New Zealand mum Emalitza has penned a piece on how her son’s gradual break away from breastfeeding has affected her, and it is incredible.
The emotional letter has captured the heart-breaking moments a mother can sometimes feel useless and rejected.
While the mum always knew that her son Ziggy would break away from being breastfed the older he became, she never expected to have such strong feelings around the situation.
As all mums are aware, breastfeeding isn’t just a source of food for tots.
It’s a source of comfort and closeness to the woman who brought them into the world.
Through this, mums feel needed, often experiencing a unique and special bond with their baby.
And Emalitza conveys the devastation of losing that closeness in a perfect story published on her page ‘Raising Ziggy’ alongside an emotion-fuelled picture.
“This is what misery looks like. When breastfeeding no longer offers the comfort it used to, and you don't know how to take away the pain.”
Ziggy was having a bad day, he was in pain, his cheeks were hot, he was crying.
Doing the one thing that has always helped soothe the baby, Mum offered him her breasts.
But this time around, through his tears, Ziggy refused, shaking his head as he continued to cry.
And for the first time in a long time, Mum had no clue what she was to do, to make everything better.
Ending up in the shower having skin to skin time – Mum, feeling powerless, ended up with tears too.
Emalitz who is now pregnant with her second baby has said since she fell pregnant, Ziggy has gradually stopped breastfeeding.
“As the weeks have passed his need for breastfeeding during the day has lessened. He stopped coming to me for cuddle feeds.”
“By around 19 weeks pregnant, the only time he would breastfeed during the day was when he needed to nap, and even that was taking so much longer than it used to,” added the mum-of-one.
But Emalitz admits she never thought she would feel like this, however now that it is happening, it’s like a bolt from the blue:
“I never expected to have such emotions when it happens, but I do. I feel rejected. I feel useless. I used to be his world and now his world is expanding.”
How raw and honest is this post?
Have you ever experienced feelings like this with your child?
