Munchkin turning one and she’s still breastfeeding. This means I’ve reached my initial goal of breastfeeding for 1 year! 
In fact, I was a little stubborn about it. In my mind, I had failed by having a c-section. I know, I know, I didn’t but it wasn’t what I wanted and I worked really hard to avoid it. I allowed that c-section to make me feel like less of a mom and less of a woman. I vividly remember while we were still in the hospital and Munchkin had lost 14% of her birth weight. They started her on formula so fast that my head spun. All I could do was sob. I must have sobbed for at least an hour feeling like a failure, certain I was going to be a terrible mother. I was still crying while The Man feed Munchkin formula using a plunger tube thingie and I was hooked up to a double breast pump feeling like a cow. That was one of my lowest points as a mom.
After that I was not willing to fail at breastfeeding so it became my personal focus. I was going to do whatever I had to do to continue breastfeeding Munchkin. I know that some women do try everything and are not able to continue. I’m so, so thankful that I was able to. I’m not sure I would have made it if I had had to go back to work and had to pump. I hate pumping and I am amazed and inspired by the mamas that work and pump. I’m so thankful that I have been able to stay at home with Munchkin. Being able to be a stay at home mom helped tremendously in reaching my goal. The Man has also been my biggest cheerleader and has supported me every step of the way. Every time I nurse in public The Man is ready to say something to anyone who says anything mean to me about nursing. It hasn’t happened yet (thankfully) but he’s ready in case it ever does!
Now that we’re at a year, I have no plans for weaning. The WHO states that breastfeeding for up two years and beyond is good for mom and babe so we’ll continue for as long as Munchkin wants. I can’t see either of us wanting to stop anytime soon but you never know. I think we’ll take it as it comes, though I think I’ll be ready in another year. I think two years will be enough for me. I’m really praying she’ll self wean by then!
*How you feed your baby is a personal and often controversial issue. I trust that you did your research and made the decision that was best for you, your baby and your family. If you breastfeed, you rock mama. If you pump(ed), you rock mama. If you formula feed, you rock mama. If you do any combination of the above, you’re doing a great job mama. Keep it up!
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Congratulations at making it to a year! I wish I didn't have to pump, but I've been able to this long and we're still going. Breastfeeding isn't a walk in the park so the fact that you've made it so long is such an accomplishment and one you should be really proud of! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat job making it to a year! We are at 15 months strong, but I'm hoping my little one self weans before two years...I think that is my cutoff time.
ReplyDeleteWay to go! I also had the one-year goal with early difficulties, but was so glad I toughed it out on those hard days as well.
ReplyDeleteGood for you!! I'm nursing a 19 month old right now.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up! I am SO GLAD it ended up working for you! I am one of those women who was bound and determined to breastfeed and despite trying EVERYTHING (lactation visits, speech therapy for her suck, tubes of formula connected to my nipple, double pumping while supplementing because of the same weight loss issues)- it didn't work for either of my girls. Hardest experience of my life. Ended up pumping and bottle feeding with #1 for 7 months and then supplemented with donor breast milk from a friend (I had supply issues too unrelated to exclusively pumping) and now with #2 I am pumping still (she's 4 months) and have another sweet friend who had over supply issues and is giving me extra breast milk to supplement with. I'm bound and determined to have a third and breast feed!
ReplyDeleteOh I am so happy for you girl! I just love how you talk about this. You are always so real with your feelings. I know so many moms "allow" (love that you addressed this feeling by the way) themselves to feel like they failed because of the way their baby came into the world. As if they could have done something to control it. I remember talking to one of my mom friends about this and she was saying, I know in my head that I'm so thankful that they can even do this so my baby and I can live but why can't I stop feeling like I didn't earn this!! It was heartbreaking. But look at you, you've overcome, you've persevered and you totally and completely rock mama!!!!! Seriously, my little guy basically completely weaned himself at 10 months old and started drinking full time out of his sippy cup. I could have cried because it was the longest i'd ever done it with any of my other kids.
ReplyDeleteI found you on the blog hop, but wanted to say more, congrats on one year of bf! I was able to bf my youngest until 14 months. I "failed" with my first two babies, or thought I did until I realized it was society making me feel like I was a failure. Once I put no time line, rules or requirements on myself we did great! Again, congrats!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'm an happy and proud that we made it:) You're doing a great job pumping Mama!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I think 2 years is a good amount of time:)
ReplyDeleteThanks:) It is a nice feeling of accomplishment, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteThanks! And you go mama! I'm following your weaning experience as I'm thinking Munchkin is not going to want to wean.
ReplyDeleteYou're doing a great job Mama! I think it's great that you're using donor milk:)
ReplyDeleteThank you! I feel the same way about the c-section...thankful we have the knowledge but hate that we had to do it. Most days I'm fine but I still have hard days. I'm determined to have a VBAC with my next one! I think you did a great job Mama, with your babies too. They are beautiful, all three of them:)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for coming by! I think society puts so much pressure on moms to do the "right" thing and it doesn't really matter if it's formula feeding (why aren't you breastfeeding?!?) or breastfeeding (why are you doing that in public? Why do you need to pump?!?). I'm so glad you were able to BF longer since that is what you wanted to do!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on making it a year!
ReplyDeleteGreat job meeting your goal and beyond!! Thanks for linking up with us!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on making it to the 1 year mark! You've done a fantastic thing for your little one!!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on making it a year! My milk dried up at around 9 months and it was the worst feeling in the world but I am so thankful that I got to breastfeed as long as I did!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
ReplyDeleteThank you:) I wanted to BF for so long for Munchkin (and for the health benefits for myself too) because I know it's so good for her!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Good job on 9 months Mama! That's nothing to be ashamed of! You & your baby still got lots of great benefits from breastfeeding:)
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