Breastfeeding is the topic new moms hear about almost everywhere. There are a million books and internet pages that offer advice, tips, and usually also the opinion that breastfeeding is something that should come naturally. But what if it just doesn’t work? Don’t worry, the world won’t come to an end.
The internet is filled with hundreds of pages and discussion forums about breastfeeding. You can even find lactation consulting that offers advice from professionals and lists medicaments that can help improve breast milk production. Usually, the most common topic you can find are tips that should help improve your overall breastfeeding performance, such as drinking enough water, rest, a balanced diet, and others. Thanks to this, new moms, who are now responsible for another human’s life, have access to thousands of tips and bits of advice. How is it possible that some of them still have problems?
It’s ok if it doesn’t work
We won’t go into the things mothers could do to help improve their breast milk production. Like we said, you can read about that almost everywhere. What you can’t usually find is the fact that sometimes breastfeeding just doesn’t work and that’s ok! If you’re having trouble, it doesn’t mean that you’re a worse mom than your neighbor who has enough milk to feed her own baby and probably a few others, too. You’re also not a worse mom than those who were having trouble but managed to get past it. You tried and it just didn’t work, the end.
Don’t let yourself be discouraged by the gazes you might get from your mother-in-law or the moms who still breastfeed their children even though they’re almost old enough to start attending school. Try to resist the pressure of pediatricians or overly eager lactation consultants. You’ve tried everything you could and finally decided to stop beating yourself up over something you simply can’t change. Your baby needs a happy and calm mom who can feed them from her breast or from a bottle. Stressing out over breastfeeding will not make you happy nor calm.
Of course, we don’t want to underestimate the importance breastfeeding! A mother’s milk is still the best food your baby can get. It is also a good way to help prevent breast cancer.
Artificial baby milk is better than tears
The pressure that some mothers find themselves under because of breastfeeding is huge and it’s making them exhausted, nervous, stressed, and often even depressed. Some moms push themselves to the extreme by trying hard to get at least a little bit of milk for their baby and that usually results in their baby being hungry and them hating the entire world. Does it seem a bit too dark for you? Well, then you’ve never been in the shoes of a mother who’s trying her hardest but she still can’t do what others call ‘the most natural thing in the world’.
Of course, as we’ve already said, breast milk is undoubtedly the best food you can give your baby. There is something your baby needs even more, though. A happy and content mom to look after them. You can’t be a happy mom if you keep beating yourself up over something you’ve tried to change but simply can’t’. Even if you can’t breastfeed your baby, you’re still the best mom in the world.
