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weaning from the breast

Dellie - posted on 09/23/2009 ( 1 mom has responded )

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I have recently started weaning my son from the breast, and I am having a horrible rollercoaster of emotions. It is what I want to do, and there are many reasons why I want to do it. Even though I enjoy doing it, it has also becaome a kind of hassle to do, plus I am back to work and it will be much less stress for me if I didn't have to worry about pumping. Also, I know it's selfish, but I just feel like I want my own body back, our first son is only 2 and our baby is 4 months so I feel like I have been pregnant or breast feeding for so long! We bottle fed our first son, so I know that I don't have any underlying problems with bottles or formula. I just don't understand why I will be fine one minute, and so sure of myself that this is what I want to do, then the very next I am almost in tears about it. I am seriously feeling so deeply depressed about it one minute, then the next I am fine about the decision. It's just hard to keep up with these hormones and emotions and I guess I am looking for some advice and/or encouraging words as to how to handle this.

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Sally - posted on 09/24/2009

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First off, whatever you decide about nursing will be the right desicion for you. You have provided all the nutreints for the first three vital months of your baby's life and the formula they make now can provide good nutrients for him as well. He will not suffer any less, bottle or breast. Another option ( if you are really struggling and not ready to give up nursing all together) is to do both. I have four children- all natural childbirths and all nursed. The first two nursed exclusively for the first year. I personally found with my second two our routines and timing flowed easier doing both. Like you, I nursed for the first 4 months or so and then I slowly tapered off over the next few months by nursing in the quiet hour of the morning before all the others were up and again in the evening - sometimes during the day too, but my body always seemed to provide and regulate on my schedule. In between was formula and they were also eating solids by then so I was not too worried about their nutrient intake. This way I could still enjoy those nursing moments but also have more availability for older siblings ( who also really enjoyed taking turns getting to feed the babies too!) . They are all healthy, happy and just as bonded to mom whether they nursed for a year or not. Nursing is a beautiful event to hold your child close but it can also be very time consuming, so is pumping and you are not being selfish if you see that there is also need to put your focus on other family members as well as yourself. Mom's spiritual, emotional health and peace need to be priority as well. Explore routines that can benefit your family as a whole. I continually pray about the choices I make for my family and I pray for wisdom and fortitude. Pray, follow your heart and inner voice, know that whatever decision you make after surrendering your struggles to the Lord will be okay. You are a loving and caring mother and whether you choose to continue nursing full-time, part-time, or bottle-feeding does not change that truth. Our hormones just go haywire with pregnancy and chilbirth, just know that your body will find its equilibrium again as sleep once again increases and the hormones work themselves out. Know the rollercoaster is part of the process and not strange or abnormal. God designed our bodies this way and gave us this extraordinary gift of experiencing birth and new life. Enjoy your babies to the fullest and take some special time for yourself as well!!

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