Breastfeeding is one of the best choices I made for my boys. Not a day goes by that I regret that choice. However there are days when I wish I could hand my 6 month old over to someone else to feed a bottle even when I’m out of frozen milk, or have that second beer without having to pump extra ahead of time. Choices we make for our kids involve a lot more than looking at what is most convenient. I have learned that parenting comes with more challenges, more looking outside of myself, and less looking at what will be best for me. Because now it is all about them! Well, most of the time. It is so important to look at what we as moms need too, but I will get into that later.
When I was single and childless, I had the opportunity almost 24-7 to choose what was best for me, to make the choice with the most convenience, and say no to things that I did not feel like doing. Of course I understood what it meant to make sacrifices and to compromise, such as going to a restaurant I did not particularly enjoy because my friends wanted to go. Those were the “simple” days. Or were they? Then came marriage and decisions became a team thing. Throw children in the mix and it gets even more complex! The biggest change I have noted is the inability to just say “no”. No longer can I say “no” to every occupied evening and instead chilling out on my own. No longer can I just leave the house to see a friend, or go to the gym every night. Instead, now I have my evenings and days filled with changing dirty diapers, mashing baby food, turning on kids cartoons (I have memorized the Winnie the Pooh theme song), or playing Hot Dog! One more time on pandora. I have to plan ahead to do anything for myself. I have to make sure my boys are covered and taken care of before I can take care of myself. And it is probably the best thing that has ever happened to me. Yes, it involves so much sacrifice, so much looking outside of myself, and much less attending to myself. But at the end of the day I don’t have to do anything, I GET to. And that makes what looks like chaos on the outside much more simple on the inside. I get to be a mommy for my sweet boys. An exhausted, overworked, stressed, happy, emotional, silly and loved mommy. And I LOVE it.
The same mindset of opportunity comes with my decision to breastfeed. I GET to nurse my baby everyday. It comes with sacrifices, like less drinking, not staying out too long, having enough milk pumped if I even want to consider staying out longer, not being able to hand my son to my husband to feed instead, feeling like my son’s personal kitchen and chef and meal all in one! It comes with a great deal of patience, because sometimes feeding for 10 minutes on each side feels too long and I want to get on with the laundry or the dishes or making dinner so that I can have some time for myself (what does that look like again?). But when I remind myself of and experience first hand the benefits of this choice I made, it all becomes worth it. It is worth it every day to me.
Some of the benefits I see everyday as a result of breastfeeding my boys include (we will get into scientific data to back some of these up later): feeling connected to my boys in a way that no one else can feel. The bond breastfeeding provides is incredible! My boys both knew they were with mommy because they were able to smell my presence (yes it might sound weird, but it’s true!). As a mommy I am designed to let off an odor that tells my babies at their earliest age that I am their mommy, and I have the good stuff. I have the nutrition they need. This odor helps them find my breast and latch for the first time after birth. I especially experienced this with my second son who latched and suckled within about 5 minutes of being born. It was a beautiful experience to witness.
Breastfeeding is also natural. I get to see my son receive the most wholesome and natural liquid gold every day, and have comfort knowing they are not intaking anything manufactured, artificially preserved or chemical infused. It is something directly from me, and it is a gift that I am able to give to them. So not only do I experience the great bond, but also give them something that is purely good.
Another benefit is immune health. When my boys were born, their immune systems were protected by mine through breastmilk. I get to continue protecting my 6 month old’s immunity every time I feed him. This results in him being protected from illnesses, and recovering from them faster. This immune protection provided by breastmilk is something that the support of any other feeding avenue cannot compare to. I find great comfort in this.
Yet another benefit I experience is financial. Breastfeeding is FREE! Yes, when it comes to feeding our kids, money should not matter so much, but it just so happens that breastmilk is organic, healthy, immune protecting and has the great benefit of coming from your body, so no money has to be invested in it. It does not have to be bought at the store! Yes, we could say the price comes in the form of the many sacrifices I mentioned before (and there are more), but I can count on saving some cash in the baby department by nursing my kids! Why not celebrate every little perk!
There are so many great things that come as a side effect of breastfeeding. I think the greatest of all is the time it gives me with my boys. Yes, I mentioned the often needed patience and the natural desire to get to that “me time” us busy moms crave, but when I am able to sit in the moment with my boys while they nurse, it is so special. That time and gift is something no one else can give them. I am their MOM, and breastfeeding, above all else, is a huge way that I can really see the fruit of the role. I do not want to mislead you and say that choosing to breastfeed is an easy road, and I will share research based benefits and challenges later, but it is in my opinion the best choice for our kids. At the end of the day, I am the only one who can really be mommy to them. I have the most important “medicine” they need at the beginning of their lives. It is a huge responsibility. A huge undertaking. And it is beautiful.
View comments
+ Leave a comment