Yup, that’s what I did. Well, technically 14 months and three days if you’re really counting. And yup, this really is a post about breastfeeding, so feel free to skip it (you know, if you’re my brother for example). I never thought I’d be writing about it. But I actually get a lot of questions on the subject. And since I blather on about other random things (like cloth diapering) and this blog is really just a way for us to remember things that we might otherwise forget (like paint colors and vacation happenings), I figure that something I did for so long (around 425 days straight) deserved a post about the range of emotions that it elicited. So here we go.
My first emotion: grateful. I was just so thankful it worked. I was acutely aware that some moms try extremely hard but it’s just not possible. I was also pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t as painful as I expected. I’d heard a lot about cracked and bleeding nipples (yes I just typed that) but thanks to genetics or a good latch (or some other random happening) I didn’t really have much pain at all (in the interest of TMI, I also never had sore boobs while prego, so maybe those things go hand in hand?). And I know the whole lack of pain thing might make you want to punch me (it annoys the heck out of my BFF) but I had a pretty frightening birth experience so I guess it’s always something (and not always the same thing) that throws you for a loop as a new mom.
Speaking of the whole birth thing, I was initially really stressed about Clara “taking” to breastfeeding because, due to our complications, I couldn’t nurse her until eight whole hours after she came into this world. I heard trying as soon as possible was the way to go, and I guess the whole scary birth experience had me fearing the worst (there was no baby-on-my-chest-to-snuggle-and-nurse-right-away occurrance, which is definitely what I pictured). But the sweet nurses pretty much just said to give it a try and it was miraculous. Clara got it right away. Such a relief.
As far as emotions go, after “grateful” and “pleasantly surprised” I moved into “exhausted and overwhelmed” territory. Clara was blissfully sleeping for 12 hours each night pretty much from the beginning, waking up for just one or two feedings most of the time (after we got the ok from the doc to let her sleep instead of waking her up to feed every 3 hours since she was steadily gaining weight).
But that meant that during the day she was feeding every two hours like clockwork (I fed her on demand, and at almost exact two hour intervals she screamed and wasn’t happy til she was nursing). So I really couldn’t get much done without having to stop and feed her. Which I actually loved for the bonding and the sweetness and the self-imposed break that it gave me from housework, blogging, and all that other stuff – but it was definitely exhausting and sort of all-encompassing in those bleary I-have-a-newborn months. I always joke that she let me rest at night, but during the day she made me work for it.
And when we went on a week-long family vacation when Clara was just six weeks old I remember sitting upstairs alone with Clara feeding her in a bedroom while everyone else was downstairs having fun together and thinking “I’m going to have to excuse myself and do this about eight times a day while everyone else hangs out – which adds up to 56 feedings that I’ll be doing over the next seven days.” That’s an overwhelming thought. At least it was to me. It was times like this that I actually wished feeding in public (or at least in front of your extended family) was more widely accepted. I tried to use a nursing cover but Clara wouldn’t have it. So up in my room I sat (with occasional visits from John who sweetly recognized that I’d rather be with the group and dropped in to keep us company). Back in these days feedings were pretty slow going (around 15-20 minutes per side for a total of 30-40 minutes spent sequestered). But we still managed to fit in some fun in the sun (or shade since she was so tiny).
I should mention that 1) pumping didn’t agree with me and 2) Clara never took to bottles (or pacifiers for that matter). You win some and you lose some. So every time she fed for the past 14 months it was directly from the source. Which was ok with me since pumping just didn’t work out and thankfully I have a job that allows me to be home with her. But it’s definitely sort of crazy as a concept because for over a year I was never away from my daughter for more than an hour or two. Ever.
But with a face like this, I was ok with that:
Around three months in I really got into the groove though. That’s where I’d characterize my feelings as “content and accepting.” I was happy to still be able to breastfeed and glad that it seemed to suit Clara. She seemed to enjoy it and I knew how to do it effectively and easily enough (in a parked car? check. in a dressing room? check). I even managed to sneak in a taping for the Nate Berkus show, nursing Clara in the green room right before we went on and right after (thankfully it was only a two hour process – or we might have heard her screaming for another feeding from on stage).
I guess I had adapted more to it, and it didn’t feel like as big of a job after I got into the swing of things. And by about 6-8 months old Clara had become a lot more efficient, so feedings were only about 15 minutes total (and sometimes even ten). Interestingly enough, the introduction of solid food at six months old (which Clara loved from day one) didn’t have any bearing on her nursing. She still wanted just as much, just as often. And I was secretly kind of relieved because I worried a bit about my production slowing or even stopping if she suddenly dropped a ton of feedings. But that was not the case.
Up until Clara turned ten months old I was still feeding her every two hours during the day at her insistence (screaming until I nursed her = her insistence). That’s right, for ten months (that’s 300 days) I nursed Clara every two hours (except during the night). I was ok with it, and my doc was ok with it, but I heard from friends that only going two hours between feedings at that age was reallllly often (as in all of my friends were only feeding every 4-5 hours or so at that age). My doc explained that it made sense since Clara was such an unusually solid night sleeper (she segued from waking up for 1-2 feedings in her 12 hour span of night sleep to not waking up at all around 2.5 months in – I know, we’re insanely blessed to have gotten such uninterrupted sleep for such a long block of time). But it did mean not-as-long daytime naps and a whole lot of frequent feedings to “tank up” during her waking hours in exchange for such an awesome night’s sleep. Heck, I’ll take it.
Blissfully, after turning ten months old Clara started stretching her feedings to every three hours, which felt amazing. It’s funny how an extra hour feels like all the freedom in the world. It’s all relative I guess. At this point I was coming into the whole “I love breastfeeding” phenomenon. I still felt grateful to be able to do it, Clara was a thriving happy girl, it was saving us money, it gave me a moment to step away from the computer/paint brush/hammer and connect with the bean, and it helped me get back into my old clothes (even though I don’t think I’ll ever have my pre-baby body again, it’s fine with me because Clara’s so worth it). I should add that I’m a breastfeeding enthusiast when it comes to me and Clara, but I don’t judge anyone else when it comes to what they choose for their family. Whatever works for you & your ducklings = my mantra as a parent in general.
The next speed bump that we encountered was when Clara turned a year old we introduced organic whole milk. The problem? Clara wouldn’t drink it. She still wouldn’t really take a bottle so our doc recommended trying a sippy cup. It worked for water, but she refused to drink milk (and we tried about ten million different sippy cup varieties, tried slightly heating the milk, tried watering it down or mixing it with breast milk, etc). This is when I started fearing that she’d be 21 years old and still addicted to breastfeeding.
Next we tried almond milk at our doc’s advice, and she went for it (we think the thinner consistency seemed closer to breast milk so she was down). And slowly we mixed almond milk with whole organic milk and she made the transition to 100% whole organic milk at around 13 months. Yup, it took nearly a whole month to get her on board with it. She’s stubborn like her momma. Haha. Shockingly, that’s when her feedings dropped waaay down. From around five times a day to just two – once before bed and once in the morning. Which made me feel excited and free but sort of oddly sad at the same time. “My baby’s growing up, and she needs me less” was sort of how I felt. I know that’s not really true, but it’s the best way I can describe the feeling.
By 13 months and three weeks she just wanted a feeding in the morning when she woke up. Clara has always been the boss of this whole breastfeeding thing (since we opted to just do the “on demand” thing from day one), so who am I to argue with the girl? Just one morning feeding opened up a whole new world of evening fun for me and John thanks to his parents offering to babysit (we could see a movie or go out to dinner without Clara after over a year of not partaking in those activities – amazing!). Of course I thought about her the whole time we were out, but I guess that’s to be expected (picture me saying “I wonder what Clara’s doing right now” every ten minutes during our first movie together in over a year).
Two weeks later Clara wasn’t even interested in her morning feeding. Which was sad because that’s the one where we lie down next to each other and relax together. I know I sound crazy, but it was such a sweet way to start the day. To anyone who has yet to try it, nursing on your side while laying down = awesometown (they taught me that move at the hospital thanks to the whole c-section thing). And now it’s over. So my current feelings are sad (because I’ll miss it) but proud (because I can’t believe I breastfed for over 14 months) and grateful (because I know being able to nurse that long or even at all definitely isn’t a given).
So that’s my breastfeeding journey. Off to cry now (and I can’t even blame breastfeeding hormones for the tears). I know, I know, someone with a nickname that won’t stick like $herdog shouldn’t be such a wuss. But it was an awesome/exhausting/amazing/tiring/surprising journey that I’m grateful to have experienced. Love you baby girl. Even if you’re over me my boobs.
Kim says
My daughter’s 2 month birthday is today! I am nursing and loving it. I have had a wonderful experience like you Sherry, which I am so grateful for and blessed. I am sitting here all teary thinking about the day that Madeline won’t be nursing anymore, but I am going to remember to enjoy every second of it even when I am super tired. (Madeline eats every 2.5 hours) Sherry, thanks so much for sharing these things on your blog. It is so refreshing and encouraging!
Carla Mahony says
Congrats Sherry what an amazing job you did! Loved reading this post (well, I love most of them really…only discovered this blog about two months ago and I am seriously, seriously addicted….all the way from Australia!). I have successfully breastfed both of my babies (two years and ten months old respectively) and have loved it both times, like you I feel so grateful that it worked out. I must admit I was a little baffled / saddened when you said you needed to feed in private whilst on holiday…that would have driven me batty…over here you can feed whenever and wherever. I fed my four day old baby boy as I walked up and down the supermarket aisle with my two year old in the shopping trolley! Hopefully one day there will be no worries for any woman about feeding anywhere she damn well pleases ;)
YoungHouseLove says
That is amazing! Someday I would love for that to be me!
xo,
s
Ashley says
I love breastfeeding. Madelin and I are at 14 months and still going strong. She’s drinking whole milk at mealtimes, but morning, nap and bedtime she’s still attached. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. If fact, I think all mothers should at least give it a try.
Thanks for sharing.
Check our my blog if you ever have time. I’d love some constructive criticism.
Vicki says
Thank you for writing this post! It is so important that we talk about breastfeeding and normalize it! With your huge following, you are a role model for moms all over the country (the world! the universe!). Seriously though, this is a big deal. High fives and big hugs.
rachael says
unfortunately, i wasn’t able to produce milk. we tried everything! nothing worked. i really wanted to breastfeed but oh well. my son ended up being allergic to all dairy (still is at age 4.. no ICE CREAM! sad) so the doctor said he actually would have more than likely been allergic to breast milk as well. what dedication you have! congrats.
April says
THANK YOU for sharing your breastfeeding story! I’m still nursing my little guy who will be one next week. Where does the time go, right?! I’m curious as to how it will all work for us when it’s time to introduce whole cow’s milk to his diet… fingers are crossed that it’s a smooth transition!
I also feel SO LUCKY to have had the opportunity to breastfeed as long as I have this far, and you expressed exactly what I’m feeling about the loss of bonding time when we wean. We just have to remember that our babies will ALWAYS need their mommas… I still need mine and I’m 29!
Loved the post (once again!)
Nicole says
Congrats Momma! That is amazing. As a fellow breastfeeding mom I appreciate you taking time to share your story. At 15 months we are still at it too. My daughter was a preemie though so I plan to go a little longer. Stories like these are few and far between. It was refreshing to read such a great journey. I can relate so much. Congrats to you & that adorable bsby girl. You did it!!!
Jackie Sousa says
Your Amazing! I made it to 11 months exclusive and started witht he milk, she flipped out when gave her the whole milk, so someone suggested flavored milk, she wasn’t too keane on that, then I tried Soy & it worked, she is still not completely loving it, but she doesn’t pull away however she doesn’t gulp it down like she would a bottle of my pumped milk and I still bf in the mornings, afternoons, & evenings, I work from home & have a nanny for the first half of the day, so it works…can you blame them for not wanting to give up the sweet stuff though? I love the bond breast feeding has given me with my daughter, but it is nice to not have to stop to breast feed or pump in the middle of the day when I am in the middle of work :) Awesome job, your an incredible mom & I just adore your blog!
Natalie says
Sherry that’s great! I nursed my twins for 15 months (they are 18 months now) so this post brought back memories :) congrats, it’s a remarkable accomplishment so be super proud!
Alicia says
I love this post. THANK YOU!!! I have nursed all four of my babies and I have loved it. I am now nursing my last baby and I will miss it greatly. I had a rough start with my first born and my husband and mom were such a great support team. It hurt like crazy but everyday I did it because I knew it was best for my son and so my husband would say to me, “honey, tomorrow you can quit!” So every day as I prayed for strength I would say, tomorrow I will quit and so I never did!!!
Two thumbs up for you Sherry!!!
pw says
Good for you, Sherry! I breastfed my daughter exclusively for 9 months, when she weaned herself. I was able to pump enough to bottlefeed her breast milk until she was a year old. I would give nothing for the closeness. She’s now 13, and we still have a special mother-daughter bond — I often wonder how much of that can be attributed to breastfeeding.
Kelley says
I just posted about making it to 14 months too! Similar but different-I detested pumping as well but bub went happily onto cows milk (but doesn’t like almond milk). My daughter has special needs so I was doubly satisfied to make it to 14 months.
http://navagating.blogspot.com/2011/07/no-one-told-me-i-couldnt-my-nursing.html
Leslie says
What a great post! Thank you! I have a two month old and I really appreciated what you said about not getting the pre-baby body back- they are so worth it. :)
Ashley says
Sherry, you are even luckier than you think w/sleep! My son (10 mos) nursed every 2 hours night AND day for the first 3 months, and after that still about 3x/night till around 6 months. And I know other moms who have had it far worse in the sleep department.
Anyways, we’ve had our ups and downs with nursing (mastitis, oversupply, undersupply, dairy sensitivity, the works!) but we are still going strong and it’s definitely something that -for me -required a lot of work and dedication. I hate that it’s a topic that people are so judgemental about because it’s such a personal decision/ability/etc. All moms want the best for their children no matter how they feed them! Congratulations to you and Clara for such a successful journey and thank you for talking so openly about a topic that (for some strange reason) people seem to feel is taboo.
Christina C says
Sherry, thanks a lot for sharing your experience. I can relate to the bittersweet emotions. This was so interesting for me to read, as I have been exclusively BF’ing my son for 11.5 months and counting. Like Clara, he has almost always refused bottles and pacifiers, and will only drink water from a sippy cup. He’s still an avid BF’er (every 3 hours average), so I often wonder if he’ll ever want to wean. Great tip on the almond milk for training on whole milk. I just wish Clara could tutor him on sleeping. My son still has never slept through the night (not even close) and isn’t showing signs of breaking that pattern any time soon! Congratulations to you and your family! You must be excited to wear dresses again (I really miss them)! ;)
Sarah says
Great post Sherry (frequent readere here but infreqent poster). But one thing made me sad and raise my eyebrows a bit – you saying that public breastfeeding isn’t more accepted – is this a US thing?! I find that crazy – I live in Sydney and breastfed my boys everywhere and never once gave it a second thought – beach, shops, bus, restaurants, cafes, movie theatres, even in church. Certainly the very last place I’d go away to hide would be in my own home with my family round. Tell me the US isn’t that backwards?
YoungHouseLove says
From the sounds of many other US commenters, it seems like many folks here do breastfeed in public (some with a nursing cover and some without)! I definitely breastfed in a parked car and even on an airplane (with John holding up a blanket) but I just couldn’t do it on the sofa with my whole family, or on the beach for example – because I wasn’t smooth enough not to squirt milk across the room or leak all down the front of my shirt while trying to stay covered. So in private I was better at not worrying about being covered up and just getting it done without fearing that my father in law would catch an eyefull of something I definitely didn’t intend to show the world! Maybe my next little one will be ok with a nursing cover or I’ll get more proficient when it comes to not getting milk everywhere and hiding more of my boobs! Haha.
xo,
s
Sarah says
Heh heh Sherry…. yes, I’m sure your FIL wouldn’t appreciate an eyefull of milk!!!
Good on you for going so long and posting about it in here. I cried the day my wee one weaned about 11 months – although oddly he sat up on his knees and clapped his hands after his last feed (cue tears) as I’m only planning two babies so it was the end of an era – 3 1/2 years non-stop pregnancy and BF. There are SO many more awesome things to come from now on though. x
Gwenalyn says
It’s doesn’t get any more DIY than breastfeeding! This post is perfect for this blog! :D
Your journey with Clara sounds a lot like mine with my baby girl. She would not take a bottle at all and has just started taking sippy cups (she’s 13 months). I also feel pretty blessed to be able to breastfeed so easily – although going out is difficult! I haven’t breastfed in public (or in front of relatives (that’s even scarier)) because of all of the horror stories of people getting mean looks or rude comments. :(
Avalyn is still nursing but I hope she’ll be weaned by 18 months. I’m letting her lead the way! But, my hubby and I have a wedding to attend out of state and I’ll have to leave her behind. I’m nervous just thinking about it! I’ll probably be thinking the same things you were thinking when you left Clara for your night out. I’ll also be texting my mom, telling her to send me picture updates every 5 minutes. :p
I’m glad to see that you were able to BF for so long! And I can understand how bittersweet it is… But how excited are you to be free of nursing bras and tanks? As soon as Avalyn decides boobie time is over I am buying new bra sans snaps!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yeah- I’m so excited to get a good normal bra again! You know, one with underwire. Haha.
xo,
s
LibraDesignEye says
Darlin mamma – what a beautiful story. I nursed mine a long time and about the time you are at, I started offering a cup when they asked unless it was morning or when they got hurt/scared and asked for it.
You may think she is done, but your milk will keep coming if she tries in three days and then ignores you for a day or two. So it sounds like she is completely done, but I suspect she’ll be back. And you might be done too, which would also be okay. Being able to offer the breast during the toddling times when they go bump bad and scare themselves was amazingly helpful.
And I’ll just say that by getting it down to once a day in the morning (or not even that some days) I was able to continue off and on until they were 18 mo to 2 or so (3 boys). And that was sweet. It is very manageable that way and they could skip a few days and it would still be around.
Also – I did the same for my first one, but with the second one, at around 7 months I introduced the sippy cup and that worked out better for the rest of that year, because I was perfectly willing to offer the cup more often during those second six months with boy number 2. After all, there was no way to mother two in the same way I mothered one.
Really great and brave to share. I’m with you – no judgment on others, we all just do the best we can but I loved my la leche league years.
Molly says
SHERRY!!! THIS IS YOUR BEST DIY POST, EVER!!! CONGRATS FOR MAKING IT SO LONG!!!
Erin says
Congrats! Great job!
@Ami – don’t worry about the transition. Babies will wean on their own if you don’t wean them onto a substitute yourself. No need for milk from cow’s or almonds — human milk for human babies until they no longer need milk.
Christy says
Congrats!! That is beyond awesome. I was very happy to read this earlier today. I am breastfeeding my 4 month old, and I hope I can continue for a year or so. Unfortunately, I almost exclusively pump. So far, we’re doing great though! Thank you for sharing your story. I hope it encourages a few more people to breastfeed.
Heather Crawford says
Breast feeding-yeah!!!!!
Ae ya’ll still using cloth diapers? I have a friend who was looking into them and informed her of what I had learned from your posts and I was wondering if they were still workin’ out for you?!?!?
Heather
YoungHouseLove says
Yup! Still using the same 12 we stared with and loving them. Here’s an update post about it: https://www.younghouselove.com/2011/05/dog-days-cloth-dipes/
xo,
s
Kaity says
Wow, I’m really inspired by that. Thanks so much for posting.
Fiona says
Thanks for sharing your experience with breastfeeding Sherdog (haha)
I have had a lovely time bf-ing my 10 month old, she is down to just the morning feed (the others are bottle feeds). The thought of losing that one makes me very sad. I tried hard to hold onto all the feeds but eventually realized that I was doing it more for me than her.
I was a public breastfeeder, i did it wherever I had to, as discretely as possible ( wasn’t getting my jugs out for the world to see) though I’m sure there were times when people would’ve got an eyeful but some things can’t be helped.
Clara is gorgeous, you have done a great job. Celebrate the end of BF-ing with a glass or two of champagne!
Diana says
Thank you for this post!
Breastfeeding is such a touchy topic here in the U.S. even though it shouldn’t be.
I’m sorry you felt you needed to sequester yourself. After nursing my kids (2.5 and 5) for 4.5 of the last 5 years, I’ve found that discreetly nursing using my shirt as a cover can work well, and most people think I’m just holding a sleeping child. :)
Weaning is hard and sad. But it’s also one of the first steps to your child becoming an independent person, and you’ll find your cuddle time in other ways, although you have to get creative sometimes (and creativity doesn’t seem to be a problem for you!)
Kel says
What a beautiful story. I can feel the love you have for Clara through your words.
P.S. you look amazing in the pool
Kate says
Congrats! Well done on going for 14 months in the un-breastfeeding-friendly environment of the USA. I’m currently feeding my 25 month old (and she’s a 4-5 a day girl!), but bfing is way more socially acceptable here. I’m sorry you didn’t feel you could breastfeed around family/in public – maybe next time!
Carshena says
Thank you for posting this post. When I breastfed my kids I always got rude comments or nasty stares (Ibreastfed my son 11 months daughter 7 months). It feels good that someone is on my side for once.
Kari says
Thank you so much for posting your breastfeeding experience. I love a good breastfeeding story!
I remember the sadness I felt when my 18 month old baby girl decided she was done breastfeeding. She is now 10 years old and I am BFing her baby sister who is 3 months old. I pumped for a year 3x a day after going back to work with the older girlie. Now I’m working part-time and pump twice a day.
I’m hoping the little one can go just as long as her sister. It makes me sad to think of the day when she won’t “need” me anymore. Which is silly, she will still need me of course, just not my boobies so much anymore.
Thanks again!
Juliana says
That’s so amazing that y’all made it that long! I’m a big breastfeeding advocate and LOVE LOVE LOVE seeing this on here! My daughter is 15 months old and still nursing about 5 times a day. I know just what you’re talking about, about laying on your side to nurse. That’s how we start out our day!
Theresa says
Wow, that is amazing!!! Good for you, I admire your dedication & commitment to Clara. It’s so great to hear stories about successful breastfeeding! I’m a NICU nurse so I encounter a lot of moms who have a hard time w/pumping and/or breastfeeding due to stress, delayed bonding, etc. I don’t have any kids of my own yet but I hope that when the time comes my experience will be as great as yours. :) ps Clara is such a beautiful little girl! I love seeing her big wide-eyed expressions and smiles.
C Redmond says
My babies were extended nursers too- the 1st was 18 months and the 2nd was 30 months. It is especially sad when you finish nursing your last knowing that there won’t be anymore babes.
My son was 9 wks preterm so I had to pump milk for his gavage feeds- in the NICU they really stress the importance of breastmilk for the success of preterm babies & I was glad so many moms pumped milk- I was lucky that this was my 2nd baby since it seems much easier for the milk letdown the 2nd time around- as another person said the pump is not nearly as efficient as a nursing baby but I managed to get plenty for him using it.
After 5 weeks he was ready to try nursing- his latch wasn’t perfect (it’s hard for preterm babies to coordinate suck & swallow & breathe naturally) but in the end he got the hang of it. We tried the 1st time on a Sun and by Tues the hospital called to tell me I could take him home- I nearly fell off my chair (that was 4 wks earlier than they told me & only 3 days of nursing)
It is possible & very common for babies to nurse successfully even if they cannot try initially for medical reasons (c sections or the like)- just have to pump to keep the supply going until babe & mom can try it.
I can also relate to frequent day feedings- my son had reflux for his 1st yr so he would nurse and then throw up half of it & would have to nurse again shortly after. Because of that he needed to nurse through the night as well. I did a lot of laundry his 1st year- he soaked blankets & his clothes & mine. And I wouldn’t trade it any of it.
Kelsey says
A great blog! But seriously did you ever imagine a blog about your boobs would get so much great feedback!! :-)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha – I know, right? It’s kind of amazing how much a post about breastfeeding can bring complete strangers together!
xo,
s
marichucky says
You’ve been so lucky! I wanted to breastfeed my little girl (born last may 26th) and I always thought it was going to be easy and painless. And neither of them have been true for me: it’s been difficult and painful physically and pshychologically.
Not being able to breastfeed your baby in the early weeks is a hard situation due to the hormones after the delivery (in my case was also by a C-section). Now I accept that my baby needs a bit of help with formula (though I can breastfeed her a bit) and when I give her the bottle, I try to enjoy it also, though for me it’s not the same.
So I’m a little jealous but very happy for you. Congratulations!
AS says
I happened to read this post while nursing my three week old at five in the morning. Thank you for the inspirational post. Glad to know that others feel the same.
Crystal (theweekendhomemaker.com) says
What an accomplishment! I was able to nurse my kids for 6 months each but because I was going into the office, my pumping became inconsistent and I stopped producing as much milk (TMI, I know). I loved it for the short time I did it and was grateful for the time I got to share with my little ones and the money we saved. What a bitter-sweet post, but congrats on sticking with it.
Sarah says
Thank you for sharing! None of my friends bf past a few weeks, except my friend Danielle (whose house you crashed). She has been a big help! I am, as I type, bf my 4-week old who nurses every hour(!) during the day but then only wakes up for 2 middle of the night feedings most nights. I can’t go more than 4 hours without getting engorged. Did you have that problem? Also, did Clara nap during the day? It’s exhausting, I haven’t left my couch in 4 weeks. And I can already anticipate our beach trip in a few weeks being like yours.
You are amazing for sticking it out and should be ao proud! I’m going to remember your success everytime I feel overwhelmed.
YoungHouseLove says
I definitely woke up engorged for a few weeks (lets just say we needed a waterproof mattress cover and I slept in a bra with two cotton nursing pads on each side) but after a week or two of that my body seemed to self regulate and made more milk during the day and less at night since that’s when I needed it. The whole supply and demand thing is completely amazing! Hope it works for ya! As for Clara napping, maybe because of her scary birth, she was a really sleepy baby for the first six weeks or so. Lots of solid night sleep and just waking up during the day to feed/get a diaper change and then it was right back to sleep. But once she hit about 6 weeks she started staying up longer during the day- but we still got lots of little cat naps. There wasn’t anything like a discernible nap schedule until around 4 months I think. But they were always really short during the day due to all her solid night sleep. Although now that she’s walking and burning so much energy we get about two hours for a morning nap and around an hour to an hour and a half in the afternoon. It’s kind of miraculous to folks like us who aren’t used to much napping! Good luck with everything!
xo,
s
Sheila says
I know you already have a gazillion comments about this, but just had to add my two cents – well done!!!! I have often wondered (amazedly) about how you managed to fit in all the blogging and decorating as well as breastfeeding. I think it’s great that you’ve shared this on your blog. Thanks.
jana says
14 months is impressive. Thankfully, I was able to breastfeed my children for about a year with few difficulties. I always looked at it as a full-circle gift where everybody benefits. Sadly I have friends who gave it up because their husbands were uncomfortable with it.
Amanda Carson says
I breastfed my first baby for 12 months and I am on month 5 with my second. It is exactly as you describe. Amazing/frustrating, etc but TOTALLY worth it. I remember my daughters last feeding, right before her birthday. I teared up that day too. Time passes so quickly and in the scheme of things one year is a very short period in your life. Congrats and feel good that you sacrificed for your little one in that way! Ciao…Amanda
Cate says
What a great story! It’s wonderful to read about someone making nursing work for both mother and babe within their comfort zone(s). Thanks for encouraging mothers to breastfeed and for normalizing something that squicks some people out (nursing past a year.)
Megan says
You are one lucky lady! That’s an amazing story! My little one is a little over 4 months now, and he just gave it up recently :-( I didn’t think I’d enjoy the experience so much, but I really did. However, exclusively, we only lasted about a month or so. I noticed that around that time, his daily naps were dropping off and he seemed more irratable (hungry). It took him that first whole month to get back to his 8lb birth weight, and my husband was afraid he wasn’t getting enough to eat. I reluctantly started supplementing.
I had to return to work at 7 weeks and pumping just wasn’t happening for me. With 2 20 minute sessions, I’d walk away with only 3 ounces.
I had the EXACT same feeling you did, that, now he needs me less. Breastfeeding was the one thing I could do for him that NO ONE ELSE COULD. And it was so important for me to be able to continue doing it. One I went back to work, I was only feeding him once, maybe twice. Then it was just for comfort if he was upset. Now, not at all, and it’s super upsetting.
Anywho, I loved reading your story. I’m going to try even harder to keep the breastfeeding going with our next one… whenever that will be. CONGRATS on a job well done!!
And as a last note, here in Pittsburgh, there’s a start up called “the Milk Truck”. It’s supposed to come to a nursing monther’s rescue if/when she’s asked to stop breastfeeding in a public place. Here’s the address: http://www.themilktruck.org/
I think it’s such an amazing idea. I used to think it was slightly awkward to nurse in public, BUT, once I had my son, all of that awkwardness went away and I think it’s beautiful! :-)
YoungHouseLove says
That’s so cool! Love it.
xo,
s
Sarahhill says
Megan,
Thanks for sharing your experience. My first daughter is almost 4 months and we just started supplementing yesterday. My pumping results are about what yours are. I can’t adequately put into words how sad I am and why I’m sad that I can’t BF exclusively. I think we have to take heart that no one can replace our role as Mama to our babies. Whether it’s bottle or breast.
Monique says
Sherry,
I agree that you should be proud of your breastfeeding accomplishments. You made a great choice, stuck with it, and you and Clara have reaped the benefits of it.
I would like to gently underscore what I feel the take home message is from this post, though. Women who desperately want to make it to the one-year mark of breastfeeding, but cannot because of the demands of a career outside the home, don’t have something inherently wrong with their bodies. That is to say, if we could all stay at home and even have a supported husband around, practically all of us could breastfeed for years!
Again, I don’t type that to mitigate your accomplishment, but to support other mothers who are reaching for that brass ring and the outside world is holding them down. These are the women who wake up at ridiculous hours of the morning to pump, then feed, then sterilize a dozen parts, pack it all up, try not to drip everywhere when they say goodbye to their baby, make time and find places to sit with this ridiculous contraption hanging from their nipples, count ounces and freeze milk. The pressure is insane!
You are so blessed to be in your situation, and speaking for myself as one who had the opposite of an ideal experience (you can see here: http://residentmommy.blogspot.com/2009/10/that-girl-is-poison.html) it really does my heart good to see your success and I wish you and Clara the best.
YoungHouseLove says
100% agreed! I probably couldn’t have made it a month without John’s support, and if I had to work outside of the home I’m not sure I could have lasted a day after going back to work since pumping/bottles didn’t work for either me or Clara! I have a good friend who fights to find time to pump while at work and has done it for over 6 months. She’s my hero!
xo,
s
Andi says
Thank you for writing this post! I had a very similar experience with my first daughter. She was an awesome sleeper at night, sleeping 8 hours straight at 6 weeks, so she nursed A LOT during the day. I also did on demand. When I read about how you felt during your family vacation, I could totally relate. I remember in the newborn days spending a lot of time away from the “fun” although I loved the special bond that breastfeeding creates. I was also sad and relieved when she was done. I cried my eyes out.
Oh and nursing while lying down is AWESOMENESS!
Congrats on this new milestone! Hugs!
Stephanie says
Good for you, Sherry!
The decision to breastfeed is often passed down from mother to daughter and lost in today’s society. I am proud of all moms who make this commitment to their babies. I became so good at it that I could have a conversation with people and they didn’t even realize I was breastfeeding. When they did, they were uncomfortable, but I never was. Nothing was showing, and my baby was quietly busy and content. Eventually my in-laws became used to breastfeeding and very supportive. My recommendation – don’t hide it, train your family.
Angie says
Good for you Sherry! I nursed both of my boys for a year. They were the opposite of Clara. They slept all day and were up all night! YAWN! I wouldn’t have traded it for the world though. I got a lot of comments from family and friends like “you’re STILL nursing???” Like you should only breastfeed a newborn. Like you said, I believe you should do what works for you and your baby. Best wishes to you and Clara as you move on to her next stage together:)
Emily Hansen says
So very glad you posted this. I too had a similar experience with the weaning process. It was entirely baby led and by the time my daughter was 13 months old, she was done. The first morning session was the hardest for me to give up as well. I just kept thinking, “how are we going to start each day now?” So instead, we still cuddled, but it didn’t last long, she was ready to play and eat big girl food! Also, I must add, I was 9 months pregnant at the time with our second daughter so I knew what was just around the bend with baby number 2!
Nothing else can explain those feelings of her “not needing” you anymore, although, she’ll always “need” you! Wish you the best on this new toddler stage of fun!
Carissa says
I love this post. It is exactly how I felt…feeling grateful, sad, and proud. My little girl is 13 months and just stopped nursing recently. I don’t think this post could be any more perfect. You should definitely be proud…14 months is amazing and the fact that she didn’t take bottles! Whew…I’m not sure I could have nursed that long that many times. But then again…I probably could have! Just wasn’t an option for me…full time working momma out of the house. Thanks for sharing your breastfeeding story and feelings! P.S. Nursing lying down is awesometown!
Donna Huebsch says
Thanks for sharing your breastfeeding story – so glad you had this experience with your little bean! I breastfed my daughter for about 3 years and I think it had many physical and emotional benefits for her. I didn’t even know anyone who breastfed back then, but for some inexplicable reason I was totally committed to wanting to do it. Back then, I got a tremendous amount of support from La Leche League.
Caroline says
Congratualtions! Clara is lucky to have a fantastic dedicated Mum, it is such an amazing start to her life. Well done!
It is lovely to hear stories of women who have exclusively (in the true sense) breastfeed, my little 6 month old won’t take a bottle, only drinks from the source – so reassuring to hear that people can last 14 months! Well done!