You're Not Failing If You Can't Exclusively Breastfeed

Transcript

I posted a video this week about how to maximize mental health postpartum. And the research really shows that getting four hours of sleep is important. I had a lot of questions on that post. Like, how do I do this if I'm nursing? And look, it's hard. If you are exclusively breastfeeding and it's going well, great. I love that for you. But if not, which was me and most of my clients, I'd like us to think about this idea that you're not failing if you're not able to exclusively breastfeed. It just doesn't work for some people. It didn't work for me. I always had to supplement with formula because I just didn't produce enough no matter how hard I worked and I worked hard. So when that internal voice in you starts to say, if I don't do this perfectly, I'm failing. I want us to push back. I'm a firm believer that what matters most is not whether you breastfed, but that you are emotionally and physically well enough to care for your baby. You are not selfish for needing and wanting rest. You're human. So the goal shouldn't be perfect feeding. It should be sustainable caregiving and whatever that looks like for you. Sometimes that might mean letting someone else take a shift. Sometimes it might mean giving yourself permission to rest, even when the world tells you you shouldn't need to, that we should all be perfect. Because your mental health is not optional. You deserve support too.