This Mom Explains Exactly Why Breastfeeding Is So Hard — and It Has Nothing to Do With Pain
When Leah posted a photo of herself breastfeeding her baby, this new mom didn't choose a beauty shot, but instead decided to share a reality that many don't talk about: exactly how hard it is.
In her raw post, Leah shared that she's having a difficult time in the hope of supporting others who are also struggling. "Breastfeeding is hard. It's really, really hard," she wrote. "The uncertainty, second guessing, responsibility, commitment, discomfort . . . just to name a few."
Although she can't always explain to others exactly what makes nursing so difficult, fellow moms can understand Leah's postpartum challenge. "We trusted our bodies to grow our babies for nine months and now we have to trust our body to supply the nourishment for our babes growth and development. Talk about pressure," Leah wrote. Instead of making breastfeeding seem glamorous — though it can be — Leah is shedding light on all of the uncertainties that nursing mamas have to roll with.
"Breastfeeding is full of unanswered questions. You truly don't know what's going on down there. Too much? Too little? Too intense? Not enough hindmilk? Not enough time? Plugged duct? Mastitis? WTF!!!
And of course the biggest way to know if you're doing well is if the baby is gaining weight ... great, let me just whip out my handy dandy baby scale. But, even with all of that, we all so desperately want to survive and push through. We so badly want to have our baby thrive. We want that relationship. We want the experience. In the end, fed is best. That's what matters. But all I know right now is that breastfeeding is hard. I am doing my very best but always have a question in the back of my mind. Always second guessing myself. Always wondering if I'm doing OK. I'm determined to tough it out. I want to do this.
Mamas really do need all the support they can get. So mama, you're hearing it from me, you're not going crazy, it is hard, but you're doing good. Keep going! There's a rumor going around that it gets easier."