There's Nothing Wrong With Admitting You Didn't Like Breastfeeding

Mom writes an Instagram post explaining why she wishes she never breastfed

Taking to the internet to admit you don’t love something about motherhood is a surefire way to get roasted by sanctimonious mothers everywhere. Moms shaming other moms for their honesty is one of the worse parts of our shared-internet-motherhood-experience. That’s why it’s so brave for a mom to come forward and admit there are things about motherhood that everyone doesn’t love.

An Australian TV star and mother took to Instagram last week to admit, “I wish I never breastfed my baby.” Undoubtedly, there are many women who feel the same.

“I wish I never breastfed my baby,” Maddi Wright begins her post about breastfeeding her second child. “A strong statement and many would disagree but here’s why…” She explains that just three weeks after ceasing to breastfeed her four-month-old, she feels like a “completely different person.”

“I’m a better mum and better wife,” she writes. “I have more energy. I actually have gaps where bub is NOT on my body so I get to miss him a little. I have more time for my other son. I am more affectionate towards my husband. I don’t dread going out in public. I enjoy my clothes again as I’m not leaking everywhere or having to wear uncomfortable maternity bras. I’m able to leave the house by myself without getting anxiety. I’m able to go to the gym again.”

Adjusting to a new baby is not an easy task. What makes it harder is that there are so many things expected of us — the least of which is to enjoy every moment. Admitting that you actually do not like certain parts of motherhood is okay. But you wouldn’t realize that if you looked to the internet. Here are some of the many comments people just felt they had to share with this mother.

I’m all for happy moms but we live in a society where people want to have kids but don’t want their lives to change. I’m not really sure that it works that way.

Me me me me it’s all about “me” . I have four and only breastfeed 3 I wish I breastfeed all of them, yes I leaked, I was tired , but that never stopped me from being a good mom or wife, I could say so many things but , please, to say “I wish I never breastfed my baby”? Really? Never?

Even though breastfeeding is not for everyone, breastmilk is still the best thing you can feed your child (unless mom has a disease or taking meds or not thriving). Scientifically, this has been proven. Breastfeeding is so very hard, but it has a difficulty hump and an end date.

Having a kid means you need to sometimes put your needs to the side and do what’s best for baby. There is moms out there who don’t produce enough milk that I understand but just choosing to not breastfeed cause it’s more convenient for you is selfish. I have 3 kids and my third is still breastfeeding and is 21 months.

BOO-HOO it’s called MOTHERHOOD, PUTTING YOUR CHILDS NEEDS BEFORE YOUR OWN! Becoming a parent you become selfless, the fact that this woman says she couldn’t do these things while breast feeding is just laughable.

Wright new the landslide of negativity was coming, so she headed it off in her post: “I know I will cop a lot of negative comments about this post but I think its important for mums to know that they have choices. There are so many different ways to be a mum. But what many mums forget is that MUM HAS TO BE HAPPY TOO.”

Yes. Yes. Yes.

Breastfeeding is a choice — period. No woman should have to explain why she doesn’t want to produce milk to feed another human. It’s nobody’s business, really. It’s a shame that even after all of the modern advances we have (like perfectly nutritious formula) that make it so that a mother does not have breastfeed, she still needs to somehow explain her choice.

Breastfeeding is easy for some. It’s hard for others. It can trigger trauma, it can be impossible to handle if you don’t have support at work, it can be painful… there are so many reasons a woman may not be able to or choose not to breastfeed. Calling a woman who admits to being riddled with anxiety and misery while breastfeeding “selfish” is absurd. Putting your child before yourself means giving that child a healthy, happy, mother. And whatever it takes you to get to that point — whether it involves breastfeeding or not — is okay.

H/T Parents