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We thought this conversation would be about breastfeeding.
But like so many conversations in motherhood… it became about so much more.
It became a conversation about identity, expectations, how nothing quite prepares you for the reality of feeding your baby no matter how much you think it will, and ultimately… it became a conversation about this:
Motherhood is both grief and joy, all at once.
As Shelby Nelson, known as Supportive Breast Friend, an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) candidate who so much of her time supporting and educating moms through their feeding journeys, shared in the episode:
“Motherhood is grief. These changes are gonna bring grief. And I think also accepting that and keeping that in the back of our minds as we move through motherhood… it really takes off some of the stress and burden of the changes of seasons.”
On a day like Mother’s Day, where we celebrate, reflect, and maybe feel a little bit of everything, this felt especially true.
What This Episode Is Really About
Yes, we talk about breastfeeding, pumping, weaning, and feeding decisions; but underneath all of that, this episode is about:
The unexpected emotional weight of feeding your baby
The identity shifts that come with motherhood
The pressure we put on ourselves to “get it right”
The reality that every mom’s journey looks different
And how to hold grief and joy at the same time
Because feeding your baby isn’t just physical. It’s relational, emotional, and deeply personal. All of our experiences are unique, and no one experience is the “right” one.
A Few Baby Feeding Truths We Keep Coming Back To
No one expects it to be this hard
You can prepare… and still feel unprepared
You might feel empowered and exhausted at the same time
You might want to stop… and never want it to end
You’re allowed to change your mind (daily, hourly, mid-feed)
And maybe most importantly:
Healthy mom + healthy baby > everything else
If You’re In This Season Right Now…
This episode is for you if:
You’re navigating breastfeeding, pumping, or weaning
You’re questioning your decisions (constantly)
You feel pressure to do it a certain way
You’re grieving a version of motherhood you expected
Or you just need someone to say, “this is normal”
Resources + Links
Connect with Shelby:
Follow her to stay tuned for her website + upcoming support group
Podcast: Supportive Breast Friend
Each of our stories on becoming moms + our breastfeeding/pumping stories
Becoming a Mom: Holly’s Story of Miscarriage, Pumping, and Finding Herself
Parenting in the Middle of Medical Chaos: Anna’s Story as a Medical Mom
Trusting Your Gut (and Laughing Through the Tears): Meredith’s Story
Holly’s Story on Shelby’s Podcast:
Starting Solids + Nutrition:
The Book that Broke Meredith’s Heart:
Want More Support?
If this episode stirred something in you, if you’re holding a lot right now, or if you’re trying to figure out how to navigate motherhood on your terms, Get Mom Ready Coaching is here for you.
We don’t give you more to do. We help you become a version of yourself that can actually hold your life.
Motherhood is a series of “last times.” The last feed, the last middle-of-the-night wake-up, the last version of who you were before everything changed, and maybe that’s what Mother’s Day holds too: a moment just to notice it all.
You don’t have to rush past it, and you don’t have to hold onto it forever. You just get to be in it: the grief, the joy, and all of it at the same time.
Happy Mother’s Day!
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