Image courtesy TheHollywoodGossip
In a shocking and unexpected turn of events this week, Snooki has indicated that she may very well be keeping her boobies to herself in regards to nursing her soon-to-be bambino. The girl formerly identified by the media as “Drunk” told ABC News (WATCH THE VID HERE) that she’s not all that keen on breast feeding… citing that “it seems really painful.” Good for you Snooks.
I hear ya girl. And ditto. I had the same notions you do. I never wanted to. I never did. I don’t regret it. (And yes, both my babies are healthy, happy and wholly-bonded to me. Fist-pump!) Choosing whether or not to breast feed is a PERSONAL choice. I actually have a budding bit of respect for the little spray-tanned diva now that she went on the record and said exactly what she feels… and doesn’t seem to be intimidated by the over-the-top ‘pressure’ that exists these days to nurse your babies or else.
The plain truth is that I just wasn’t interested. Wasn’t curious about it the first time I became a mom (2010) and wasn’t interested to revisit the issue the second time I became a mom (3 months ago). Granted, I did pump just to make some small effort to pass along nutrients and antibodies and those sorts of things, but that lasted exactly 8 days. Yes. 8 days. And then I brought on the cabbages. The second I was over it, I stopped. Guilt free. Pumping was amazing (to see what your body can biologically produce) but also annoying (yes, it was like a cow). The pain of engorgement was hell. The exhaustion from waking up just to pump and relieve my engorgement was hell. The constant hunger (from actually producing milk) was also hell. Hell hell hell. And again, that was just from pumping! I’m not one of those complainers who thinks motherhood is “soooo hard” (it is challenging, but it’s not anything that all of us can’t figure out and do), but I was not interested to keep pumping just because I thought I “should.” All of the negatives weren’t helping me do the other things I needed to do to be a fabulous mom (like hold, change and be happy in the moment and coherent with my new baby… not to mention continuing my energy supply and hands-on parenting for my toddler every day). I don’t care that I didn’t try to nurse, and neither should anyone else. My husband said from the beginning that it was up to me.. and I’m married to a pediatric doctor for good sake! Unless you grow all of your own food in your backyard and don’t eat anything that comes from a grocery store, please don’t tell me that store-bought formula is ‘bad’ for your baby.
So far, my ways are working for me and my girls. The first months with both of them were not exhausting, but rather fun, completely coherent, emotionally energizing and rewarding (technically, I’m living it now). It’s my personal theory that breast feeding can suck all the joy out of having a newborn if you’re not interested in doing it or having trouble with it. Some can handle it and enjoy it (and those who can handle it and enjoy it SHOULD nurse), but some can’t. When I talk to women who are crying, miserable and beside themselves with unsuccessful attempts, nursing issues, and bleeding and mutilated body parts (all you moms know what I’m talking about) yet they STILL continue to force it, it makes NO SENSE to me. Stop. You’re not doing yourself or your baby any favors. You’re making yourself miserable. You’re making your baby miserable. You may even be making your husband miserable. And you are possibly ruining the most precious time with your new little one and family that you won’t be able to go back and undo once you realize how unnecessary and ridiculous the whole situation was. It actually makes me sad to see new mothers in situations like this when they have the power to stop the madness!
So Snooki, I’ve got your back on this one. (Trust me, the fact that I just put those words in print are making me think that my husband slipped something into my drink at dinner.) Not wanting to nurse doesn’t make you a bad mother… it just means that you aren’t interested in having a baby suck on your you-know-whats. That’s all.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT SNOOKI’S ADMISSION?
Love this. There is a lot of pressure. Also I put a lot of pressure on myself. Thinking they wouldn’t be ok if I didn’t. I did BF all 3 of my children. My girls for several months. My third baby only for 3 weeks exclusively. He was having weight gain issues and I just didn’t see the point in wearing myself out to try and make something happen that wasn’t happening. He was a very sleepy baby and Lord knows I gave it my all but when you have other little children you just CAN’T do it all. I realized the first day home from the hospital with my 3rd child that it wasn’t going to last long. I watched the hours of the day just passing me by as I sat on the couch feeding my little guy. My girls were playing and I couldn’t play with them. It was too much and I didn’t want to have to keep putting them on the back burner. My point? Hah..well I did have a little guilt stopping but it lasted a few days. I’m so glad that I’m not chained to a breast pump all hours of the day and I’m enjoying my children, my husband, my job and my life.