Breastfeeding is quite a large topic to talk about and everyone has an opinion about certain aspects of breastfeeding. I know I had my own opinions and misconceptions before I started breastfeeding.
I was pretty naive about breastfeeding, during my first pregnancy I just assumed that it would come naturally and I didn’t really worry about it, after all, my sister breastfed and it looked easy enough. It’s not something I really thought about.
There are many reasons why I breastfed and why I stuck with it. Some the reasons I stuck with it, I learned along the way. The most important reason of course is “Breast is Best”, then there’s the convenience of it, saves money spent on formula, and it helps mom loose weight.
Of course the first couple of days are always a challenge – sometimes it takes several weeks or longer to really get the hang of it. I just developed my own style of breast feeding with each child. I found the suggestions from the health nurses were uncomfortable and didn’t work well.
After I got the hang of breastfeeding I thought I would start to feel the bonding, closeness and passion for breastfeeding that I’d heard & read about. I never felt that, in fact I never enjoyed breastfeeding like I had read about. I thought there was something wrong, that I should be enjoying it as much as the next person.
I finally talked with my sister about it and she felt the same way as I did. Neither of us “liked” breastfeeding – we did purely for the benefit of our children. I remember how I felt like I was a failure because I didn’t feel it was everything that I had heard about or read about. I really felt like breastfeeding was pumped up and I was disappointed that it isn’t everything that it is promoted as, but regardless I kept breastfeeding.
It makes me wonder if that’s the reason that so many Mom’s I know quit breast feeding so early. Most Mom’s I know quit breast feeding between 3 to 6 months. It’s very rare to see anyone breastfeeding an infant over the age of 6 months.
So I guess I just want to provide some encouragement to any Mom’s who are discouraged. Keep going, if I can do it (the first time for 13 months and going on 9 months now with the second child), any one can do it.
