Hello again! I hope you guys are doing awesome! 

As many of you know, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends exclusively breastfeeding for at least the first 6 months of life. And, they furthermore recommend to extend breastfeeding for a whole year. Last week I made the decision to wean my baby boy from breastfeeding. He just turned 6 months a couple of days ago. Let me be clear, if you are a breasfeeding mother and you have decided to breastfeed longer than 6 months, that is totally fine, and more power to you. The same goes to any of you momma's who have decided to wean before the 6 month mark or for you momma's that formula your babies. You do what's best for you and for your baby, so do not let my post make you feel like you are less than me or anything like that. This is what works for my family and for my baby. From the beginning, my son has been a very independent baby boy and lately he has no interest in sitting for 10-15 minutes to nurse. He is just such a curious and active boy that breastfeeding has become a challenge for both us.

Now, when I decided I wanted to wean him, I took to the internet, and researched many, many ways to do it. I cannot tell you how many articles are out there about the subject. It was quite overwhelming but, I decided to go the "gentle weaning" way. What does "gentle weaning" means? Basically, you just take it slow. I do not understand how any momma out there will do cold turkey on breastfeeding...hello Dolly Parton or Pamela Anderson!!! I really did not want to have my breast feel like two pounds of potatoes in a one pound bag...no offense to anyone that has done it this way. At the moment my son is feeding anything from 6 to 8 times a day, so I decided I would take from 6 to 8 weeks to wean him. So, aside from the fact that it is gentler for my ladies (boobies), I feel like I will give my son 8 months of liquid gold.

So, this week was the first week that I used formula instead of a nursing session. I chose the last evening feeding, the one before his bedtime routine/nursing (I am still nursing him to sleep).  My son has already weaned most of his nighttime feedings. He only wakes up once, although sometimes he wakes up more than once, if he is sick or has had a rough day. During these coming weeks I will work on gently weaning him from those too, but not replacing them with a feeding, since our pediatrician said he really doesn't need to nurse at night, he is mostly comfort nursing. 

So far so good. It went smoothly, and he seems to enjoy Daddy giving him a bottle and some extra cuddles while I do some work around the house. I haven't felt engorged or anything, which is good, since I am really scared of it. (I've only been engorged once, at one of my best girlfriends wedding, were I had to hand express milk, since I forgot my pump and could not handle the pain). What I have noticed is that I am missing it more than my son is. In my opinion, weaning is tougher on the mom than on the baby. I felt weepy, and get quite sad about the future and not nursing him, but I know that the bonding we have created will not vanish just because I am not nursing him. He still needs mommy for nourishment and cuddles, even if I am not giving him the breast. Next week I will give up the second morning feeding (the feeding after his wakeup nursing session) Bedtime feeding and wakeup feeding will be the last ones to go. I will see you next week for a Weaning - Week 2 update. 

Hugs, Frances