|
Menu
|
"All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother"Abraham Lincoln |
|
|
Rachel Allen"What a great site! I love it! I think changing the public perception of breastfeeding to show mums they can stay stylish and still breastfeed is much needed to fill a support void in Ireland. Culturally it is our public perception which holds so many people back. |
|
Read more
|
|
|
Domini Kemp
“No chef, food company or scientist can make food as perfect for your baby, as you can. Yes, breastfeeding takes time, but the results are worth it. Your baby’s health is undoubtedly improved and it’s great for getting you back in shape. |
|
Read more
|
|
|
THE STORY OF ME, MY BOOB & MY BABE
Over the years DH often asked me "baby if we ever have kids will you please breastfeed?" and i always replied "ehh...noooo wayyyy!!" with disgust! I absolutely hated the idea, I was repulsed by it! For one, i didn't think i ever really wanted kids, i loved my life as it was, my independence, my socialising, our holidays & weekends away, spending my money on me, me, me, clothes, make-up, alcohol, shoes, cappucinos, lunch with the girls - not sacrificing it all on nappies and baby wipes. And on top of that, I hated the idea of becoming a human cow, with some baby hanging off me all day long! My boobs were mine! Small and not perfect but mine!!!
But wow....how I've changed my tune :-) My baby Hannah was born on July 22nd and has changed my life forever. For a girl who didn't want kids, never liked holding other peoples' babies, never babysat as a youngster, was freaked out by breastfeeding and pregnant women - I certainly have come around to their way of thinking hehe!
The second I got pregnant I knew I was gonna breastfeed (well not exactly the second I got pregnant, maybe about 2 weeks after I'd stopped crying and got over the shock of it & stopped mourning the upcoming loss of my independence!) or at least give it my best shot. I decided I was gonna try & do it for 3 months. About a week after she was born I decided I was gonna do it for 5 months. After about 3 months I decided I was gonna take extended unpaid leave and would breastfeed until she as 6 months. Then coming close to the 6 month mark I decided I would keep going until she was 8 months, giving us 2 months to wean her off the boob before going back to work.
The whole breast feeding experience has been so amazing and pretty much indescribable unless to other Mums who have had the privilege of breastfeeding and nurturing their little baby; watching with wonder as their little newborn with no experience of the world instinctively latches on starts to suck. No-one could have ever told me about the constant amazement I'd feel at my tiny babe who once could fit lying between my folded arms whilst she fed, but now has long legs that extend way past my body - she's grown so much - purely from drinking milk that came from me??!! It's insane!! I love seeing how much she gets from each feed, not just milk....but comfort, security, safety, familiarity, calm and love. I love when her little hand strokes my chest, grabs tightly to my t-shirt, reaches and touches my chin; when she makes little sighs of contentment and groans of satisfaction; when her eyes start to roll and her head bobs like she's drunk on milk and love; when I wind her on my shoulder and within seconds she's asleep and we could both happily stay in that position for hours. And our special feeds in the middle of the night when we're both semi-awake, don't even bother to switch the light on, just make contact and she's like a little baby animal, waking from her sleep with her mouth shaped like an 'O' - finding me no problem in the dark, like a little nipple-seeking-missile :-)
It's been a fantastic journey and I hope I am lucky enough to breastfeed all my babies - the many more I hope I will have :-)
But I'm sorry to say I think the time has come for little Hannah to say bye-bye boobie and hello bottle. There are a few reasons why I think we need to get started. I've been lamenting our bed-time ordeals on a few other threads so I wont go into that long story again, but I think it might help matters if I'm not breastfeeding and if she's not so reliant on me for comfort at night. She's also very clingy to me in recent weeks and for both our sakes I need her to become a little more independent. And mostly, because we both love breastfeeding so much, I think the weaning process will be possibly be a slow one and potentially difficult! She's a very strong willed lady-baby who knows damn well when she doesnt want something - and is strong enough to push the bottle of EBM away with quite forceful little hands and jam her lips shut!! She'll be going to her child-minder in April for a few practices before I go back to work, so I want her well settled with her bottle by then, so she's not stressed out at too much change all at once.
So that's our story. I know I have done a great job for the past 6 months and I know I should be proud, everyone keeps telling me. And whilst I know I have my reasons & I'm happy with my reasons, I cant help feeling so sad about stopping. She had a lovely 25 min feed before going to bed tonight and i couldn't help crying a few tears just looking down at how much she loves it, how cosy she is, how close we are. I am gonna miss it so much :-(
But don't worry, ye haven't heard the last from me. No doubt I will be posting all my troubles over the coming weeks and looking for more advice on weaning, engorgement and all those lovely things - so thanks in advance girlies! You are all wonderful!!
xxxx
|
|
Members' Stories 
