As a professional
looking to change the breastfeeding trends of our culture, I am constantly
questioning what the biggest obstacles are to not achieving our goals of
exclusivity, longer duration, and public acceptance. It's challenging not only
to understand our stumbling blocks but how to overcome them. I have concluded
that a breakdown in family community leaves a woman unprepared for specific
challenges of motherhood, one of them being lactation but also, a lack of and
dire need for a community of women in general. Not only do we moms need to be
able to lean on our moms, grandmas, aunts, sisters, cousins, but we desperately
desire having friends, peers, even coworkers who will be supportive and who
would find ways to encourage our pursuits as mothers. Very few areas in this
country nurture an environment of community and unity of like-minded ambitions.
...And so, we look to
the Internet! A place of information overload and tons of "friends"
across seas and countries; the internet is the new facet for
community. I'm not gonna knock it because, for many of us, it feels like the
only place we can go to escape judgment and befriend people with whom we
actually see "eye to eye" and can raise our spirits without having to change out
of our PJ's! However, not only is face to face contact with others important to
our sanity and vital to keep a balance of normalcy and humanity, but it has a
much more significant positive impact on how we feel about our trials.
Prenatally, it can also help us build the confidence necessary to have the
courage just to try breastfeeding our babies. Breastfeeding is daunting, and
motherhood itself can be very lonely at times. When you feel like you're on
your own, you don't know if what you're doing is right or not and you can
quickly lose all confidence in your ability and instincts. You need that person
behind you telling you to trust yourself and how great a job you're doing,
especially during those hormonal swings and anxiety-ridden nights. In my job, that's
where I come in. I am that person to take your 1 or 2 am texts and calls, listen
to your fears and frustrations, and turn everything upside down by, not only
giving you tips and suggestions, but even more so by being your cheerleader! Every
mom needs her own personal 24/7 cheerleader (or even group of cheerleaders). We
need to push every state, county, city and neighborhood to create more places
in the lactation field for people like me. But even before accomplishing that, we need to unite as women and support each other as mothers. We're all struggling to do this job right; let's come together and applaud one another for putting in her best effort EVERYDAY!!
So, I leave you with
this question:
Did you have someone key
to your success in breastfeeding; if so, who?
If you're pregnant or
planning to become a mom, who would you want cheering you on to reach your
goals with nursing?
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