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A brave mom is shedding light on the often-overlooked challenges of breastfeeding. Anyone who’s ventured into the world of nursing knows it can be a real struggle, particularly at the beginning. Unfortunately, the tough aspects of breastfeeding aren’t typically acknowledged amid the persistent mantra that “breast is best.” Many moms discover these hurdles only after diving into the experience.
One such mom, Laura Hayes, decided enough was enough and took to Instagram to share her honest account of battling mastitis while raising her son. She emphasizes how many of the issues new mothers face remain shrouded in silence, which can make them feel isolated and abnormal. In an effort to break the stigma, she got candid about the challenges she faced during her breastfeeding journey.
“This is mastitis,” she declared, posting a raw photo of herself while dealing with the infection. Laura explained that nursing was never a walk in the park for her, and the difficulties caught her completely off guard. “My milk didn’t come in until five days postpartum, and honestly, I had no clue what that even meant. (No one ever told me!)”
In her hospital ward, she was the sole mother attempting to breastfeed. “One other lady gave it a go but switched to formula after 12 hours because she ‘had no milk’—again, because nobody educated her.” While other babies snoozed soundly with full stomachs, her son was wide awake, crying and attached to her breast all night long. “What even is cluster feeding? Nobody explained that!”
The challenges didn’t stop when she returned home. Laura developed a cracked nipple, making breastfeeding excruciating. “I had no idea it could be painful, nor did I know what a proper latch was supposed to look like.” Feeling anxious about nursing in public, she opted to pump at home or hunt for a restroom to feed her baby, which ultimately contributed to her mastitis infection. “This led to clogged ducts and engorgement. (Now I feed freely in public—screw this backwards society!)”
Then came the dreaded mastitis. One night, she awoke with the classic symptoms—shivering, chills, and fever. By morning, she was vomiting and had developed sepsis during the night. “I didn’t recognize the subtler signs of mastitis (no redness that day, so I thought I was in the clear).” Laura was rushed to the hospital, where she was separated from her son for two long nights while receiving morphine and antibiotics.
While there’s more to her story, Laura’s primary mission is to highlight the glaring gap in support and education surrounding breastfeeding. “I’m not talking about handing out pamphlets on the benefits of breastmilk; I mean real education about the basics of breastfeeding, cluster feeding, potential complications, and how to handle them.”
Laura argues that while women receive help during childbirth, the same level of support is often absent in breastfeeding. We’re told to breastfeed, but get very little information on what’s normal—leading many moms to give up before getting started. “Breastfeeding is HARD! It’s a skill to be learned, just like walking or talking—natural doesn’t mean it comes naturally,” she emphasizes.
Education and support are crucial for helping mothers succeed in their breastfeeding journeys, but it’s equally important for those who have walked the path to share their experiences. “If new moms understood how challenging it can be at first, more would attend prenatal classes, read up, join forums, and ask questions. But we assume it’ll just come naturally because no one ever warns us.”
Kudos to Laura for bravely sharing her story and reminding other moms that they’re not alone in their struggles.
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Summary:
Laura Hayes shares her challenging experience with mastitis after a year of breastfeeding her son, emphasizing the lack of support and education for new mothers. She highlights the need for open discussions about the difficulties of nursing, advocating for better resources and education to help moms navigate breastfeeding.