A couple of months ago, I went to a La Leche League meeting because I needed to talk with other moms about some breastfeeding concerns I was having at the time. Namely, tips for how to maintain my sanity amidst nursing my two littlests. I needed a support network. Badly.

However, while we were there, talk turned to interpreting our babies’ cries. One mother explained, “Well, you know how there’s the ‘I need a diaper change’ cry, and the ‘I’m hungry’ cry, and the ‘I’m tired’ cry?”

I looked around the room at the other mothers nodding in agreement, and I thought to myself: there must be something wrong with me, because I can’t read my babies like that. I only know the ‘I’m a little fussy/cranky’ cry, the ‘I’m really crying now’ cry, and finally, the ‘I’m losing my shit because I am so freaking pissed right now’ cry.

And mostly, I answer all of these cries the same way—breastfeeding. Not with naps, or diaper changes. Just here, take this boob. And be quiet, please. You’re hurting my ears.