Wheatless Mama

Friday, August 5, 2011

All breastfeeding ends

So with this being World Breastfeeding Week, I've been thinking alot about breastfeeding (shocking I know). I was thinking that all breastfeeding ends. As you can see by my breastfeeding timeline, I've been nursing for close to 20 months. That means I'm starting to get looks and have been getting comments like really, gross, well different strokes for different folks. I don't mind the last one. I mean everyone is different and for everyone breastfeeding ends. If you go 1 week, 1 year or until baby/child stops it all ends. Nobody breastfeeds forever.

So that brings me to my breastfeeding journey. My plan was to make it to 2 years. 24 months is the minimum recommendation from the World Health Organization. So I've always wanted to make it to two years but past that I really don't know. I know many women who are comfortable with a 3 year breastfeeding but not many that go past 4 years. Where is my comfort level? I want to be the momma that lets Audrey decide when to stop. I want to be okay with going 4 years plus but I just don't think I'm that woman. I think once we start pushing 4 years, I will begin actively weaning. Does that make me a hypocrite?

If I preach baby-led weaning does me actively weaning mean I am not practicing what I preach? I mean my feeling might change. I might not actively ever wean. Audrey could quit tomorrow. You would think that I would be actively trying to wean Audrey even now. I've been wheatfree for a year! But don't think the thought hasn't crossed my mind. No one would blame me for weaning. No one would think twice about me telling Audrey to get over and shoving a doughnut in my face but I wouldn't be able to look at myself. When my Audrey was born I looked at her and said I would give my life for her and that is what I'm doing; granted for now it's wheat but you know what I mean.

So anyways, yes Audrey is still breastfeeding. At lunchtime, when I get home from work, and a few times at night. Very normal for a toddler her age and nothing I can't handle. I know there will be a time when I offer and she'll turn to run after the dogs instead (heck she does that even now). I won't see it coming or maybe I will. I might even actively pursue it. After all all breastfeeding relationships end at some point.