Sunday, December 24, 2006

Are mothers supposed to love breastfeeding 24 hours a day?

by Glenda Dickerson, IBCLC. Reprinted with permission from the author.

If there is a day or week where you no longer feel like you are loving or even enjoying breastfeeding, does it mean that this is the right time to stop?

I have felt for years that many mothers wean because they thought they were supposed to love and/or enjoy breastfeeding 24 hours a day. Some of the mothers I have admired the most are mothers that breastfed in spite of not being in love with the act of breastfeeding. They breastfed because they knew it was the right choice for their babies.

Our culture has become so addicted to the concept that we are supposed to only do what makes us happy or brings us immediate joy, that we lose a lot of the good stuff along the way--pride in accomplishment, joy in fulfilling a commitment, feeling of achievement through meeting a goal. I don't think this means people are more selfish today than they were in the past, I just think they have been taught to have different expectations about what they are supposed to feel and how they should respond to those feelings.

Breastfeeding is the ultimate gift a woman gives her baby--because she chooses everyday whether to continue or to stop. Don't look at breastfeeding as something you will enjoy or even like all the time, but as a commitment to your child's health--similar to the commitment of staying married even when you don't particularly like your husband for a few days, or staying in college when it is really rough for a while. There are peaks and valleys with breastfeeding and sometimes you will thoroughly enjoy it, and sometimes you will resent it--but in the end you will not regret one day that you stuck with it, even though you were not feeling that joy 100% of the time.
When you are in a valley, rest assured that the joy you have felt with feeding in the past will reappear and you will be glad you waited it out.

Breastfeeding -- it's too important not to.

5 comments:

Michelle said...

Excellent point! :)

Stephanie Wilson she/her @babysteph said...

Yes, very true! I've been fortunate to have very good breastfeeding experiences, but even if I hadn't, I would totally be sticking it out! I know how important it is!

Wendy said...

I completely agree. With my son it was hard, but I stuck it out and it got better. I definitely agree w/the point you made about our culture, so true!

Anonymous said...

I think this is great for people to hear. I'm one of those that loves and looks forward to every second of nursing my babe, but I know others who do it because they know it's the right thing, but don't enjoy it (i don't get this!) But anyway - great reference!

Anonymous said...

I totally agree with what you wrote. Now, if anybody is not keen on breastfeeding your baby, please know that there are a lot that your baby can benefit from it such as breastfed babies are found to have a healthier body weight and are less susceptible to illness.

Don't forget also that you're having this special bond with your baby that nobody can take it away from you. Not even your husband.