In honor of Breastfeeding Awareness Month, I wanted to talk about my experience with nursing. Nursing is everything that it's cracked up to be -- it's beautiful, it's bonding, it's natural, and it can be the best option. But sometimes it's not. Sometimes it's not any of those things.
The other side of nursing that doesn't get talked about often is that it can be draining, stressful, painful, and impossible -- emotionally, physically, and psychologically. It can be the hardest part of having a new baby.
After having my first daughter I was constantly stressed with breastfeeding. Was I producing enough milk? Was she getting enough nutrition? I was sore and cracked, my arms constantly hurt. I was balancing work with being a new mom, and I felt like I was spending my whole life pumping and cleaning bottles and pump parts.
There were so many aspects of nursing that I had never heard of or considered, and it took a huge toll on my mental health. After five months I finally got the nerve to call it quits. It had taken me months to get the courage to do it, but it was ultimately the best choice.
While my experience with breastfeeding the first time was far from perfect, my second daughter was much different. She was exclusively breastfed and never took a bottle. While that came with its own set of stresses, breastfeeding became the beautiful experience I had expected the first time around.
I wouldn't have been able to get to that point without a few products that boosted my confidence and made the experience so much easier. And my number one, was a good nursing pillow.
My Most Supportive Friend
For a number of reasons, I think that my journey the second time around would have been similar to my first had it not been for the Ergobaby Nursing Pillow. First and foremost, it provided my arms and back the support they desperately needed. It held my baby up to a comfortable height so there were no more bouts of tennis elbow and strained shoulders.
Perfect Position
Whether I was using the pillow to breastfeed our baby or my husband was using it to snuggle her, the firm foam shape helped create the ideal tummy-to-tummy positioning for our little babe. It was like she was instantly calmed when we placed her on the pillow, making breastfeeding a much smoother experience. If you've ever tried to breastfeed an agitated baby, you know that this calming effect is worth ALL the hype!
Hands Free
This pillow came in especially handy during the times I was also trying to distract a toddler. I could perfectly position my breastfeeding babe and continue to feed her while also interacting with my busy toddler. Whether it was to hold a book, play with my other child, or just browse some online shopping, being hands-free while nursing gave me back so much freedom and me feel less tied-down.
My husband even indulged in this perk. I'd often find him playing a video game while rocking the baby in the nursing pillow.
The Ergobaby Natural Curve Nursing Pillow really did help change my views of nursing my second time around. It gave me back so much confidence I'd lost the first time and helped me feel less tied-down and strained.
Ergobaby has so much more to offer, too. From carriers to swaddles to wraps, they put just as much thought and attention in the design of these products as they have in their perfect nursing pillow.