to breastfeed or not to breastfeed, that is the question

my breastfeeding journey & answering your most asked questions about it

Hello & happy Wednesday, my loves! Today we’re getting into a topic that you guys have been begging me to cover for quite some time. It’s a bit of a controversial one because, well, people are very passionate about breastfeeding and also all things newborn life.

So as usual, I am here to give you my take that is sure to surprise you & be a little ~different~ than the norm. I think you will be surprised but also I hope you find some permission for yourself throughout reading my journey. Permission to not put so much pressure on yourself, permission to know that everything does not have to be such a struggle.

And permission to do what is best not only for your baby, but for YOU and your family and your mental health! Mental health of the mama is everything, let me tell you. So, let’s get into it.

Ever since I had Atticus nearly 3 years ago, and now that I have a newborn again, my DM’s and Q&A boxes on Instagram are filled to the brim with questions about breastfeeding. Questions such as…

“Are you breastfeeding?” “Breastfeeding tips?” “I am struggling breastfeeding but I feel so, so guilty not doing it. Any advice?” “I am terrified to introduce formula but I am not producing any milk” “Why would you not breastfeed?” “DON’T YOU KNOW HOW GOOD BREAST MILK IS FOR YOUR BABY?” “How can I keep my supply up?” “I’m not sleeping at all because of breastfeeding and pumping and I am going insane” “What are the safe formulas?” “I’m not breastfeeding and I feel so intensely bad about it” aaaand on & on.

And look, I so so get it. When I was a new mom to Atticus I felt that there was no way I was going to introduce anything to him other than my breast milk for the first few months (or way more) of life. Before he was born, I envisioned that my milk would be flowing and I would be a goddess mother in a meadow with a long, flowy dress on and my baby attached to my boob at all times. I did not even *think* to prepare for anything other than that. And then reality hit. 🤭