Wednesday, June 30, 2010

123

123 days straight of exclusive breastfeeding is coming up tomorrow. That will be Brynn's first day as a four month old. While nursing today.. I started daydreaming about feeding iron fortified, processed, junk, boxed inferior baby cereal.... he could sleep longer at night (not always true) maybe start spending some less time nursing (not at all what I really want) and I could have a little more space not being touched constantly (who am I fooling?).

It's funny how the grass looks greener on the other side. Fortunately I know more about nursing and the downsides to introducing solid food early in life. I'm glad I have the self discipline to focus on the long term goal for optimum health and nutrition for his life. I think the myth about longterm breastfeeding is that the breastfeeding mothers always love it. Somedays I'm so tired of whipping out my boob and having to sit down for the tenth time that day because he's feeling a little clingy/on a growth spurt/hungry early because he got distracted at the last feeding. I think it deserves to be said, that while we are proud to do what we do... sometimes we wish it was a bottle/solid food feeding day.

So for all the days where it feels like a struggle, tomorrow I celebrate 123 days of exclusive breastfeeding. Brynn, it hasn't always been easy. But you are a happy, healthy, baby boy. For the tearful days of thrush, the sleep deprived headaches, and living on a 1 1/2 - 2 hour schedule - you are so worth it. 123 days from now I know these days of wanting to just snuggle and nurse with Mamma will be over. You will be learning about tastes, textures, and independence. I'm glad we've made it to day 123.

4 comments:

Tara said...

That's awesome! Congrats! And it's so true... I love nursing on the whole, but not every single minute of it. We let Shea try some cereal/bananas around 5.5 months (she loved it), but with Maya I was determined to hold off until she could do soft finger foods (8 or so months), and even then she wasn't really interested until 9-10 months! Go figure. And she was the good-ish sleeper and Shea, well, you know. ;-) Both are good (gluten free) eaters now.

Kate said...

I did the same with a few of mine (8 months for Nora, 7 for Liam). Shiloh.... I can't remember. Horrible. :-)

Are you and Adam gluten free as well? How's that going? We've been doing it for so long now it's strange to think of when we weren't! Of course, having Wegman's locally makes that exceptionally easy!

Kristin said...

Congrats on so many days. It is hard, hard, hard, but so worth it. I've always waited to feed my kids solids until they were older babies (7-10 months) and when they finally started eating, sometimes I wished I could go back to the simpleness of nursing.

Unknown said...

That is so great! I'm glad things are going so well. Yes, its true. I love nursing my little ones, but when they woke up for the 6th time in 7 hours, I was sooo wishing that men could grow breasts and lactate. Sometimes always being "it" can be exhausting, but still always, always worth it.

You would probably really love reading Dr. Sears book "healthiest kid in the neighborhood". Great info about childhood (and even grown up) nutrition.