18 Months of Nursing Milestone!

I am so excited to write that we have made it to the 18 month milestone of nursing.

I am so proud knowing that I have given Dalia the very best for so long. Breastfeeding was a goal of mine, and then making it to 6 months, and then 1 year. My main support has been my own tenacity and empowerment through knowledge and research. Being educated is a girl's best weapon! I also don't care what other people think about it, and that always helps!

Dalia only really nurses in the mornings now, but she loves starting her day with a snuggle in mommy's bed. And some people might think this is odd, but in fact my mom's group has several mothers (pregnant and not) who are currently nursing--it isn't a "weird" momma group either. We were brought together by zip code through an organization called Moms Club. Oh, and everyone in my group has a 18 month old. Oh, and there are former lawyers, yoga instructors, health professionls... you get my drift, right?

18 months have gone by so incredibly fast. And though she may look and act like a big girl, she is still a little one in my eyes!

Third Nipple

Joking, joking, joking... I don't have a third nipple.

Well not a real one anyway (do you?).

Dalia has discovered my belly button and boy does she think she has hit the jackpot! She tried as hard as she could to maneuver herself into some very creative nursing positions, curious and hopeful to drink to her heart's content.

My darling, near-one beauty, no matter how hard you try, milk will never flow from that spot. I only have two nummies and I think you should know that by now ;)

Love,

Mommy

Nearing 1 Year of Exclusive Nursing

We are nearing our 1 year mark of exclusive breastfeeding and it feels like such an accomplishment! We have calculated that I have produced about 100 gallons of breastmilk for our baby girl (so far). Now that is a lot of milk. Think of how much money we have saved...

Despite not having a huge breastfeeding and natural childbirth support system (oh, but let me extend a big thank you to my husband, our amazing doula, our midwives, and our bradley teacher), we have managed to have a wonderful year.

It took about 1 month for Dalia to learn how to nurse and for my tatas to produce what she needed. It took about 3 weeks of excruciating pain for my girls to get used to a suckling little baby. Ouch! They say proper latch=no pain at all, but I seriously think that is a lie. I mean someone is tugging on your tata all day and night! One reason I was able to get through the really tough days (and the labor itself) was preparation for pain. My go to person for everything baby and attachment parenting, Dr. Sears, emphasizes preparation as a method of pain management.

Anywho...

Not everyone decides to breastfeed and some people are unable to for medical reasons, but almost everyone can. Our country needs more people who are informed about the benefits of breastfeeding. We need to see more women nursing in public, and we need more people who are educated about breastfeeding. A couple of our doctors at our pedi office nursed for 18 months! Now that is an accomplishment (so is 1 week for those mommies who stopped earlier)!

Many women choose to breastfeed while pregnant. Many women choose to tandem nurse. Whatever your decision is, I think this YouTube video (posted on fb) is fantastic!

ENJOY!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcjKeDyTZP8