08/02/2022
August is Breastfeeding Awareness Month and while we celebrate the amazing labor of love that is breastfeeding, I want to give some special love to the mamas who can’t or choose not to breastfeed.
As I’ve shared, my breastfeeding was the COMPLETE opposite of what I expected it to be. I had planned to nurse for at least a year, was excited to challenge norms and do it in public, and was looking forward to all the snuggles.
REALITY: I had to switch to exclusively pumping at 2mo postpartum, pumped all over the United States and often in public, and while I couldn’t snuggle Oliver while I pumped and being unable to care for him in those moments broke my heart, I snuggled him hardcore as soon as I was done.
Feeding your baby is complicated no matter what. Every single method (including tube, syringe, cup, and bottle feeding) of feeding your baby breastmilk and/or formula has its challenges.
But for those mamas like me who had to mourn a beautiful breastfeeding journey you wanted but that never happened, I’m with you. For the mamas like me who see a mom blissfully nursing her baby and it was never smooth for you, I’m sending you hugs. For those mamas who chose not to breastfeed for whatever reason yet unfairly get judged, I’m sending you love.
No matter how you got pregnant, no matter if you or someone else carried baby, no matter how you gave birth, no matter how you fed baby, YOU are a magical mama. 💗
And if you want to commiserate about EP life, I’m always down 😘