Jeannie Mai Opens Up About Struggling To Breastfeed: It’s Even More Difficult Than Giving Birth

Jeannie Mai Opens Up About Struggling To Breastfeed: It’s Even More Difficult Than Giving Birth

Jeannie Mai continues to get candid about the emotional ups and downs of her motherhood journey.

In a recent instagram post, The Real host gave followers a glimpse into her most recent experience in motherhood, discussing the difficulties she’s had producing milk for her new baby and the mental toll it’s taken on her.

Jeannie Mai Jenkins

Jeannie Mai Jenkins has been incredibly transparent about her motherhood journey since welcoming baby Monaco, who she shares with her 44-year-old rap artist husband Jeezy.  A few days ago, the 43-year-old tv personality revealed to followers that she was struggling trusting people or wanting to socialize since her baby’s birth, and asked for advice from moms about how to stay positive through the many emotional stages of motherhood.

Most recently, Jeannie opened up about how hard trying to produce breast milk has been, despite strictly following advice on how to produce from doctors. On the post she writes:

“Been tackling this breastfeeding thing for two months. Listening to a lactation nurse, reading advise online, and getting so much help from other moms. Hands down, it’s been the most difficult part of this entire mom journey. I already HEARD it was gonna be, but I never imagined this. For me, it’s was even more difficult than giving birth”

She continues:

The day I gave birth, the nurse put Monaco to my breast and I got emotional about the colostrum that my breast naturally produced. I couldn’t believe nature took place so fast! I fell in love at first latch. I’ve never felt anything like that bond before, looking down at my body providing for this sweet face. I became obsessed. She said latch the baby every three hours, which will signal to my breasts to make milk, feed Monaco each side, 15 min left, 15 min right, and I will see breast milk increase. Well, not for me”

Jeannie Mai Jenkins

She goes on to discuss how she’s only been able to produce an ounce of milk at a time since giving birth, despite taking various supplements and stimulating her body as instructed to help milk flow.

She continues:

Since then, every 3 hrs looked like this: Latch, supplement with formula since I could only give her an ounce, (IF that), go and pump to signal to body to make more milk, set alarm to take milk thistle pills, sunflower Lecithin pills, drink fenugreek tea, massage boobs, in one hour prepare boobs with a hot compress or towel, wake the baby up, repeat. And two months later, I STILL don’t make enough milk to feed my baby.

Jeannie wraps up the post speaking on having to “catch herself” when trying to compare her motherhood journey to other mothers, and not entering a dark place stating:

“I had to catch myself because it actually got to my mental, and things started to feel dark. Comparing myself to other moms, frustrated from the ups and down of pumping an ounce one day, nothing the next..and this is ON TOP of all the anxiety this journey can bring.”

Though she shares about the trials and struggles she’s experiencing in motherhood, Jeannie insists that she is not sharing to complain, but to praise all the mothers out there for making it through such hard situations.

She continues:

“Not complaining, actually here to give moms out there, breastfeeding or not, all the flowers and praise for doing your best to care for your baby-formula or boob. I have more respect for moms than ever in my life. And I have to remember me included. Hugs to every mom out there”

Jeannie Mai Jenkins & Jeezy

Can you relate to Jeannie’s struggle in motherhood? Send her your thoughts via the comments!