Parenting
Weaning Challenges
by Claire Thompson
Updated: Dec. 2, 2020
Originally Published: Oct. 20, 2015
She gazes up at me, her eyes rimmed with red and brimming with tears. I watch as a single tear rolls over her eyelid and down her cheek. Once one tear falls, the rest follow, soaking her shirt and leaving her upper lip glistening with sorrow until she collapses into my arms, sobbing and soaking me in the process. It’s bedtime, and she wants to nurse.
My 17-month-old daughter signals for milk again, her tiny hands opening and closing as if trying to summon milk from thin air. What once conjured images of a barnyard, with cows lined up and silver pails brimming with creamy milk, now fills me with sadness. Her small hands reaching out, her pleading eyes—when I have nothing left to offer, it fills me with profound sorrow.
“Everyone discusses the challenges of breastfeeding,” my friend Lisa recently shared via email as we exchanged thoughts about weaning, “but no one addresses how difficult the weaning process is.” After overcoming the excruciating pain of the initial weeks of nursing and the anxiety of not producing enough milk, I initially planned to breastfeed for six months, then extended it to one year, and eventually aimed for two years, in line with the World Health Organization’s recommendations. I hoped that by then, she might understand that it was time to stop or even choose to do so herself. I felt fortunate to be able to breastfeed, yet I didn’t find it particularly enjoyable. Nursing pads, bras, covers—it all felt like an overwhelming hassle. Then, unexpectedly, especially given my challenging fertility history, I discovered I was pregnant.
In those early, delicate weeks of my new pregnancy, I felt fine overall despite some worries and research. My milk supply remained stable, and I was managing the nighttime awakenings from a breast-hungry toddler. However, when the nausea and vomiting hit me like a tidal wave and the nighttime feedings left me utterly exhausted during the day, I recognized that weaning was essential for my mental health and well-being.
Meanwhile, my friend Lisa, who has faced similar fertility challenges and whose toddler was approaching the milestone of 24 months, was informed that to begin fertility treatment for a second child, she would also need to wean. It was then that I realized, to my surprise, that regardless of when I had chosen to wean—whether at 12 months or 20—I would likely still feel this sense of longing and heartache. I had come to understand that I needed breastfeeding just as much as she did. The thought of stopping, of drying up to make room for my soon-to-arrive son, brought tears to my eyes.
I wept because so much was about to change. I wept for myself, the one who could comfort her best, filling her with warmth and love, swaying in the rocking chair with the soothing sounds of the ocean playing in the background. I wept because I was her only mother, and she was likely my only baby girl, who would return to being a newborn each time she latched on, her soft face nestled against me, a reminder of our bond.
I cried for all the stages of her life that had already passed and the ones that I would soon lose. With each milestone, each new word spoken with pride, she was drifting further from infancy. In many ways, it felt like breastfeeding was the last connection I had to those magical early months of motherhood, aside from photographs and saved clothes.
As we navigate the transition away from nursing, now reduced to a single brief session each day, I remind myself that this is the essence of parenthood—that babies grow up. We nurture, love, and feed them so they can thrive, learn, and eventually take their first steps into the world.
For those considering their options for starting or expanding a family, it’s worth exploring resources like this home insemination kit, which provides valuable insights into home insemination. Additionally, for those seeking to enhance fertility, these fertility supplements offer expert advice on this important topic. For more information about intrauterine insemination, this resource serves as an excellent guide for pregnancy and home insemination.
Summary:
Weaning can be an emotional journey for both mother and child, filled with moments of sadness, nostalgia, and growth. As parents navigate this transition, it is essential to recognize the significance of breastfeeding and the bond it creates. While the process can be challenging, it ultimately paves the way for children to grow and thrive as they embark on new adventures.
Keyphrase: weaning challenges
Tags: [“home insemination kit” “home insemination syringe” “self insemination”]