The End

After persevering for almost 11 months, we have finally reached the end of breastfeeding. I really am not ready to end it, but my body thinks otherwise. In an attempt to regulate my hormones and keep my endometriosis at bay, we are calling it quits. I know that I have done a great job, struggling through a lot with this, but it is especially sad to think that I may never breastfeed again.

Several months ago I said that I would be happy to make it until we returned from our trip to California. Well, that was back in March, so I guess I should be happy! I know that many moms would have given up long ago, especially when dealing with three cases of thrush and mastitis once, so I am proud to have made it this long.

Breastfeeding was never a simple thing for us. From the beginning, it felt about as natural as swimming in stiletto heels. We battled everything from low milk supply to pain. We did, eventually, figure out what worked for us, but only after months of trial and error and several visits to a lactation specialist. The milk supply issue, unfortunately, never resolved itself. Consequently, I had to pump at least once a day and drink several cups of Mother's Milk Tea.

There are a few things about breastfeeding that I will not miss:

• Biting
• Pinching
• Pulling away while biting
• Pumping
• Washing my pump stuff (I know this doesn't seem like much, but I really hate this)

Tim definitely deserves to be thanked because he understood how important I felt it was to breastfeed Quin. He never pushed me to offer more bottles than were necessary, even when feedings took over 2 hours and we were completely exhausted. So for that, thank you sweetie.