Hardest Job I've Ever Had...

Breastfeeding.

While pregnant there was never a time I thought that I wouldn't want to breastfeed my baby. We were told by so many doctors, nurses, friends, family members, etc. that it was so beneficial for the baby and of course I want to give her all the best that I can.

In the hospital she latched right away and ate right away. A lot. Then progressively we noticed that I have a high production rate (obviously not the worst thing in the world) so our baby eats, and eats and eats. Which basically means I spend the majority of my day nursing her. I don't know why I didn't picture this as I've been told that all babies do their first month is eat and sleep. Duh. But, last night she had what we learned was a cluster feeding, where babies eat literally all day long. It is utterly exhausting. It's happened before, typically during growth spurts, but yesterday she didn't sleep hardly at all in 12 hours during the midst of this. As a new mom it scared me. I kept thinking that these habits weren't 'normal' and quickly found out after a frantic call to the doctor that everything is going great and that these things do happen with babies, especially under a month old.

I am now trying to have the mindset that each baby is different and even though my friends who have breast fed don't seem to have similar experiences, it doesn't make mine not right. It's just so stressful when you don't know what you are doing half the time and lack of sleep doesn't exactly keep ones head clear.

Hardest job I've ever had, definitely. At least I know it's worth it as I watch our daughter grow leaps and bounds with every passing day.