Recently a picture I shared of me pumping with the caption "Pumping is my Cardio" was shared by a couple of feature accounts. While I was excited, I also found myself feeling heavy for the mommas who shared their struggle with milk production. Because of that, I committed to responding to each with a little more of my story so that there was no room for comparison (We don't need any of that mommas!) Pumping is a huge part of my life.
I’m naturally an overproducer. It’s also necessary to know that I exclusively pump (no direct breastfeeding my babe) and I pump extra intentionally to donate. I still have to get up in the middle of the night at least once to relieve my breasts and I often feel like a slave to the pump.
I don’t know how it feels to not make enough milk, but I can imagine it is a heavy weight.
There are so many ways we feel pressure as moms. There are so few things worthy of our self-judgement.
Listen, momma, your worth is not measured in ounces. Whether you have milk flowing or whether you work hard for a couple of ounces a day- you’re doing a DAMN GOOD JOB.
Nobody benefits from a momma who is beating herself up in comparison or shame. Drop that temptation and cling to the magnificent momma and woman that you are.
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