Monday, November 19, 2012

Breastfeeding myths

(These were just myths to ME, I realize all women have different breastfeeding experiences)

Myth number one.
Breastfeeding is Easy. So much easier than bottle feeding. 

Uh No. It's not. It's one of the hardest things I've ever done. And From latching issues, mastitis, over supply, UNDER supply, a baby that even now at almost 7 months often wants to eat every hr when she's awake, cracked bleeding nipples, none of that is EASY. It took countless nurses and lactation consultants helping me the first 3 days at every feeding, how is that easy? I absolutely hate when I hear women telling pregnant or new moms that it's easy. I think that's setting them up for failure. Thinking, oh well it's so easy for her why is is SO HARD for me? I definitely thought that way many times when people would tell me how Easy it would be. It's 7 months and it's STILL hard.  Bottles now THEY are easy. Pour milk in bottle, warm it up, stick it mouth. No having to plan what you wear to make sure your baby has easy access to the food supply, no chapped nipples, EASY. And so what if you have to wash a few bottles a day. Big deal. Way easier.

Myth number 2, breast feeding will make you loose all your weight instantly.

Again, NOPE not true. YES breast feeding makes you burn calories, but ya know what else it does? MAKE YOU EAT. Especially that first month, I was Never full. I went out to eat pizza with my mom when T was like 2.5 weeks old and ordered a large pizza, ate it all and STILL wasn't full. I'm still way hungrier now then when not breast feeding or even pregnant, and I eat. A lot. So yeah breast feeding is burning a lot of calories, but I'm also eating a ton of calories. They equal each other out.

Anyone else have any breast feeding 'myths'?

(I hope this doesn't sound negative. I'm 10000000% for breast feeding, I just wish everyone wouldn't have told me how EASY it was, when clearly, for me it was Not) 

7 comments:

  1. As I'm just about to deliver babe #1, this was great to read. Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Yay so excited for you- can't wait to see pictures of this sure to be gorgeous girl!

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  2. I am a first-time momma to a 4 month old girl. Any yes! Breastfeeding is hard! It is so true!! I have heard the myths you are talking about, but I have also hear things like, "oh it's too much work, it's not worth it." I feel that sometimes people try to put down mothers who want to breastfeed for some reason. I don't know, maybe that's just my experience but that happened a lot. We all know that breastfeeding is best for your baby, so it's so worth it! Yes it is hard, and inconvenient at times, but I would just encourage you mommas out there to not give up!! Thank you for sharing!!

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  3. I just posted my breastfeeding story.

    http://judahsmommy.blogspot.com/2012/11/my-breastfeeding-experiences.html

    It was NOT easy but I stuck with it.

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    1. wow you had quite the journey!! Good for you though, you did awesome!

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  4. those are great ones! i heard a lot of both and breastfeeding was REALLY hard for us AND was not instant weight loss... i have pretty much been craving ice cream 24/7 since i started.

    another myth i hear is that breastfeeding too long or stopping too early will ruin your child. as much breastfeeding as you can manage is great, extended breastfeeding is great... whatever works for you and your family.

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