Breastfeeding my first baby was, by far, the hardest part of those early weeks postpartum. We couldn’t figure out how to do this thing that I thought was supposed to be so easy and natural. At her 48-hour check-up, my newborn had lost more than the “allowable” amount of birth weight, and the nurse sent us straight to the store to buy premade infant formula.

I cried harder than I ever had on that car ride home. Weeks passed before we both found a rhythm and got comfortable.

With my second baby, I thought it would be easier because I had experience. But she didn’t know how to latch. The physical and emotional pain was overwhelming.

I was supposed to be the expert by now, but I couldn’t help her. The engorgement was unbearable, and she repeatedly bit me so hard that it left blood stains on my bra. After that, I gave her a bottle — and to no one’s surprise, everyone was happier. That night however, she figured out her latch. Slowly, we figured it out together.

Why Is Breastfeeding So Hard?

The demands of nursing are tough to explain until you’ve experienced it. Breastfeeding is a mix of physical and psychological challenges.

First, there’s the mental strain of not being able to easily feed your tiny newborn. The voice in your head screams “failure.” You wait anxiously for your milk to come in while your newborn claws at you with their razor-sharp fingernails. They cluster feed for hours, leaving you stuck sitting, exhausted. When they finally sleep longer, your breasts ache from fullness. Then, when you try to run a simple errand, you find yourself pulled over, nursing them in the backseat. No matter how well you try to time things, it never works out perfectly.

The Work Behind the Beauty

Breastfeeding is a beautiful experience, but it is also WORK. It’s not just a physical feat — it’s a mental challenge, and it takes every bit of your energy.

That’s why I love documenting nursing moments during your session. It’s a celebration of YOU. You’ve worked hard, mama. And you are worthy of being celebrated.

Breastfeeding Resources

Edmonton Lactation Specialists

I wish I’d sought professional support with nursing. You don’t need to suffer through the challenges of breastfeeding alone. After asking my community of mothers for their recommendations, here are the most recommended lactation consultants in Edmonton.

Post-Partum Must Haves

Read all about my Must Have Postpartum Items here, which include a lot of items to make breastfeeding a bit easier.