Some thoughts on ending breastfeeding

I’ve written before about breastfeeding on here, and the journey Beastie and I have had. I thought it was only fitting that I wrote a little update now that we are done.

He stopped feeding around six weeks ago, meaning we fed for just over three and a half years. If you’d have told me when he was born, that we’d make it so far, I never would have believed you. I desperately wanted to be able to feed him, as my experiences with the girls were less than positive, mainly due to lack of support at home. I aimed to feed for six months, that came and went and we were still going strong.

By the end, I was beginning to feel like I’d had enough. He mainly only fed in the morning and at bedtime, though if he was ill or upset he’d want boobie. There were days when I just felt too touched out, and I could explain to him that we weren’t doing Boobie at the minute.

There wasn’t a decision made to stop feeding, it just happened overnight. He went to bed in his own bed for the first time, and didn’t’ want me to stay meaning he didn’t feed to sleep. When he woke up in the morning, he dove straight into playing with his sister, so morning boobie was forgotten. He repeated that the next night… and I suddenly I realised it had been 48 hours since he’d fed. I decided that we weren’t going back now. It was time for me to have my body back.

There were a couple of times in the following week or two he asked for Boobie, but I explained it had all gone and that we could have a big cuddle instead. Six weeks on, and a couple of times he’s laughed that he’d like to start Boobie again, but in reality, it was such an easy switch for us.

I’m so glad for the journey we had, so happy we fed for three and a half years, that we shared that bond and that closeness. I love how our journey ended, and I’m pleased that I left it down to him… he simply got to a point where he didn’t need it anymore. It felt SO good at first, this sudden freedom of having my body back and not being climbed all over by a small child – but writing this and reflecting back, NOW I feel emotional! I do miss that closeness, the feeling of him in my lap, snuggled up, knowing that boobie could make everything alright in his world.

More than anything, I’m grateful for those years, and grateful that it ended so beautifully.

1 Comment

  1. Em

    October 9, 2018 at 07:23

    What an achievement! It’s great when it comes to a natural conclusion.

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