Archive for June, 2011
Breast Friends
Posted by Will on June 18, 2011
It has been a pretty busy month for our family.
Of course, there has been the whole child-rearing thing. On top of that, weeknights have been filled with thesis and freelance work and weekends have been set aside to decompress, catch up on sleep, and generally, take it easy.
So, while we have not felt any particular feeling of urgency to update our blog, I think it would be pretty fair to say the idea cupboard has also been pretty dry. I mean, seriously, how many more photos do you want to see of our child (okay, most of you would say probably say as much as possible but I have not been taking photos with the same pace and zeal as I did for the first few months of Nola’s life).
Yet, the other night, as I was pushing pixels around, Brittany thought it might be interesting to hear my take on breastfeeding.
Well, here is the skinny.
In short, I have come to find the process and ability for a mother to be the sole source provider to her child amazing and horrifying all at once (more on the amazing than horrifying side … we’re talking 90/10).
For me, I had to figure out how to be in a support role as the actual process is essentially a solo act (if you haven’t figured that part out already …). I make special guest appearances as personal aid and gopher to our maternal star. Whether that means keeping Brittany’s water supply fresh, fetching the nursing pillow and burp cloth, or simply being on the other end of a conversation I have tried to be a in a supporting role and offer whatever menial relief here and there.
It takes a lot of perseverance, patience, and strength to breastfeed. I don’t think my psyche is comprised of the right fabric to have kept Nola on my teat for going on five months. Breast feeding is both physically and emotionally taxing. I saw it initially do a number on Brittany. But, as with most things, with time, it always gets better. Whereas Nola was seemingly an extension of Brittany, she can now conduct her business in about 10 minutes. Some marathon sessions in the first weeks could last up to 45 minutes to an hour.
Being able to take in the breast feeding process has made me really respect the time and bodily sacrifice a mother makes to her child; this on top of the whole carrying and delivery thing
