written June 2016 and transferred to this blog
Before I get started, I just want to say that I have no desire to draw undue attention from this post. I’m not here bragging or trying to shove in your face this “outrageous” thing I do. I certainly don’t want to be on a cover of a magazine, nursing my almost 4 year old. I don’t want to make anyone feel any less because they didn’t breastfeed or breasfed for 2 days, 3 weeks, 12 months, or 2 years. This is just our story and my experience. I try to do what’s best for my kids and what feels best for us.
What is extended breastfeeding? Most people say it’s nursing past a year. Some follow the WHO recommendation to breastfeed until at least 2 years old and anything after that is considered ‘extended’ until mother or child mutually agree to stop. I don’t really call it extended breastfeeding. It’s just breastfeeding. and quite simply, I haven’t felt that natural time to stop yet. I thought it would be when I got pregnant and my milk would dry up… nope. I nursed through that and then I thought it would be after the baby came and the milk changed… nope, then I thought surely when he’s 3 it will feel like he’s too old for it… Nope.. He still loves his milk. He certainly doesn’t nurse on demand anymore. That stopped at about age 2 when I got pregnant. (Nursing through pregnancy is one of the hardest things I have ever done, by the way). (Blog post to come on nursing through pregnancy) I started putting up boundaries whenever I felt like I needed a change. Currently he nurses once every morning. Sometimes he forgets and I don’t offer. This is all part of the natural weaning process. Women have done it this way forever… that is until our culture stopped looking at breastfeeding as a vital thing!
I don’t claim to be super awesome for doing this (although I’m proud of myself because it’s hard work) but women all around the world do this. In our culture though, most women won’t tell you they do this… they might be ashamed or afraid of what society will think. I’m telling my story because I want to encourage you. There’s nothing wrong with it. My kids are healthy. They feel a strong attachment to me. I’m willing to put in extra work now while they’re young to avoid problems later.
For anyone curious how long I plan to breastfeed my son, we have agreed to stop when he turns 4. I’m ready now but I’m preparing him for that process by talking about it a few times a week and telling him how much I’ve enjoyed nursing him his whole life. I want to instill in him a respect for breastfeeding and the attachment we have. I wholeheartedly believe he will benefit from these “extra” years of breastfeeding. It was worth it.
Tell me your story in the comments below!
Peace.
