Breastfeeding has been the greatest joy & challenge thus far. I'm grateful to be able to nourish my daughters life directly from my body. It's the most instinctual means of nourishment & bonding between mother & child. However it isn't the easiest thing to adjust too. So many tears and hrs spent worrying about whether baby is taking in enough milk. Feeling inadequate and doubting yourself because you are unsure. You don't want to make a single mistake.
It's painful in the beginning. It takes a toll physically and mentally. Nursing & just learning to raise a child as you go. I've never been so hard on myself.
We both had to adjust. Adjust to nursing & to one another in general.
2 months in, & we've come so far ! The reassuring, milk drunk smiles she gives me after feeding has to be the most rewarding thing. It brings me so much joy. In that moment all of my worries diminish.
I take those smiles as her way of saying, you're doing ok mom, I'm ok. And that is what matters to me most. Since walking into motherhood, I must say I've had tremendous support in my friends & family. There is such a beautiful community in motherhood. It's so vital to moms. It truly does take a village to raise a child up right.
By: Ashley S.
Nourishment.