1. There is more breastmilk in your freezer than food.
2. The breast pump has become a home accent.
3. You look down to find your shirt open- and you just signed for a package from UPS.
4. You realize that the delivery driver of said package must also be part of a breastfeeding family, because he did not even seem to notice.
5. You have learned that those little crop circles that appear on your shirt and bed sheets dry quickly- why bother changing?
6. Nursing at the dinner table while eating is no longer impressive.
7. Nursing at the dinner table while eating is no longer noticed.
8. You use nursing pads as coasters.
9. You ask your childless visitor if he can hold the bag of breast milk while you grab the tubing for your wife to pump- and do not notice until you come back that his face is void of color.
10. You have thought more than once, “there is nothing that feels natural or intuitive about learning how to do this.”
11. You have experienced “Nursing Yoga”. You know, those talented positions assumed by your baby while still managing to stay latched on. For example, her bottom in the air, one foot on mom’s stomach, while holding the opposite foot with remaining hand.
12. You have been mesmerized by the eyes that look up at you so intently, inquisitively and expressively while nursing. You confirm that no words are needed to communicate.
13. You fall in love with the “nursing smile”. The one that appears while your baby is latched on and displays not just on his mouth, but also shines from his eyes.
14. You experience the benefits of such an initially awkward and time consuming choice, and now know that you would never choose otherwise.
What would you add?
LOVE this post! I can relate to all of it. Thank you for writing and sharing this!
Merry,
I am so glad that you enjoyed the post. It is a really intense time, it was nice to be able to reflect on it in a humorous way. Thank you so much for stopping by!
Love this! And so true!
We had to go out and buy a freezer because our freezer part of the fridge was completly full of breastmilk! Now, the freezer in the garage is “Baby James’ freezer” because it only has breast milk and popcicles in it!
When you mentally roll your eyes and shrug off the not so subtle comments from those who think “it’s been long enough” in the complete and secure knowledge that you’re doing the right thing by your babe.
And what a powerful and steadfast confidence that is. The only part I struggled with was becoming comfortable with others being uncomfortable.
Your breasts have a new name (probably coined by your children).
Yep! Owen called them “Nur-Nur”‘s. For Sydney it is “Nursey’s”.
When you laugh until you cry at the Luvs commercial on breastfeeding because it so accurately describes you.
When you can tell by the fit of your bra or shirt how long it has been since you last nursed.
When you give the supportive nod or smile to another mama when you see her out nursing in public.
Yes, yes, yes! Especially the last one
Love this! I once realized after about 15 minutes shopping in a store that I was still very much unbuttoned after nursing my son in the car.
Ha ha! I know that feeling Karen! Thank you for stopping by.
Oh how I love this! I’ve been nursing for 40 months now (and if my 3 month-old son is like his older sister, I still be nursing in 40 more months), and this journey has been marked by a full range of emotions. Reflecting on it all with smiles and giggles is a blessing!
Thanks for participating in the Tuesday Baby Link Up!
I know what you mean! I never expected to nurse for more than a few months and here I am 60 months later. There really are a range of emotions and experiences, aren’t there? I have had to get over so much of my own stuff with full term nursing. This of course has made me more authentic.
Thank you so much for stopping by!
Love this! I have experienced most of these
I would add that you know you’re a breastfeeding family when you’re used to white splotches on the floor and don’t consider it to be dirty (since breastmilk is antibacterial, etc.)
Thanks for linking up at The Tuesday Baby Link Up!