I have to think that anyone who offers up the “breastfeeding is easy” line to a mom-to-be, is doing so with the best of intentions. Maybe they're trying to help her think positively. Maybe they don’t want to let her in on how intense it can be. Maybe, for them, it really was easy. However, for the majority of us, the idea that “breastfeeding is easy” is a big lie. A huge lie, in fact. A lie so big it could birth other lies, all of which would be equally difficult to breastfeed, proving that one main lie is the lyingest lie to ever freakin' life. Ever.
For me, breastfeeding was the single biggest struggle I faced as a new mom. There were countless times I wanted to, and probably should have, thrown in the towel for the sake of my own sanity. However, I was committed to sticking with it, mostly because I was so shaky in my new role as someone's mom that I didn’t have the confidence to let go of this one thing I thought I was supposed to do. When you have no idea how to handle this whole parenthood thing, you'll hold onto whatever form of validation you can get.
The good news? Well, obviously I lived to tell about it. My son and I eventually found our groove and I ultimately breastfed him for over two years. However, that doesn’t mean the sting of those early challenges hasn't lingered (or isn't still with me, today). Here’s where it hurt the most: