” Welcome to the Milk Mama Diaries Carnival (November). For this month, participants share their experiences on extended breastfeeding. This includes tips to moms with young babies, as well as barriers and myths which discourage extended nursing. Please scroll down to the end of this post and check out the other carnival participants.”
My daughter Daphne turned 1 year old last July. The idea of weaning her didn’t even cross my mind. Until last October when we thought we could, without even really thinking about it. We just went and tried to wean her because of some reasons, and it was a mess!
That first night I almost cried, I didn’t give my breasts to Daphne as I used to when she started asking for “Ma-Mam!’ She got angry and then she cried and cried. I can feel her disappointment and her desperation to nurse! Seeing my daughter that way, she left me no choice, but to give in. I told my husband, I am going to nurse her until she’s ready to wean by herself. Regardless of the reasons we may have.
These reasons, as I think about it now, don’t even have valid grounds for me to believe in it. Let me tell you about it.
First reason that pushed me and my husband to start weaning was my mother in law’s advice. She told us that it’s not good for our baby to nurse from me anymore because I have already gotten my period back. She said that not so good things from my body will be transferred to our baby. I tried to research this on the internet, but I have gotten no real answer about this. I don’t even know how my MIL knew about this and I am afraid I can’t question her. But I can still nurse my baby Daphne!
Another reason is the decrease in my not-so-plenty milk supply. My milk supply wasn’t really enough for my baby, so I was mixed feeding her with formula ever since she was born. I sacrificed in shuttling my pumping gear back and forth the office everyday for a year so there’s no point in stopping now. I sustained a year of 3 hour sleeps because she still nurses in the middle of the night. I don’t see the point of not extending our nursing sessions when I don’t even pump anymore during the day and it’s just when I get home at night that I nurse her.
My hubby and I are trying to have another baby and someone told us that it’s easier when I don’t breastfeed anymore. Because my menstruation and ovulatation will regulate. Come to think of it, I have PCOS and my menstruation was never really regular. And still I had Daphne! So I thought, this one too has no basis at all! If God would bless us with another baby, a boy I hope, then it will happen.
The reasons I had I contradicted. I fed myself more reasons to continue to nurse my daughter. There’s no better feeling than having my child on my arms. After a long day at work, that’s what I most look forward to. Everyone else can play with her but our own secret nursing game is only ours. No one can take that away from me and my baby. That bond we have will always be special. And there are special funny moments too! There are times that she just pulls up my shirt to ask for “ma-mam,” and she screams for it too! The joy it brings when I see my daughter gets contented while nursing, to the point of falling into slumber!
I know in a few months time, she’s going to have to wean by herself. Either because she’s ready to separate from me and my breasts or because she can’t get any milk from them anymore! Haha!
For now, I’ll enjoy our special BONDING moment until it lasts!
Happy breastfeeding everyone! 
Please feel free to read on some more breastfeeding experiences:
J and the Three Boys – No more “de-de”
My Mommyology – My Extended Breastfeeding Experience
Mommyluscious – Breastfeeding for Two Beyond Two
Truly Rich Mom – On Extended Breastfeeding (a perfectly normal thing to do)
Life of a Babywearing and Breastfeeding Mommy – Still breastfeeding after 2 years
Got To Believe – Breastfeeding Room Story
Apples and Dumplings – My Constant Challenge with Extending Breastfeeding
Mommy Kuwentos – Challenges and Rewards of Extended Breastfeeding
The Odyssey of Dinna – Nurturing Rafael: Extended Breastfeeding, Stretching Some More Lovin’
Legally Mom – Breastfeeding Beyond 1 Year: Barriers and Issues
Mec as Mom – Shooting for the Benefits, Extending the Love
Homeschooling Mommy – Yes, I’ve Got Milk
Chronicles of a Nursing Mom – Barriers/Myths vs. Extended Breastfeeding