the journey to hiraeth

Becoming a mother brings a whirlwind of emotions, and for me, breastfeeding has been the epitome of both beauty and exhaustion. Almost ten months into this journey, I reflect on the rewarding aspects and the unexpected challenges I’ve faced. While the experience of latching came naturally for both my baby and me, a unique obstacle surfaced when my partner returned to work – pumping.

Initially, my supply was excellent, but when left alone with the baby, I noticed a significant dip in milk flow while pumping. Anxieties crept in, hindering my ability to relax and causing unnecessary stress. As the realization hit that I would eventually need to be away from my son, finding a solution became crucial to sustaining our breastfeeding journey.

Upon my return to work, the pumping challenge persisted. I experimented with both a wearable and a traditional pump, yet my milk refused to flow as expected. Concerns about a potential loss of supply loomed, but observing my baby’s healthy weight gain and apparent satiation reassured me otherwise. Hand expression emerged as a more successful alternative, but who wants to spend extensive periods manually expressing milk?

In my quest for a solution, inspiration struck from an unexpected source – homesteading families featured on YouTube. Watching them tend to their cows, I noticed a parallel: when a cow struggled to let down its milk, they brought out the calf to latch, prompting the desired milk flow. Intrigued by this, I began to ponder if there was a subconscious connection, drawing a parallel between humans and our mammalian counterparts.

Experimenting with this newfound insight, I discovered that wearing a pump on one side while latching my baby on the other proved to be a game-changer. Mirroring the cow-calf dynamic, it seemed as though the physical connection and comfort of nursing stimulated a more natural let-down response, overcoming the pumping challenge I faced.

In navigating the intricate landscape of breastfeeding, unexpected hurdles can arise, and each mother’s journey is unique. My experience taught me that sometimes unconventional solutions emerge from unexpected places. As we continue to embrace the beauty and exhaustion that comes with motherhood, it’s essential to share our stories, fostering a supportive community for mothers facing similar challenges on their breastfeeding journeys.