So I guess I'm weaning the boys from nursing. Since I began this journey with them my biggest fear has been that I would be ready to wean long before they were. I promised myself that as long as they expressed a need to nurse either physically or emotionally, I would do whatever it took to meet that need. My wish was that one day we'd all three wake up and realize that this is no longer something we needed from one another. Tonight I got my wish. Within the past month and a half, we've gone from 4 sessions to 3 (only for the past week or so) and now tonight we dropped what I was sure to be the most difficult to drop - bed time. I don't know what moved me to try this today, it just sort of happened. For the past couple of months that feeding had been such a struggle for me. I've been so wiped out after chasing them around, cooking them meals, cleaning after the meals, hauling them in and out of the car, baths, and so on that by the time I got them propped up on that pillow to nurse, it felt more like another chore than a bonding experience. And they're so big and so uninterested at times that half of that time was spent refereeing eye-poking, hair-pulling fights, and protecting my own hair and earrings from their grasps - hardly a cherishable moment for anyone involved.

So we went about our normal post-nursing routine - bath, roll around on the bed, book, prayers, cuddle, bed - only we prolonged the cuddles, left out the nursing part and replaced it with a sippie cup of warmed whole milk. They were stunned to say the least. They sipped, swallowed, stared in suspense, then a huge smile spread across their faces. As we lied in the bed, they both took turns cuddling close to me and never once tried to nurse which served as a much needed confirmation that I was doing the right thing (when I really thought about it I realized that it's been quite a while since they actually initiated nursing - it's been more of a mommy led routine than anything). We layed them down as usual, they did their 3 minutes of babbling and whining, and drifted right to sleep. I couldn't have asked for a smoother experience. No sadness, no tears, nothing like I expected. I plan to continue the morning feeding and one day-time feeding for as long as it's pleasant for all of us.

*By the way, thank you so much to all you twinstuff ladies that offered your undying support, encouragement and advice over this past year (especially in those early months of clogged ducts and round-the-clock pumping;)). We wouldn't have made it without you!

1 Comment

1. Char Char on August 20, 2008 at 8:17 AM

   I just created my account so that I can finally leave you messages. Your boys are so beautiful and you have done such a great job! I am so proud of you! Love ya Char