![\"DSCF7840\"](\"https:\/\/cdn2.hubspot.net\/hubfs\/3295812\/DSCF7840.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Hey, Mama.<\/p>\n
You might want to sit down for this. Take a couple of deep breaths. Relax. You\u2019re going to hear that a lot over the next little while, actually.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cJust try to relax.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDrop your shoulders and unclench your jaw.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGet comfortable.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTrust that your body knows what to do\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I wish I could tell you that it\u2019s going to be that easy.<\/strong> That when you position half a dozen pillows just so, and let go of the tension in your body; take in all of the advice you receive and follow your intuition, breastfeeding comes naturally.<\/p>\n The truth is, for you, there\u2019s nothing relaxing about learning to breastfeed. It\u2019s going to be one of the hardest things you\u2019ve ever done, and you\u2019re really not expecting that.<\/strong> Despite how much you\u2019ve prepared for this, birth takes more out of you than you can possibly imagine.<\/p>\n In the beginning, you\u2019re going to feel defeated, overwhelmed, exhausted and frustrated. Please be gentle with yourself. No one expects you to have it all figured out.<\/strong> Trust me when I tell you that not only can you do this, but it\u2019s going to be one of the things you love most about being a mom. <\/strong> <\/p>\n Your body does know what to do, but there\u2019s a learning curve.<\/strong> And, in your case, there\u2019s also a little something called thrush \u2013 a yeast infection in your baby\u2019s mouth and on your nipples that is going to make breastfeeding awfully painful. <\/p>\n I don\u2019t want to scare you with stories of bleeding nipples and breasts so sensitive you can\u2019t even bear to towel dry them after showering. I do wish I could convince you that it\u2019s ok for you and baby to take prescription meds to help clear the infection, but, as usual, you\u2019re a stubborn Virgo and you won\u2019t budge.<\/p>\n (Finally, after three weeks of toe-curling pain and attempted natural remedies \u2013 probiotics galore, no sugar or booze, and an absurd amount of nipple balm \u2013 you\u2019ll acquiesce, take the drugs, and things start to get better.<\/strong>)<\/p>\n Some nights you\u2019ll be delirious with sleep deprivation, desperate for relief from your engorged breasts, which now look and feel remarkably like a set of curling stones affixed to your chest. You\u2019ll try pumping, but the DAMN THING JUST WON\u2019T WORK<\/strong> and you throw it across the room in a wearied 4 a.m. rage.<\/p>\n It doesn\u2019t break, but it doesn\u2019t matter, because you\u2019ll never really get the hang of pumping anyhow, and your babies will never really take to bottles. This means it\u2019s going to be mostly you, mama, and sometimes that\u2019s going to feel like a heavy weight.<\/p>\n Give yourself a break. You\u2019re going to need it. <\/strong><\/p>\n Some mornings you\u2019ll wake up soaked in breast milk and sweat with everything smelling sour. But your sweet girl is there beside you, cooing and puckering her lips. You scoop her up and bring her close and your heart is so impossibly full with love it feels like it might burst right out of your chest. Either that or you\u2019re still getting used to the feeling of your milk letting down.<\/p>\n Just weeks ago, life was so radically different it\u2019s discombobulating. <\/strong>There you were, waddling along, out for a carefree date night eating spicy Thai food to help get that baby out already!<\/p>\n Now you spend most of your time topless, living for hot compresses and long showers where you can knead your boobs and marvel at the fire-hydrant-like display of milk that sprays from your bosom \u2013 a bonafide milk machine. (Note: Don\u2019t plan on hosting many visitors.<\/strong>)<\/p>\n You\u2019re going to be thirsty as a mother and hungry all the time, so water and snacks at-the-ready is a must. You\u2019re also going to be hyper-consumed with getting that illusive good latch. Give yourself time. Breastfeeding is natural, but that doesn\u2019t mean it comes easily.<\/strong> <\/p>\n And then, one day, you\u2019ll find yourself sitting on the couch at your friend\u2019s place. Her kids are running around and she\u2019s making you a cup of tea and you glance down at your nursing babe and realize how much easier it\u2019s become.<\/p>\n You\u2019ve got this nursing thing down now, mama.<\/strong> (Ahem, told you so.)<\/p>\n Before you know it, you\u2019re nursing here and there and everywhere: On a bus without much fuss; on a train and in the rain; at the park and in the dark. (You\u2019re also heading into a season of life when you\u2019ll be reading a LOT of Dr. Seuss.)<\/p>\n The second time around, breastfeeding is more or less a cinch. (Thank goodness, because you aren\u2019t here for that shit show again.) It\u2019s still exhausting and not without a few blocked ducts along the way. Some days you feel touched-out A.F. But, ironically, what\u2019s most difficult at the end is letting go.<\/strong><\/p>\n You\u2019re going to be breastfeeding for nearly six years and as those days wind down you realize just how much it\u2019s become a part of your identity; how very much you cherish those moments of connection with these little humans you\u2019re raising. <\/p>\n Breastfeeding becomes so much more than sustenance.<\/strong> Your breast milk is the balm, elixir, salve and solution; a panacea for all the ouchies and every illness. The nook of your breast is a destination \u2013 for comfort, safety, conversation, nesting and warmth. So much of life will happen here. <\/p>\n And while some days will be long and hard, what you remember most is the softness of skin-to-skin snuggles and the deepest feeling of belonging when those little hands reached up to tug at your top. And countless cozy bedtimes, nursing those babies to sleep, the weight of their sleepy bodies against your chest, breathing in unison.<\/p>\n (They both grow up to be good sleepers, by the way, so don\u2019t listen to what the naysayers tell you. You do you.)<\/p>\n Breastfeeding your babies will bring you a sense of accomplishment and gratitude that shapes your experience of motherhood more than anything else. Don\u2019t ever take it for granted. Weaning will be bittersweet and when you finally nurse for the last time it will leave a little mark on your heart to remind you. And even though the milk will go, those two still climb into your arms most days, for a little while longer, at least. <\/p>\n …<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Hey, Mama. You might want to sit down for this. Take a couple of deep breaths. Relax. You\u2019re going to hear that a lot over the next little while, actually.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-544","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-mom-moments"},"yoast_head":"\n