Daughter officially self-weaned!! :-) :-(

Sweet13Princess · June 2014

I was really planning to go the long haul... breastfeeding until baby decided to stop, be it two years or more. However, it is with a mixture of all sorts of feelings that I can say my daughter, Allie has officially self-weaned. This is how it went down:

In the three and half months I was with her, I breastfed exclusively, pumping in between and after she went to bed in order to stock up on my freezer supply.

Once I went back to work, I still breastfed her twice before work and twice after work, with two pumps during the workday. However, my daughter downed LOTS of it and my stock gradually began to dwindle. I would exclusively breastfeed her on weekends.

Consequently, I was chomping at the bit to start solids at six months, which I did two weeks after her half birthday since she was showing curiousity about the food we were eating. Shortly after that point, I went to one pump a day and was still pulling from my small stock, not really adding to it anymore. Allie wanted just one morning and two nightly breastfeeds. I continued to exclusively breastfed on weekends as well.

By eight months, Allie became finicky. Some days she'd breastfed, other days she'd want the bottle. I no longer pumped at work, as I wasn't getting but a few drops. My stock was so low that I had no choice but to begin supplementing with formula. I pumped when she wouldn't breastfeed. She cut down to one morning and one nightly feeding.

Allie continued feeding this way until about two weeks ago, when she no longer wanted her nightly feeding. Sometimes she'd do one side halfheartedly, but that was about it. She'd fuss, scream, and turn away, giving me her backside. I'd try several times, but eventually I had to give her a bottle to get her settled for the night. Then six days ago, she gave up the morning breastfeed as well. I continued to offer for three days after she stopped, but she showed no interest.

I really wanted to feed her longer than twelve and a half months, but Allie has made her own decision about this... one step in her growing up already, I guess. I can't help but feel sad that she's moved on with this part of her life. I miss how she would look up at me lovingly as I breastfed her, how she held and played with my fingers when she fed. On the other hand, I'm glad I don't need to pump anymore and that the weaning took place so gradually that I really had no engorgement and pain.

I just wanted to share my story in case anyone else is wondering how self-weaning happens or if their baby is exhibiting some of the same behaviors as my own.

They grow up so fast,but she'll always be my little girl.:-)

Shannon

Guennie · June 2014

Congratulations on being able to bf for so long! You did a great job mama!

RDK24 · June 2014

Congrats on bf for so long and thanks for sharing! We haven't weaned yet but I anticipate that I'll feel sad about it too when the time comes. FWIW, I'm told that there's lots of snuggles and other sweet ways to bond in your future.

Sweet13Princess · July 2014

Thanks, ladies. I feel really lucky that I was able to breastfeed my daughter as long as I did. I know it can be a real challenge to BF while working. I was so glad the school district I teach at was supportive about giving me pumping time. Best of luck with BFing your little ones!:-D

Shannon

lindseyb624 · July 2014

Awe congrats. This really is a good thing. As I read I can say that I fully understand the emotionally aspect. We are at almost 10 months and I'm getting super emotional about the process as I'm starting to wind down.

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Daughter officially self-weaned!! :-) :-(

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