Thursday, February 9, 2012

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.

4 comments:

  1. I totally agree with you about the frustration of having to even allude to this as a confession- and yet that is what so many people make woman feel. In fact, over the years I've seen with my three children- each one was different- and other people's children- each is unique-and if those of us bystanders would keep our opinions to ourselves, it makes mothering all the easier.

    I loved breast feeding- but with my second one had to stop due to a very bad infection in my body (and I guess in those days you couldn't keep breast feeding or something)- anyhow- I got the opposite end of opinions of people being sooo angry with me until I almost wanted to FAKE breast feeding to get them off my back- I had breast fed my son til well into his first year- my youngest girl I breast fed until she was well past 2 years old and I got the peanut gallery on the OTHER side of the room yelling at me.

    Now when I am talking to mothers of babies- I say, "You need to do the research and then go with what YOU feel is comfortable for you and baby"-- because at the end of the day, that is what counts!!

    Oh great post- and as you can see, you got me up on my soap box :) ha ha!!! ;) I'll just get down ever so slowly and back away.....hah!

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  2. I'm still nursing Piper. It's certainly not something I advertise. I understand.

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  3. Good luck! I'm very thankful that Connor just went with the flow when I decided I was done. I still miss it and it's been well over a year. Sigh.............. I love me some snuggles!

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  4. This post made me sad. With each of my three girls, I was so sad to see nursing end but especially with my baby. I joke that my first one would STILL be nursing if I hadn't weaned her (when I was 3 months pregnant with my 2nd). But #2 and #3 were much more self-sufficient and did it on their own (14 & 15 months).

    Although, my baby tried to ease my transition by biting me so hard near the end that blood was dripping down my stomach and I asked my husband to look to see if my nipple was still intact. ;-) Within a minute, I had put her back on. Hubby told me, "No man would do it. None."

    Thought you might appreciate the story. Enjoy every last second of nursing!

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