Breastfeeding Is Hard—Why Don’t Moms Say That More?

From the moment I was pregnant, I knew I wanted to breastfeed. I loved the health benefits it would provide my baby, and the idea of that heart melting bond that everyone talks about. But what I didn’t realize was how hard it would be. In fact, I never heard the word ‘hard' used to describe breastfeeding once.

Those first few days as a mom were a blur. I was exhausted from a 12-hour labor with no sleep and 3 hours of pushing that resulted in  1st degree tearing and a fractured tailbone (Mom forgives you Ava). I was prepared for the pain of child birth. I knew it was going to be the worst pain of my life. However, I wasn’t prepared for the pain of feeding my child.

I was determined to make breastfeeding work. I didn’t want to give up because I believed it would get better (don’t worry, it absolutely did). No one tells you how hard it is to find the perfect latch with your baby, the best position to feed, and what it feels like. If someone tells you it doesn’t hurt, they are lying. Nothing about the act is  comfortable at the very beginning. It’s not like your body was used to it until now.

So, needless to say I was in a lot of pain. Especially during the first week of cluster feeding before my milk really came in. Not to mention I started leaking through shirts, didn’t know if I was feeding my baby enough, and still wondered if I was doing it right.

I was sore, I was bleeding (if you know you know), and I was about to give up. Until, I spoke up. I reached out to one of my best friends who had a baby shortly before me and told her about my troubles. She listened to me and validated me and she said what I needed to hear, “it will get better.” It’s so simple, but so true. All I needed to hear about was the light at the end of the tunnel. And guess what? It got better.

The pain subsided, the positions more comfortable, the leaking controlled, and my confidence restored. Don’t get me wrong, we still struggle for a feed or two because as I tell Ava, “eating is hard sometimes.” So, I’ll tell you like it is: Breastfeeding is hard, but it does get easier. The moments spent with your baby during those times will stand out as some of the most cherished and intimate experiences you'll carry with you forever. The pain is worth it, and you can absolutely do it if it’s what you want and what’s best for you and your baby.

Here are products that made breastfeeding easier for me:

• Nipple Shields

• Reusable Nursing Pads

• Nursing Bras