Breastfeeding {The Ordinary Moments}
I have been breastfeeding for over two and a half years aside from a few months gap in between weaning LP and Little Man coming in to the world. Breastfeeding for me didn’t come as naturally as I thought it would and I spent nearly three weeks persevering through cracked nipples, blisters and unbelievable soreness to get feeding with LP established. Once we got to that point we enjoyed 13 months of feeding and I weaned LP mainly because I was pregnant again and wanted to give my body a break before the new baby arrived.
Little Man came along just over a year ago and feeding him came a lot more naturally than it had done with LP, I still had soreness at the start but it was nowhere near as bad as it had been with LP and within a few days I had the same wonderful feeds with him that I had experienced with LP.
With both babies I loved breastfeeding, I could feed them anywhere, I didn’t need to buy anything extra to enable me to feed and I didn’t need any preparation to feed – Feeding could be done whenever the baby was hungry and at a moment’s notice. It was one of the most convenient things I have ever experienced and when the babies reached six months it was a shame to introduce food – Going from being able to feed the babies anywhere and with no preparation to needing to start giving them actual food, such a shock to the system!
Don’t get me wrong, breastfeeding hasn’t always been rosy. Aside from the issues at the start there were the times that the babies would bite, the growth spurts that needed constant feeds, the regular night feeds and lack of sleep that went with them. There were times when I felt like not much more than a dairy cow but I knew that it wouldn’t always feel that way, breastfeeding – and feeding every couple of hours day and night – is short lived. In your child’s lifetime, and the scheme of things, breastfeeding is just one small, ordinary moment.
Last Saturday, just over a week ago, I asked Dave to take a photo of me feeding Little Man. I wanted a photo of me feeding him to use on the blog at some point. Unbeknown to me, that feed would be the last. I had always said I’d feed until a year and since Little Man’s Birthday we have been winding down the feeds – I stopped the morning feed a few days before and had stopped feeding him during the night a couple of weeks before that. For the last few days there had just been the one lovely bedtime feed, a feed where we’d have a cuddle, rock in our chair and have some perfect quiet time.
I have loved breastfeeding the babies. There were hard times, times that made me cry and times when it needed everything I had in me to persevere. But it was also the most rewarding thing I have ever done and something I will always be proud of. As we aren’t having any more children this symbolises the end of my breastfeeding days. My last feed with Little Man was for me, my last breastfeed.
I will always think back fondly to those feeding cuddles, the lazy mornings and nap times laying in bed feeding LP and Little Man’s hand holding my face as he fed.
Breastfeeding has been an ordinary moment for years but it has now come to an end.
What a lovey post xx
It sounds like a very emotional time for you, and it’s stirred up memories for me too. Even though I’m breastfeeding at the moment I still feel a bit teary thinking about the end of feeding with S and D.
How lovely that you got a photo, great photo too!
Hope it doesn’t take too long to adjust x
I wrote it last Sunday after he successfully went to bed without a feed. I read it again last night and cried too x
What a lovely post and always good to get a photo to remember those days, weeks, months, years of breastfeeding I was really the same having fed Buba for a year and being pregnant right away I had only a mini gap then I was back to breastfeeding Missy Moo. It feels like an era has passed over now that I am not feeding MM either and she is my last baby so my breastfeeding days are over. I was really sad to say goodbye to feeding my babies. It’s hard to give up that cuddle snuggle bonding time but I was also excited for came next. All the other great things to look forward to. Way to go you! Great tribute to your feeding for so long. #ordinarymoments
Ah Donna this made me cry loads. I am not feeling well today at all and am feeling very emotional. What a beautiful post. As you know I recently stopped feeding LL and it was the most bittersweet thing for me, especially as I really doubt we will have another baby. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done, especially with Mads, but in the end I adored my breastfeeding experience. You should be so proud of what you have achieved and I agree with you that it is the most rewarding thing I have ever done. I don’t like what it has done to my boobs though- finishing feeding plus losing weight has made my once lovely (if I do say so myself!) 😉 boobies turn into yucky little lumps. EEEEK hahah tmi for your post there! x
I wish I had a photo memory of breast feeding my son. I fed him for one year, one month and two days – and yes, I counted! I will cherish those memories forever. Thank you for sharing such a precious post with us all x
A lovely post at what must be a very sad moment for you. You’ve done so well to breastfeed both your babies for as long as you did. Reading posts like this always makes me sad that I didn’t manage to breastfeed Toby for longer.
Great post. I had a really tough start to breastfeeding too and similarly, was manhandled by many a midwife, made to feel like a failure because of my baby not latching on because of my nipples and remember the pain of the latches but nipple shields allowed me to continue and I persevered and have just reached the six month mark. I still find it hard in public, especially when my LO decides to come off and look around exposing me or doesn’t even latch on to start with and because she dribbles or makes me spray because of the letdown I have to stuff a muslin in my bra so I never feel particularly subtle but it’s still worth it to see her growing because of the magic milk I make! X
Aaahh such a lovely post. I fed all three of mine for 11 months and was very proud of myself. An amazing feeling x
Awww Donna this is such a lovely post. What a big moment for you both.
I didn’t have a ‘last feed’ with S as such, he just ended up skipping it and then i decided that was it. Not sure i could have handled the emotions of knowing. Such a special photo though x
What a beautiful post and I’m sure its a big decision to come to terms with. I remember making that decision with my babies and none of them where easy ones to make. Although in saying that I never fed them for as long as you have, so massive hat off to you lady. Such an achievement. Epic mama skills. What a lovely photo at the end there too. xx #ordinarymoments