“I’m currently on my second breastfeeding journey, and this time, it feels sacred.

With my first, I breastfed for almost 11 months until he self-weaned—suddenly, without warning. I wasn’t ready. Breastfeeding had been hard: the exhaustion, the endless hunger, the weight that clung on despite the myth that it “melts away.” But when it ended, I realized what I had lost.

I missed the quiet of 3am feeds, when the world was still and it was just the two of us. I missed his warm little body curled into mine, his tiny fingers tugging at my shirt, the soft hand reaching for my face. I missed the way he’d fall asleep mid-feed, safe in my arms. It was over in a moment, and I hadn’t even said goodbye.

Now, with my second baby, I’ve been given a second chance. This time, I’m soaking in every moment. I pause more. I breathe her in, and truly be present. I marvel at her sleepy eyes, the way she nestles into me, the bond we share in the stillness. I don’t watch the clock. I watch her.

There’s something profoundly humbling about watching your body nourish life—not once, but twice. In the chaos of motherhood, breastfeeding has become my quiet anchor, a gentle reminder that even on the hardest days, I am enough.



This time, I know to cherish it—the bond, the stillness, the unspoken love passed between us in those early hours. I know how fleeting it is. And that has made it all the more beautiful.” (Lauren)

Writen by Lauren

Posted on Instagram @barbaracrepaldiphoto on Jun 17, 2025.