M and Breastfeeding

While I was pregnant I knew that I wanted to breastfeed.  In the beginning, I didn't know what I was getting myself into, but I did a lot of reading, talked to several friends who had breastfed, and learned as much as I could.  I didn't really have a goal in mind, like that I wanted to BF until a year, or anything like that.   Frankly, I was scared to death that for whatever unforeseen reason, I wouldn't be able to do it.  I had heard a few horror stories (mostly from my mom who tried to BF my youngest sister for a few weeks).  My normally very helpful sister-in-law also gave me some very unhelpful "advice" that  "Breastfeeding is REALLY hard, just so you know.  A lot of people can't do it."  (Yes, that was a direct quote.)  Thanks for letting me know....

M knew that I wanted to BF, though overall, he was fairly indifferent about the whole thing.  Over the past 11 months, M has become my biggest BF cheering section.  His support was vital in the first weeks when Evie wasn't eating well because of her milk allergy.  Then, he cut out most dairy products with me (at home anyway) during the time that I was very strict about watching what I ate.

In the past few weeks, Evie has been more distracted than ever.  She is eating more and more table foods, and she has become disinterested in nursing.  It's been much more difficult, and I really have felt like quitting for the first time since she was born.  M has been the most supportive during this time.  Two nights ago, her bedtime feeding was especially exhausting.  He took her, read her a book, and got her to sleep so that I could have a few minutes to myself.

He wants us to make it to 12 months of breastfeeding as much as I do, and knowing that helps me through the hard parts.  I couldn't have made it this far without him, and I hope that he knows how much his support means to me.