The invisible load of Breastfeeding mom

When a baby is born, the mother is also born. The anxiety, stress, tiredness from delivery still takes days for her to settle down. But is she prepared for the invisible load.

No matter how much a mom is prepared for her journey post delivery, she still undergoes a lot of things unsaid and her mind is always preoccupied.

Being a new mom myself let me list them out.

Being the only one who can feed

Yes, if you are an exclusive breast feeding mom, you’re the child’s only source of food. Your duty cannot be passed on or taken over by someone else.

But if you would want your milk to be fed to your baby , you could pump, you at least have that exclusion. No, that needn’t make you feel guilty.

Staying hydrated

Yes, staying hydrated is part of your new mom schedule. You need to keep yourself hydrated in order to make milk that would suffice your baby’s hunger. Yes load yourself with water, flavoured , unflavoured, juice, buttermilk, milkshakes but limited caffeine. Definitely no alcohol.

Leaking milk and blocked duct

This definitely needs to be said. Milk leaking on your favourite shirt ,dress. You ain’t going without your breast pads on. The blocked duct and don’t forget to mention the pain that it offers you. Oh my god, nobody told me that if you make excess you’re going to suffer. So make sure your baby empties your breast it you at least pump the milk out to save yourself from pain that the engorgement gives you.

Feeling tired of being touched

With constant feeding, hugging and cuddling though it does have a lot of positive effects like the absolute delightful bond between mom and child, increased milk production, at times you just feel tired and don’t want to be touched. Especially if you’re co-sleeping or during the growth spurts when you cluster feed at times you get too tired and drained out especially the breasts.

Worry they’re getting enough

That mom guilt you get whether you’re making enough for your child. The constant thoughts that your mind keeps getting whether the child is full. You touch their stomach, see if they burped and are sleeping well. It’s an age old quotient they say, well fed baby sleeps well. Those were people who didn’t know about growth spurts, regression, colic and so on.

You’re Cinderella clock is only 2-3 hours

Yes, your baby needs you so you definitely aren’t getting away anywhere for more than a maximum of three hours. They want you to cuddle them , hold them and feel you so you better get back earlier.

Pumping and labelling

Did I tell you the hack that even if you’re the only source of nutrition you could excuse yourselves by pumping. I forgot to mention that pumping has its own accompaniments too. Yes labelling the pumped milk and storing them. The different temperatures to store and the time period they can be stored to be used. So now your refrigerator has extra compartmental spaces for your milk so keep out those squashes, cakes , juices and pizza out.

Adjusting caffeine alcohol and diet

I did mention while talking about being hydrated that caffeine has to be taken in moderation. If you’re someone who could survive without caffeine I’d clap my hands or if you’re someone like me who needs a dose of it everyday, make sure you get it before evening. A strict no to alcohol, but if you’re too addicted make sure you don’t feed the baby at least for 6-8 hours.

Diet is yet another aspect where you got to make adjustments and compromises. Yes , the postpartum diet is healthy and makes you put on a lot of weight. They say feed the mother well so the baby gets enough so in the process you tend to put on those extra kilos. Learning to say no or not to get tempted seeing your favourite foods which aren’t part of postpartum diet. Though they say the food taken by the mother doesn’t affect the baby, it all depends on the baby in the end.

Being the one waken up for night feeds

The night feeds especially the ones immediately post delivery the next one to four weeks are tiring and makes you lose sleep. Again you’re the only source you will have to wake up when your baby needs milk. But if you’re someone who doesn’t want to look at your husband whose happily sleeping like a baby, I’d say you pump and make him feed or make him get you some midnight snacks you could munch on.

Limited dress options

Did I tell you that you have limited dressing options too. Don’t let your eyeballs bulge out. The need to nurse makes you have only very little options for wardrobe and don’t forget that the boobs need to be secured well inorder to not sag and most importantly not to reveal when they leak. Not to forget those elderly advices hide your breasts you’re a feeding mom, people might look at you.

When to wean advices

The most important or needed purchases post your delivery is good pair of airports or headphones. You might need them for a longer period until you decide to wean your child upon your own will. Untill then the advices keep pouring in stating reasons like milk isn’t enough or the baby is growing and needs solids. Happily plug in your ears and listen to some soothing music or watch your favourite series and don’t give a heed. You’re the mother and who exactly know when to start solids for your child. Until then keep calm and offer your breasts happily.

Responsibility of the weight

As long the baby is breastfed the weight factor depends completely on you. You take full responsibility if the baby is gaining or no. Here’s one other reason for moms to stress on. But let me say as long as your baby is happy and active don’t get the number get into your mind. Your baby needn’t be plump when compared to others nor is going for a weight lifting competition for you to worry about.

So let me tell you though these are invisible loads keep yourself calm and composed you can do it. Keep telling yourself that you’re a good mother and doing the best for your child. That’s the mantra to keep yourself going.

Also check out what Arti has to say and what Debidutta shares about sanitizers.

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