My Last World Breastfeeding Week While Breastfeeding
It’s occurred to me this is my very last “World Breastfeeding Week” as a breastfeeding mother.
With any luck my youngest will be weaned soon, and even though in my heart I would like another baby, I know there’s a really strong possibility that our daughter is our last child and no more babies = no more breastfeeding.
To provide a little context for why that’s a big deal- this is my 7th consecutive year of breastfeeding during World Breastfeeding Week. I’m actually really looking forward to weaning my daughter and getting my body back. Not, like, my “pre-pregnancy” body, but I mean for the first time in YEARS I won’t have someone living in or off my body.
My body will be mine. All mine.
Sometimes I do feel a little conscious of the fact that Parenting Central is pretty flooded with breastfeeding posts, because it has been a big part of my life so it’s naturally something I’m going to write about. Though I have also shared my views on formula feeding in “I support formula feeding if…” (as the equivalent of “I support breastfeeding but…” ) And we have published formula feeding posts by our contributors -including “Formula Feeding – no guilt required” and “Breastfeeding Battles” .
Though I am really passionate about promoting the rights of breastfeeding mothers. Supporting Breastfeeding in Public, and even Expressing in Public, and sharing breastfeeding pictures on social media in the form of “Brelfies”.
I’ve defended the decision to continue to breastfeed beyond infancy again and again and again, because I’m no stranger to having people actively discourage me from breastfeeding my own child.
I’ve given advice on how to gently wean a toddler, based on weaning my son, and shared my more recent struggles weaning my daughter.
I’ve tried to use humour to point out the absurdity of people discriminating against breastfeeding mothers as well as promoting a number of “Nurse Ins”
I have no doubt that even after I wean my daughter I will continue to support, promote, defend and celebrate feeding babies. At the end of the day that’s all it’s about; I’m 100% Pro-babies-being-fed. (And older children of course! You do need to keep on feeding them, even after they no longer need milk in their diet)
So happy World Breastfeeding Week to everyone!
Also, to celebrate World Breastfeeding wee Parent Talk are giving away an Ergobaby 360!
Oh Rach 7 years!! A bittersweet feeling I bet – yes you get your body back but a period of mourning would be pretty natural I’d guess. Props mumma, amazing job xxx
Bittersweet is exactly the word for it. As much as I am looking forward to it (and feel a little ragey when people suggest that mothers are only “doing it for themselves” after a certain age because – trust me – I’m done. I’m over it.) it’s still a funny thing to think of myself as not being a “breastfeeding mother”, it’s almost become a part of my identity – to myself, I mean, outside out blogging land I don’t really advertise the fact I’m still breastfeeding miss 3 year old, but it’s part of how I see myself. But at this stage I don’t really enjoy breastfeeding anymore. I love it when my little girl snuggles into me without trying to sneak a feed, or when she sleeps in my arms with her back to me. But, still, bittersweet.
Oh Rach 7 years!! A bittersweet feeling I bet – yes you get your body back but a period of mourning would be pretty natural I’d guess. Props mumma, amazing job xxx
Oh Rach 7 years!! A bittersweet feeling I bet – yes you get your body back but a period of mourning would be pretty natural I’d guess. Props mumma, amazing job xxx
Bittersweet is exactly the word for it. As much as I am looking forward to it (and feel a little ragey when people suggest that mothers are only “doing it for themselves” after a certain age because – trust me – I’m done. I’m over it.) it’s still a funny thing to think of myself as not being a “breastfeeding mother”, it’s almost become a part of my identity – to myself, I mean, outside out blogging land I don’t really advertise the fact I’m still breastfeeding miss 3 year old, but it’s part of how I see myself. But at this stage I don’t really enjoy breastfeeding anymore. I love it when my little girl snuggles into me without trying to sneak a feed, or when she sleeps in my arms with her back to me. But, still, bittersweet.
Bittersweet is exactly the word for it. As much as I am looking forward to it (and feel a little ragey when people suggest that mothers are only “doing it for themselves” after a certain age because – trust me – I’m done. I’m over it.) it’s still a funny thing to think of myself as not being a “breastfeeding mother”, it’s almost become a part of my identity – to myself, I mean, outside out blogging land I don’t really advertise the fact I’m still breastfeeding miss 3 year old, but it’s part of how I see myself. But at this stage I don’t really enjoy breastfeeding anymore. I love it when my little girl snuggles into me without trying to sneak a feed, or when she sleeps in my arms with her back to me. But, still, bittersweet.