While at the grocery store the other day I put something back in our shopping cart that had been missing for the last 18 months.
Whole Milk.
Madeline is twelve months old and has now just had her first sippy cup of milk. Well, milk that was not produced by my own body.
When Madeline was born I knew I wanted to attempt to breastfeed despite my bumpy road with Elizabeth. But after struggling for two months the first time around before eventually giving in to formula, I had low expectations.
Now here I am. A nursing mama going twelve months strong despite another tongue tied baby who had jaundice that required the bili blanket and was born two weeks early.
While I will miss the bond that nursing provides and watching little M fist pump every time she hears music while sucking {honest - whenever she hears a beat she bops her head and pumps her fist. hysterical!} I am looking forward to a massive trip to Victoria's Secret to buy undergarments that do not have snaps at the straps.
My weaning plan is to eliminate a nursing session every 1-2 weeks until they are finally finished. My tentative goal is to be finished by Halloween. Madeline has dropped in weight percentiles so our focus is going to be on pushing whole milk/Pediasure type drinks and phasing out the nursing at a pace where both of us our comfortable.
Breastfeeding has provided me with much comic relief over the last year, tonight not being the exception. Madeline had on her pj's and I was carrying her into the bedroom when Ellie asked, "Mama, are you going to milk Madeline?"
Poor Ellie. This entire year must have been so confusing for her. At 2.5 she had no idea why she couldn't taste the Mommy milk. Last winter she was treating my mom like her baby and lifted up her own shirt to try to nurse her grandmother. Ellie knows how a pump works and can bring me a new set of nursing pads upon request. She also had unfortunate timing when she decided to ask what nipples are called. I said nipples but since she had just learned the names of all of the coins, she thought I said nickels. She giggled and it stuck. At some point I'll have to reexplain but that's a conversation for another day. I think she'll be relieved when everyone in the house is drinking their milk out of a cup.
To my girlfriends - it's been a ride. I can see retirement on the horizon. Hopefully you'll be on your way to greener pastures soon.
So, mamas who have weaned - any great tips you would like to share?
Now here I am. A nursing mama going twelve months strong despite another tongue tied baby who had jaundice that required the bili blanket and was born two weeks early.
While I will miss the bond that nursing provides and watching little M fist pump every time she hears music while sucking {honest - whenever she hears a beat she bops her head and pumps her fist. hysterical!} I am looking forward to a massive trip to Victoria's Secret to buy undergarments that do not have snaps at the straps.
My weaning plan is to eliminate a nursing session every 1-2 weeks until they are finally finished. My tentative goal is to be finished by Halloween. Madeline has dropped in weight percentiles so our focus is going to be on pushing whole milk/Pediasure type drinks and phasing out the nursing at a pace where both of us our comfortable.
Breastfeeding has provided me with much comic relief over the last year, tonight not being the exception. Madeline had on her pj's and I was carrying her into the bedroom when Ellie asked, "Mama, are you going to milk Madeline?"
Poor Ellie. This entire year must have been so confusing for her. At 2.5 she had no idea why she couldn't taste the Mommy milk. Last winter she was treating my mom like her baby and lifted up her own shirt to try to nurse her grandmother. Ellie knows how a pump works and can bring me a new set of nursing pads upon request. She also had unfortunate timing when she decided to ask what nipples are called. I said nipples but since she had just learned the names of all of the coins, she thought I said nickels. She giggled and it stuck. At some point I'll have to reexplain but that's a conversation for another day. I think she'll be relieved when everyone in the house is drinking their milk out of a cup.
To my girlfriends - it's been a ride. I can see retirement on the horizon. Hopefully you'll be on your way to greener pastures soon.
So, mamas who have weaned - any great tips you would like to share?
JDaniel was tongue tied. I was able to due tongue exercises with him until he could have surgery. We weaned a little at a time. I could have gone on forever.
ReplyDeleteStopping from Mom Loop. Stop by and join the Friday Follow.
Hi, Kristin. Our two year old girl is only a few months weened now. I know it was hard for my wife. We use just the same milk you've pictured for our wee one, though recently have switched to 2%. I know what you mean about Twitter. I just didn't get the appeal myself before I joined and even for a bit there after, but with the use of thing like hash tags (#) it's easy to talk with a group of like-minded friends. Like I talk with other dads about parenting issues, so It's kinda nice. If you ever do come over to the dark side, let me know and I'll follow you on twitter (I'm adaddyblog on Twitter as well). Oh, and I do follow you on Google Friend Connect. Thanks for dropping by adaddyblog.com from Mom Loop. Have a lovely weekend!
ReplyDeleteHere's to your final days of "milking Madeline!" :)
ReplyDeleteHi! Popping in from MomLoop today and wishing you successful weaning! I enjoyed nursing both of mine (eons ago!) but the second weaned much faster because the first demanded so much more time and attention. We went to whole milk, then down to 1% pretty quickly. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI loved nursing each of my girls and managed to go a bit longer with each one. By the time my youngest was 12 months she was nursing only first thing in the morning and last thing at night, which made weaning easier. Though I admit I miss that special time.
ReplyDeleteI came across your blog through Mom Loop
Brenda
I actually went cold turkey with both of the babies I nursed (the oldest didn't really "take"... long story, not for here).
ReplyDeleteI just stopped. When my breasts ached so much that I thought they would explode, I pumped, but only enough to relieve the pain. Repeat the process.
Each time, it took about 3 days and 2 pumping sessions to be done entirely. Both babies took to bottles quite easily. No problems. Good luck to you. Nursing is a beautiful thing, but so is having both of your hands free while baby eats! :)
Hi, found you on Mom Loop!
ReplyDeleteI never actually weaned my first two children. Now my youngest is still nursing though not often. I'm starting to think about weaning, as she is past the 2 1/2 mark and that is longer than my other two (my oldest stopped at 2 1/2 and my middle stopped at 21 months). I'm hoping she will just trail off as my middle child did, but I don't know... I am definitely interested in the different weaning methods. At the same time, it makes me feel sad to even think about it...
Wow, Natty!
ReplyDeleteI recently read an article in Parents or Parenting that restated the AAP's recommendation to breastfeed until 2. But then they go on to say that the AAP doesn't say how to deal with toddler tantrums while weaning.
Unfortunately, due to supply issues, it looks like I dont' have much of a choice. I'm hoping to go comfortable and quietly. ;)
Weaning - so sweet, so hard. I found with each of my children there was a point where I woke up one day and wanted my body back. I think it helped make the process easier for me. Our kids struggled a little, but for the most part did fine. And when they weaned they finally started sleeping through the night, which was incentive enough for me :).
ReplyDeleteStopping in from BF.
Chilled cabbage leaves baby! They were my best friends!
ReplyDelete