Or, we will have, in one month and 2 days. My son's 2nd birthday. This is my fourth child, and the first one to make it 24 full months.
The first one was exclusively pumped-for for 6 months. Babies 2 and 3 weaned themselves, at 23 months and about 18 months. (I'm sketchy on that 3rd one, I don't remember exactly the last time.)
Zayd, baby 4, shows no signs of weaning anytime soon. I'm not pregnant ;) That probably helps.
2 years ago, baby Zayd was born after a *perfect* homebirth. A birth I'd do again even knowing I'd take him home and feed him with an eyedropper until we could see his pediatrician, who would diagnose him with imperforate anus and send us to a surgeon.
1 year ago, baby Zayd and I spent pretty much the entire beautiful fall in the hospital due to complications with his bowel. He was not allowed to nurse because at the time of his admission, even 5 cc's (far less than an ounce) of formula given by NG tube was causing his abdomen to distend. Finally, after a month, we were nearly ready to go home, and the ban was lifted. I wasn't sure if he'd even remember, but after *one* bite, he latched on like he had never stopped nursing!
Unfortunately, 24 hours later, his belly started to look like it had in those first days in the hospital. It took 2 weeks, but he was readmitted for surgery to enlarge his colostomy. We weaned again during that time, but again, afterward it was like he'd never stopped. :)
Today, he's almost 2. I don't know how well my supply survived all that. I know that when he was first hospitalized, I was shocked at how little I was able to pump. It shows that he'd had some decreased appetite for awhile. I do know I have a toddler who *loves* his 'na-na' or 'boo', nurses several times a day, and needs it for sleep just like my other toddlers. I know that after everything else he's been through, he got through RSV last February without another hospitalization. I credit the immune boost. ;)
I know his GI doctor didn't get why I didn't just listen to him and wean. He was convinced my baby was allergic to the food he'd thrived with for the first 6 months of his life. I was just as convinced he was wrong. Funny thing, he hasn't even mentioned nursing since that last hospital stay. I let my happy, healthy, now formula-and-G-tube free toddler speak for himself.
But this post isn't about having anyone congratulate me, or bashing a doctor who wasn't supportive of our nursing. It's about sharing a milestone that society doesn't understand, one that holds a new appreciation for me after our journey.
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