We are done nursing. 33 months and 12 days later. Never in a million and one years did I think we would nurse this long. Truthfully the only reason we are done is because I'm pregnant and my milk has completely dried up. I can't even get one single drop out, which is so bittersweet.
I've been telling those close to me for months now, that I was ready to be done. I felt that Olivia was getting there, too. She still needed that comfort though, she needed mommy's milk. My milk has been gone for about 2 weeks now, but we still continued to nurse, despite the discomfort for me. I know it was what she needed. There were so many changes going on in her little life. The potty training, the change of classroom, the talks of the new baby. The nursing could remain her constant, until it was all gone. She understood that mommy didn't have any more milk, but she would continue to ask still, both morning and night. I would gut through it even though it was no longer comfortable for me, I could see how she needed it.
She hadn't asked to nurse for three days, then asked yesterday, and we nursed for about 3 minutes before she rolled over and went to sleep. This morning she looked at me through sleepy eyes and told me/asked me, "Mommy's milk is all gone...?" I can't help but feel emotional over our ended breastfeeding relationship. I know my milk and the nursing have served their purpose in Olivia's life, and it's now time to allow my body some time to rest and focus on the new baby, but boy is this a bittersweet feeling.
I always knew that whenever it ended I would feel sad. I'm so thankful for the breastfeeding relationship that we had. It evolved so much over time. It went from being her only source of food to being the comfort she needed sometimes when being two years old was just too overwhelming for her to understand. It helped us get through so many colds and bugs when that was the only fluids she would ingest. It allowed us to really reconnect after a long and busy work-filled week. It gave us an excuse to get away for some snuggle time during many holidays. It made her strong and it made me strong.
