10 Reasons Why Breastfeeding is the Best Thing I've Ever Done

10 reasons I'm thankful for breastfeeding.
10 reasons I'm thankful for breastfeeding.

I often get asked why I breastfeed. Each time I'm asked, I reply, "It's the best thing I've ever done." Because it is. It's also one of the hardest things I've ever done. I breastfed my first baby until she was 8 months old. When I became pregnant with my second, I made a promise to myself and my baby that I would do everything I could to breastfeed for at least a year. With much persistence, hard work, and support from family and friends, that date has since come and gone. (Fist pumps!!!) At 13 months old, Ingrid is still going strong. I'm sure she'd gladly nurse until she leaves for college, but I've got weaning on the mind. I know that sometime in the next year, our breastfeeding relationship will come to a close. When I think about all that breastfeeding has given my daughter and me, I become full of gratitude. Here's why…

1. I Have a Happy Baby

Nursing makes Ingrid such a happy baby. She finds complete satisfaction when she's eating from her mama…

2. I Get Quiet Time

These days, it's rare for me to find a few minutes of silence to sit and relax. Breastfeeding is my sanctuary. It's a time to slow down and enjoy the quiet while my little one nurses…

Related: 10 things ALL nursing mothers shouldn't live without

3. It's Simply the Best

Breast is best, we all know that. But breastfeeding has also been the best thing I have done as a mother…

4. It's Our Secret Language

Especially in the early months when Ingrid didn't know any words, breastfeeding was our langage. Getting to know my baby while I nursed was one of the best parts of her newborn stage…

5. I've Overcome My Fears

Exclusively breastfeeding was a bit scary at the beginning. With help from lactation consultants and support from my husband, I overcame my fears and never let my goal out of sight…

6. It's an Easy Part of Everyday Life
Breastfeeding is not easy. But after I found my rhythm, it did become a part of my everyday life. Nursing on the go, without having to lug around bottles and formula, made life easy-peasy…

7. It's My Secret Weapon

There's not a sad thing in all the world that nursing can't cure. Ingrid never cried as a baby, and I have breastfeeding to thank for it…

8. It Made Me Confident as a Mom

It may sound silly, but because I was able to breastfeed for so long, I feel like superwoman! Breastfeeding has given me so much confidence as a mom…

9. She's a Mama's Girl

Ingrid is a total mama's girl. I can thank breastfeeding for this one! Her sister prefers daddy, so I'll take my little Ingrid any chance I can get…

10. The Memories Last a Lifetime

Some of my fondest moments from Ingrid's first year are breastfeeding. The way she balled up her fists, the way she tugged on her ears, the way she'd gaze up at me while I nursed her… These memories will last a lifetime!

- By Lacy Stroessner

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