Pages Tuesday, July 24, 2012 Breastfeeding ups and downs I didn't put too much thought into breastfeeding until I was actually pregnant for the first time. In fact, I found the idea of it a little creepy. Then I did some reading and it all seemed to make perfect sense. When a girl becomes fertile, she grows breasts. When she becomes a mother, those breasts make milk. Genius, right? Nature's design is quite perfect when you think about it. A human baby can survive on mother's milk alone until they are ready to eat food. Amazing stuff. So I figured since this is what we were designed for then I'd do it, simple as that. But unfortunately it's not always as simple as that. Breastfeeding doesn't always come easily, and many of us struggle through the ups and downs of establishing and maintaining it. The things that I dislike (hate is too strong a word here) about breastfeeding are: My body is not mine, it belongs to my baby. I feel like I need her permission to be absent from her. Dear A, May I please miss one feed to have dinner with the girls? The hard times -- cracks, mastitis, engorgement. Giant breasts are not attractive when they're rock hard and leaking. The "I don't want to see your boob" look when I feed in public. News flash you imbecile, I don't want to show you my boob, I want to feed my baby! Expressing. Mmmmooooooooooo. Weaning. The guilt,