Breastfeeding..the Big Lie

Before I gave birth I received numerous consultations from lactation experts about the joys of motherhood and breastfeeding. Although I planned to return to work by 6 weeks, I made a conscious descision to breastfeed my son. I wanted to make sure that he had the best start at life. I was very suprised at my own experience compared to the stories that I was told.  

Lie #1
Breastfeeding is easy and natural

While breastfeeding IS natural, it is certainly not easy. I remember being shown videos of newborns fresh out of the womb inching towards their mothers nipple and instantly latching on.Easy as pie. Not. The latch between the mother and baby can take a long time to develop. It took us atleast six weeks before we were trully in sync with each other. When I talk to nonbreastfeeding moms, this was usually the source of their frustration that led them to formula.

Lie #2
It is fast and requires little preparation

Ehhhh. Preparation is the name of the game.You are practically tied at the hips with this kid. You can't go anywhere for more then two hours without stocking the fridge or freezer with milk. You are constantly worrying do I have enough milk stored? Wait a second. Now I have too much milk stored...Is he eating enough? Going anywhere requires preparation with clothes, coverups, or blankets. Or you could just freestyle it. But I can't promise that strangers wont give you the evil eye. If you are at work you have to constantly find time throughout your day to pump for the next day or weeks supply. Lets face it...the formula is faster.

Lie # 3
You will loose soooo much weight by breastfeeding

Everyones body is different. Some people report being smaller then before their pregnancy. This is NOT the case for everyone. While you do burn hundreds of calories breastfeeding, you are also very hungry. They estimate that you should take in 500 more calories in your diet than before. Throughout the day I feel like I am a ravaging monster. I make sure that I take in enough water, iron, calcium rich foods for my milk. AND I am still hungry every two hours. I feel like my metabolism is revved up all day.

Truth
There are so many drawbacks to breastfeeding, and I just named a few. But the good definitely outweigh the bad. I think lactation consultants try to feed you a picture of blissful happiness. I like the hard fast truth. Breastfeeding is not easy, but it is the best nutrient for your baby. It will be many hard days, but it is definitely worth it. That isn't so hard right?

Either way we can put these white lies behind us, and move on to a more truthful future. The truth is I love breastfeeding. Breastfeeding really helps me bond with my son, and I feel such a strong connection with him. There is nothing more amazing then snuggling together after breastfeeding. There is something extraordinarily great seeing him grow and knowing that I am partly responsible. It is worth all of the hard work.