Breastfeeding and Weaning

We originally discussed this topic on Prayer of Hannah in November 2007. Here is the link to my original post where I shared about my experience nursing Lydia, the incredible (and unequaled) benefits of breastmilk, and practical steps you can take to ensure success. I don't want to duplicate that information, but really encourage you to start with this post as an introduction to our discussion this week.

When we originally dealt with this topic, I was still nursing Lydia and wondering about weaning. So, I'd like to take this opportunity to share my experience with weaning. . .

Lydia loved to nurse just as much as I loved for her to nurse. Around 11 1/2 months she finally began to eat food and, pretty much without resistence, cut down from 6 feedings a day to 4. We stayed like this for several more months, but I never got my period. We wanted more children and I was anxious to see if cutting out more nursings would start my cycle. Around 14 1/2 months I cut her down to 2 feedings a day - morning and night. She objected, but in a couple days adjusted and we were both happy to have those two precious cuddle/nursing times a day. My husband and I talked about it and decided 18 months would be our goal for me to wean her. When she was 16 1/2 months old we traveled to Thailand and, during that 2 1/2 week trip she nursed like crazy! I decided not to worry about it (and isn't it amazing that your body's supply can adapt like this!) and, when we got home returned back to our 2 times a day schedule. Gradually I would try to drop a night time feeding - by giving her milk in a cup during her bath and making sure she was full and then reading books and distracting her from the idea of nursing before sleeping (the morning feeding was the last one I dropped). When Lydia was 20 months old I had to travel for 4 days without her so I decided to just go ahead and nurse her until 19 months - which would give her a month to be weaned before I just "cold turkey" left her alone with Josh. I was hormonal and cried and sad to wean her, but, again, thought about the goal and knew we were not getting pregnant while nursing - which is probably the only thing that gave me the strength to not give in and keep nursing her until she weaned herself - whenever she might choose that (I do think infant-led weaning is super cool and would love to do that one day!). Eventually I would just nurse her at some random time every other day, and that was mainly because I would be in pain and need to have the milk eaten! (Interestingly, I never got an infected clogged duct in my breast until I started the weaning process.) It was hard for her and me (I noticed her being more clingy) but, ultimately, I was the parent and had to make the decision. I stuck with it and, within a week of weaning, she seemed adjusted and fine. Today, when she sees my chest she'll say, "Baby's milk" and we talk about how soon I'll be feeding her two brothers :).

I am a major advocate of breastfeeding. Breastmilk truly is God's perfect food for our babies and there is nothing else that even comes close (I do NOT consider formula an equally good or even close alternative). I do understand, though, that there are, in rare instances, special circumstances that necessitate the need for formula. Praise God there is that option there in these circumstances!!

I hear many women say they just didn't produce enough milk to feed their baby. I was reading recently about the quality and quantity of milk your body can produce. The question posed was, "If a mother's diet is lacking in certain vitamins, will her milk also be lacking?" Answer: No, her body will still make milk with all the vitamins/minerals it should have. However, the QUANTITY of milk she will be able to produce will definitely be affected. It made me wonder if our fast food, junk food culture had even given second thought to whether or not the lack of nutrition we give our bodies affects even the quanity of milk we are able to give our babies. . .

I am now pregnant with twins and can't wait to get to nurse these two little blessings. My goal and prayer is that I will be able to nurse them just like I was able to do with Lydia - and never need to supplement with formula. The next time we revisit this topic, I hope to be able to write on my experience nursing multiples!