Weaning, The Emotional Journey

July 2016
Silver Moon Photography
Photographer: Mary Larsen
http://www.silvermoonphotography.com/

Nursing my Little Bear has so far been the most rewarding, simplifying and exhausting part of parenting.  The bond is like no other.  The increased Oxycontin, delayed menstruation, and effortless calorie burning are some of the more selfish perks. The boob solved everything for us! Hungry, sleepy, bored, thirsty, hurt, scared, sick, even flying.... here, magical boob will fix it.  But man, can it be exhausting. The cluster feedings, growth spurts, biting episodes, and just endless drain of energy and nutrients sometimes left me feeling like a shell of myself.

At 12 months, we were ready to begin the weaning process. I could have easily nursed longer, but Little Bear preferred nursing over all other foods and he was needing to gain some weight. Magical boob fixed everything for us, except weight gain. I apparently had a low fat milk supply and meal times (real food) were becoming an art experiment as he waited for his desert (nursing).  Surprisingly, the idea of weaning triggered a grief process for me. I was in denial about needing to wean and angry the doctor even suggested it. I began bargaining with myself which nursing sessions I could keep and I even became depressed that this magical bond that only Little Bear and I shared would soon be coming to an end. My response surprised me because frankly, I nursed much longer than I thought I was going to and it became much more important to me than I ever thought it would be. My initial motivations may have been selfless (i.e. it was better for baby and would save our household money) but, I never thought I would get so much in return.  Well, I finally traveled to acceptance and in true Mom-ease Bear fashion, I began my research binge. If we were going to wean, we were going to do it with the least amount of discomfort and disruption for both Little Bear and Mommy Bear.

To my surprise, I received very consistent and overlapping advice. I talked to our pediatrician, a specialized nurse, my midwife, a breastfeeding advocate, a nutritionalist and the other moms in my life.  My nerves melted away as a plan started to formulate.  We worked the plan and Little Bear successfully weaned without much disruption in about 5 weeks. We were able to do the holidays, birthdays and continue with everyday life too during the process. I of course got a second round of baby blues (the change in hormones got me again), but it was short lived and manageable.

I think my biggest fear was that I would lose "that" special bond.... I mean, I know I am his Mom and nothing will ever replace that, but I was literally the only one who could nurse him. I was the only one with the magical boob... Turns out, it wasn't just the boob that was magical. Being a Mom is magical all on its own and we developed new fixes for hungry, sleepy, bored, thirsty, hurt, scared, sick, and even flying..... My personal favorite being that Little Bear is much more cuddly now. Previously, any hugs or cuddles would quickly sink into nursing position and Little Bear asking for a snack. Now, I get to enjoy long and heartfelt hugs with no begging.

The purpose of this blog entry was really just to acknowledge my emotional transition in the hopes it reaches another Mommy who may be feeling similarly.  Motherhood. Isn't it just an amazing mind trip?!?! I love being a Mom,  but it can be hard.  Well, anyways... hope this helps. Stay tuned because my next entry will certainly include those tips and tricks that I learned and helped make weaning painless.

Weight Gain Lassi

My Little Bear is blessed with a fast metabolism. While it will certainly serve him when he is older, its not so great for baby weight gain in those early years. It is important for a baby to steadily gain weight in order to give the body a cushion in the case of future illness, teething issues causing avoidance of food, and to promote growth.

Our pediatrician initially recommended that we begin the name brand weight gaining shakes. Upon further research, I became very uneasy about this option. Often, the first or second ingredient was sugar! As for the rest, I literally could not pronounce a single other ingredient. It was a far stretch from the healthy, diverse diet of fresh and organic fruits and vegetables that we had introduced as his first foods.

There had to be another option...... I didn't want to force feed my baby who had a healthy appetite and relationship with food and I didn't want to just "fatten him up" on sugar and synthetic ingredients.  This is where the lassi came in, a traditional milkshake often shared in East Indian cuisine. With a few small adaptions, we had a "Little Bear Milkshake." Its high in calories and nutrition, low cost, and easy to make.

Ingredients:

8 oz of whole milk
4 oz of mango baby puree
1/2 cup of whole milk yogurt (plain or vanilla) or 2/3 cup of Greek yogurt
Add cinnamon to taste
Optional: local honey to taste

Benefits:

Mango	Whole Milk	Yogurt	Greek Yogurt
1 cup	1 cup	½ cup	2/3 cup
107 calories	146 calories	75 calories	130 calories
2.8 grams of protein	7.86 grams of protein	4.25 grams of protein	11 grams of protein
	Total	328 calories	383 calories
	Total	14.91 calories	21.66 grams

The lassi is also full of calcium, omegas 3-6, potassium, selenium, magnesium, and high in vitamins A, B, C, E, K. Also, cinnamon and honey add anti-fungal and antibacterial qualities, natural enzymes, and help to aid digestion, stabilize blood sugars, and build defense against local allergens.  

Directions: Just toss all of the ingredients in your blending agent of choice and Viola! You're done. We didn't want to replace any meals. We wanted to add calories to his day. So we blend at the start of our day and sip the lassi through a straw periodically as we play. One batch of the above makes two drinks for my 12 month old. We did one a day and within two weeks we had gained two pounds.

I have to admit, I sometimes drink the second drink myself. It's just that yummy. This Little Bear Milkshake is both baby and mommy approved.

Enjoy!