Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Breastfeeding Bennett One Year Later

Over the weekend I weaned Bennett so I am officially done breastfeeding. I've been asked if I was sad to wean and my answer is no. I was really ready to be done and honestly, so was Bennett. He started losing interest around 10 months or so (both of my boys did....they preferred that yummy table food instead!) which made the whole weaning process really easy.
Everyone has different priorities in life but breastfeeding is a huge priority for me. I 100% exclusively breastfed both of my boys for over a year and I am so proud to say that. It is definitely a commitment but it's a goal I set for myself and to accomplish that goal feels good. I would be lying if I said I didn't have several moments, with both of my boys, that I was SO over it and wanted to be done. However, I tell myself I'm going to do it for a year and no matter what, I push through.
If I could give anyone advice when it comes to breastfeeding, I would say to please just educate yourself about it before you get started. There is so much false information about breastfeeding that has become incredibly persistent in today's society and it makes me sad to see moms, who really want to breastfeed, give up on it because they were misinformed. This is especially close to my heart because I have small babies and I think a lot of women would not continue to breastfeed because they were worried something was wrong with their milk. However, I know from reading and educating myself on all things breastmilk that this just isn't the case. In fact, I follow @lactationlink on Instagram (a wonderful breastfeeding source) and she actually just posted about this a few days ago. She does a Fact or Fiction post then will answer the question later. Her question was "Some babies are small because their mom's milk isn't as nutritious?" The answer? FICTION. "While it's true that the composition of your milk can be different than your best friends or even your sister, or your milk may appear thinner than anothers, your milk is specifically suited for your breast physiology and your baby's needs. It's as unique as a fingerprint in its makeup and disease fighting properties. Rest assured that if you follow your baby's lead while breastfeeding, their growth is perfect for them."
While I was confident that my breastmilk was good enough for my tiny babies, that doesn't mean it isn't stressful. I had to check my boys weight frequently at the doctor and that will totally put the pressure on. I'm thankful for a chill doctor who is educated on breastmilk himself and knows there is nothing wrong with my milk. The only thing he encouraged me to do was offer some milk in a bottle after they were done nursing to see if they would take more. Guess what? They never would because they got plenty while nursing. That always made me feel good and boosted my confidence in nursing.
I'm happy I made it another year breastfeeding but I'm really happy to be done now too! I cried the last time I nursed Campbell but not with Bennett. It was a sweet moment but I was like "okay, that's that." I guess after a whole year of nursing Campbell then a whole year of nursing Bennett, I was kind of over it. However, I would do it over and over again whether I had 1 more baby or 10. I'm very thankful to have been able to breastfeed but I've crossed the finish line now and I'm happy the race is over!

3 comments:

  1. Hooray for you! Such a milestone. I nursed my son for 13 months and my daughter for 16 months and that is something I will always be proud of. I gave them the best start possible and I was thankful I was able to do it. It wasn't easy but it was one less thing I had to buy in those lean years. 👍👍

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    1. Thank you! I think I will always be proud as well. There are always hurdles and moments where you are so over it but I am always determined to power through and make it to the year mark. 16 months is impressive!

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  2. That's so true, I remember crying in Whole Foods begging for an herb that would help my milk production. I found one and was so thankful but it was a hard and long journey but in the end it was worth every moment. Thank you!! 😊

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