Surely that’s not a headline you expected to read today, but trust me — it’s a wonderful story. If you’ve ever given birth and chose to breastfeed, you’ll know that your boobs have suddenly been repurposed from what they were years prior. Even though it’s biologically why boobs exist in the first part, it can still come as a surprise to new moms. Breastfeeding is a wonderful thing, but in all honesty? Sometimes it hurts.
That’s where Kayla Sietz comes in. She chose to breastfeed baby Sophie for nine months, and wanted to share the fact that it’s not always easy. See, babies develop teeth. And some babies don’t really know how much biting hurts. Mothers already have to face the pain of pointy baby fingernails grabbing onto sensitive skin, and now they face another painful (yet beautiful) development.
It’s up to each breastfeeding woman to decide if/when to stop and switch to formula and for Seitz, that time came at around nine months. In order to celebrate nine months of being on call for feeding, Seitz figured that she’d stage a photoshoot to symbolize everything she went through.
She dressed baby Sophie as a shark, and that shark is eating a — you guessed it — boob cake. It’s pretty funny.
It’s also very cute and perfectly fitting. Sophie was nicknamed “Sophie Shark” for understandable reasons.
Do do do do do do... 😩🤱🏾 Were your little ones biters? https://t.co/VcBraQ5emQ
— Dara Bergeron (@dara_bergeron_) February 14, 2019
But even more fitting was Seitz’s caption. “Here’s to surviving 9 months of breastfeeding little Sophie Shark,” she wrote, adding hashtags of”#MyPoorNinnys #DontBiteTheBoobThatFeedsYou #BabyShark.”
Oh my gosh 😂😂😂😂 #relatable
— Spray Pal (@Spray_Pal) February 14, 2019
Baby shark doo doo doo doo doo doo...🤣🦈🤱 https://t.co/2DUscc6RGg
If you’re not a mom, it might make you appreciate what they go through even more. Seriously — even though it’s a great way to bond, it’s not easy. Even moms who are excited about breastfeeding often find it difficult or not in any way enjoyable.
That’s one of the reasons why there’s so much controversy over breastfeeding. Moms often get shamed for choosing formula, but sometimes their bodies just can’t handle the pain. That, or the baby won’t latch.
I understand now why people give up breastfeeding... 10 days in & this shit still hurts 😩
— Callie Johnson🤷🏼♀️ (@CalliieeeJo) January 31, 2019
This cake may be funny, but it also gets the message across. Even years after a baby is born, moms will somehow feel the effects.
I love breastfeeding but fuuuck this girl gots teeth already and it’s hurts more then stepping on LEGO’s 😨
— Juana I Soto (@stone_Cold27) February 7, 2019
The fact that it’s red on the inside? Also intentional. Babies (and baby sharks) can sometimes draw blood. It’s rare, but it can happen if your nipples get damaged.
In an interview with PopSugar, Seitz said that the cute photoshoot was also a personal reminder to her. “Since Sophie has started teething, my family has called her Sophie Shark because she is harsh with the… ninny. I had to do some cute photos to remind me how painful [it is] and to not have any more kids!” she stated.
But if you’re pregnant and terrified by these accounts, don’t worry. For one, breastfeeding is a little different for every woman and every baby, but can be a true bonding experience. You really don’t know what the situation will be like until you try.
Secondly, it’s just another reminder after giving birth that your body is incredibly powerful. Not only can it make a child, but under standard circumstances, it can feed them as well.
But, you’re probably a little curious about the boob cake. Seitz credits Kelli’s Cake’s Gone Wild for making it. But, don’t get the name confused — Kelli doesn’t just make boob cakes.
In fact, it looks like she makes G-rated cakes and cake pops for a lot of different celebrations. How gorgeous is this wedding cake?
Boob cakes are actually a lot more popular than you might assume. They’re often used for benefits supporting a cure for breast cancer and are also created to celebrate breast reductions and other surgeries.
And something tells me that after Seitz’s boob cake goes viral, more and more women will use them to honor the breastfeeding journey. Breastfeeding is more or less like having a full-time job on top of the work you already do. And I haven’t even mentioned pumping, which takes up so much time and freezer space.
Even though Sophie may not remember the nine months she was breastfed, that time and dedication helped her grow and thrive. So much kudos to Seitz for sticking to it.
And for those moms out there who also have baby sharks at home, at least you know you’re not alone. It’s more common than you think, and moms everywhere are feeling the pain.
