Dear Girls,
Boobs have featured heavily in the media this week but this isn’t about that. This is a much more personal matter between you and I, and I think it’s time I addressed the issue.
We’ve had a good run with much glory, but I know you’re feeling really sensitive right now.
I know you’ve done it really tough for the last 2 months. You’ve been plagued with infections and bleeding sore bits, but I just want to take a moment to explain to you why I have not given up on you and your ability to continue to feed.
We had a pretty smooth old ride with D Man, huh? We were an awesome team. There was barely a blip in our feeding and you were seriously producing prodigious amounts of the good gear. His fat cheeks and my leaked upon shirts at awkward moments were testament to how well we worked together.
I was proud of you.
In a totally different way to which I’d been proud of you before (trussed up, poked out, hello boys kinda pride), but this was a gentle pride, that you were awesome at your job.
I knew then that the other kind of pride probably wouldn’t feature so strongly anymore, as instead of proudly pointing to the sun you kind of hung of your head a bit and bobbed about like day old, melting Jello, but that’s cool. They make cracking scaffolding these days and, with a little help we can lift and separate like the old days. You have excelled at the one true job you have…..we lose sight of your true calling in the fun bag fracas.
Many people, my doctor included, gently suggested that this issue we’ve struggled with for the last couple months was perhaps an indication that it was time to stop, to let you go into retirement, but I just want to let you know why I was so doggedly insistent to fix things, so we could just go back to the way we were.
You see, dear ladies of my chest, deep in my heart I think this will be your last tour of duty, and I don’t want it to end on bad note. I don’t want to hang up our feeding bras until we’re ready, until we ween on our own terms because we’re ready to set our little one free…..one more little inch of letting our baby go.
I know she’d be fine. Of course I know that. She scoffs her meals like it’s a pie eating contest, and her thighs could body double for the Michelin Man. She’s ready to stop if need be, but I’m not.
Not because of some stupid infection.
So, that’s why I persevered, and I totally understand why someone wouldn’t. It was shit.
And it made me blue, it made me cry……but we got through it, and now you’re better, mostly……and I can go back to being lazy and not sterilising and pumping or organising everything before leaving the house, because you’re already packed.
And you’re feeling ok.
Welcome back. I don’t know how much longer I’ll be calling on you for, but I’m happy we can decide together. You guys, Kiki and I…..all four of us.
You rock,
Me.
PS I breastfeed everywhere I go. I do not cover up, never have. Can’t be arsed.
I’ve fed in restaurants, on planes, at the beach, on trains, in carparks, parks and cafes. In cities, in the country, in Vietnam, in Germany, in Holland, in Bali, in Singapore…..in fact, anywhere I go…….I will not argue my right to do so, because it’s ridiculous.
PPS This letter is to my bosom. It does not imply for one single second that whatever happened with your bosom is anything less than perfect for you and your girls.
Viva la Bosom Buddies.
Hooking up with the lovely Jess over at EssentiallyJess for IBOT……
I had a good run with feeding too. And I was lucky, I never got mastitis, which I’m incredibly grateful for. I’ve heard it’s awful. It sounds like things are back on track for you, which I’m glad to hear!
xx
Amongst all of this media breastfeeding hoohaa, I think people forget that there are bigger issues than offending someone who doesn’t want to see a baby eating lunch…..
I do love getting your stories into my inbox!
Sounds like your are right on track with your rack
I bet you giggled as you wrote that. X
Sent from my iPhone
On 22/01/2013, at 8:43 AM, Keeping Up With The Holsbys
Yes. Did you groan?
Giggled like a school boy.
Sent from my iPhone
On 22/01/2013, at 11:00 AM, Keeping Up With The Holsbys
I’ve been through it- persisting despite Drs advice to stop. It’s so hard!!! I wish you all the best x
meh, in the grand scheme, I got it good! Thanks for dropping by x
As someone who could not get it right despite trying 3 times, I salute you and your girls. I hope you get the chance to call time on your own terms!
Thanks Kirsty….. I’m sure it wasn’t because you couldn’t get it right, that smacks of failure….we all do our best and if it didn’t work, for whatever reason, so be it.
I’m sure your kids are perfectly well-rounded and as cheeky as breastfed babies
You know with my 3rd it just didn’t last and I really persisted and my son was starting to feel the effects, because I had BF my 2nd til he was nearly 2 I thought I could with No.3 but it wasn’t meant to be. I found it hard to let go, especially knowing it would be the last time ‘the girls’ would have a tour of duty! Great letter, I look forward to their response!! Emily @ Have a laugh on me
That is one awesome letter there!! #teamIBOT
I’ll never forget the day my girl bit me so hard I could see white and red flesh inside my nipple. Kid had blood running outta her mouth.
Breastfeeding is meant to be so loving and gentle yada yada yada
Someone forgot to tell that to my little vampire.
A great love letter to the girls! I especially liked this bit: “…you kind of hung of your head a bit and bobbed about like day old, melting Jello…” Haha! Mine are actually not quite as bad as I expected after 2 kids. I was afraid they’d be down to knees, but it’s more like my elbows. Whew!
Visiting from IBOT.
Love this letter! I’m glad you were able to persevere and big props to not listening to all the crap in the media about breastfeeding in public
Oh, it’s a tough one. I had nipple thrush, 3 months into breast feeding and I would be crying with pain…as I feed my twins. I pushed through it. No one could understand why, not even my husband. But it’s because, as you said, I wasn’t ready to end it. Strange as that sounds. I didn’t feel like my time was up.
And yes, Viva Le Bosom Buddies!
AWESOME post!
BRAVO BRAVO