Breastfeeding Again
Nicole Grace
Jacksonville FL USA
From: NEW BEGINNINGS, Vol. 20 No. 1, January-February 2003, p. 10
I began to wean my daughter
when she turned one. At La Leche League Group meetings I saw toddlers
breastfeeding, but I didn't plan to do that. I thought that breastfeeding
to one year was enough for my family and I didn't trust the idea of
natural weaning. My husband was supportive of my breastfeeding Kaitlyn,
but he followed my lead on the weaning. Kaitlyn was not so obliging.
I had a difficult time saying no when she would cuddle against me, searching
for my breast or when she fell and needed comforting. Eventually, breastfeeding
was so infrequent that she accepted a bottle instead of nursing most
evenings.
Within three months of this
mother-led weaning, we were in the midst of nighttime fevers, crying,
and horrible colds that wouldn't stop. One antibiotic gave Kaitlyn hives,
and the others didn't do anything at all for her ear infections. Only
one antibiotic actually worked for her and still the infections would
come back. Finally, her pediatrician wanted us to consult with an ear,
nose, and throat doctor to have tubes inserted in her ears in order
to help clear drainage. I wasn't sure I was comfortable with that option.
I wanted information about
a possible nonsurgical solution, and I was willing to consider alternative
medicine. I found a practitioner who blended conventional and alternative
treatments. Her main recommendations were quite simple: resume breastfeeding
and remove dairy products from my daughter's diet. After one month our
pediatrician was amazed at her ears. They looked absolutely perfect,
with no trace of being filled with fluid. I canceled the appointment
for ear tubes. The nights of fevers and crying were over! Now Kaitlyn
only breastfeeds once every couple of weeks, the infections are gone,
and this time she is choosing when and how to wean. It is working so
much better!
Last updated Wednesday, October 11, 2006 by njb.
Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:30:48 UTC 2007.
