Lactation consultants telling me I couldn’t do it. Nurses telling me “he won’t latch, it’s easier to just give him a bottle ‘for now’”. Nipple shields making me chafe/crack/bleed. Cluster feeding on top of constantly pumping. Bottle refusals. Getting the flu and not being able to nurse him for a week because of the meds I was on. Sleepless nights because only you can get up with the baby, daddy has useless nipples. Almost giving up, not once, but multiple times. Was it worth it? Was the exhaustion, the pain, the sleep deprivation, the PPD, the nasty looks in public, was it all worth it? When you’re holding a creation made by yourself and the person you love the most in your arms, looking down at that beautiful, perfect face staring back up at you latched to your body as if you are one. It’s worth it. When you’re feeling like you aren’t good enough to be his mommy and you can’t give him the life he deserves and he pulls at your shirt and smiles up at you like you are the only person in the world and you are all that matters to him. It’s worth it. When you see him growing so quickly getting chunkier and taller and babbling about who even knows what, everyday, more and more. It’s worth it. When he falls down after taking those first few steps and he’s upset, he comes to you for comfort and pulls at your shirt letting you know that his comfort is that connection to you. It’s. Worth. It. There’s nothing in this world to compare to that connection. There is nothing that can replace the joy you feel when you finally get that first latch. There’s nothing better than feeling your heart beats sync and your bodies become one as your own magnificent body nourishes your baby. No, I am not against formula feeding. No, I do not think you are an awful mother because you couldn’t breastfeed your baby. If your baby is happy and healthy and fed, that is all that matters and you are doing an incredible job as a mother! I write all of this because I am proud of myself for reaching my goal. This is a milestone for me. An accomplishment. And this is all from my heart and how I feel when I breastfeed my son. It hasn’t been easy, and anyone who says breastfeeding is easy is sugar coating the bottom layer. It’s a challenge, an obstacle if you will, and once you overcome it, you achieve an award that is like no other. A bond like no other. To all the mommas (and mommas-to-be) out there, I will give you the best piece of advice I ever received when it came to breastfeeding.

“Aim to make it through the first few weeks and it will get easier.”

Also, don’t forget your giant glass of water and munchies before you get comfortable! 🤣😉