I love breastfeeding.
I mean, I love the *act* of breastfeeding. Between the mother and child.
The beautiful act is so heavily laden with symbolism, it boggles the mind. The mother pouring out her love into the child. The child’s foundation coming from no other source but the mother. The life-long bond between the mother and the child cemented with the milk of the mother. And so on.
Simply beautiful.
Breastfeeding is truly a win-win situation for all parties involved.
First of all, the child gets all its needed nourishment from the healthy pure milk. No need for supplements, additives, and what not. Allah (swt) has made the milk perfect and complete.
The mother benefits as the act establishes a union that can not be replicated in any other way. She can lay claim to something that no other person in the world has done for the child. By feeding the child directly, the mother has created a connection with the child that can never be taken away. Never.
And most importantly, the father benefits.
Huh? The father?
Yes, even the father benefits.
You see, Ayah has this crazy upside-down schedule (she must be operating under the Saudi Shift) where she sleeps all day and is awake all night. And it’s during the course of the night that she decides to eat. And sadly (boo-hoo for me), this is something that I have no say in. Nature dictates that this act can only take place between mother and child. I'm SO jealous of my wife.
So I'm 'stuck' sleeping cuz I have nothing to offer.
Moral support? At 2 in the morning, my wife isn’t looking for emotional sustenance – she’s looking for her pillow.
Companionship? At 2 in the morning, my wife isn’t in the mood to talk (and neither am I).
The post feeding burp? Ayah looks so warm and snugly in her mother’s arms – it would be heartbreaking to separate them, no?
So its pretty much understood that I needn’t awaken with them. And folks, I plan to milk this bad boy for as long as it lasts (hey, was there a pun somewhere in there?).
After all, I deserve a break.
Have you ever lived with a pregnant woman for NINE MONTHS?! The constant mood swings, the crazy cravings, the monthly doctor visits, helping her get up, helping her sit down, carry this, carry that – it was like a full-time job.
But I won't be selfish and hog up all the sympathy...lets save some for my wife. I hear carrying a child isn't very easy...Well enough about her, let's get back to my pain and suffering.
Did I mention that Ayah took 12 hours to come out?! We were in the hospital for 12 long hours. That’s like a whole day people!
This kinda stuff leaves Deep. Emotional. Scars. Listen, any physical scars my wife may have gotten will eventually heal, but emotional scars last for a lifetime. A LIFETIME!
But I’m gonna man up and not complain. I haven’t said a single word to my wife about all the struggles I went through (thankfully, she doesn’t read my blog). So my immense sacrifices are for my Lord.
The same Lord Who has brought a semblance of universal harmony by giving the man a period of well-deserved rest - during the act of nocturnal breastfeeding.
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14 comments:
I have to admit men do have to deal with a lot when their wife loses their head for 9 months then after that she may or may not have postnataldepression , if your lucky she wont have it , but if she does you have to be understanding , marriage is hardwork and a woman can not do it by herself she needs the husband to be an emotional help for her when she loses it, trust me what you go through is nothing in comparison to what she goes through , your a man and you will never experience the 'pain' ,'hormonal swings' so you can never possibly understand, all you need to be is compassionate that is all a wife really needs .
The wifey'll be expecting you to do nappy changes once Ayah is old enough to poo solids and not green goo! ;)
Naeem, the same Lord who was gracious enough to mention pregnancy and childbirth and the difficulty of it without ever mentioning how hard it is on the man and what rest they deserve because of all the burden they bear in the process! Get over it, dude! Don't try to compete with sisters in the struggle department man, we are SO ON A PEDESTAL! :-)
AA-
@poetic_muslim, not sure if you're aware of my sarcastic style of writing (I try to be very obvious), but I do alot of tongue-in-cheek. :-)
@sumera, you're too optimistic. Dear wifey didn't even wait that long. Hello, green goo! Goodbye, Naeem's innocence!
@sahra, "Get over it, dude!"
where's the compassion, dude?! Its Ramadan, can't I get a single 'poor Naeem'?
Anybody?!?!?
no,sorry.
Naeem,
As a fellow father I truly empathize with you.
May Allah reward us for our great sacrifices. I mean not only do we have to deal w/ the "monthly" monster makeover but when they're pregnant it's a whole different story...and then again after pregnancy? What's up with that?
As a matter of fact...i think I'm gonna post on that...
Sleepy Head thy name is Father!
Much love and prayers your Mrs way. I am sure she appreciates every little and every big thing you do for her.
Poor....Mrs, enduring all that pain and discomfort :P
All you got was a few plates thrown your way...no biggy :P
Asalamu Alaykum Brother,
I must admit that was an interesting take on breastfeeding and pregnancy. I guess one never really looks at what a man has to go through as there is no contest what the woman goes through is worse. However that shouldn't mean we over look our poor husbands who do have to deal with a hormonal pregnant women. As I am sure every man already knows hormonally induced mood swings can make us women hell on wheels {Just ask mine as he seriously contemplated whether or not I was crazy when we first were married}.
Thanks for the perspective~!
Hey now, what’s with all this animosity, sisters? Where’s the love? How come all the women are taking my wife’s side (I’m including you too Sr. Bilal, you traitor)???
Wait, don't answer that...
Only voice of sanity is coming from MrEspy (I can’t believe I just said that).
I guess this is what I get when most of my readership are sisters...note to self: attract more male readers by writing salaciously on Hoor of Jannah.
LOL! Good sense of humor masha'allah, needed that :D May Allah reward you and your wife insha'Allaah. Emotional scars hey? It's good to read the perspective of a man, will keep it in mind for my hubby!
Hey now, what am I chopped liver?? I siad that we shouldn't over look all that a man has to put up with and that in deed we can be more then a hardfull at times. If that is not supportive then I don't know what is.
AA-
@Unique Muslimah, funny thing about those emotional scars - they only start to hurt when the diaper needs to get changed...go figure!
@Desert Flower, you're right... looking back over the comments, I must admit that both you and poetic muslim had quite supportive words... So, can I count on your support when I put my foot down and say No to 'can you burp her for me?' ;-)
btw...you are so old and not cool..the title should have been
Breastfeedin is "DA Bomb!"
Duh-u were the nerd in class werent u? :)
I have to give u a lesson in thuganomics one day!
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