However your baby comes into this world, however long it is until you can hold them, there is nothing like the moment when you're reunited.
Even if this doesn't happen right away or even if the sparks *don't* fly the moment you hold your baby, the opportunity for bonding and magic doesn't expire.
Last week, Chrissy Teigen shared a heartfelt plea on her twitter account to normalize formula.
Yet again, Teigen has shed light on some of the unspoken struggles of motherhood and made mothers around the world feel seen, heard and supported.
Let me be perfectly clear: this is an excellent thing.
But, as an Infant Feeding Specialist and Postpartum Doula, who has supported families in feeding their babies every which way, I have to disagree with Teigen.
We do have a problem, but normalizing formula isn’t the solution.
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Ready to wean but not sure how to go about it? These tips are a great place to start!
Some can work on their own, but the best approach will probably be a combination of methods. If you can, it’s usually best to wean gradually, so that your supply can gradual decrease, to avoid clogged ducts. If you wean more quickly, you’ll want to express a little milk for comfort, to avoid clogged ducts or mastitis.
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Weaning is part of every single nursing experience, and there are so many opinions on the best time to do it!
Breastfeeding is a relationship, and like all relationships, both parties need to be happy and want to continue. With that in mind, I believe that the very best time to wean is when either you OR your baby are ready.
According to Biocultural Anthropologist, Kathy Dettwyler, "most children stop breastfeeding by themselves between three and five years, if allowed to nurse as long as they want."
But what if you don’t want to nurse for 3 to 5 years? What if you’re pregnant or have a medical reason to stop or you’re just ready to be done? Then that’s a perfectly good reason to stop too.
Whenever the time comes when you or your baby feel ready, then it’s the perfect time to wean!
What if you don’t want to wean but are feeling pressure to stop nursing?
Here are some common reasons for weaning, and why they don’t necessarily mean you NEED to wean, if you aren’t ready to.
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