Let me start by saying I am a HUGE proponent of breastfeeding. I believe in it and support it 110%. I nursed my daughter for 16 months and my son for 14 months. There were many aspects of breastfeeding that I adored. Such as the bond it created between my children and me and the satisfaction I had in knowing I alone could nourish my child. But I will be the first person to admit that there were also a great number of things that I disliked about it, and that almost made me give up on breastfeeding altogether.
Before I was pregnant with my first child, I had decided to breastfeed and do it for as long as possible. I had no qualms about it; I thought it would be natural and easy, a wonderful bonding experience. You know, all those things you hear about breastfeeding. You can imagine my surprise and disappointment when breastfeeding didn’t go as smoothly as anticipated. My breastfeeding journey with my daughter was so challenging that I wanted to throw in the towel from the very beginning. I was completely dumbfounded that this thing that was supposed to be so wonderful and natural was absolutely NOT. I felt like a failure of a mother and like a broken woman. It was disheartening.
Instead of giving up, though, I decided to open up. I talked with other moms, did a LOT of research, and poured out my concerns to my midwife and postpartum doula. I was shocked to realize that I was not the only mama out there who felt disappointment and failure as a nursing mom. More importantly, I learned that I didn’t have to give up. There were ways of fixing what was wrong or working around the challenges I was facing. I can’t tell you how relieved that made me feel!
Now, both of my kids are well beyond nursing age. My breastfeeding days are over, but my “battle” has left me with an understanding of these issues that I long to put out into the universe for other mamas. I know how important it is to share the truth with other moms. Here, I want to touch on some of the rarely-discussed issues regarding breastfeeding and shed some light (perhaps also offer some hope?) for other mamas out there.
It’s not always easy for mom.
So many things can complicate a breastfeeding relationship for a woman. I had oversupply issues, which led to my kids gulping too much air with their milk, causing tummy pain. Many women also suffer from low supply, no supply, nipple and breast pain (if not cracked and bleeding nipples—not fun), engorgement, or flat or inverted nipples. I could go on and on. Here’s the thing: these issues are SO common and SO normal! Yes, they are challenging, but the good news is that there is almost always a way to work around them so that you can have a better, easier breastfeeding relationship.
For instance, I dealt with my oversupply issue by trying different feeding positions (side-lying nursing was a LIFESAVER!). I treated my cracked and bleeding nipples by consulting a certified lactation consultant who helped me help my babies with their latch. So, while breastfeeding may not be easy initially, it can and does get better.
It’s not always easy for baby.
Listen, if you think learning how to nurse a baby is hard, try it from the kid’s perspective. Believe it or not, the baby has as much to learn about nursing as you do. Baby has to learn how to latch correctly, suck efficiently, swallow without choking, stop when he’s full, breathe and suck simultaneously, etc. This is no cakewalk! Even though baby does well getting the nursing thing down on his own most of the time, many obstacles can, and often do, get in his way.
One of the most common culprits is lip and tongue ties. Never heard of it? Yeah, I hadn’t either, but both of my children had severe lip and tongue ties, making sucking for them nearly impossible. Babies can also experience issues with food intolerances, nipple confusion, reflux . . . again, I could go on. As with the issues moms face, baby’s issues are also treatable.
When no doctor could tell me why my daughter had so much trouble feeding, I finally visited with a certified lactation consultant who diagnosed her with a severe lip and tongue tie. We were able to take her to an ENT with experience in revising ties. He could revise her ties and fix our feeding issues using a two-minute procedure. When my son was born, I had him looked at right away, and sure enough, he also had bad ties. We had his revised when he was seven days old. Problem solved.
My kids also had a dairy intolerance, so I had to give it up for about nine months after each kid was born until they grew out of it. I can’t tell you how hard it was for a girl who loves coffee in her cream and covers everything in cheese! But, for me, it was worth giving up some things for a short time for my babies’ sake. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
The bottom line is that the business of breastfeeding is hard on your little one, too. There will be kinks that you will have to help baby work out in the beginning, but if you keep trying, there are not many issues that you can’t get treated or find a way to work around.
Not everyone is supportive.
Unfortunately, as natural as breastfeeding may be, not everyone in today’s society is as supportive as we mamas would hope. Our mother’s generation was bombarded with ads and propaganda telling them how much better formula was than breastmilk and that nursing a child was old-fashioned. Thankfully, all this misinformation has since been debunked, but the message’s effect remains ingrained in some of that generation’s beliefs.
Ridiculous as it sounds, young mothers all over the country are lectured, chastised, given the evil eye, and even kicked out of establishments for doing nothing more than feeding their children. This behavior has given moms the (untrue and unfair) idea that breastfeeding is wrong or shameful, especially in public. Listen closely, mamas: feeding your child is nothing shameful or gross. You have the RIGHT to feed your baby when and where you see fit. Whether you use a cover or let it hang out, nourishing your baby is a top priority. Don’t let anyone shame you from doing what you need to do.
I was lucky because I can remember very few experiences where I felt someone disapproved of my nursing in public. I often would use a cover if my kid would allow it, but usually, I didn’t have one handy, or my child refused to eat with a blanket over his head (I mean, wouldn’t you?), or I was in a hurry. Every now and then, I noticed someone staring with a “look” on his face. When I saw it, I ignored the person or gave him my best “I dare you!” look. I was always left alone after that!
Side effects may include . . .
If you’ve researched breastfeeding, you’ve probably found articles discussing common ailments that can accompany it, such as mastitis and thrush. While awful and painful, both conditions are easily treatable and can be prevented (although some mamas have a hard time with recurrent bouts of both). One ailment that was a complete mystery to me (and a shock to find out I had it) was a little-known condition called D-MER (Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex).1 This is when nursing can cause negative emotions right before milk release and continue for several minutes.
While D-MER does not affect most women (thank goodness), other less joyful emotions may accompany nursing, especially in the early days. Worry, frustration, fear, and guilt for feeling tired or resentful that your baby wants to nurse for the billionth time—are all normal feelings. Don’t let these temporary feelings deter you from continuing to breastfeed your little one! As you progress in your nursing relationship and as your baby gets older, these feelings will likely subside, and you will feel bliss, joy, awe, and wonder in those quiet moments while you’re feeding your precious baby.
The Good News
I know, I know, I’ve just told you why breastfeeding is challenging and can make you want to quit. While all of that is true, it doesn’t change that breastfeeding is amazing and beautiful and so worth it! Breast milk is the best thing you can feed your baby if you can, and the struggles it may bring will only last for a short season.
Whether you nurse, pump, or supplement for your child, you are doing an AMAZING job! Don’t let these challenges get you down. Seek help from certified lactation consultants or midwives. They are trained to guide moms in this crazy, beautiful thing that is breastfeeding. Use their wisdom and guidance to get you through the tough times, and remember to stop and enjoy the good moments because, believe me when I tell you, they are gone all too soon.
