I'm glad I don't have a constantly worry about not getting enough milk or not having time because someone scheduled me meetings, but I'm sad because I'm turning to formula. My feelings about formula are very complex and not yet resolved.
I'm glad to not have to sit in the closet anymore fearing someone will walk in, but I'm sad that I will no longer have a break to stream 'Say Yes to the Dress' on Netflix. (Even though I only discovered it was possible a month ago, doh!)
I feel relieved, but guilty I guess. I'm still nursing night and morning, and pumping has made me really cherish that time and direct contact with Franca. Ugh. Forget renovating a house, motherhood is by far the most complex endeavor I've ever undertaken.
While I'm on a tangent here, let me say a word about breastfeeding. Well, two words: Do It. Actually, you know what? Strike that, I don't want to tell anyone else what to do, I just want to share my own thoughts:
I guess I always figured I would breastfeed because I was breastfed and my sisters did. Plus, Asheville is a very breastfeeding friendly city. Not that I was without reservation. It is weird to think about before you are in the throws of motherhood. It is weird to think of breasts that are so often sexualized to the brink of insanity being used for something so innocent and amazing. And it is HARD. At least for me it was. You figure you will "just know" how to do it and the baby will "just know". Ha.
It is truly amazing though. Every time I do it, even now, I just get this sense of Ha! I work! Look at me! Look at these little 34As that have caused me so much personal doubt and feelings of inadequacy. They totally do the job. I think I finally feel like a woman, and that is something for a person who loves demolition and spends half her days on a dirty job site talking about toilets.
I am woman, hear me roar! Actually, hear me anything as long as I never again have to hear the whine of a breast pump. (Well, at least until kiddo #2. Maybe by that time, we will actually have the kitchen trimmed out, right?)
Thanks for sharing this - it's really sweet. I'm impressed that you made it to 11 months! We're expecting our first in June, and although I'm committed to breastfeeding, what you said about thinking about using my body as a food source is exactly how I'm feeling right now... makes me feel better knowing that I'm not alone in that! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on making it 11 months! I couldn't make it that long due to my son's inability to digest any milk proteins. There is a lot of unnecessary guilt that we associate with formula feeding and it helped me greatly to read other people's stories. Check out fearlessformulafeeder.blogspot.com for some free therapy - it's helped me a ton!
ReplyDelete11 months is amazing! I'm on my 3rd baby, and I've never made it to eleven months. I think whoever made that "you should bf for a year, minimum, recommendation was NOT a working mom!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post. Inspiring. I can relate in so many ways. Makes me feel so lucky I have an office with a door. :) It has been so hard, but so rewarding. I'll be at six months tomorrow...gonna try to keep it up as long as you have!
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