Francie

by Gina Bausano

I decided to breastfeed Francie when she was born. I thought I'd take it 3 months at a time. We made it past many milestones: 3months, 6 months, 9 months. During these months, she enjoyed nursing, and developed a signal of coughing, anytime she was held near my breasts, to let me know she wanted to nurse. Only daddy and I knew this signal, so if I was in public nobody understood.

Then I thought I may want to wean her at about 11 months. But all this time, she had spent time in our (the parents) bed at night. So weaning would be more than discontinuing to nurse. She got very attached to our bed and me. Her signal also changed to more of an excited laugh, like she couldn't wait to eat. And this would be often more to relax her than feed her, often putting her to sleep.

Sometimes I nurse her and watch TV so I can get a break. But now, when I flip the channels past a station that has clapping, she pops off, turns her head to the TV and claps. Keep in mind, she has to change her position, so it is very disruptive to the nursing. But she is 14 months now, and she doesn't mind the maneuvering and knows she can return!