Why is breastfeeding so

bloody hard?!
Nursing your baby can feel like the Mount Everest of early
parenthood, but many moms agree it gets better with time.
By Amy GreenMay 6, 2021

Photo: iStock/FatCamera

Between latching and tongue-ties, too much milk or not enough,

engorgement and leakage, and will-breastfeeding-make-my-boobs-sag
worries, there was no shortage of breastfeeding questions among the new
moms I’ve talked to. Some sobbed through cracked nipples, clogged ducts
and mastitis, and tried everything from cream to compresses to cabbage
leaves in order to ease the pain. It may be “natural” (whatever that even
means), but breastfeeding is often the Mount Everest of early motherhood
(without the satisfying selfie at the end).

New-mom challenges like breastfeeding are amplified by the sheer pressure

of it all, says Elana Sures, a Vancouver-based clinical counsellor in private
practice. “If it’s not going well, a lot of moms leap to, ‘I’m failing, there’s
something wrong with me, my poor baby.’”

Many moms say nursing gets better with time (and supportive lactation
consultants) and becomes a cherished, beautiful thing. But others received
less support or were shamed when they wanted to stop nursing (despite all
the online efforts around #normalizeformula and #fedisbest). Moms need
emotional support, sound advice and zero judgment, whether they use
breast, formula, pump or some creative mix of them all.

As for the question “Why is breastfeeding so hard?” It’s a brand new skill
that you’re trying to learn while you’re tired, overwhelmed and responsible
for a tiny human’s every single need. Give yourself a break.

If you’re looking for additional breastfeeding support, here are some online
resources:

1.) Go to todaysparent.com/breastfeeding for articles on just about

everything, including combination feeding (bottle + boob), and videos
about how to get a good latch. (We’re on YouTube, too!)

2.) The MyMedela app (Android and Apple) offers a 24/7 lactation

consultant add-on option. A one-month, three-month or 12-month
membership includes live breastfeeding support via video chat, at various
price points.

3.) Check out KellyMom.com for evidence-based breastfeeding info. The

site is run by a lactation consultant with a science background, and is a
trusted go-to resource for moms on staff at Today’s Parent.
4.) The International Breastfeeding Centre website, which is affiliated with
the Newman Breastfeeding Clinic in Toronto, is also a great site to
bookmark. Visit them at ibconline.ca; the library of videos under the “Info
& Videos” tab provides examples of what breastfeeding looks like as an
infant grows, and demonstrates the difference between nibbling and “good
drinking.”