Tuesday, March 17, 2009

An End and a Beginning

So... Pumpkin is weaned. She last nursed Saturday, March 7, before going to sleep. She next asked to nurse on the following Monday, also during the bedtime routine. She said "boppy?" I took a deep breath, snuggled her closer, and said "no, honey, lets just snuggle." And unbelievably, she did. She's asked once more, and I said the same thing, and she didn't complain.

I've written quite a bit about my ambivalence toward weaning. That remains. I am so glad that Pumpkin and I had such a long and good nursing relationship. I'm glad that it ended with so little fuss (at least from her- some might argue that all my posting and talking about it is a lot of fuss indeed). Recently, someone wrote an article in the Atlantic about what a hassle breastfeeding is, and parts of it made me spitting mad. I would like to come back and write up my feelings about that at some point. For now, One Tired Ema does a good job of explaining some of my objections. I do not have anything against formula, and certainly wouldn't presume to judge mothers who decide to use it. But I have to say, breastfeeding Pumpkin was one of my favorite things, and I am glad I persisted through the (really common) early difficulties and got to do it.

And for the record, I had no significant problems pumping at work, no one ever so much as looked at me cross-eyed for doing it, and I find the idea that it has somehow hindered my career progress laughable. (Of course, I am very lucky in the type of job I have, which made it possible to work while pumping, and the enlightened state in which I live, which mandates lactation rooms and lactation breaks.)

deep cleansing breaths

So if I loved nursing so much and found it to be so wonderful, why did I wean? Because I'm pregnant. That's right- I'm just about 12 weeks pregnant now. Nursing was becoming less comfortable, and I wanted to wean Pumpkin before there was any chance that she'd associate the event with my pregnancy. Now that's done- on to the transition to the big girl bed!

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I think most people I know in real life who read this blog already know my news. If you don't- I'm sorry that you're reading it here instead of hearing it from me. What can I say? I've been tired lately. Which also explains why I'm posting about once a week, if I'm lucky.

11 comments:

  1. Congratulations! (More for the pregnancy than the weaning ;)

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  2. Anonymous7:39 AM

    Congratulations on the new preganancy! And also on a smooth transition to weaning. For me it was sad at first to see my girls adjust so easily to not nursing. Then I realized the easy transition meant that it was actually a good time for the change and we had done well. Enjoy the milestone!

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  3. Yay, I'm so happy Pumpkin will be a big sis! Congrats to you and your family.

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  4. Anonymous9:10 AM

    Yay, congratulations!!!

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  5. Anonymous11:42 AM

    Congratulations! I saw your mention elsewhere but was way behind there. My best RL friend is at almost exactly the same place, so I will follow you together.

    I weaned the Dillo 2.5 weeks ago, and while it's not been as easy as Pumpkin was (he would smack me for a while when I said no!) it has been okay. I am even more ambivalent because I am not planning to have another child, though, so this is it. On the other hand, first time in more than 6 years not being pregnant, nursing, or both is not so bad...

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  6. Congrats on the pregnancy! And on the sucessful weaning. I wish you a happy, safe and easy pregnancy!

    The discussion over at One Tired Ema's blog has been sooooo interesting! I keep checking back!

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  7. Congratulations. I wish I had more pix of my little one nursing. She's very curious about it.

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  8. Congrats on a peaceful weaning.

    I nursed Miss M longer than I think I really wanted to, but probably not as long as she really wanted to. Somehow we found middle ground. And even though I was so ready, it was hard to shed that really primal aspect of motherhood (the first thing we did together on the "outside")--made easier for me because I was still nursing somebody!

    Hope your pregnancy is wonderful!

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  9. Congratulations on your pregnancy!!

    I also read that article on the Atlantic, and parts of it also made me mad. I know breastfeeding isn't for everyone... but the author of that piece made it sound like just an unrelenting annoyance. (sometimes it is, but I really have found it more convenient than a bottle!)

    Anyway, congrats again! I think my littlest is weaning, too (sniff)

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  10. Anonymous5:42 AM

    Thank you for this post! All the discussion so far I'd see of the Atlantic monthly article was - Thank God somebody said it! Breastfeeding sucks! And it has made me so angry and so inexpressibly sad. I know some women don't like it (although my attitude goes a bit like this - hey, if you don't like it, don't it, and if you don't like but feel like it's super important to do it, then suck it up), but breastfeeding has been the most beautiful part of my mothering experience. My little one loves it - the sight of my boobs alone sends him into a frenzy of delight. There is so little positive representation of breastfeeding out there, because every time somebody publishes a "breastfeeding is best" type article, there's an immediate backlash of negativity. When I was pregnant all I heard was negative things about breastfeeding. It was depressing and demoralizing. But I love it!

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  11. Good one, thank you for sharing, i truly appreciate it.


    Nicole

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