Bravado! Designs | Bye, Bye, Breastfeeding, Thanks for Everything

Bye, Bye, Breastfeeding, Thanks for Everything

Posted By: Lisa Steinke

Lisa had her first child at the age of 37. A self-proclaimed 'late bloomer,' Lisa now finds it hard to remember what life was like before her daughter was born.

Saying goodbye to breastfeeding is like saying goodbye to an old friend. I should know because I've had to do both. Both were hard decisions. Both decisions involved guilt and second-guessing. Both decisions kept me up at night. But I knew both were the right decisions.

For me.

Two years ago, I moved halfway across the country to get married and start a family. And when I did, I said goodbye to my BFF of twenty plus years. And with breastfeeding, I said goodbye and weaned the baby I wouldn't have had if I didn't make that move. Isn't it funny how life works out?

Breastfeeding was good to me, good to my baby. It was there for me, there for my baby. It gave me a bond with my baby. It gave me memories. It gave my baby health and well being. But like they say, all good things must eventually come to an end. Or change.

The reasons I decided to stop breastfeeding might be considered selfish. And might cause others to judge me. But I can’t worry what others will think of my decision. Because it was mine.

I stopped because I was done. It had become too much work. Become too inconvenient. Too time-consuming. Especially when I traveled with and especially without her. And I travel a lot.

So as I weaned my daughter, I made sure to savor the experience of nursing. To record in my mind how I felt. To remember how great the experience was for the baby, me, my husband.

Just like with the good bye to my BFF, the weaning was an emotional and on-going process. And just like with my BFF, there's a part of me that will always miss it. But just like I know it was the right decision to move, I know it was the right decision to say goodbye to breastfeeding. There will always be a place in my heart for what it did for us. And I will be forever thankful.

9:00am on Monday September 26

1 comment