The end is near

I have a confession.

Sophie still nurses.

The fact that I feel the need to word that as a "confession" bothers me a little, but it is what it is. America hasn't caught up with the rest of the world in many ways, breastfeeding is yet another. Anyway...

Now that Babygirl is two, I've noticed she doesn't want to nurse as much. For a long time she had a three-times-a-day routine: first thing in the morning, after work, and at bedtime. Then the after work session went away. Then mornings got a little busier, and less often. Now she doens't even ask in the mornings. She is down to a very few minutes at night.

It's a strange feeling. It's easier this way than the sudden, cold-turkey method I used with Emma. Neither one of us was ready yet, and I'll always regret giving in to the pressure I was feeling from everyone I knew. Every part of me knew it was wrong, but I was young and uneducated in all things baby (I was definitely learning as I went), and lacked the confidence to stand up for myself. I caved, and lots of tears were invovled from both myself and Emma, who just did not understand at all. It was physically painful, too, as a sudden weaning usually is. The gradual process is much nicer. No pain, physically or emotionally. She lets go as she's ready, and she's getting more and more ready every day.

Luckily, she's still a snuggler right now. I love how she cuddles up when she nurses. She plays with my face, with my shirt, with her feet. She'll pat me, or rub her hands on me. Sometimes she'll pull my face down to hers. It's our quiet time. That part, I'm sad about losing.

I've been lucky so far to have supportive (or at least quiet if not supportive) readers, but just in case anyone feels the need to disparage breastfeeding past the first year, read this first. It's a link to the World Health Organization's breastfeeding page. Then read this post. Only then may you argue with me.