MCT

The 3-4 month mark is so tough – things can start going haywire (4mo sleep regression being a huge one) and it’s this turning point/deadline when you’re “supposed” to have found some rhythm or schedule. And suddenly the grace period of “no such thing as bad habits” is over and feels as though everything is on the line. There was something about 6 months that just clicked. Maybe it’s because we started our first baby class, maybe it was the crisp September weather and excitement of first fall holidays. Who knows. But that’s when all the magic started for me and baby #1! (9 months was another memorable one, in the best way!)

I wish someone had said to me: I struggled with breastfeeding and it never got better. And it was okay.
I needed to hear a story of failure. So many loving friends and family members shared stories of breastfeeding struggles that eventually turned into success. I knew in my core that traditional breastfeeding was not going to work for me and my baby. The more I heard about “it was hell on earth until 6 weeks and then we turned a corner” the worse and more overwhelmed I felt. I felt this pressure to keep going at whatever cost. I was doing everything in my power to make breastfeeding work and I was going down a path that was increasingly unhealthy for both of us. I needed those golden words: that sometimes despite your best efforts it just isn’t meant to be, and that’s OKAY! That you can feed your baby in other ways (pumping, formula) and they can still turn out to be healthy, thriving, happy little people! It would have made the weight of the world on my shoulders feel a little less heavy. My pediatrician did help enormously by offering concrete goals – let’s try two more weeks of pumping and go from there. Then, let’s try to get to 2 months (shots)… baby steps, day by day.
I exclusively pumped with both my daughters – first baby until 3.5 months and second until 2 months (somehow got thrush from pump parts! The abx killed my already low milk supply.) They were then on formula until 12 months. Added bonus was that they slept GREAT. (I always attributed this to being well fed and knowing how much they were eating with each feed, but I’m sure there were other factors.) They are now 9 and 7 and are happy, thriving, kind, smart, talented, funny, amazing girls! It all worked out. Even if breastfeeding didn’t!