It really does get better.

I remember feeling relieved when Camille was a month old, that I had made it through one month of breastfeeding. I remember being tremendously disappointed, and feeling almost guilty that I didn't enjoy it at all during that first month. Even after we finally weaned from the nipple shield at 6 weeks I felt like breastfeeding was a constant struggle. I had daydreamed about staring down at my suckling infant the entire time I was pregnant. Breastfeeding was this magical mommy privilege in my head.. the only thing that I could provide for my child that nobody else could. I almost felt like a bad mother at times for not enjoying it.

It really does get better. I don't dread giving C the boob anymore. It's second nature to me. I'm no longer constantly concerned with feeding schedules/leaving the house. I can always find a quiet area to feed her while I'm out and about. She no longer takes 45 minutes to an hour to feed, and she's waiting longer between feedings. I look down at Cami when she's eating, and I feel love and awe for this little goober who depends on me for her most basic need. I finally love breastfeeding.

I'm a little afraid I'm turning into 'that' mother though.. the breastfeeding advocate that annoys all of her friends with all of her little fun facts. I find myself 'liking' every other article that kellymom posts to her facebook wall, and I know I have at least 2 formula feeding moms on my friends list.. I really sincerely hope they don't feel like I'm stepping on their toes... I worry a lot about the way I make other people feel. I know I'll probably be that mama getting the side eye for breastfeeding her toddler, but I would hate to be that mama that everyone calls a 'breastfeeding nazi'. I really respect everyone's decisions to breast or formula feed, because I feel like it's a deeply personal decision.... I just really like to share all of the information I find about it that I think is interesting.

While we're on the topic of breastfeeding, kellymom posted an article to facebook that lead me to a video regarding extended breastfeeding (BFing past the first year of life) I guess it's a touchy subject for some people, and I can understand why it isn't for everyone.. but I just don't understand why some people feel so strongly against BFing or extended BFing. Why do they care SO much about the decisions that other people make for their children? The video started out with quotes from people who were opposed to a video the woman posted about breastfeeding, and I was literally horrified when I read some of the things people said. I've heard plenty of (real live) people make the comment 'If they're old enough to ask for it, they are too old to breastfeed' but I was shocked to see people actually equating BFing a toddler to child abuse! [insert a big WTF here]

Here is a link to the video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdEN8nKWA4E

Now, don't get me wrong.. everyone is entitled to their opinion, but if you're going to form an opinion on something should you not educate yourself on the subject first? Breast milk does not suddenly stop having nutritional value after one year of life. Saying that (and believing it) would be like saying when an adult eats baby food they aren't getting the same vitamins the baby gets from it. It's baby food. Mashed green beans are mashed green beans. They don't change their chemical composition by magically discovering the age of the person consuming them. Breast milk is intended for human consumption. How is fulfilling baby's most basic need (that the human body is designed to provide no less) past a certain age going to be detrimental to the health of the child vs. being beneficial?

Here's some great info on extended BFing in case anyone is interested (or in case you are one of those people who are against it, and trolling the internet looking for advocates to continue your keyboard crusade against.)

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/bfextended/ebf-benefits.html

I usually don't get up on the soap box to preach about my beliefs, but I think it's disgusting that there are nursing mothers all over the world that end up needing to defend and/or justify meeting the needs of their child at some point in time. It takes a pretty ignorant (and f***ing stupid) person to equate feeding a child to abuse, or nursing to indecent exposure. Petition your local grocery stores to hide the covers of Cosmopolitan, and Rolling Stone if you are truly concerned about seeing too much boob. Really. If seeing a mother nursing her child upsets you turn your eyes away. I don't care for seafood but you don't see me writing a letter to congress when the dude at the table next to me at the 99 orders the seafood trio. Mind your own business and let nursing mothers nurse.


http://mamamojo.wordpress.com/2007/09/12/breastfeeding-in-public-warning-offensive-content/