It is important to respect each woman’s individual breastfeeding journey. Regardless of her journey, any woman who has breastfed for an extended period of time is feeling emotional. Some mothers enjoy the experience, while others enjoy it. It’s unbelievable indeed, but the benefits far outweigh the difficulties. The letter that this young mother sent us made everything clear.
I always wanted to breastfeed, ever since I found out I was pregnant. I constantly tell myself that I have to give it my all and if it doesn’t work out that’s okay because I don’t want to put too much on the line and fall on a negative side. Whether you breastfeed or bottle feed, I am a firm believer that breastfeeding is better. Never in a million years did I imagine we would advance to this point. 355 days dedicated exclusively and simultaneously to the care of my daughters. I never imagined I’d be nursing twins, but here we are, almost a year later, and things are still going great. I’m not sure how long it will be since girls’ 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡days are coming up; we will decide together.
However, I am aware that getting there and staying there required a lot of commitment, stamina, and perseverance. Shaming our bodies is simpler than praising ourselves. The fact that my body has been able to carry, deliver, and care for three babies makes me incredibly pleased, amazed, and grateful. The sleepless nights, feeding the herd, and possibly a few times over the last year of running away from them for only 3+ hours are all good, but all worth it. None of it is something I would trade for anything.
Now, when the females are dating, it becomes more difficult. When something makes them stop laughing and they look at each other and laugh, that’s when all three of them start laughing. First, they begin to crawl, climb, and tease each other while eating. My heart can barely take it, as we both agree.
Although my body was not my own for much of the past year, I felt stronger than ever and more at peace with the person who had arrived. Although it is difficult and not suitable for everyone, it worked for us.