Between latching and tongue-ties, too much milk or not enough, engorgement and leakage, and will-breastfeeding-make-my-boobs-sag worries, there was no shortage of breastfeeding questions among the new moms I’ve talked to. Some sobbed through cracked nipples, clogged ducts and mastitis, and tried everything from cream to compresses to cabbage leaves in order to ease the pain. It may be ?natural? (whatever that even means), but breastfeeding is often the Mount Everest of early motherhood (without the satisfying selfie at the end).
New-mom challenges like breastfeeding are amplified by the sheer pressure of it all, says Elana Sures, a Vancouver-based clinical counsellor in private practice. ?If it?s not going well, a lot of moms leap to, ?I?m failing, there?s something wrong with me, my poor baby.?? Many moms say nursing gets better with time (and supportive lactation consultants) and becomes a cherished, beautiful thing. But others received less support or were shamed when they wanted to stop nursing (despite all the online efforts around #normalizeformula and #fedisbest). Moms need emotional support, sound advice and zero judgment, whether they use breast, formula, pump or some creative mix of them all.
As for the question ?Why is breastfeeding so hard"? It?s a brand new skill that you?re trying to learn while you?re tired, overwhelmed and responsible for a tiny human?s every single need. Give yourself a break.
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