I wanted to breastfeed but felt relief that formula was an option, too

Eventually my supply couldn’t keep up with my growing girl and I began supplementing with formula around nine months. Defeat crept back in yet again, but I continued to pump until my baby’s first birthday.

Baby number two was a completely different experience. She latched like a pro immediately and I finally understood what it meant to enjoy breastfeeding.

While on maternity leave, I still pumped about once a day to build my freezer supply for when I went back to work. As the weeks went by, my husband began to gripe about the lack of freezer space. The more he complained, the more satisfied I felt. Look how much milk I was producing for my baby!

At one point I suggested buying a separate freezer because where would all the milk go? It was such a point of pride for me. I was determined to make it the full year without having to supplement.

Baby number two is 9 months old now and between working full-time, having to occasionally travel, and feeding my hungry girl—my freezer supply has taken quite a hit. I’m at the point— again –– where I can’t keep up. And this time I’ve been in straight up denial.

This time it’s different. It’s not a feeling of failure , but rather frustration. When I’m home with my baby on weekends, I can nurse on demand and she’s completely satisfied. I’ve realized the breast pump doesn’t empty me in the same way she does. She’s far more efficient and can get more milk out on her own. Pumping multiple times a day just doesn’t have the same result. So I’m frustrated and conflicted.

Frustrated that being a working mother means being away all day and being unable to feed my child directly from my breast, but conflicted because I want to work and provide for my family .

Frustrated that my body can’t produce the same amount of milk with a breast pump, but conflicted because, how amazing that it knows the difference.

Frustrated that I have to now rely on an outside food source to nourish my child, but conflicted because how wonderful it is to have another option .

Underneath the frustration and conflict is also a tinge of sadness. This is most likely my last baby, which means it’s my last chance to enjoy breastfeeding. There is no next time.

Every month that we get closer to her first birthday I know breastfeeding will taper off and I’ll be moving into a new phase of life. The frustration, conflict and sadness will likely still be there, but I need to remember that everything I’ve done along the way is the best I can do for my child.

She’s happy and thriving (and has beautiful, delightful baby rolls if I do say so myself).

The other morning, when I was doing my bottle prep for the babysitter, I made two bottles from pumped breast milk and one bottle of formula. For the first morning in a while, I didn’t have to dip into my freezer supply.

I realized that I built up this ridiculous anxiety around introducing formula to my daughter for no good reason , because the emotion I felt right there in that moment was relief .

Formula isn’t the enemy and in fact, I’m thankful that we have had it as an option. It has allowed me to take a little pressure off myself.

Maybe my next trip down that particular aisle at Target will be one of acceptance and appreciation. And then again…maybe it won’t be that just yet. But either way—I’m going to do my best to move through each phase of motherhood with a little more grace for myself and pride in what I’ve been able to do as a mom.