Nursing a 2 year old, almost.

[hillmom]

Two years ago, I was pacing around my house just waiting for this little person inside of me to decided it was time to enter the world. Hayley Jo was born on May 17th, 2007 at 1:21 PM weighting 7 LBS 12 OZ and 21 inches long, the most beautiful baby I have ever seen.

As I held her in my arms to nurse here the first time, I clumsily latched her on (with the wonderful nurses help) and just grinned as I fed my sweet little baby for the first time. Yet I didn't have the intention to nurse her more than a few months. During our stay in the hospital the IBCLC gave me some great advice (nurse for as long and as often as baby wants, your cannot spoil her with love and touch, her nursing for 45 min at at time is fine). Thanks to her wonderful knowledge, my milk came in FAST and Hayley had grown an inch and put on a pound between the day were were released (May 19th) and her first baby well visit (May 22).

Over her first year I jumped in to research (what I do best) learning as much as I could about the processes and "benefits" of nursing my child. Quickly my "terms" jumped from 3 months to 6 months. After more research I decided, we would make it a year. As I dug deeper the only decision I could see was to let my child self wean, no matter how long it takes.

So here we are, her birthday is only 6 days away. I cannot believe she is almost 2, I cannot believe we have made it this far. I'm not sure how long our nursing relationship will continue but I do know that Mothering my child through breastfeeding has been a wonderful experience thus far. Don't get me wrong, we have had our struggles: 2 bouts of mastitis, several nursing strikes, and maybe a few more. Nevertheless, I have far more wonderful memories than I do bad. Even though her surprise stay in the hospital, last September was terrifying (Home from the Hospital), our connection through nursing made things so much easier. There is nothing like a rush of oxytocin to calm the nerves for us to start "fresh" again!

My baby is turning 2! Where ever did the time go?

[jus1jess]

May. 11, 2009 at 12:53 PM

How sweet =) When we know better, we do better.

[beccimae]

May. 17, 2009 at 8:17 PM

Love it! 

Jess: I love that saying!  "When we know better, we do better!"  Awesome!