breastfeeding

There are far too many stressors involved to force breastfeeding on new mothers. And far too many challenges involved to continue to pressure women who are dealing with a multitude of other issues into choosing one style of feeding.

When the time came, I knew. I felt it in my gut, and in my body, each time my muscles tensed up at her request to nurse.

“I told them they don’t eat lunch in the bathroom, so it’s gross to expect me to contaminate baby’s milk in there.”

I understand that feeling good is far more important than looking good. But it's hard to not get caught up in the frenzy to lose all the baby weight when that's the only thing everyone seems to comment on post-delivery.

My toddler’s recent preference for her father has gone from sub-textual to textual. She has no compunction about loudly pushing me away and requesting her dad instead. I’ve been reprimanded for even speaking to her on occasion — “Don’t talk to me, Mom! Don’t talk!”

She was beautiful; I wanted to love her. But there was this nagging voice inside me: "What if I can’t love this baby as much as my son? Is there enough love for both of my children?"

I'm not a fighter, I've never hit anyone, I don't "kick ass," I don't want a "new normal." I just want to be a mom to my kids, a wife to my husband, and an eventual grandma.

I'm not a fighter, I've never hit anyone, I don't "kick ass," I don't want a "new normal." I just want to be a mom to my kids, a wife to my husband, and an eventual grandma.