July 31, 2018

What Breastfeeding Taught Me About Motherhood

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Before I became a mom, I was always on the go. I didn’t know how to sit down, I hated watching TV or movies without a computer or a phone so I could keep working. I was always moving, always on the go.

In my previous life, I was a teacher for five years in the inner city. If you know anything about teachers, it’s that if they sit down they lose control their classroom. So you’re always standing, walking, running around.

After teaching, I became a real estate agent and I did quite well. I remember being in labor and working out a deal on the phone, I had no intentions of stopping my life. I was going to be a stay at home mom with a business. I could do it all. I bought into that lie.

When my son was born, my whole world came to a screeching halt.

Lesson 1: Selflessness

Beginning weeks

The first few weeks of breast-feeding, hurt. You learn very quickly to put your comfort aside for your hungry baby. You learn to go without sleep for your hungry baby and most importantly you learn that your wants and needs come second. Lesson 1. Selflessness.

Lesson 2: Patience

Months 2 through 4

Months 2-4 suck.

Your life revolves around your child’s eating habits. You will begin to feel like all you do is nurse sleep nurse.

It’s long. It’s draining. It’s monotonous.

Lesson 2. Patience.

Lesson 3: Slowing Down

Month 5

By the 5th month, your baby starts to come alive, cooing, giggling, smiling, playful, sitting up, interested in the world. You start going and doing things.

Then bang it is time to stop and eat. You are ready to get out of the house, go back to work, do things. But you baby still wants to eat every 2-3 hours.

So lesson 3. Slowing down.

Lesson 4: Peacefulness

6 Months & Onward

Then you hit the six months stage for breast-feeding. And it starts to feel rewarding, you even enjoy the moments. But this is when your baby wants to hold your hand while she nurses, play with your hair or gaze lovingly into your eyes.

So the days of looking at your phone and checking out Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram quickly dissipate and you were left staring at your baby stroking her head, rubbing her fingers whispering I love yous over and over and over again until you think you’re going to go mad. So lesson 4. peacefulness

Conclusion

Through it all, the highs, the lows, the every day crazy. The biggest gift breastfeeding has given me is the understanding of Love. Each and every moment of every day, you offer yourself, to your baby. That is love. Pure and simple.

Embrace it, Mammas. Embrace your inner warrior, goddess.

Embrace the life changing love that you derive from nursing your baby. No matter where you are in your journey, keep going, it gets better.

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