# @mayanageneviere on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CSJzkrorn0V
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/13300138-mayanageneviere-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/7f643622b0.jpg
- **Posted:** 2021-08-04T12:54:23.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Ethical Lingerie | XS-3XL, 28-46 A-H (@mayanageneviere) — https://gondola.cc/mayanageneviere

## Caption

What was your biggest challenge to breastfeeding? 

For me my breastfeeding was linked to my success as a mother even though in retrospect it’s all mindset - I felt a deep sense of guilt when my body didn’t “perform” the way I thought it should in my postpartum days. 

I remember coming home from the hospital and my baby was screaming at the top of her lungs - how is she hungry her stomach is supposed to be the size of a pea (or at least that’s what the book says ) and why is she so loud for such a little thing! I felt like I caved when I gave her formula - I wasn’t prepared.  I was so dead set on breastfeeding that i didn’t research alternatives and cried because I felt like a failure. I didn’t know about cluster feeding, that’s when I learned the very hard way fed is best. 

The first few weeks I had such a challenge with latching, sore nipples, supply concerns and was encouraged to move to formula - and while that may be the case for some, my family was adamant I keep trying and look for someone who will exhaust all the resources before completely transitioning over. 

With the huge disparity in maternal health care for BIPOC women, the recovery process is compounded by lack of awareness, biases and social stigmas. 

One of my favourite quotes on the challenges of breastfeeding and lack of resources/ support is from missquinette in our #Mayanamuse series:

“There still is this stigma around breastfeeding. Maybe it’s because breasts have been over sexualized and people are not used to the idea that they are actually on our bodies for the purpose of supplying milk.”

BIPOC women have less access when it comes to lactation support.  And while I did have issues with understanding my body and its role in breastfeeding, I didn’t realize access would be my biggest barrier - what was yours? 

Xx Nadine 

Photo: missquinette captured by chelseyrayphoto for our #Mayanamuse feature from #Blackbreastfeedingweek

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## Tags

mayanamuse, blackbreastfeedingweek

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