slooow weaning
Posted on March 25, 2008
At 14 months, Mateo still feeds from my breasts. Although he also takes in formula milk whenever I’m not home, I can say that for the past 14 months, he gets his milk from me 70% of the time. Until a few weeks ago, a 900-gram can of formula milk would last for more than a month. Recently though, we find ourselves buying a new can every three weeks. It seems that Mateo is slowly shifting his milk preference. I think we’re on our way to a really slow weaning process.
To be honest, I never thought we’d last this long. I still remember my frustrations at pumping during the first few months, the blessing of losing my pump’s valve, finally finding joy in breastfeeding, and my attempts to wean him at seven months which ended up in relactation. I’ve reached a point when I just let him feed whenever he wants to. I’ve decided to just sit and wait for him to wean himself. I figured that he will, eventually. There were days when he would refuse to feed from me and I would get all sentimental about it. Now I know that weaning doesn’t just spell freedom for me, it also means losing just a little bit of my baby. Sure, I could still feed him from the bottle while cuddling or holding him but there’s nothing more intimate and close than having him at my breast. It was something that nobody else could offer. It’s a form of nourishment and comfort that only I could offer. But my baby is slowly becoming more independent.
I think Mateo senses this sadness that I would sometimes feel whenever I think about not being able to breastfeed him anymore. I’d like to think that he also chose this slow weaning process to make it easy on both of us. I’ve heard of some babies who are weaned overnight but I couldn’t imagine such a thing for us. Nowadays, there are times when he would ask for the bottle and there are times when he would ask for my breast. The times when he would prefer the bottle though, is slowly increasing. His milk budget is also getting a bigger chunk of our monthly income.
Considering his milk preference these past few days, my fearless forecast is that he would be completely weaned in a month’s time, maybe earlier. Saddens me a little but I also look forward to it. Whatever happens, I know he’s still going to be a mama’s boy.
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Good for you Andrea. My son is still breastfeeding at 24+ months. I’m not sure when it’s going to end. I’ve tried to switch him to other milk but he just refuses. So i guess i have to wait until he self weans.
N!cE
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every kids was once a mama’s boy ..
hi andrea. my boy nurses from me around 30% of the time nalang. and i think he just does it not to ‘feed’ but parang comfort niya. now @ 20 months nahihirapan ako mag wean. huhuhu
keep it up w/ mateo. self weaned. that’s really a blessing. hindi na pahirapan. unlike my situation.
if i am around my boy would insist on the breast. he’l take the bottle pag i’m not there.
anyway,great post. will post something about weaning too.^_^
Unfortunately, I was not able to feed either of my children, when they were infants. fortunately I am not at all upset about it. They have grown into two beautiful and strong children and I have a very close bond with both of them. We spend lots of quality time together. I am happy for you that breastfeeding could be such a positive experience.
Hi Nice! Wow, galing nyo ni Andre ha
Whenever Mateo would insist on feeding from me, ang iniisip ko na lang na andali lang itong time na ‘to. Sa susunod kahit yakap madya-dyahe na siguro haha! Kaya I just take advantage of the mother-baby intimacy that it gives me. Pero malapit na si Mateo mag fully wean. I don’t know whether to be sad or happy 
And I think that every kid who was once a mama’s boy will always be a mama’s boy, in one way or another
Thanks for visiting!
Hi Vannie! I think Mateo’s like your son na rin, hindi na talaga to get milk kasi hungry sya pero for comfort and lambing na lang. Hehe!
Hi Sharon! It’s great that you are able to build a strong bond with your children. I believe that it is every parent’s privilege, with or without breastfeeding. Cheers!