As I sat & nursed Ava tonight, I had this strange feeling come over me. A feeling of pride that I was *still* breastfeeding her at 10 months, a feeling of accomplishment because I had overcome the fear of nursing in public & in fact, now I rarely even notice that I am in public :) I had feelings/thoughts of all kinds running through my head.
I recently mentioned that I was thinking of beginning to wean, and as I sat there tonight I wondered WHY I would even consider it. I sat there and thought about how easy it seems now, yet how hard I thought it to be at one point. I thought about my lactation consultant & how she seems SO overbearing in the beginning, but now I see why. She knew then what I know now. I thought about how I personally can influence someone to give it a real try, because I really needed that positive push myself.
All of these random thoughts...then tonight I read this. You go, Fishy girl :) I wish I had the words to say what you say, you always do such a wonderful job at getting your point across & your voice heard.
Thanks again, from little ol' me (and anyone else that reads & needs to hear what you are saying) you inspire me to get out there & DO SOMETHING about the issue!
So are you gonna keep going? I have to admit I was a bit sad when I read you were going to wean, but held my tongue, as they are YOUR boobs. :)
I have decided since Hannah is my last, and the only one I've breastfed, I am going to do it until it doesn't work for us any more. I'm not going to set a limit on it. I don't want to look back and wonder why I didn't do it longer.
So if you need some cheering on, or an extended breastfeeding buddy, we're here!
Posted by: meghann | September 20, 2007 at 01:33 AM
Angi -- you do it as long as you want; you'll know when it's time to wean. Your toes will curl at just the THOUGHT of her latching on! LOL THEN, and only THEN, it's time! ;)
Posted by: Suzanne | September 20, 2007 at 07:55 AM
I am so proud of you, Angi. It is a hard thing to start, and even harder sometimes to stick with, and I am so glad you stayed with it, even when you were discouraged.
For what it's worth (which is nothing, since it's your life, your baby, your breasts), Trout weaned herself around 8.5 months, Little Man nursed 14 months or so, Sunny had to be forcibly weaned just shy of 2 years - I think she'd have nursed until kindergarten if I'd have let her. I knew it was time to wean her when I began to resent the nursing. The most comfortable, though, was Little Man weaning himself at 14 months, as we just gradually tapered off for about the last 3 months, and for the last month it was only at night and first thing in the morning. I hope that happens this time with Nemo, but right now it looks like he's gonna be more like Sunny. As long as you don't find yourself resenting the nursing, then continue as long as you both wish. Especially in public :-)
Posted by: FishyGirl | September 20, 2007 at 11:42 AM
Go Angi! Go Ava! I'm so proud of you!!!!
Posted by: Gina | September 20, 2007 at 03:08 PM