Sunday, April 19, 2015

Well, That's a Wrap

I spent 27 of the last 38 months of my life breastfeeding.

It was wonderful, sometimes stressful, but I'm just overall grateful for the experience.

On Saturday morning, I sat in bed with Benjamin and fed Claire for the last time.

She is 15 months. Benjamin was 12 months, but definitely ready to be weaned by 11 months. It was like wrestling an alligator that last month with him. He was done within a couple days of his first birthday. Claire was not so keen on quitting. She was down to two feedings, which she seemed fairly content with.

In the next three months, we will leave the kids twice for overnight adventures together and I've already sent my pump packing along with all the breastfeeding supplies I own. I never saw her happily feeding to 15 months because Benjamin was completely disinterested.

I'm not excited about the enormous prospect of other womanly things returning very soon, but man. Twenty-seven months of freedom from that was pretty sweet.

But you know what's not sweet? How I'm feeling right now convincing my body that the shop is closed for good.
                                               

7 comments:

Mama Bear said... [Reply to comment]

Good job Mama! Hang in there as your body adapts.

Ben and Katie said... [Reply to comment]

well I have to say well done! wish my body worked and could carry us that far but we only made it a measly 5.5 months...and that was from only the right cuz the left was like bamm gone at like 4! It's rough cuz you want to give your baby the best but then have to let them go!
Glad you had the amazing experience!

Jenny said... [Reply to comment]

Hang in there! I was 16 weeks pregnant when A decided she was done nursing and having the high hormone levels made it easy to adjust... not easy when E stopped at all! Not pregnant, so the first five months were rough and I did not like the hormone swings monthly nor how alternatively angry and sad I felt. The combo made me feel like I was failing at everything: parenting, marriage, career, etc. Wishing you and Claire and easier end of nursing transition.

Caroline said... [Reply to comment]

Hope you're not as boulder-tastic today.

Bravo, mama! 27 of the last 38 months is crazy and awesome!

Danielle said... [Reply to comment]

You're amazeballs. You have 3 kids that prove that everyday. Congrats!!!
Independence coming your way!!! ;)

Julie said... [Reply to comment]

Yowza…so how'd that go?! How long did it last? And was it as bad as after Andrew was born? I'm looking at my first 48 hours EVER without nursing or pumping this weekend and am nervous about how that second day is going to look. Kind of hoping it jump-starts weaning around here (I mean, it's been almost 35 months. It's time. I'm going to miss it more than I'm not I think, I KNOW Cate will. I think it's going to be ugly.) But am also more than a little afraid of the PTSD aspect of it feeling the same as after losing Anna.

A Few Good Eggs said... [Reply to comment]

27 of 38 months is a LOT! Good for you and I hope the transition to not nursing goes well. I already get nostalgic for the time in the future when B stops nursing. I know it is silly, but I love that time with her, even moreso now that I am back at work and miss out on daytime feeding.