dude i totally breastfeed.

so we are at 13 months.

we are still breastfeeding.

thank goodness.

i am very glad for this.

i had always thought that i would like to breastfeed my baby until he was 2. and after researching about it on the web (kellymom.com is the best!) and talking to professionals (that i respect & agree with) and reading up on it in books, it turns out that its a very good idea. and now it looks like we are well on our way to making it to 2.

i did wonder if it was really going to happen. while i was pregnant if people asked me if i was going to breastfeed i would say "id like to" or "i hope to" or "i'm going to try to." it seemed like it was a "hope it happens" thing, kind of like how i thought natural birth was too.

but now i think about it differently.

i have read so many posts from breastfeeding mothers that have overcome some amazing things to be able to breastfeed. one had a baby who was very sick and in and out of the hospital and she wasnt able to begin successful breastfeeding at the breast until her baby was 5 months old! but she did it! and my baby niece was in the NICU after she was born for 2 weeks and her mother wasnt allowed to even try to breastfeed until the baby was 10 days old. thats hard! because its hard to get a baby interested in it later on! its so much more work. and especially for the little one who's been through the trauma of starting out life strapped down in a hospital. and for the mommy! thats so tough. they make you feel like youre not good enough to feed this baby because they cant measure and chart your milk. but even with all that they did it! and now she's a pro nurser!! she loves it! and i really think my sister is a rockstar to be able to have done that. she is my breastfeeding hero.

i have read about mothers who were able to Relactate - get their breasts to begin producing milk again. they do it to be able to breastfeed adopted babies. yes. thats right. women can make their breasts produce milk without having just given birth. seriously. that totally amazes me.

so what ive learned to change my mind about is this: you just have to really really really want to do it. then when the major obstacles come in your way you will have the desire to push through them. and you will. you will breastfeed. and know that all the other breastfeeding mommys are right there with you 100%!!

i just want to hi-5 all the nursing mommys.