*note: I tried and tried...for 30 minutes....for include a
picture of Clara here...and the stupid thing wouldn't load. And I'm
tired of fighting now...so I give up. No picture for this post.*
Those
who have followed my journey know that I had a love hate HATE
relationship with breastfeeding. It took about 3 solid months of it
before I could honestly say it wasn't uncomfortable or painful. I twas
also a HUGE pain in my ass to pump religiously at work. I'd sneak away
between surgical cases, between clinic patients, between rounding on
inpatients, and every lunch break (if there was a lunch a break). I'd
wake up at God-awful early hours to pump before going to work (like 4:30
or 5 am...yuck), and it would be the last thing I would do before going
to bed.
Weekends were Heaven when I would get to
exclusively nurse Clara (and my evenings at home as well.) It was a
true labor of love to provide those meals to my sweet one. And like I
said, after 3 months of it, my body was adjusted to it and I came to
look forward to that time together. Best time of my day in fact.
I
was determined to breastfeed for at least 6 months...that was my
initial goal. My training is rigorous and crazy and I didn't even know
if I could do it that long - but I wanted to give it a try. And then,
once 6 months came and went and I wanted to keep going. Tommy thought I
was nuts...as it was a real time commitment. Yet, I was determined to
nurse as long as I possibly could!
At 8 months, Clara
started getting quite fidgety while she nursed. She became easily
distracted and uninterested. Despite the struggle, I continued to try
and nurse...but it just wasn't meant to be. She had decided to stop.
And, believe it or not, I was heart broken.
Heart
broken, that is, until she GOT TWO TEETH the very next week. I think
she chose to stop breastfeeding at just the right time. (that's a
joke...sortof.)
I must admit though, I miss it greatly.
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Not many people know that it takes about nine months of breastfeeding to develop the highest visual acuity. Even La Leche Leaque doesn't include that piece of info, but there is a study on it.
ReplyDeleteHowever, for YOU to accomplish EIGHT MONTHS, on YOUR schedule means you are a CHAMP. Most women would have cracked a whole lot sooner. ;)
I think you and Tommy are wonderful parents and Clara is a lucky girl.
I remember when my sister was nursing and we read the La Leche Leaque book. They did say that some babies would wean themselves and that's what Clara did.
Hey, at least you didn't have to fight an uphill battle to wean her yourself! I hear that's very difficult for the mother when the baby still wants to nurse. No matter how gradually the mother tapers off, some babies cry. I think that scenario would be soooo difficult.
BTW, my sister stopped at six months, and she was a stay-at-home mother. So, it's amazing that you've done so well on a schedule that would kill most of us mere mortals.
This is a great post, and very attractive website, too. If any of your readers want to become certified wedding planners, we’re now offering financial assistance.
ReplyDeleteCome see us!
Will
Congrats on making it 8 months! I'm always amazed when people don't even want to TRY breastfeeding... I also had the love/hate relationship- but mostly with my pump... I was SO happy to pack that thing up... but I do MISS nursing and the bonding time it provided for me and P!
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