Why do I Breastfeed?

Because it feels so good!

I know some you might find it difficult to sink your teeth into, but that’s the whole and soul of it really. At the time I had my first baby, I did not know I had an option to breastfeed or to not. I was a first-time mommy and looked to my mom for every little thing about motherhood. It was not a question of whether I wanted to, it was how it was supposed to be. So I obeyed. After a couple of weeks of painfully pinching and pulling the nipples to applying an ointment for cracks in them, I actually fell in love. I fell in love with the feeling of being so important for my darling baby, with how it felt when her tiny little lips tugged on my breasts to pull the milk out. Even the leaking breasts were forgiven.

Eventually, when my baby was weaned, I was more resentful, than relieved. A first time mommy has difficulty believing that she is going to be as important to her kids after they have weaned than when she was breastfeeding them. I know better now!

Breastfeeding was Easier the Second Time Around

The early stages of breastfeeding were so much easier when I had my second baby. I was an experienced mom and the nipples did not need to be pulled out. Through crazy, sleepless, tired days, I managed to smile every time I gazed at my baby during breastfeeding. I breastfed for about 2 years until I finally started to look for ways to wean the baby because co-sleeping made my little man think he could fall asleep with my nipple in his mouth!

Now my third angel is here and I feel blessed to get another chance to bond with my child through breastfeeding. I had been looking forward to it throughout my pregnancy and it makes me sad to think that this could be the last time. My heart melts inside, every time my crying baby finds comfort in breastfeeding. It makes me feel so superior I can actually understand why Gwen Stefani said that breastfeeding her baby makes her feel like a superwoman!

It Falls Into Place!

I know some of you find it tough – initially at least. But take my word for it, everything will fall into place soon and you will see that there is nothing more natural than a mother breastfeeding her baby. It might help you a lot to check tips on how to help the baby ‘latch’ properly to avoid painful breastfeeding and use a boppy pillow to avoid straining your back.

Summing it up, other than the fact that breastfeeding makes your baby strong and healthy, helps you speed up the process of losing your pregnancy weight and makes traveling and commuting with babies super duper hassle-free, I breastfeed simply because I love to do it and cherish every single moment of it. All my kids were exclusively breastfed for 6 months and then continued to breastfeed for as long as they liked to. Unlike diapering and other parenting decisions, I do not think breastfeeding is a matter of choice or something that should be influenced by ‘parenting trends’. Look around you. Nature will give you plenty of examples that breastfeeding is the most natural thing in the world.

When you do something truly unselfishly for someone, you are bound to connect with them on a much higher level. I cannot think of many unselfish things that I have done in my life other than breastfeeding and it was worth every effort. My heart goes out to moms who, for unavoidable or medical reasons, cannot breastfeed. Parenting is full of opportunities for unselfish acts and I am sure you will find many of your own to connect with your lovely babies.