New moms have laser vision. They are focused on one priority - their baby.

As weeks go by, life’s pressures creep in. Breastfeeding may feel like a burden instead of a bond. A problem rather than a privilege. An inconvenience instead of the substance of life.

It might be time to rethink priorities.

Go back to those first moments with your miracle. What promises did you make? What gifts did you want to give? What bond did you want to have with your baby?

Breastfeeding is the gift of a lifetime - to you and your baby. Moms experience emotional satisfaction knowing only they can provide their baby with the perfect milk

Breastfeeding is all about your baby - but possibly burning 200-500 calories a day is a nice-for-mom benefit. Many women who breastfed their babies said it helped them get back to their pre-pregnancy weight more quickly. Learn more about the benefits of breastfeeding for both mom and baby at WICBreastfeeding.FNS.USDA.gov/Breastfeeding-Benefits.

Your baby benefits from breastmilk too. Babies who are breastfed have a lower risk of becoming obese compared to children who were never breastfed.

To keep the focus on your baby and breastfeeding, silence your inner voices. Remind yourself that messy homes, laundry piles and unwashed dishes will always exist - but time to breastfeed your miracle is fleeting.

Cuddle your baby. Wrap your fingers together. Smell your baby. Let the world float by as you give your miracle the gift of a lifetime.

Which of these gifts to you will you miss most if you quit breastfeeding before baby reaches one year?  

• The pride you feel knowing you have kept the focus on what mattered most.
• The time bonding with your baby in a way only you can.
• The warm feeling of the skin-to-skin bond between you and your baby.
• The gaze of your baby’s eyes staring back while breastfeeding
• The feeling of having baby so close you can smell them.
• The satisfaction of breastfeeding for a year.

What can you do this week to keep breastfeeding a priority? 

• Ask family members to help with tasks 
• Find a comfortable place for you and baby, away from distractions 
• Take photos of your breastfeeding time together and post them throughout your home to remind you of your priority 
• Tell friends and family of your desire to go the distance - a full year breastfeeding your baby    
• Celebrate YOU on monthly breastfeeding anniversaries

For more information on the benefits of breastfeeding or overcoming breastfeeding challenges, visit WICBreastfeeding.FNS.USDA.gov.