Never thought I'd get to this point, but here I am....

[Tigeresse]

My children have all weaned. Last lo to nurse did it for the last time a few months ago. My only regret was that I didn't know it was the last time or I would have made more of a hoopla around the event.:

So, my nursing experience totals up to about 16.5 continuous years(that's right, there were no breaks) with about 3-4 years of tandem nursing. If someone would have told me I would be doing that when I gave birth to my 1st nearly 17 years ago, I never would have believed it. My kids made the choice to wean when they were ready (for the most part), and yes, when they were ready was a lot older than conventional wisdom would have us believe.

Hang in there all you young mamas! It's so worth it!

[ElliesMomma]

you've been nursing since the early 1990's?! wow, all i can say! congratulations and well done.

this will be a totally new lifestyle for you, coming up. have fun, thanks for sharing your accomplishment!

[PJJ]

I bow to you...

What a wonderful accomplishment Mama!

I think this deserves a mention in the papers!

Such a great mama you are!:

[Redheaded_Momma]

WOW Tigeresse that is an amazing run!! You are a nursing rock star!!

[Tigeresse]

Thanks, all. for awhile there I thought it would never end, and now it seems like the blink of an eye.

I almost quit in the beginning too....had a lot of pain in the early months. Once I got past that though there was no turning back.

[jocelynr]

Originally Posted by Tigeresse

I almost quit in the beginning too....had a lot of pain in the early months. Once I got past that though there was no turning back.

I wish there were more women like you to say how much it was worth getting through those few hard days/weeks. Maybe more would be inspired to stick with it. WTG!

[mysticmomma]

I'm pregnant, so everything makes me cry... but your post made me bawl. Congrats mom. You deserve the purple heart of bf!

[readytobedone]

wow, mama, you're my BFing hero!

[Tigeresse]

Wow, thanks everyone! I wanted to share 'cause there are very few people IRL who know how long I nursed. Even my own parents don't know how old each kid was when they weaned.

Originally Posted by jocelynr

I wish there were more women like you to say how much it was worth getting through those few hard days/weeks. Maybe more would be inspired to stick with it. WTG!

It was so hard for about 3 months. Could only nurse through one side and had to pump the other. When I went grocery shopping with my baby I would walk down the formula aisle to show myself how much money I was saving by sticking with it. I would look at my beautiful chubby baby and know something was working. Eventually the pain just went away. I did have lots of support from LLL and that helped a lot.

[meemee]

Originally Posted by Tigeresse

I did have lots of support from LLL and that helped a lot.

a big YEAH to that. they were a wonderful source of emotional support to me and esp. just to be around mama's who were nursing as i didnt know anyone IRL apart from me who was nursing the baby.

the first two months were a nightmare for me. thrush, cracked nipples, bad latch and later plugged ducts and mastitis. i didnt give up because i wanted what was best for my dd.

CONGRATULATIONS mama. i wish others outside our NP community could hear your story. to know it is done and how you can survive through anything.

it is an accomplishment i am really proud of. life gave me just one baby and at 6 1/2 she is still nursing. she is a child with a lot of anxiety which i didnt realise till she was almost 3. nursing has helped her so much with that.

to me that has been the most rewarding contribution to life. that i was able to make it through. make it through pumping, daycare so our day nursing was gone, separation at night when she stayed over at her dad's so went 24 sometimes more hours without nursing. we overcame that including everyone around us asking us to stop - esp. her dad.

so here's a toast for all those years. for making it through all the hard times and being a pioneer in these times.

my dd wanted to add some smilies. interesting she chose only bfeeding ones. she wanted to put her favourite smilies.

::

[ewink]

Wow. I bow to you too, Mama! That is so amazing!!! Thank you so much for sharing with us. What an inspiration!! I started nursing in June '04 (with a 4 month break due to preterm labor), so not even close to that amount of time.
What a precious gift you have given your children!!!
Your are a super mom!!!

[Tigeresse]

Well congrats to you moms too for doing the absolute best for your babes!: You're doing great!

It warms my heart to hear from people who actually think it's cool I nursed so long!