BREASTFEEDING + THE VALUE OF A MOTHER'S LABOR | MOTHERHOOD MAGIC
About two weeks before my daughter Lennon turned 6 months old, I realized that I would have nursed her for around 912 hours — and that’s if I was measuring conservatively.
Let’s break that number down, shall we?
Per month: 152 hours.
Per week: 38 hours. A FULL. WORK. WEEK. Just in feedings alone- not counting any other aspect of parenting. (Basically if you didn’t know, women are MAGIC and your mom is actually a superhero- go hug her NOW!)
I realize I’m one of the lucky ones. My job allows me to stay home and juggle work and motherhood - sometimes really well, sometimes not at ALL. But sooo many women are forced to choose between how they want to nourish and raise their newborn at the cost of their career.
•Less than 60% of employers give PAID maternity leave.
•A minimum of 12 weeks of paid maternity leave is shown to lower chances of postpartum depression
•More than 120 countries provide paid maternity leave by LAW, excluding the USA, Australia and New Zealand according to the International Labour Organization.
If anything positive things comes out of this time we are living in, I hope it’s how we as a country choose to value each other going forward more than ever.
**not discounting those who choose not to breastfeed, not discounting dads, not discounting those who want to get right back to work - this is just part of my personal experience 💗
Tips for Mamas Who Plan to Breastfeed:
Have your breast pump ready to go sooner! One of the best things I did after I had my little girl was invest in a hands-free pump. While I initially resisted shelling out $400 for it, I quickly found out how much easier it was to get into a routine + how helpful it could be with milk storage.
Expect the unexpected - in pretty much every way. The first time I breast-fed was with my son Luke, and the first couple of weeks were pretty painful while he learned how to latch. I was also coping with all the ways that my body was changing; I had leaky boobies, had to pad my bras and felt my milk let down pretty much every single time. I expected the same thing with Lennon (and bought all the Lanolin in Tennessee in preparation for it), but it was so much easier. We found our groove much more quickly, and I honestly never felt my milk let down at all for feedings — but she got what she needed every time!
Eat well + stay hydrated! A well-fed mama makes for a well-fed baby. I highly recommend keeping a water bottle close by your favorite nursing spot, as you’ll likely notice you’re suddenly thirstier than you’ve ever been lolz :-)
By far the most important tip I have is to have grace for yourself and your little one! This is such a special time, and the most important thing you can do is know that regardless of what you read about the latest tools, trends, and wisdom as it relates to nursing, you know what you and your baby need more than anyone. Sooner or later, you’re going to figure out what works best for you. Be patient and trust yourself, mama! I’m rooting for you! Good luck!