Crunch, crunch. The dry fall leaves gave way underfoot and rustled overhead at the Rooster Rock disc golf course. Eric threw his driver toward the basket and I walked along with him, nursing Edie as I stepped through the maple leaves.
The premise of this blog is that I’ll be an expert by the time I log 10,000 hours of mothering. Of course by that time Edith will have changed enough that I’ll need an entirely new set of skills, but I think it’s reasonable to think that I’ll go from being a complete noob to a reasonably competent mom in a year and a half.
The fact that I’m comfortable enough nursing that I can do it while walking a trail is an enormous success. I may not be great at everything, but I’m an expert breastfeeder!
I’ve nursed Edie while taking a walk with my girlfriends, grocery shopping at Whole Foods, walking Finn, making myself breakfast and even sitting on a tractor hay ride at the pumpkin patch. Gone are the days when I had to set a crying Edith down, strap on a nursing pillow, grab a second pillow to prop up the first and only then pick her back up to give her milk.
I was inspired by a friend who nursed her little one while standing up and snacking on tortilla chips. “Don’t mind my stomach,” she laughed about her bare midriff, but I was impressed by her mobility. I went home that evening and began practicing pillow-less nursing.
Now my Breast Friend pillow is stashed behind the rocking chair. I haven’t used it in weeks. Instead, I recline on the couch with my peeper in my arms—or, conversely, stand up to refill my own water. It’s liberating.
It’s also helpful when you have a fussy baby. Edie has a hard time eating when she’s overtired, so a few times a day I end up nursing her while standing and swaying. One particularly bad day I stood, swayed and bounced while feeding her in the bathroom with the light off, door closed and fan on. Yes, motherhood is that glamorous.
For months I struggled with anything related to feeding Edith. For a while I thought I wouldn’t be able to breastfeed her any longer.
I’m still learning. But it feels so damn good to get a win.
Well done, mama!! I’ve just weaned my two year old. It’s so very worth it to breastfeed. <3
Thanks for your encouragement, Valerie! I was originally very anxious about breastfeeding but now I’m so glad I’ve been able to nourish my baby this way.