Singer Alanis Morisette is on a mission to raise awareness about the challenges of breastfeeding, in support of all breastfeeding mums.
Morisette, 45, who with husband Mario Treadway has three-year-old daughter Onyx Solace and eight-year-old son Ever Imre, gave birth to her third child earlier this month. This week, she posted a photo on Instagram of her breastfeeding her newborn son, Winter Mercy Morissette-Treadway.
She captioned the photo, “Snug as a bug in a milky rug. #worldbreastfeedingmonth #notalwayseasypeasy.”
The singer also tagged Stop Censoring Motherhood, Normalize Breastfeeding Official and The Badass Breastfeeder, making her point crystal clear: breastfeeding is not always straightforward, and women who are doing it need support. In light of August being National Breastfeeding Month in America, the post – which clearly resonated with her followers – has encouraged other women to share their stories.
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snug as a bug in a milky rug. ✨???? #worldbreastfeedingmonth #notalwayseasypeasy ????????❤️
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I went to every class, had huge supply (could hear the fire hose going down bubs throat when she sucked) but nothing could prepare me for d-mer severe enough I tried to harm her during a feed one day, and, following this, when I decided to pump so she could continue to get breast milk, I am in a double minority of women who put no fat into their milk. This broke my heart and I didn't feel like I properly bonded with her for a long time. Take 2 and I skipped the breast and just pumped with the same zero fat milk and my journey stopped.
It is definitely not something that works for everyone and I stopped with both kids after a month for their safety and health.
Women and hospitals also do themselves a very serious disservice with breastfeeding in terms of the education. The hospital I worked at provided free ante-natal breastfeeding classes, but they were the least attended classes of all.
Women need to be much more proactive about finding out about breastfeeding long before they actually give birth, it would help dispel so many ridiculous myths and help them to prepare for what is to come.
I agree that more has to be done in terms of preparation - so much focus on birth and so little on breastfeeding which, for me, was far harder.
And yet still - sometimes all the preparation and education doesn’t help. I did all the research, had different strategies planned, asked the right people for guidance for my second - and still no luck. Breastfeeding was torture for me - I just couldn’t do it :(
Same here. I was pretty prepared, I went to all the classes, there was never a question about breastfeeding. I was breastfed so it was normalised for me.
I'd had a horrible birth 68 hours of inducement and then complications that involved the baby being rescuistated, I developed a uterus infection and then mastitis and I had exrutiating pain every single time he latched, I'd cry every time I had to feed, dreaded the baby waking up. The pain started to affect my supply and was referred to an lactation consultant. It became clear I wasn't doing anything wrong but there was something going on. She ended up referring me to a rheumatologist. I didn't really understand why.l at the time. I had no idea what a rheumy was. I ended up being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and started to pump.
I managed 3 months of breast feeding in agony and 3 months of pumping and felt proud of myself. But oh my god, the comments from pro breastfeeders. They were torturous, people telling me I didn't try hard enough. That I was hurting my child. That I was looking for an easy way out.
I'm all for education about breastfeeding. But I also think that we are at a point now where pro breast is the only way no matter what, and everyone else is bad. And that is not OK.
I absolutely agree that breastfeeding of course isn't going to work for everyone. However, as you said, you did all the research and education and had strategies planned. If at the end of that breastfeeding wasn't working then that's literally the best you can do, and the most that anyone can ask of you.
I just find it simply very frustrating when I hear women say 'No one ever told me breastfeeding would be hard / painful / wouldn't come naturally,' when all of that information is 100% freely available and there for the reading. Most women have no breastfeeding education at all, and have done no research, no wonder they come a cropper.
Amazing that you stuck it out that long - seriously well done. I would be very proud of that.
I have to agree with your last part too.