They Are Finally Off The Breast...

My precious girls were born at 30 weeks & 2 days. I started pumping the night they were born & they got their first breastmilk in a feeding tube. It was not the sweet, warm experience I had hoped for, but I was happy I was able to nurture them in this way. I started putting them on the breast at 5 & 7 days old. They were too small & premature to suckle well, but those were the sweetest, most loving moments for me. When they were able to nurse, I moved into a Parent's Room beside the NICU & fed them around the clock. It was a scary process, going from the measured tube feedings to trusting that my body & their mouths could work together well enough for them to be fully fed. As they continued to grow & develop it was clear the breastfeeding was going well. I brought my sweet princesses home at 5 1/2 weeks. There were so many warm, soft, loving moments in the nursery, sitting in the rocker with a baby at my breast. Long nights filled with soft music, sweet sighs, silky baby hair on my cheek & a tiny hand patting my neck. They had nothing but breastmilk until they were 7 months old. I had planned to wean them by 2 - but Marissa is a tiny peanut & I know the night feedings helped keep her weight up. Now...at 3 years, 2 months & 20 days....my girls are totally weaned. I nursed them for the last time on my birthday. I am proud of how easily they have adapted, sad that they are really no longer my babies, & happy that I have such beautiful, bright, friendly little girls. This has been a hard process for me, I hung on longer than I had intended because I knew I would be very nostalgic for the "baby days". But...we are all doing great & I am hoping that they will start sleeping through the night soon. Bella & Rissa are the lights of my life. I love my sweet girls so!

 

:hug99: What a bittersweet time!!! Congrat on nursing them that long!! :bow2: I hope you are comfortable physically!! It sounds as if you were ready for it emotionally! WTG Momma! :clapping:

 

That was just beautiful. It's so wonderful you were able to nurse them for as long as you did. Congratulations. It's a very bittersweet milestone.

 

it IS so bittersweet! I loved nursing and when it ended w/ each child I was a lways a little sad.
Congrats on a fabulous breastfeeding journey!

 

WTG!!! :clapping: What an incredible journey you have been on and really inspiring :bow2:

 

Nikki, WTG! :Clap: You did an awesome job! I wish I could have done it as long as you did.

 

Wow. That's amazing that your girls were breastfed so long! Good job, momma!

 

Wow, Nikki that is so great! :good:

 

Yeah Nikki! I know how bittersweet this moment is. As you know I just weaned my girls this weekend as well. You have done an awesome job. What wonderful memories you must have. Isn't it amazing how well they adjust and just how much we have a hard time adjusting?

 

Great job with the nursing and what a beautiful description.
I nursed my twins for 13.5 months and for me it was a bittersweet weaning as well. I have many, many fond memories and I am so happy WE made it.

Congrats on providing so well for your little ones!

 

Yay!! That's amazing momma.. Hope you have sleep ahead!!

 

Congratulations Nikki! I hope you enjoy your full night's sleep

 

Amazing Nikki. I'm sure it is bittersweet for you.

 

I hope that you are very proud of your accomplishment!

I only nursed for 11 months but I still see it as one of the biggest accomplishments of my life. Things did not go as smoothly for me in the beginning but once we all learned what we were doing it was a very precious time. I wouldn't give up those bonding moments for anything. When people asked me "are they sleeping through the night" I always answered "No, they are breast fed and I love that one on one time. I am in no hurry to give it up. " Of course, when they did start sleeping through, my milk started to dry up and I wasn't able to nurse much longer.
No matter when you stop nursing, it is a really bittersweet thing. I know you'll treasure those times for many years, I certainly will.

 

I'm so impressed! Way to go. I know it truly is a bittersweet moment, and I just can't say enough how impressed I am that you were able to nurse that long.

 

What a great nutritional nurturing start you have given your girls. It really is bittersweet heading into more independence for mommy and "babies". Congratulations to all of you for doing so well with this major milestone!

 

:bow2: :bow2: :bow2: :bow2: WTG !!! What a blessing that you were able to Bf for so long! Your an example to all of us!!

 

You are AMAZING!!! :clapping:

 

My twins will be 17 months on the 24th. I am having a really hard time, emotionally, weaning them. We don't know if we will go for number 4 and it is hard to imagine never nurturing my babies by nursing again. I think to add to my emotional state, I started back to work recently. Even though it is 2-3 days a week, the twins have a lot more separation issues than my older dd ever did.
When I began nursing the twins, I was determined. At 6 weeks I almost quit due to a bad bought with ppd. Just as I was coming to grips with starting to wean, the two of them took off like champs. We have been at it ever since. I am so proud to have aided my dd through her severe reflux, when Momma's milk was the only thing she could take in. I am so greatful for being able to nurse my son up to the point of surgery this summer (had he been bottle or on only solids we wouldn't have been able to give him anything). And then to calm him by nursing him in recovery.
Nursing has been the most difficult, yet the most rewarding thing I have ever experienced! We are down to one session before bed and I am not going to rush it....although my dh is ready for it to be over.
Congratulations!!! WTG!

 

QUOTE(MOM2AAA @ Sep 20 2007, 08:35 PM) [snapback]416906[/snapback]
My twins will be 17 months on the 24th. I am having a really hard time, emotionally, weaning them. We don't know if we will go for number 4 and it is hard to imagine never nurturing my babies by nursing again. I think to add to my emotional state, I started back to work recently. Even though it is 2-3 days a week, the twins have a lot more separation issues than my older dd ever did.
When I began nursing the twins, I was determined. At 6 weeks I almost quit due to a bad bought with ppd. Just as I was coming to grips with starting to wean, the two of them took off like champs. We have been at it ever since. I am so proud to have aided my dd through her severe reflux, when Momma's milk was the only thing she could take in. I am so greatful for being able to nurse my son up to the point of surgery this summer (had he been bottle or on only solids we wouldn't have been able to give him anything). And then to calm him by nursing him in recovery.
Nursing has been the most difficult, yet the most rewarding thing I have ever experienced! We are down to one session before bed and I am not going to rush it....although my dh is ready for it to be over.
Congratulations!!! WTG!


You have done a fantastic job! I was down to before bed & middle of the night nursing for the last 3-4 months. I waited until all vacations, trips, dh out of town, & other disruptions were done before even thinking of quitting. I don't know when I would have quit if Bella & I had not gotten sick at the same time - I needed something to push me into it! If I were you, I would wait a while before trying to end the night feeding - let the babies get used to being away from you while you are working & let yourself have that special time to "baby" them at the end of the day! Bless you & your little ones!

 

QUOTE(BellaRissa @ Sep 21 2007, 02:10 PM) [snapback]417363[/snapback]
You have done a fantastic job! I was down to before bed & middle of the night nursing for the last 3-4 months. I waited until all vacations, trips, dh out of town, & other disruptions were done before even thinking of quitting. I don't know when I would have quit if Bella & I had not gotten sick at the same time - I needed something to push me into it! If I were you, I would wait a while before trying to end the night feeding - let the babies get used to being away from you while you are working & let yourself have that special time to "baby" them at the end of the day! Bless you & your little ones!

I think that is exactly what I am going to do....
Thanks!