Friday, November 9, 2007

Finally Friday - Breastfeeding

Well, it's finally Friday, and I'm counting down the hours until the weekend officially starts (2 hrs, 53 minutes from right now). Of course, I'm going into the weekend with a plugged duct that's working it's way out. Not fun. Thankfully it is working it's way out and not sticking around to cause mastitis. I caught it early, so I was able to begin treatment immediately. Ah, the joys of breastfeeding.

I know that breastfeeding does not work for everyone, either because of their beliefs or their bodies. Personally, I still find it amazing that my body produces Tree Faerie's food. Sometimes it amazes me even more that she actually likes it and prefers it over solid food! I think she'd nurse pretty much all day if I let her. She tries to nurse all night. Just call me Mama' Buffet...

Still, I wouldn't trade it for the world. I know I will be sad when we wean in a few months, though the bonds we created over the past 10 months will hopefully last forever. Thankfully, Tree Faerie likes to snuggle, so at least I'll still get snuggles and kisses. I want her to be weaned by the time she turns two, not because I think it's wrong for a toddler to still nurse, but because I don't think it's for me. My parenting style is mostly baby-led, so I'm hoping she'll take the reins and decide she's done nursing before I have to force the issue.

Of course, when I say force, I mean to gradually reduce the number of nursing sessions until we ultimately cut them out entirely.

And because I have a plugged duct, this is what is on my mind as we head into the weekend.

10 comments:

Heather said...

Is it true that the more painful something is, the more special it feels? As in child birth and breastfeeding?

Unknown said...

I think the more effort we have to put in, the more memorable it is.

Unknown said...

Oh man, that hurts. As far as breastfeeding discussion goes, I've nursed longer and longer with each baby. Only one of six weaned on her own. I despise weaning; it hurts your breasts for a while, but your heart a lot longer.

Gabriella said...

Bravo to you for BFeeding!! Enjoy every moment of it.

XYZinn said...

Does she still wake up at night to breast feed? I loved breast feeding. I wish I would've done it longer with my second baby. Keep it up!

karengreeners said...

I didn't stop bf'ing my first until I was 5 months pregnant with my second - that was 5 months ago, and with her arrival seriously iminent, I can't believe how much I'm looking forward to starting again. Enjoy, enjoy.

Monnik said...

I loved nursing and I miss it. The memories of snuggling with a nursing baby are the sweetest I have.

Sigh... hold onto it while you can. :)

KATE said...

That is so fabulous that you've been able to breastfeed & that you enjoy it. How fun for both you & little Tree Faerie! I know my sister in law loves it & went longer with each baby.
My body doesn't work right. My babies are also tongue tied, so in my efforts with the first 3 I spend the first month split open, bleeding, & now I'm deformed. Just about the time I heal up my body stops producing. Sad huh? I didn't put either one of us thru it with Baby Brooke.
I'm so excited for you & your bonding experience. I'm a little jealous too! What a good mommy you are!!!

Unknown said...

I'm kind of split over the desire to wean. Part of me will be relieved to have my body back for a while, yet I know I will miss it.

Oh, and yes, she's still waking to nurse. I know it's because I still let her nurse at night, but that will be one of the first things to go when we start to wean. I'm not looking forward to it.

Carrie and Troy Keiser said...

Well, I loved nursing my babies! My oldest weaned himself at 8 months {of course I was just pregnant with the second, so that was fine with me!}the other 3 were nursed til 15-16 months {Robby was bottle fed for the obvious reasons ... I didn't give birth to him!} Enjoy it as long as possible, I say! As for getting your body back.... good luck it all goes south after breastfeeding! get a good support bra and carry on! :)