How Can I Say No?

By Kris Thresher

When my daughter, Audrey, was born in February 1999, breastfeeding wasn't a choice. I was going to do it. Well, for at least six months anyway. I'm not quite sure what I thought would happen at the "magical time" but that was the commitment I made.

On the advice of my Bradley instructor, I began going to La Leche League meetings and saw some incredible things, including nursing toddlers. "Never!" I thought. "How weird!" we proclaimed. I kept going to meetings however, and thought, "Hmmm, maybe there is something to nursing older children." I became much more comfortable with what I was seeing and hearing and decided I could go longer, too.

I overcame sore, cracked nipples, spraying milk, several plugged ducts and all the fun stuff that sometimes comes with breastfeeding. In the early days, I nursed frequently in the car, before going into the mall or restaurant, and before I got comfortable nursing in my sling.

Audrey would never take a bottle, or a pacifier, so I didn't leave her often, other than for an hour or two with her daddy. As she got older, I became more comfortable nursing in various places, although I must admit to still being a bit shy around my in-laws.

When she turned 1, she was still receiving 98% of her nutrition from my milk, although she was offered foods with every meal and in between. She knew where to get the "good stuff." I often thought it would be nice if she could ask for what she wanted and whenever she tugged on my shirt, I would say, "Do you want nurses? Say Please." She would just smile and wait for me to open my shirt.

I still attend LLL meetings twice a month and am currently nursing one of the oldest children in attendance. I hope I can serve as a role model for another woman as those I saw nursing while I was pregnant did.

My daughter just turned 2 this year, and I am encouraging a bit of "chocolate milk weaning." When asked how often she nurses, I usually reply, "A little more than I would like and a little bit less than she would like." We are coming to a happy medium, however, and I'm not sure when we'll stop.

I never pictured myself nursing in a field in October 2000 (photo at top of story) or nursing a butterfly a year later in October 2001, but I am happy that I have had the opportunity to do so.

When she turns to me in her beautiful little voice and says, "Audrey wants nurses please, Mommy," how can I say no?