Imogen has finally weaned. I knew this was coming for the last 8 weeks or so. She has gradually cut down how much she is nursing and this past week has seen her wean completely. She had cut down to only nursing in the morning and this past week she has refused to nurse instead getting out of bed and searching for her sippy cup of water. She has not not nursed at all for 5 days.
The fact that both Xavier and Imogen self weaned, Xavier was completely weaned at 13 months having cut down from 10 months and Imogen completely weaned at 15 1/2 months having cut down from 13 months led me on a search of the net for articles about weaning. I wanted something positive to share with you.
I found this article http://www.kellymom.com/bf/weaning/babyselfwean.html and was shocked to say the least!
On reading this article it implied that I didn't do enough to nurse my children. I must have some how encouraged them to eat more and drink from alternative sources and that secretly I must have wanted to wean my babies because it is unusual for babies to self wean before 18 to 24 months. HOW RUDE!!
I have to say I am glad that I am thick skinned because some people out there would be devastated after reading an article like that. Having thought they had done the right thing for their baby they are suddenly faced with the theory that they didn't do enough. Should we not be supportive of one another???
I will freely admit that Ethany was weaned to a bottle at 4 months because she was lactose intolerant and refluxing. The formula she was put on made the world of difference and I don't not regret that one bit. It was the best thing for her.
Xavier only ever had a bottle when i wasn't available to feed him and in his bottle he had expressed milk. This was only when he was little and was not very often. When he weaned he weaned to a cup of his own free will. I will not force my children to nurse. When he refused and wanted a cup who am I to say no you are not old enough to make that decision for yourself. He was never unhappy or miserable about not nursing I did not push him in anyway. He has great attachment and still, at 3 hops in our bed for a cuddle in the mornings.
Imogen NEVER had a bottle! She was the most unsettled of all 3, she nursed the most of all 3 and personally I thought I would be feeding her until she was 3, maybe older. But, in the last 8 weeks she has started walking, become more verbal and decided that she doesn't want to nurse anymore. That's OK with me. We fought through 4 bouts of mastitis and nursing loads at night because she wasn't putting on any weight. She loves her cuddles, has not been grumpy or looking to nurse and also has excellent attachment.
To end a long ramble I just want to say some babies will self wean earlier than others and clearly it can have nothing to do with the mother! Personally I consider myself having breastfed full term, that is, as long as my children wanted to nurse I nursed them. I applaud all nursing mothers no matter what length of time, one feed, one week, one month, one year, great job!! Don't let others out there get you down!
