We've reached the end of our nursing journey. My DD is 21 months old and she wasn't quite ready. I'm 36 weeks pregnant and I wasn't quite ready either.
I wanted to nurse her until she was at least 2, maybe even do CLW. I wanted to be one of those amazing MDC mamas who is just in tune to their child and goes with the flow as far as weaning goes.
I decided last week though that we would be done. Nursing was very painful for me (like knives stabbing my nipples) throughout pregnancy...sometimes better, sometimes worse. I was nervous about tandem nursing. She was down to only nursing first thing in the morning. I had done some gentle mama-led-weaning to reduce the amount of nursing that happened over the course of my pregnancy.
I both dreaded and cherished our special time each morning. It was so nice to have her little body snuggled up to mine, but it was oh so painful too.
My DH and I decided to take a little babymoon this week. We went to a B&B for two nights, therefore, she couldn't nurse for two days. The morning we left, I talked to her after she nursed about how it was the last time and that na-na was going bye-bye. The first morning that we came back she was upset when daddy didn't bring her into our room to nurse, but she quickly moved on. The second day of being back she asked for mommy, but DH told her I was sleeping and she was fine with that. Today when I was in the bath with her she tried to nurse, but I told her no. That was hard. She then told me that na-na was for the baby. I told her yes, that when the baby got here the baby would na-na a lot. Again, total acceptance from her and she went on with life.
I wanted to share our journey for a couple of reasons. First, I just kind of wanted to be able to share how I feel (as it is very mixed) and receive support. And second, I wanted other moms to not feel guilt over weaning and have a story of how it can go well for everyone involved.
Thanks for letting MDC be a place where I can do both.
I wanted to nurse her until she was at least 2, maybe even do CLW. I wanted to be one of those amazing MDC mamas who is just in tune to their child and goes with the flow as far as weaning goes.
I decided last week though that we would be done. Nursing was very painful for me (like knives stabbing my nipples) throughout pregnancy...sometimes better, sometimes worse. I was nervous about tandem nursing. She was down to only nursing first thing in the morning. I had done some gentle mama-led-weaning to reduce the amount of nursing that happened over the course of my pregnancy.
I both dreaded and cherished our special time each morning. It was so nice to have her little body snuggled up to mine, but it was oh so painful too.
My DH and I decided to take a little babymoon this week. We went to a B&B for two nights, therefore, she couldn't nurse for two days. The morning we left, I talked to her after she nursed about how it was the last time and that na-na was going bye-bye. The first morning that we came back she was upset when daddy didn't bring her into our room to nurse, but she quickly moved on. The second day of being back she asked for mommy, but DH told her I was sleeping and she was fine with that. Today when I was in the bath with her she tried to nurse, but I told her no. That was hard. She then told me that na-na was for the baby. I told her yes, that when the baby got here the baby would na-na a lot. Again, total acceptance from her and she went on with life.
I wanted to share our journey for a couple of reasons. First, I just kind of wanted to be able to share how I feel (as it is very mixed) and receive support. And second, I wanted other moms to not feel guilt over weaning and have a story of how it can go well for everyone involved.
Thanks for letting MDC be a place where I can do both.
