I’ve had a revelation.
Remember when I was bored with breastfeeding and tried to shove food down my baby’s throat before he was ready?
That was wrong.
Since then I’ve completely changed my mindset about food and babies and breasts. A boobalation, if you will.
I’ve decided to exclusively breastfeed BabyWay until he is at least 6 months old. I threw out all the rice cereal and baby oatmeal in the house and will start him out on something tastier like an avocado (or if he’s being especially wretched–lima beans) in a month or two.
Before you peg me for a crazed la leche mom or think I am doing something incredibly admirable–don’t. Truth be told, it’s for all the wrong reasons.
Sure, I love my kid. Sure, breast is best. But the thing is, I like cake. Scratch that, I love cake. And while I’m still trying to lose the last 50, I refuse to give up my basic dessert rights. Breastfeeding helps shave off some extra calories each day and I’m choosing to take full advantage of this while I can. It is the one and only favor childbearing does for your body. The rest is all fissures and clumps of hair. Not cool.
I know I’ve complained about breastfeeding before. It can be a major pain in the arse. I miss conversations because of it and often he doesn’t nurse well, squirming and biting and screeching like a rabid dog. The worst is when I’m in a public place and have to sit in some pee stained bathroom stall because he won’t nurse with any distractions. These are not breast-bonding moments.
But there are advantages. Which is why I’m forging ahead. Breastfeeding multiple times a day, like a common dairy cow, in grimy bathroom stalls, for the remainder of the month and possibly beyond. All for the love of cake.
We’ll see how long I can take it. Maybe I should just get a treadmill.
***
for the love of cake.
if only that were true for me. breastfeeding actually makes me GAIN weight…and nonsensically I am still sticking to it 10.5 months into this kids life. now that is what should be called crazy.
Not crazy, but you do get a gold star.
Breastfeeding helped me lose the baby weight, but you’re right–so tempting to give them food. You just want a break! My gal wasn’t a great nurser either, but it gets better. Tired of hearing that yet?
Giving up dessert is for suckers.
Dear dairy cow in the bathroom stall— thank you for this realistic picture of bf-ing. I get tired of hearing about breastfeeding magic! It IS wonderful for much of the time, but sometimes it is just the pits.
Our little one decided bottles are WAY cooler than boobies. So, I am quickly running out of my freezer stash and pumping like crazy and I can’t keep up with her. I also tried cereal before she was ready to help lighten the pumping load. What it led to? Almost 4 days of horrid sleeping – waking up ever.hour.horrid.sleep because I think she had a tummy ache. Mom fail? Not sure but I did get cute pictures out of it:-)
Now you’re talking.
Oh yeah, and did you take that cake photo? It’s stunning!
I did not! If you hover over the picture, it says “click for source” –but maybe I need to be more obvious. Click the picture and it will take you to the recipe and website from whence it came.
That chocolate cake looks divine.
And if you ever try lima beans…let me know how it goes!
Trust me, this is a much much better idea. One thing i hated with my older two was taking all that time to try and feed them something they didn’t want b/c The dr. said “it’s time to try”. my younger two I waited much longer and they were more able to eat! Plus, now some are starting to say do fruits and veggies first. NOT grains! so really, who knows. don’t forget, make life easier on yourself!
A few things:
1. I think spoon-feeding a baby is a form of Chinese torture. I waited until my babes were 6/7 months old to start them on baby food. In hindsight, I should have waited until they were 9 or 10 months and could feed themselves finger-food (I also would have done “baby-led weaning”). You’re smart to wait.
2. I really don’t think breastfeeding moms should diet before 6 months postpardum. If you’re hoping to nurse that little sucka’ all the way to a year, you need the calories to sustain milk-production. Focus on that while eating your cake.
3. I love lima beans.
Heather and Erin nailed it. Why shove food into an unwilling mouth and just have a mess on your hands? Baby is much more receptive of the idea around 8 months or so.
Of course, you already knew that’s how I feel :)
I love your honesty. your blog is the best, seriously!
hey whatever it takes to get you motivated. to me that was a super reason to breastfeed. and i too lost about 50 lbs in the 3 months after giving birth to my first child. the same amount i gained. sounds like quite a feat to others but really i was just a stressed out first time mama and had no appetite. not really the best circumstances to lose weight but you gotta take it when you can!
I noticed a big change in my metabolism after I stopped BFing my daughter at 15mo. So I totally hear you on the cake! I started her on solids a few days shy of her 6mo. birthday. She was absolutely ready…leaning in towards our food, if I put a spoon in front of her she’d open her mouth & get “wide eyed.” She ate like a champ the first time…and has since then! In fact, lima beans are one of her favorite foods. I have to save them until the end of her meal or she won’t eat anything else! :)
Decorating it with chocolate chips is always good too!!! :)
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I love this post. I have a love hate relationship with breastfeeding but I sure love eating lots of chocolate covered Graham crackers and pretzels all while losing weight. It helped make the mastitis that much more bearable. 5 pounds to go to prepregnancy weight!
Great job, Shantel!
Thanks! Not to prepregnancy shape, I think that’s long gone
Long gone, but I tell myself this is better.
PS: mastitis… so sorry you had to deal with that!