Yesterday I was talking with a dear friend about being a mama and how we’re all just doing the best we can. She is an incredible mama to a beautiful 18 month baby girl – and has been a long time friend who we have the most open and honest relationship. She is someone I go to for most questions since she isn’t an alarmist, but also is realistic and always tells me the truth.
Sometimes as a mama / mama to be, you feel like you’re doing all the things wrong… Do I enjoy the cookie or do I have a carrot. Do I go for a walk or take a nap… am I doing enough to help my baby thrive. Then when baby comes theres even MORE concerns, questions and oh the opinions to boot.
The biggest one we were chatting about was the big B word… Breastfeeding…
When it comes to breastfeeding, my personal opinion is whatever is best for BABY and MAMA. I intend and hope to breastfeed… However, if that doesn’t end up being whats best for baby or for mama or for mama’s mental healthy, my pride and ego aren’t to big to make a change to ensure we’re both healthy.
The way I look at it is baby girl and I are a team. We’re a team now & will be a team when she finally is here. If breastfeeding isn’t working for both of us, we will make a change because at the end of the day a healthy baby and healthy mama is all that matters.
She continues to tell me how great of a mama I will be and that I have natural instincts…. Probably due to being a cat mama… Slim odds they will let me practice swaddling on them though…
I know being a new mom is going to be hard. I’m not naïve to that, I know there will be countless sleepless nights, unforeseeable struggles and pain. But I also know that with a strong positive attitude / mindset we CAN do it all and I plan to do the very best I can… that will include asking for HELP when I need it, embracing the help when its offered and enjoying the newborn phase as much as possible, because babies don’t keep!
Keep your chin up mama. YOU GOT THIS!
xoxo
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