Disclosure :: This post is part of a series for World Breastfeeding Week and is sponsored by Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s & Children’s Hospital.
Soaking It All In
Time has flashed before my eyes and the tiny newborn who was learning to latch and had to be so supported to breastfeed has disappeared. Now I look down and see a busy little baby, exploring the world around him while he distractedly eats.
Once in a blue moon he will test out one of those new teeth on mama. Ouch!
What I notice more than anything is that first baby of mine. He’s either sitting on my feet while I nurse, trying to climb in my lap next to me, or distracting that baby even more with conversation. He was so hard to nurse.
I wasn’t confident enough to nurse on the go. He didn’t start out the best. He struggled to latch, I had oversupply issues, under supply, I pumped twice as much as I would have nursed just to make enough bottles for while I was at work. You name it and we experienced it. Fever from clogged ducts to a baby projectile vomiting from too much milk.
It was hard.
But when, at 18 months, we stopped breastfeeding, it was difficult.
I’ve always used breastfeeding as my time. I’d sneak away and nurse in the quiet with that first baby. I got snuggles, coos, and smiles that no one else got. I was the mama and that mama/baby bond was something special.
Now here we are, half way through nursing our second little roly poly and it’s been such a breeze. Not because it was just easier, no I’ve worked hard to have a good supply and fussed with a baby who tried to reverse cycle. The difference though was me.
I’m a more confident breastfeeding mother this time around.
I’ve learned to soak in the cuddles because they quickly turn to a toddler that wants to wrestle with Daddy. Never have I know a breastfeeding journey to be easy, but I do know that it’s always rewarding. Whether you’re an extended nurser or only breastfeed for a few months, your body worked hard to not only grow and birth that baby it also found a way to also nourish it. It’s incredible what we as mothers can do and while this saying is said so often, it’s also insanely true:
The days are long, but the years are short.
So Mama let me encourage you, tough it out and soak it up for as long as you can. This year of your child’s life will flash before your eyes and breastfeeding is such a journey that you won’t regret. No matter how long you breastfeed for.
