I was able to go 36 hours without "needing" to feed him, and even then, I only did it because I was going to be gone at a bible study last night from 6:30 to 9:00 and I knew he would fall asleep before I got home. I thought I'd better go ahead instead of trying to wake him up at 9:00. I gave my electric, double pump to another nursing mom or else I'd just be hooking myself up to relieve the pressure throughout this weaning process.
I'm going to try and go longer...48 hours or more...and usually after that...I'm done.
There are a few pros can cons to being done with nursing. A few of these will be really blunt, so to my male readers (I know who you are...all two of you...ha!) you might want to skip this blog! :o)
Pros:
I have my body back. I know this sounds selfish and silly. But really, I feel like a walking milk truck or dinner buffet during the months when I'm nursing. Also, I lived my entire "after puberty" life wearing size B bras. I am always about a D when I'm nursing, and I don't even know how to run around in the backyard chasing the kids with these things getting in my way. I used to think I wanted to be bigger breasted. I'm 100% happy with what God gave me PRE BABY now!
While I am not shy about nursing in public, I do breathe a sigh of relief when I go out with the kids now and know I will not have to try and pull my shirt down as best as I can to feed my baby. In the later months, he began pulling up on my shirt anyway, so even though I'm not bashful, I don't want to give everyone a show that they didn't intend on seeing! :o)
Cons:
All that being said, I will miss it. "It" being the time we had with just the two of us. Knowing I was the one providing what he needed.
And here come the cons that really make me want to pump for the rest of my life...well...not really...but you'll see...
I have not had a period since February 2008. Yep. Some of you know but others may not - when you nurse, you don't have a period. Unless you take birth control, then those hormones make you have one. If he wasn't biting me EVERY TIME (yes, still) I would probably nurse him until he was two just for this reason alone!
I know that I will HAVE TO BUCKLE DOWN and become more disciplined with what I'm eating. I looked at the scale today, and I weigh exactly what I did in January of this year. Nursing literally sucks out between 500 and 1000 calories of what a woman eats. That's why I've been able to eat pretty much whatever (all those posts about my addiction to McD's) and it's not caused me to gain anything. I noticed after I quit nursing Sarah, I gained 10 pounds almost instantly (within a month or two).
So this season of my life is over. Who knows what God has in store for me when it comes to more children or not. For now, I'll just cherish these last few times of nursing (sort of...not when he bites me) and remember the sweet look on Gabriel's face when his belly was full and his mouth had milk running out of the corner.
6 comments:
OK, so I had a post similar to this a few weeks ago, and I can't BELIEVE that I forgot to put the parts in there about not having a period for 21 months (LOVE THAT) and not being able to eat whatever I want anymore. I say that as I sit here with Cool Ranch Doritos, Papa John's Cinnapizza (or whatever they call it), and a chocolate chip cookie on my lunch plate at the office. Guess I'll be going for a run later!
DID NOT know those things. hmmmm. sometimes i feel like i'm unqualified to be a female :p
Several of these reasons are reasons why I just can't even begin to cut out 1 feeding a day... I am 1 week and 2days shy of making it to my 6 months goal of nursing Abby! I can't believe it... but I also am not sure about weaning her yet.
So hang in there ;)
I was so sad when I weaned Alexis, but I was soooooooooo glad to be able to wear a regular bra again. I bought a new one from Victoria's Secret and felt like I had just gotten a boob job! :) Isabel and I are finally situated into a good routine and I'm enjoying breast feeding all over again! It's such a wonderful thing to share with your children, thanks for sharing with us!
I did not know that about Aunt Flo going on vacation while breast feeding! That is awesome! Maybe I haven't heard because so many people on are on birth control. Does that mean Michelle Duggar probably hasn't had a period in 20 years?!? That is crazy.
I remember having these exact feelings. While its sad to give up the closness of nursing, its nice to eat what you want and not have to worry if this or that will give the baby gas! This is the first year in about 6 years that I have not either been pregnant or nursing! It feels great to have my body back. The only thing I hate about quitting is the weight gain back. I try to watch what I eat and rarely snack, but those 10-15 lbs just came back! UGH! You are a great mommy and you are doing a awesome job with your kiddos, which are very cute by the way! Have a blessed day!
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