Jacqueline Pezzillo: breastfeeding, weaning, and being kinder to ourselves

Jacqueline Pezzillo is a mother, stepmother and the Director of Brand Communications & PR at Room to Read, a global education non-profit focused on creating a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality. She is passionate about rewriting the narratives girls and women are told about themselves and living a purpose-driven life.

Jacqueline and I talk about weaning from breastfeeding in this podcast, a transition in motherhood that is rarely discussed, and one that is often inundated with outside pressure. She shares how extended nursing helped her find confidence as a woman and mom and how it strengthened her mother’s intuition.

We swap weaning stories, discuss breastfeeding toddlers, and lean into how trusting your intuition when it comes to your relationship with your child continues to be the foundation for gaining confidence as a mom. 

Quotable Quotes: 

We’re inundated with messages that breastfeeding is supposed to be easy and beautiful and natural and that weaning is supposed to be easy and beautiful and natural and none of that is true!

I think we all just need to be kinder to ourselves and kinder to our children, and more understanding of the challenges that come along with breastfeeding and weaning. And stop feeling like we are doing something incorrectly when things become difficult of when they take longer than expected.

 Trust yourself, be kind to yourself, be patient with yourself. Ultimately know that disappointing everyone else in your life before you disappoint yourself is what you should strive for. 

Find Jacqueline on Twitter and Instagram @jmpezzillo