'It's Not Just Sitting Down And Feeding The Baby': A Mom Shares The Challenges Of Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is hard. But moms who are able to do it are often told they should never complain or talk about how challenging it is because they are 'lucky.'

Padedemoms know how blessed they are. And they often wish the same blessing for their fellow moms.

But being 'blessed' with liquid gold is not enough reason to ignore the challenges that come with breastfeeding.

One mom from our Facebook group the Smart Parenting Village, said what no one talks about when it comes to breastfeeding. Here's the post mommy Riyalyn Grace Pasimio shared with the members of the Village:

Breastfeeding.

People imagine it as simply sitting down and feeding the baby.

But no one talks about these:

The isolation. When everybody comes around and you have to find a corner or a room to feed your baby. When you have to nurse your baby to sleep all alone.

The physical pain. Nursing through mastitis. Nursing through the cold. Even if you want to cover yourself with a blanket, you can't. Nursing through fever and sickness. Nursing and fighting off a sneeze and a cough. The clogged ducts. The irritating fiddling. The teething. Even if you feel dead tired, you can't sleep and rest, not until you've nursed your baby.

The extreme clinginess. Breastfed babies are so clingy. One move away from the bed and their hands reach out to find you. One step away from them and they follow you. Two minutes away from them feels like a century. No matter when, where, and what they are doing, as soon as you sit down, they will literally jump on you for milk.

But also, no one talks about these, too:

The sweet, cute little smile they make once they know they're about to be fed.

The unlimited hugs and snuggles.

The bond you make with the little one—the one that literally no one can recreate and nothing can replace.

The unexplainable comfort they find in breastfeeding—afraid, upset, anxious, bored—the only solution for them is breastfeeding.

And the eyes that say, 'Mommy, all I need is you. (And your milk.)"

Mommy Riyalyn has been exclusively breastfeeding for one year and one month now.

Want to share your thoughts about breastfeeding,  formula feeding, or anything that has to do with parenting? Send them to smartparentingsubmissions@gmail.com. You can also join our Facebook group Smart Parenting Village. 

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