Breastfeeding...it is for EVERYONE!!!

Question: "Will you breastfeed?"

Answer: "Gross, no!  Why would I do that?  They make formula you know, and I was formula fed, and I am smart-ish, and am rarely sick.  Besides, it seems like such an inconvenience.  And then the Dad doesn't have to do anything, and everything will be left onto me.  And my boobs will be hangy and saggy and ugly.  And like as if I want my boob hanging out all the time.  And leakage, I hear horrible stories about this, and never want to deal with that.  It freaks me out that my child will be sucking on my tit, sick, boobs are for sex, and sex only."

Who would say something so foul...ME, a couple years ago.  Anyone who knows me knows I do not think this way anymore!!!  I am so ashamed it brings me to tears!!!  I cannot believe that I almost deprived my son of what is best for him.

I remember the day I decided breastfeeding was for ME and should be for EVERYONE!  I was visiting friends on Ontario a few years ago and I saw my friend breastfeeding her daughter.  I stared in amazement.  You could see their bond and their love, and their naturalism.  Then, that same day a friend told me she was pregnant.  I looked at her, looked at my friend with her boob out and I was so jealous.  These bitches...they have what I want.  I want a baby, and I want to breastfeed...like, immediately.  I will remember this day forever, it was one of my greatest days.  Of course the day I got married, found out I was pregnant and delivered my son are also high ranked.  But this day I feel was the most important, it was the day that my life changed so much.  This is the day I think I fully acquired my mothering gene.  I was surrounded by friends and  without their knowing it, they helped me make the decision that I wanted to be a mother, and wanted to give my child the best start in life by breastfeeding.

I have had several moments in my life that I think "okay, NOW I get it."  But why did something so natural like breastfeeding do this for me?  I think about this often. 

I often nurse my son and talk to him.  I pet his little head, touch and kiss his hand, pat his bum and just talk to him.  I love how when he is stressed, I can nurse him, and his whimpering slows down and his body relaxes.  His heartbeat slows down and he is at peace.  He is held, loved, warmed and nourished.  But above all that, be is being nurtured, naturally.

I love breastfeeding for so many reasons.  The cost...its free, its easy, I never have to prepare bottles or clean them, I never have to listen to my baby scream while I prepare formula, and of course it is best for baby.  The health benefits are truly amazing!  Have you ever noticed that all ads for formula state that breastmilk is best. There are studies that support this, and really, in this day in age, who is going to argue this anyway?

The health reasons why we should all breastfeed are countless.  I often get so discouraged when people say that they cannot breastfeed.  I do not believe this.  I know I may offend some people here, but I truly believe that we can all breastfeed.  If your body can conceive, grow a baby and deliver a baby, you can also provide natural nourishment.

I was talking to a friend one day, and she is my friend (if I can label her) who is the most knowledgeable on everything, she is well educated, and truly is an amazing person.  She is constantly learning things, and with everything she says she can show you references and studies based on the facts.  I said to her one day "If I hear one more person say they CANNOT breastfeed, I will punch them in the face!"  She replied "I think you are being a little hard on people."  I almost died.  I have read so much, but often cannot relay these facts and studies back to someone.  I have also been exclusively breastfeeding for almost 5 months now.  I have experience, and what is better than experience.  I know she didn't mean to stun me like she did, but I felt horrible that I couldn't back that up with some actual REAL information.  So many moms put too many faith in doctors.  Doctors are just people.  They have flaws, and just because they can prescribe medications and perform surgery, doesn't mean that they are supportive or knowledgeable in natural things. 

While I was pregnant, I was seen by several doctors about a genetic health issue.  There were concerns that my baby and myself would be in danger.  I did a lot of research, got my health records from birth to now, and did my own diagnosis.  I decided to terminate myself as their patient.  I felt like I was being treated as a case study and not as mother who wanted a natural childbirth.  If I continued my care with them as a "high risk pregnancy" I knew I would be seen by an OB/GYN and would have to have a c-section and blood thinners. With these blood thinners I wouldn't be able to nurse my son.  In the end I made the right decision.  I figured that following my own instinct was best, after all, I was a mother at this point, and mother knows best when it comes to their child. 

There are many women who have problems breastfeeding.  I am one of these women.  We all go through the pain, the inexperience and the sleepless nights that make us want to give up.  Determination is key...so is my husband.  He knows how important nursing is for me, and this became important to him as well.  There were days at the beginning of Sutton's life when I sat there crying.  My baby was covered and soaking wet with my tears.  But we came through.  I had to remember that minutes after Sutton was born, I was nursing him.  I had no idea what to do, so I just put him up to my nipple and he suckled away, not the most effective way, but he knew what to do.  I have also had to deal with a low milk supply.  I don't even know if I do have a low milk supply.  I nurse Sutton so often, but I think it is because he doesn't get a "full feeding" in one session, so I just nurse him more often.  My son is happy, healthy, gaining weight, and developing as he should be.  I do drink special tea and eat oatmeal daily to enhance my milk supply.  Should that have not worked, I would have gone on medications to help me.  I also had latch problems and positioning problems.  but after a couple visits with a lactation consultant, and again determination, and of course continuation, Sutton and I worked through it.  It took us about 6 weeks to fully know how to breastfeed more efficiently.

I would live to go into more details as to why we can all breastfeed, and touch on some of the misinformation out there.  At this moment, I cannot, I must get ready to nurse my son, as I see he is starting to wake!  I did come across this website though on low milk supply.  It is very informative.  As always my research will continue.  I want to look more into a mothers diet and babies having problems with nursing because of lactose issues and such.  Is this fact or fiction?  I will find out, and not to prove to anyone, but because knowledge is power, and maybe the more we all know can help ourselves, and help others. 

I breastfeed my son everywhere!  Whenever and wherever he is hungry or needs comfort I nurse him. (I have even pulled the car over to nurse him in a parking lot.) 

When breastfeeding; support is so important.  If it weren't for friends, and my husband, I may have given up.  I will never know for sure though, as this wasn't my case.  Again, I was determined, and my determination paid off!  I plan on continuing to breastfed well after a year.  I know many people may think this is irrelevant and gross, but it isn't.  Even though Sutton will be getting nourishment from solid foods, breastmilk still has benefits, even after the first 12 months.  Research it!  In many cultures extended breastfeeding is normal.  They however, may not have access to formula....point proven once again!  If friends and family cannot support you or provide assistance, there are several health centres with lactation consultants and of course there is the Le Leche League for support as well.

I will state that I wish I could write this better.  I wish I could express my feelings and beliefs with facts and studies, and in a better mind set to relate these facts.  I do not want to offend anyone who doesn't breastfeed, or believes they cannot do so.  I just want to express my love of breastfeeding.