By Martine Zoer
I am nursing Tristan as I am writing this. He’s three years old and watching TV. He loves to nurse while watching a show. He will ask for it as soon as we get home from dropping big brother Tyler off at school. He no longer naps and I think it’s how he recharges.
Before Tristan was born, I was hoping that I would be able to breastfeed him, but I wasn’t sure whether it would work out. Tyler was on formula by the time we left the hospital and I stopped nursing him at four weeks. With Tristan it was different from the start. It took a few days, but then he just knew what to do and things have been going smooth ever since.
I get asked all the time when I am going to stop nursing him. The simple answer is that I don’t know. I plan on letting Tristan self-wean when he’s ready. I practice the “don’t offer, don’t refuse” approach, but don’t consider it an active weaning method as I am not looking to wean him. Tristan nurses on demand both during the day and at night.
I remember the first time I nursed him in public very clearly. I tried using a cover and found it terribly inconvenient. In that moment feeding my baby became my priority and it has been ever since. I try to be discreet, but I don’t go out of my way to cover up.
Now that Tristan is a toddler, I do feel self conscious at times because I know not everyone is supportive of extended breastfeeding. However, I’ve never let that stop
me from feeding my child. Just today, I nursed him at a coffee shop and in the counselor’s office of Tyler’s elementary school.
I don’t consider myself to be a breastfeeding advocate. Nursing is just something I do as I believe it’s what my son needs. I am very thankful that I’ve able to give him the nutrition and the comfort that he desires. We’ve built a really trusting relationship and I am not going to turn him down just because society says he’s too
old.
Breastfeeding my son has changed the way I view myself. I believe that I am a stronger woman because of it. I am in awe that my body continues to produce the milk
my child needs. I don’t think my breastfeeding story is particularly interesting or extraordinary. I am sharing it with you in the hopes that it will resonate with someone who may need some encouragement.
To submit your breastfeeding story, please visit our submission instruction page: iamnotthebabysitter.com/breastfeeding-story-submissions
