BREAST IS NOT ALWAYS BEST
I think we all know that breastfeeding is amazing! It's amazing that our bodies produce milk and just what our babies need. It's natural, free, etc. There are so many health benefits, for both Mom & baby. Of course it's good for them. We get it!
BUT, breast is NOT always best! Hear me out...
You have to do what is best for YOU Momma!
If it takes hours to feed, stresses you out, your crying, your baby is crying... that's not good for anyone. You have to take care of you first or you're not going to be able to take care of anyone else.
When my first son was born I was so set on breastfeeding. Because like I said above, it's so good for them, natural, free, etc. I was going to breastfeed for at least the first year...
I was heartbroken when that didn't happen.
I didn't even think of it being a possibility of it not working. It's natural so it'll be fine right?! Wrong!
He cried & cried... I just fed him for 40 minutes, there's no way he's still hungry.
We tried exclusively breastfeeding for around 2 to 3 months. Looking back and knowing all I know now, he was for sure hungry! I pumped for a while & finally decided that exclusively pumping wasn't going to work, switched to formula & never looked back.
There's so much more to the story that's kind of hard to put into words and that I just don't want to share.
I definitely recommend and am an advocate for breastfeeding! Try it! It is so healthy & good for your baby. But if it doesn't work for one reason or another... it's OKAY! Let me say that again... it's OKAY!!
It was really hard for me to switch. I have 3 babies and every single time it has been. Not sure why we put so much pressure on ourselves to breastfeed. Probably because it is natural and it is supposed to be that way, but it doesn't always work.
Also, it doesn't help that I love the natural, organic, non-toxic way of life so I obviously love breastfeeding but it just doesn't work for me unfortunately. But I still try with every baby and I do it for as long as I can.
You have to do what works for YOU! You have a baby and family and yourself to take care of. It's okay to switch. I promise they'll be just as healthy! (I know breastfeeding has benefits that formula doesn't but I also think genetics is HUGE!) Both of my boys are VERY healthy! They hardly get sick and have never been on antibiotics.
Heck, I was formula fed 30 years ago and I'm healthy as ever!
In a year, 2 or 10, you can't tell who was breastfed and who was formula fed. The most important thing is that you take care of you and that your baby is fed and loved!
FED IS BEST! And don't let anyone tell you otherwise!
You got this Momma!
Thanks for reading!
- Jenna
xoxo
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