Breastfeeding was a beautiful experience and beneficial, but it can also be challenging if you don't take care of your own body. As a mother of two children born 21 months apart, I breastfed my first child until I became pregnant again when he was 12 months old, and I continued breastfeeding my second child until she was 18 months old.

Despite being a nutritionist, I overlooked the importance of taking care of myself during this period. It can be draining if you don't drink enough water, eat properly, or get sufficient rest. Therefore, it's essential to have systems and people in place to support you. I had to get a new water tumbler to ensure I drank 68 ounces of water a day and had a support network to discuss the exhaustion of round-the-clock breastfeeding and simply motherhood encouragement.

I truly feel that it's an act of love and service, and the benefits are endless if you nourish your body properly. Self-love extends to the care of your children when breastfeeding. Even with my background in physical health, becoming a mother shifted my focus primarily to my children. So I lacked in some areas of self care not physically with exercise or baby care but improving my intake of food and water I struggled with some days because of fatigue or overlooking myself. So my big takeaway is it's crucial to care for yourself to provide the best care for your child, and sometimes that means seeking maternal coaching, mental, physical or whatever additional support you need to provide that wonderful golden milk.

Overall, I had an amazing experience breastfeeding my children with no pain, discomfort, and good production. It allowed me and my kids to bond more and love one another longer from infant to their toddler days. However, I’ve learned the importance of better self-care practices to ensure both my babies and mama are well-nourished, mentally and physically, because the baby feels all your emotions and deserves the best care.