As we end the Mother's Month of May, my family is celebrating 2 very important milestones. N has finally completely weaned at 3 years old and 5 months. Early this year, I wrote about the challenges I had with weaning her. And since she morphed into a different N at night time (despite our daytime agreement to stop nursing) plus we had an upcoming trip in April/May, I decided not to pursue active weaning.
Breastfeeding helped us during our trip - through the long flights plus comforting a feverish N. It was a big plus and easy source of comfort. I am still glad though that when it was time to finally and completely wean, the experience was not traumatic for either us.
Her weaning is without reason - as we are expecting baby number 2! During the last leg of our trip in Vancouver, I had been feeling really under the weather and was late. As soon as we arrived from our trip, we immediately did a pregnancy test to positive results! I have to admit that the baby was semi-unplanned - we had been gunning for a dragon baby - but very much welcome!
I immediately visited my ob-gyne who knew that I was still breastfeeding. After check-up and ultrasound, she never mentioned that I had to wean N. However, I thought that it was the best time to start as I had been ready to wean since the start of the year.
We told N about the new addition to our family and she excitedly named the baby "FLOWER". I then explained to her that every time she nurses from me, my tummy will squeeze Flower and that we don't want that because we want Flower to grow in Mommy's tummy until she is ready to come out! I think this explanation was acceptable to her because she agreed to stop nursing then and there. I think she was also ready. Even during night time, when she tries to pull down my shirt and nurse, I'll just gently say, remember Flower, then she'll whimper a bit, toss, turn then fall back to sleep. Now, she doesn't even ask to nurse. When she wakes up at night she'll just ask to hold then fall back to sleep.
I recently tried asking her if she wants to nurse and she'll always say "No, Mom, I don't want Flower to be squeezed." Then she'll tell me, when Flower comes out, Flower will share your milk with me, right? I am really happy with this development since I feel that our weaning experience was pleasant. So this merry month of May has been doubly happy for me - with the easy and ready weaning of N plus the coming of our 2nd baby, Flower!
How was your weaning journey?
14 comments:
Congratulations Jenny! :) I read Mec's comment on her blog that you were hormonal.. and I thought maybe Jenny is pregnant na with baby no 2. And you are! :) Yey!
Congratulations on baby number two! I am a new follower and I am hoping I could gain info here on breastfeeding my soon-to-be-born baby number three.
Congratulations on both!! (baby 2 and weaning)
as you know, mine was...long. Hahaha! Had a heart to heart talk with K and told him that he was a big boy at 4. We agreed (or napilit ko?) to stop on his birthday (figured it would be a good day --- lots of gifts to distract him?).
Yes, he stopped nursing but he likes *touching* "kasi soft" (his words, not mine).
Congratulations to your family. I was teary-eyed reading about N thinking of Flower's welfare. Thumbs up!!
oh, congratulations, Ms. Jen! so you are about to begin another remarkable journey on breastfeeding, this time with Flower. :) and N's weaning is something that I admire, because both of you are ready for it.
now that my own baby is turning a year old this June, the thought of weaning is already crossing my mind, like, how and/or when it will happen, or if my boy would initiate, and if he does, if i would be ready by then (i'm so not ready for it yet). the thought of ending a BFing relationship seems bittersweet to me, because when it ends, it ends; that's it, there's no going back. but then from the looks of it, i think it would still be a long way to go for us. :D
praying for all the best in your pregnancy! :)
thanks for the well-wishes everyone!!
Such a sweet story about N and Flower. :) Congratulations!
Awww such a cutie for N to finally give up nursing and just thinking about flower! I've been thinking that extended breastfeeding moms are the most understanding mothers on earth!! I'm still breastfeeding my 30months old little girl now and when I say to her that she's my baby, she would insist that she's a big girl already, and so I told her big girls would nurse na and she would follow up and say, Mommy, i'm still a baby hehe.
Congrats on the baby no. 2 and the weaning! :)
congratulations Jenny! :))
aw... congratulations, jen! such happy news!
Aw, I'm so happy for you Jenny =) Congratulations on Baby #2 =) We have a bout the same age gap for our kids.
congratulations jen!! and what a great weaning story! are you really gonna name your baby flower?
thanks Pam! hehe.. that's just naima's nickname :D
Congratulations!! What exciting news. I loved how you talked to your daughter about Flower. What a thoughtful way of weaning. My son is 21 months now and I'm wondering when he'll naturally wean. I offer my breast only when he requests for it. We'll see how the journey carries on. :)
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