A Breastfeeding Journey Poem
To all breastfeeding mamas:
You will remember
The excruciating
After birth cramps
While breastfeeding.
Guiding your baby
To latch correctly.
The milk coming in.
Your breasts, so full.
Tears streaming
As you massage out
The plugged ducts.
Inflamed, red breasts.
Nursing on demand,
Day and night.
Cluster feeding for hours.
Switching left to right,
In a never ending cycle.
Eyes and arms heavy.
Exhaustion and anger.
Hunger and thirst.
Days blur together.
Teeth coming in
And once again,
Pain and a new latch.
Your baby
attached to you.
You can’t leave
Even for a couple hours.
Tired? Mama.
Sleepy? Mama.
Hungry? Mama.
In pain? Mama.
Scared? Mama.
Sick? Mama.
But even more so,
You will remember
The smell of their hair.
Their little ears.
Their eyes gazing into yours.
Their lips flanged
As they suckle
Intensely, peacefully.
Calm and joy
Fill you
As the endorphins flow.
Their sweet coo’s
And gentle gulps.
Their chunky fingers,
Clutching your breast.
Them falling asleep,
Milk spilling out of their mouth.
Their little body relaxed.
You are everything to them.
You are all they know.
You are their safe place.
You are their comfort.
You keep them
Warm, full, healthy,
Calm, happy.
And they in return
Keep your heart
Warm, full, healthy,
Calm, happy.
Nothing else
And no one else
Can give them
What you sacrifice for them.
Remember, mama.
The days are long,
The nights even longer,
But the years, oh so short.
