I have breastfed Brody from day 1. Took us a little awhile to get adjusted and used to it but believe me we did. I didn't ever have to wean from a bottle to a sippy cup because I could NEVER EVER get him to take a bottle of ANYTHING weather it was Pumped Milk or Juice. So that was easy.. but weaning from breastfeeding is not. Well I can't say that.. it is going better than I thought just wasn't so easy on me.
Since Brody was about a year old and I started back to school he was really only nursing at nap time and at night. He stayed with my mom and dad fine throughout the day but if he was with me he wanted to nurse. I kept hoping and praying he would eventually wean himself. Nope, I am thinking if they have breastfed for a year they will just keep going. People often asked me if I was still breastfeeding and when I was going to quit.. I wanted to quit when Brody and myself were ready. I felt that I was doing the best thing for my baby weather he was a newborn or 18 months old. Breastfeeding became a way of life for me. Was it easy at first? No way. I made it work for me and for Brody and I am so thankful that I was able to.
I decided last night that I was going to try and put Brody to sleep without nursing. Let me remind you for the past 19 months, Brody has nursed to go to sleep. It's what we did.... so this was hard. He cried, kicked and screamed while I cried to myself thinking maybe I wasn't doing the right thing but then he drifted off to sleep. He slept until I got up at 5:00 and he wanted to nurse to go back to sleep, I didn't want to fight the crying so I turned on the cartoons until he drifted off to sleep. During the day he doesn't usually nurse except for nap time (sometimes) but we were in the car so he didn't then. I was dreading nighttime, really dreading it. I don't like for my baby to cry. I let him stay up later than usual, I gave him some Milk in his sippy cup and got a little silky and had him rub it and rubbed it across his face until he fell asleep. He is now sleeping so soundly beside me (Ye she sleeps with us) and I hope that he sleeps through the night.
I am not sure how long this will take and I hope I am doing it the right way. I am trying to make it as easy on me and on him. I don't want him to have to cry for it because at his age now I know it is mostly comfort but I am here to comfort him as I cuddle him and love him.
I gave nursing my all for the last 19 months and am so thankful I was able to but honestly.. I am ready to get my boobs back ( well kinda since they will never ever be the same).
8 comments:
19 months - that's DEDICATION! What a fantastic mom you are. I hope for a smooth and swift transition for both of you. You definitely deserve to get your boobs back ;)!
Good for you, nursing so long! My youngest is almost 11 months now and I plan on cutting back to JUST nursing in the AM and PM once he's a year old. My days of pumping at work are just about over and I couldn't be more excited about it! I imagine I'd like to stick with the morning and night nursings until he's close to 2, but we'll see how it goes. You are such a good mom to be so concerned with him crying and just trying to do what's right for both of you.
you are amazing for doing it as long as you have!!
you are amazing for doing it as long as you have!!
Wow, that is awesome that you were able to nurse for so long! He is receiving so many health benefits from that - some that you may never realize, but I know they are there.
that is awesome that you lasted so long! I honestly think weaning is harder on us than on our babes. So much emotion I feel ya!
I just came across your blog and just LAST week went through the exact same thing. My son's 13 months and I was feeling the pressure from friends...."you're STILL breastfeeding." UGH I hated those words, but in the end I gave into peer pressure :( I still have about a months worth of frozen bmilk, so I can confidently say I breastfeed him to 14 months. I also breastfeed him to sleep and that was the hardest one for me to let go of, it's been a week and it still kills me but I've started a new routine so I'm still holding him and reading to him before bed. Good luck! Brandy
WOW!! you're a trooper 19 months!!
kennedy was SUPER attached to the bottle and that was a difficult one for us! i assure you every night/day will get easier! stand firm and the transition will be smooth!
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