I am not going to even lie to you. I had no concrete plans on breast feeding. Yes, I had the Medela Pump In Style Advance on my registry, and I purchased it ahead of time, but I still had lingering hesitations on doing it. Why? Sheer ignorance. Plus, no woman in my immediate family has done it. I mean my sister did try it, but felt it wasn’t for her, so she ended up stopping – early.
So yeah, I didn’t have plans on sticking to breastfeeding, especially as long as I have. I set no goals, and I went with the flow. As long as mini me was healthy, happy, and well fed, and then so was I. Not setting a goal has led me into the extended breastfeeding realm, which I don’t mind.
Would I Say Setting a Breastfeeding Goal is Important?
For me setting a goal wasn’t important; not setting a goal didn’t hinder my breastfeeding experience. However, some people may need a little more structure in order for them to stay on track. There are people who believe that having a preset goal for how long you want to breastfeed can help ensure that you won’t stop early if you begin to have problems. If you do have a goal, and a problem occurs (baby not latching, milk not coming down etc.), you can get help to make sure you meet your goal whether it is 1 month, 6 months or 12 months.
If you do decide on setting a breastfeeding goal, remember that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that “breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months, and thereafter for as long as mutually desired.”
Breastfeeding Isn’t for Everyone
Breastfeeding is hard, especially in the beginning. Your nipples are sore, cracked, chapped, and sometimes bleeding. Breastfed babies tend to feed more, which means less sleep for you. You may also worry that the baby isn’t getting enough to eat. Thankfully, these things do not last long. The pain will go away. The baby will get on a schedule, and he/she will thrive.
I will say, as with anything else, do not knock it until you try it. If you find yourself, overwhelmed, too sore, too tired, and your baby isn’t thriving as much as he/she should, get help. If the help you sought out doesn’t work, then you may have to consider stopping
Did you set a breastfeeding goal?
Do you think setting a breastfeeding goal is important?