We’ve had such a busy day I almost forgot about this, so I hope it’s OK that I get in late to the breastfeeding carnival over at Sarcastic Mom’s blog. Lotus shared her breastfeeding story and left space for others to share their own and linkup with her. Because I never get enough of talking about my boobs I had to join in. Here is my breastfeeding story.
When I was pregnant with Evan I don’t think I really thought about what to feed him. I bought bottles, got the free formula samples, and just fell into the cultural trap that never mentioned breasts for anything other than selling beer and bouncing in tight shirts. It was during one of my midwife appointments as I sat on the table waiting looking around the room. On the wall hung a poster with an image of a woman holding her baby. Around the poster listed all the benefits of breastfeeding. I stood there and read the entire poster from top to bottom and when I was done I was a breastfeeding mother.
I nursed Evan for 15 months. The longer I breastfed the more I learned about the amazing benefits. Not just the physical ones, the emotional ones as well. I could calm him from any tantrum, make any owie go away, and ease him down to sleep no matter how grumpy he was. Unfortunately I was also a scared breastfeeder. I hid in bathrooms, covered us up with blankets, and ran away to other rooms whenever he needed to eat. When he was 15 months we went on a family vacation, during that time he was so excited about everything he saw nursing was the last thing on his mind, breastfeeding slipped away. I never imagined going past a year, but doing so felt so normal and natural I couldn’t imagine anything else.
When I had Trey I knew I would breastfeed him. There was no questions about it. We went through thrush, clogged ducts, some reflux, and a toddler who hated having to stop long enough for mommy to feed the baby. He ate all the time, and still does. But he grew fatter and fatter and I knew that was all on me. I knew more the second time around. Now I nursed at the park, at the store, talking a walk, on my in-laws’ couch, or anywhere else we were. I dropped the blankets and covers, I learned how to judge how full he was, and became a full on lactivist. Not only supporting breastfeeding mothers but also encouraging more women to breastfed.
Trey is now 18 months, still nursing strong, and probably more in love with my boobs than his father is. The side effect is that I’m very lopsided. Before nursing I was an AA, now I’m an A and a C. For whatever reason my right breast doesn’t “work”. But it’s worth it to see how happy, healthy, and strong my boys are. My breasts did that.
Tags: breastfeeding, boobs, children, parenting
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March 11th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
Great story! I am glad you are so happy with your bf-ing journey. And how wonderful to read how you became more comfortable with the NIP. Awesome!
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March 12th, 2008 at 12:21 am
Awww!! Awesome! We’re at 14 months with no end in sight.
Great job mama!
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March 12th, 2008 at 7:02 am
I nursed my first for 3 months and my second for 1 month. My third is now 2.5 years old and STILL a voracious nurser!
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March 12th, 2008 at 8:01 am
Andrew nursed his last three months only on my right breast. My left breast has always been the neglected step-child with my kids.
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March 14th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
my 19 month old is still nursing, who knows when he’ll stop. Some people think it’s weird, but he’s still a baby!
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March 15th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Hooray for you!
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[...] has another great carnival up for people to share their birth/adoption stories. Since I loved joining in the breastfeeding one I knew I had to do this one two. Having been through birth twice now I debated sharing both or just [...]