bundle of joy. You also need to decide how you will be feeding your baby. The decision on how to feed that baby is up to you. Breastfeeding or formula?

Breastfeeding is what doctors will recommend and you may think it can't be that hard... Right? Breastfeeding is the magical time for mother-baby bonding. The quiet alone time, the special looks and skin to skin touch, the private time, and the one thing ONLY you as a mom can do for your baby. Your special gift to your baby as mom is providing everything your baby needs to grow and thrive every time you nurse. Spending hours bonding, talking, singing to your baby as you feed them. Sounds great right? What nobody told you is...

Breastfeeding can be frustrating, painful, and extremely difficult.

Breastfeeding doesn't always work!

You may have inverted nipples and need to use a nipple shield. They are messy. They make it difficult to nurse in public.

Your baby may have a tongue or lip tie that needs to be fixed so they can latch.

There are people who can help!!! There are certified lactation consultants who can help figure out what's happening to your body! And why your baby won't latch!

Sometimes breastfeeding looks like hours of pumping, then bottle feeding because your baby just won't latch.

Sometimes your body just can't produce enough milk and you will have to supplement.

You may get mastitis (infection in your breast), it's treatable thankfully but it hurts!

Clogged milk ducts are a thing. They are painful and if not fixed can turn into mastitis.

Sometimes you will be willing to try anything to get your supply up and spend a lot of money doing so. It may work, and it may not.

You will spend hours and hours feeding and it gets lonely.

You will be exhausted.

You will cry.

You will rejoice on the good days, and want to quit on the difficult days.

Breastfeeding means pumping to ensure baby is fed when you can't be there. It means finding a quiet, sanitary, and comfortable space at WORK.

How long do you keep doing it? Six months? A year? More??? It's completely up to you!

It is messy!

You will leak!

When your baby stretches a feeding, you will leak! When your baby cries, you will leak! When you miss a feeding, you will leak!!!! When someone else's baby cries, you will leak!!!

Your clothes will smell like sour milk. You get used to it.

Breastfeeding can be tedious and overwhelming.

Baby will want your boob for food and comfort, and they will want it all hours, day and night.

Baby will eventually just start trying to get your boob out on their own.

Baby will pull your nipple in ways you never knew it could go. (It can't but it will!)

Baby will do gymnastics while nursing.

Baby will get distracted and forget to eat. You will have to find a quiet place away from all distraction, including people.

You WILL get bitten eventually, it will hurt! You will have to decide if that pain is worth it. Baby can be taught not to bite, and it isn't that difficult to do!

Long days and longer nights, cluster feeding, and nursing strike together. You and your baby will figure out together what works for you and what doesn't. Breastfeeding is hard. Breastfeeding is beautiful. Breastfeeding isn't for everyone. Breastfeeding is YOUR choice. Just remember, a fed baby is best. Do what's best for you and your baby.

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About the Creator

Amanda Vadeboncoeur

I am a 32 year old single mother. I work a full time job to support myself and my daughter. I love writing so in my free time ( which is almost none) that's what I do!!

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