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We can’t deny the fact that breastfeeding is great for your baby. We know that breastfeeding is healthy and the best food that you can give your little bundle of joy. Women worldwide have been feeding their babies, and given that it is the first thing you do with your baby, it should be easy, right? Well, this is a common misconception. Breastfeeding is beautiful, but it can have many faces: good, bad, and ugly.
We’ve listed a bunch of things that no one tells you about breastfeeding. It is best to be prepared and know what you’ll be facing, so you aren’t met with any surprises:
The Bad Side Of Breastfeeding
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Breastfeeding is indeed a beautiful thing, and most mothers, when they look back at their breastfeeding days, they do so with a smile. However, we’re not going to sugarcoat it; breastfeeding has its fair share of downsides too. And they include the following:
- Mastitis: Definitely the bad part of breastfeeding! Mastitis is a medical condition in which the breast tissues get blocked or clogged, leading to an infection — many women who begin breastfeeding experience this condition, particularly in the first three months of breastfeeding. We’re not going to lie; it is painful! Women with mastitis generally suffer from pain, swelling in their breasts, bleeding nipples, chills, and fever. Often, the treatment for this is a course of antibiotics. Does this mean you should stop feeding your baby? No. On the contrary, breastfeeding is encouraged during mastitis. And yes, that would hurt…a lot (1).
- Breast Engorgement: Breast engorgement is another common issue that women face during breastfeeding. Soon after delivery, there is an increase in the flow of blood to your breast — this and the fact that your breasts are filled with milk can cause breast engorgement. It can cause a lot of discomfort. Feeding your baby or expressing milk with a breast pump can help alleviate the pain and discomfort caused due to breast engorgement (2).
- Insufficient Production Of Milk: We like to think that breast milk comes naturally soon after your baby is born. However, this is far from the truth. Sometimes, your breasts may take a few days to produce milk. In other cases, your breasts may produce milk, but it will be insufficient. The production of milk is different for each mother (3).
- Sore Nipples: One of the most common problems that women face while breastfeeding is sore nipples. Several factors contribute to sore nipples during breastfeeding, including chafing, problems with latching, a tongue-tie, dry skin, or infection. It may help to moisturize and use nipple creams to treat this issue (4).
The Ugly Side Of Breastfeeding
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We often come across lovely pictures of mothers feeding their little bundles of joy. In reality, breastfeeding isn’t necessarily all that rosy! This would be the ugly side of breastfeeding:
- Stained Clothes: The first three to four months of breastfeeding are usually the hard ones. But soon enough, your baby will start feeding well, and it may not be as painful as it was at the start. This is where you say “goodbye” to discomfort and “hello” to milk-stained clothing. Yes, your breasts may start to get leaky, especially if it has been a while since your baby’s last feed (5). While you can’t control your breasts from getting leaky, you can do a few things to salvage the situation. For one, you can express milk the minute you think you’re about to leak. You can also do this if it has been a few hours since your baby has been fed. Another thing to remember is that you can wear clothes that don’t show too many stains. Also, invest in breast pads — they help protect your clothes from leaky breasts.
- Teeth: It’s such a joy to see those small teeth appear in your child’s mouth. But your joy will soon turn into misery when they use those chompers to suckle and bite on your breasts while feeding!
- Weaning Time: After all that feeding and bonding, a time will come where it all has to end. Weaning is a considerable part of breastfeeding, and it is indeed ugly. Weaning your child can be particularly hard if they love breastmilk! It’s not going to be easy, but it has to be done, so you don’t have a choice but to endure those baby tantrums and cries.
The Beautiful Side Of Breastfeeding
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We saved the best for the last! All said and done, breastfeeding is one of the first things you and your child will do together, and it will be cherished for life. Here’s all that is beautiful about the act of breastfeeding:
- A Bond Like No Other: In a way, breastfeeding sets the tone for creating a bond with your child. There’s just something about having your little one feed from you — you’re giving them nutrition and what is known as liquid gold. It is a precious moment, despite all the pain and discomfort (6).
- You’re Protecting Your Child: Did you know that your breast milk can protect your little one from infections and illnesses? Yes, breast milk contains antibodies that can keep your baby’s body safe and protected! (7).
- It Is Inexpensive: Baby formula is an excellent substitute for breast milk, but it can be expensive. Breast milk, on the other hand, is free of cost!
- Anytime, Anywhere: All your child has to do is cry, and their food is served right about then!
- Helps The Uterus Contract: Your uterus can expand during pregnancy. It is believed that breastfeeding can help your uterus go back to its original size (8).
As you can see, breastfeeding can be a mix of good, bad, and ugly. However, despite all that, the truth is that it is essential. If you face problems with breastfeeding, it is best to consult a lactation expert. What was your experience with breastfeeding? Let us know in the comments below!
