In the rollercoaster ride called motherhood, one thing is crystal clear: your best is more than enough. As long as you pour your heart and soul into nurturing your little one, you are already wearing that “Best Mom Ever” badge proudly.
Speaking of badges, science shows us that moms who are able to breastfeed their children feel all sorts of emotions as a result of hormonal changes in the body. The body produces prolactin and oxytocin when they breastfeed, which naturally results in a nurturing, calm and peaceful response that allows moms focus and bond with their babies. Moms proudly put on that badge of honor knowing they can give their babies the best, which to be honest makes them feel adequate.
Ideally, breastfeeding is the healthiest way to feed your infant. It gives them nutrition along with important antibodies (proteins that support your immune system), and so on, and it is beautiful.
But what if life takes a different route and breastfeeding is not part of the journey and you have questions like:
- Am I producing more milk in one boob than in the other?
- Is my milk just not flowing as it should?
- Is my baby not getting an adequate amount of milk keeping them below their recommended weight?
- Is my schedule not working out to carry out this part of life that should occur naturally?
- Have I chosen that breastfeeding is just not for me?
- Why is breastfeeding my baby reminding me of a traumatic season in my life?
- Why do I feel like I am putting my baby in harm’s way by breastfeeding them?
The list goes on and on.
When breastfeeding is not an option, it is like having a secret garden that you cannot access. There is this feeling, this nagging thought of “Am I enough?” It is like someone dimmed the lights on your confidence. The world might reassure you that you are amazing, but there is this tangle of emotions inside.
Inadequacy can be a tricky friend. It creeps in when you least expect it, whispering that you are missing a vital ingredient. It’s like being handed a canvas with missing colors. You find yourself wondering if you are doing justice to the masterpiece of motherhood.
But here is the thing about that canvas. It is not defined by a single shade. It is a whirlwind of colors, a masterpiece created stroke by stroke, moment by moment. Just because breastfeeding is not part of your palette does not mean you are any less of an artist.
You see, motherhood is not about one single act. It is a symphony of lullabies, late-night cuddles, and wiping away those tears. It is about teaching life’s lessons, cheering from the sidelines, and being a rock when the world gets stormy.
So, yeah, not being able to breastfeed is a chapter in your story, not the whole book. It is a piece of the puzzle, not the entire picture. It is okay to feel that twinge of “what if” but remember, you are writing your story brushstroke by brushstroke.
To all you incredible mothers who cannot breastfeed, your love is what sets the stage. You are still the comfort in your child’s laughter and the anchor in their storms. So, feel those feelings, acknowledge them, but also embrace the truth: YOU ARE DOING A REMARKABLE JOB!