This is the other BF.

You know, the one not of the THE BF kind. Right, that one.

Breastfeeding.

I thought it was high time for a boob update since everyone out there is just dying to hear about the state of my milk makers.

Before I begin I just gotta say one more time {since the other four weren’t enough}, boobs are miraculous. They are pure life in its purest form. They’re like fleshy circular Albert Einstein’s, if Albert Einstein were a boob. There’s a really weird thought and comparison.

Okay, thanks for that.

Well. People. I am pleased to announce something I thought I’d never live to tell. Take a deep breath here with me. I have become that breastfeeding Mother.

You know, the one who makes it look so damn easy. Who can whip out her boob on a moments notice and it’s no big deal! No pain. No horrible burning. No uncomfortably.

It’s been a long long road, but FOH and I have made it!

Not only did I meet my goal of breastfeeding for six months, I blew it out of the water and am still going strong here at almost 13 months.

I am proud of both of us.

Breastfeeding is absolutely a two way relationship. It takes a while … working together with Baby. Figuring out what is best. I’m not quite sure what changed, other than maybe just FOH getting older, therefore it became easier all across the board — from latching to the way I would hold him.

Once he hit about 9.5 months, the shift occurred. Honestly, that’s how long it took for me to also fully enjoy feeding him.

It’s hard to be wrapped up in the beauty of breastfeeding when you feel like razor blades are coming out of your nipples. There’s a nice image for you.

Of course now it is also easier since he is on solids. His consumption is naturally going down. I thought I would start the weaning process this summer if he hadn’t yet begun himself. Like a true man, he shows no disinterest in The Boob.

This has made me reevulate my breastfeeding plans and I have come around to … waiting.

I’m going to wait for him to ween. As he continues to grow, he will naturally consume less from me and be predominantly all solids. This means that shortly I should be on just a couple of feedings per day. I figure the hardest one for him {and myself, too} to give up will be the bedtime one.

So I figured, why cause unnecessary stress when I don’t need to? It’s one thing going a year breastfeeding on a demanding feeding schedule and multiple pumps a day. It’s another when you know it’s twice, no more than three times a day.

That’s nothing. And this way I feel good about it. Knowing I will let him lead the way when he is ready.

I realize breastfeeding is such a testy, hot topic. Which I’m still puzzled about. To each their own. I know there are some People in my life who think that at 13 months, FOH is too old for me to be feeding him.

Whatever.

Everyone is going to have their own thoughts and opinions. The important thing for us mamas is to do what is best for ourselves and our baby. No one knows FOH like I do. And I wouldn’t dream in a million years of telling a fellow Mother what to do in terms of breastfeeding — or anything {unless there was an instance of actual physical harm that might occur to the child}.

We need to raise up and support each other more. And give encouragement when needed. This has been like my mini breastfeeding public service announcement.

The whole: you, too, can survive months of mastitis, live to tell about it and make it to the point where breastfeeding is a joy.