To ween or not to ween

Hey all fellow breastfeeding mama's - this is the question of the year!

All of these opinions are my own, I think that each mom and family needs to do what works for them.

Before I had Rylee I thought that I was going to breastfeed her for a year. Since then my thoughts have shifted greatly. I have decided that I am going to start to ween her close to her 6 months.

This is for many reasons and I am refusing to allow myself to feel guilty about this. This is what is working for me, my family, and my babe.

So I have many personal reasons why I want to start weening sooner than I had planned but the bottom line is that before I had her, I didn't know what to expect.

Breastfeeding came very naturally to me. The first few days were tricky but once my milk came in and I used the breast cream (Lanisonal nipple cream) we were good to go. Rylee had a great latch and was growing at a good pace. I was ready to really struggle for the first 6 weeks like I had been warned would happen but it actually was quite simple..for me. I know that A LOT of women have trouble with this - but you are not alone. Stick it out and it will get easier.

I am larger chested and add the milk into that it makes life a bit uncomfortable. I was wearing supportive bras - but they had underwire and I got a blocked duct. TALK ABOUT PAINFUL - YOWZAS! I wouldn't wish that on anyone. Since then I have been quite fearful of wearing underwire bras or sports bras since then for longer than an hour or two at the most. I have feeding bras that I wear but they are not very supportive, which is very uncomfortable.

I have never been an attached breastfeeding mama - meaning I didn't think I really bonded with Rylee during our feeding session, but now that I am slowly dropping a feed (one feed at a time every 2-3 weeks). However, it is a little bit more emotional that I thought it might be. 

Rylee really enjoys the formula that we got in the mail however it ran out and I started a new one and she wanted nothing to do with it! She wouldn't close her mouth around the bottle, and pushed it away. Thankfully a friend gave us a different brand and Rylee took it. I will try the other one again tomorrow and see if there is any difference/if she takes it. If not then I will try a different brand again and see if she likes it.

My husband is also enjoying being part of the feeding process now that Rylee is on solid food and a bottle and now he gets to be part of that too and she bonds with him in a different way - although, she already is a daddy's girl, and she has been since day one (literally).

Until next time...

The power of protein

Oh man that was a long night!

I left at 11:30 pm to get my dad from the Toronto Airport. Once I got on the highway the thunderstorm really picked up and I was not able to see anything! I couldn't even see the road in front of me! I pulled off the side of the high way with my four ways on to try to wait it out, however, the trucks were still FLYING by me, causing the whole car to shake. I didn't think it was very safe for me there so I continued down the road, going 50km/hr, four ways on, until I reached a truck inspection centre and pulled in to wait it out. 

Once it looked like it had let up a bit I got back on the highway and within a minute it was so bad again that I couldn't see anything. I just drove slow and followed the thick white line to try to see where my lane was. I was going to pull into the service centre and wait it out again but by the time I made it there the rain had significantly eased up. It took me over an hour to get to where is normal 30 minutes away. Needless to say, I was running behind.

Once I got out of that it was clear driving the whole time, not even a single rain drop! The lightening was incredible! HUGE cracks lighting up the whole sky. At one point I could swear it hit the ground right outside the car - but just reminded myself that I was in a safe place. It didn't help that I was driving my parents car because if I had been in my own car - I would have felt much more comfortable (not that there is anything wrong with my parents car...I am just not as familiar with it). 

Since I was late getting there we didn't get home until about 4:00 am and I was starving! I had a quick snack, and went to bed in hopes of a speedy zonk out. At 4:45 I was finally able to drift off only to be woken at 6:30 am for the babes feed. Back down at 7 and she let me sleep until 9:30. So, I am one tired mama.

She just went down for her nap so I am using the time to pay some bills, write this post, then try to catch a little snooze myself.

Tonight is weigh in night - and my week was kind of up and down so I don't know how I will do. I had some good moments and some not so good moments. I will also try to get some activity in - but depending on how long I can rest for this afternoon, sleep might win!

I made my meal plan for the next two weeks and I am really trying to focus on protein packed foods. I've got some new things I am going to try for snacks, to see if I can help to curb the hunger from breastfeeding. Did you know that we should eat 1 gram of protein daily for every pound we weigh! I know I don't get as much as I should, even though my fuel does help (30 grams of protein/can). Do you get enough protein?!

Rylee's nap time is precious time so I better get to it if I want a rest as well!