A Breastfeeding Checklist

Before ever having children, before even trying to conceive children, I knew I wanted to breastfeed. I had learned of the many benefits of breastfeeding. I was determined. Plus, I am an admitted hippie and it's honestly the hippie thing to do. And that was that.

While trying to conceive, I informed myself even more, now placing emphasis on improving the chances for success at breastfeeding. When I learned I was pregnant, and especially when it was discovered to be twins, well, I was even more revved up for it. I read books, websites, consulted with other moms who've breastfed. I did it all.

Despite my immense desire and drive to breastfeed, the whole time I also held a healthy acceptance of the fact that it may not work out. Indeed, many mothers don't breastfeed, for various reasons. Whether by lack of a healthy supply, not enough family support, or simply because for whatever reason, it's not a good fit for your family, and I fully support that. I admit- there are things about breastfeeding that are irksome and not at all glamorous as you'd imagine something so natural and elemental, and almost magical, to be. A large part of it is, or was for me, but that painful and annoying underbelly is indeed there. It's just something you have to decide for yourself. For me, I was excited and ready.

So when Oscar and Matilda was born 6 weeks early, I put forth every bit of knowledge I'd gleamed from my many resources, every aged tome, every acronym-laden mommy forum, every parenting magazine, every cheesy birth show on daytime cable, you name it. And come up with this lovely to-do list for myself. I followed it to the T for the first month or so, and most of it til Oscar was finally getting his milk from the tap versus pumped, which was around 3 months old. It makes me look/sound pretty OCD, I admit, but hey, maybe I am.

Either way, it's pretty cool I think. I still have it too, tucked in their keep-sake drawer.