Hey y’all! I mentioned the other day briefly on my Instagram how my breastfeeding journey with my toddler (2-year-old) is slowly but surely coming to an end. I wanted to talk more in a blog post about how our journey was, how I kept my supply going for so long, and what’s to come. I’m not even going to lie y’all! I sure am going to miss that bond with him. I have been blessed to be able to nurse both of my kiddos. Although breastfeeding is a stressful and tiring journey, that bond and connection that you have with your babies is just unexplainable.
With my firstborn, my journey with her was I nursed her until she was 22 months. The goal was to make it to that 2-year mark. But we both were kind of over it at that point and she pretty much left me alone shortly after lol. With my baby boy, the goal was that two-year mark as well BUT he just won’t leave me alone!
I say that in a joking manner because literally, he won’t stop. And since he won’t stop, I keep making milk. I knew that going cold turkey and completely cutting him off wasn’t going to happen. It would’ve made matters worse. So lately, I started coming up with a plan to slowly but surely wean him off so he can drift off and I can be free again!
Fast forward to today, we are down to 1-2 feedings a day. His thing is he HAS to nurse to fall asleep. It’s like nursing is a soothing mechanism for him and it puts him to sleep instantly. So I only nurse him for nap time and bedtime. We are currently working on ways to put him to sleep without nursing him so that in his mind he knows that he can fall asleep on his own without me. It isn’t perfect every day and but it is a work in progress for sure.
Once we get their room makeover on the roll, I know that will definitely help out so that he can fall asleep in his own bed! Ahhh I can’t wait! Side note: That’s one thing I cherish about this journey is how close and attached he is to me. I know boys tend to love their moms a lot more but I feel this journey added an extra dose of love.
Shop My Favorite Nursing And Breastfeeding Necessities that I Loved!
I can tell you that I have experienced a decrease in my milk supply. I had a great supply for a long time and I’m shocked that I am still producing at least 2 ounces out of each to this day. Before, he would nurse for over 20 minutes. Now, it’s less than 10 minutes because he drinks it all up since there’s barely any left. So at least I know that the supply is decreasing and he’s not going to want it anymore because ain’t nothing there LOL! Another reason I can tell that it is decreasing is that I’m not leaking milk like before. I would wake up with leaky shirts, or it would start leaking randomly throughout the day and would have to wear nursing pads. Whew, the overflow was real but man I was grateful for a healthy supply.
I know I’m all over the place but that’s how I feel emotionally about this journey coming to an end. Lord knows I’m over it but deep down inside, I’m not! #Bittersweet Although I would love another baby in the near future, who knows when that will be to be able to nurse again. Right now, we are focused on our two blessings that we have now and are loving on them very much. But if I am blessed to do it again, I pray that I am blessed with the overflow of milk again and can establish that bond with my baby girl that I would love to have next!
But these two years of breastfeeding have been great! I honestly can’t complain except that I wasn’t expecting to go this long. But everything happens for a reason and I’m thankful that I can still provide additional nutrients for my growing baby boy.
So if you are currently breastfeeding and you are kind of over it, your feelings are valid. Like I said, this journey is exhausting yet rewarding. So I would suggest taking your time and letting this journey take its course. It will happen naturally and before you know it, your little human will be over it and you will be free! Definitely cut back on the number of feedings you’re doing and introduce more regular food into their diets.
Also, try to direct their attention elsewhere so they don’t get tempted to want to nurse when they want. Trust me when they want it, they will find a way to get it lol. One mom on Instagram told me that she puts tape over her nipples…that is GENIUS! And once the journey is over, make sure to keep that bond tight by showing them love in other ways.
I want the bond that I have with both of my kids to last forever. So if that means I give them extra hugs and kisses in the morning, that’s it. If we have multiple cuddle times throughout the day, that’s it. I want my kids to know that they are loved no matter what. And even though breastfeeding was the start of our bond (well when they were in my womb) beyond that, our bond will last forever, no matter how old and gray they get! I’ll do a video/vlog on this soon so stay tuned for that! Are you still breastfeeding your child? Let me know how long it has been and when you are planning to stop! Can’t wait to hear! 🙂