Each mother’s breastfeeding journey is unique and must be respected. Some relish this moment, some fight it, but no matter what her journey has been, any mother who has been breastfeeding for an extended period feels emotional when it comes to the last time. Maya Vonderstrasse talked about how she felt during this period and how difficult it is to end some cycles.
The American mother opened her heart to vent about the period she breastfed, and it was emotional. “I didn’t know that one person could feel so proud and so broken at the same time, right now I am a hormonal, emotional, and mental mess,” Maya said when sharing what happened.
Maya’s post shows two photos. Left, the first time she breastfed her daughter Hazel. Right, last time. And in each one, she tries to smile, despite having tears streaming down her face. “Raising my arm in this picture was very difficult for me as I had to fight through uncontrollable tears: this picture meant that I would never breastfeed my Hazel ever again. I have been nursing for so long, that I don’t know what it’s like to not nurse anymore.”
As the saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” These images represent the joy and not so happy moments of motherhood. When Maya looks back she will remember the first and last time, but not only. The tender moments in the apparently normal dawn will also be in the mind since now they are no longer part of the mother’s routine.
The end of breastfeeding means the end of a cycle, and it is not always easy to end it. Children grow up, and suddenly you have to make them more independent, and that can be a painful transition. “The guilt I feel for not putting her to bed is so intense, and I can’t wait to go back to it once she doesn’t ask to nurse anymore. Closing a chapter is painful, but I am hopeful that this new season of our lives will also be special in its own way,” the mother said.
It is important that during this breastfeeding and attrition phase for the mother, she has a good and supportive base of support. Maya talked about how her husband was important during this time. “He hugged me and responded with: “No. You did THE best, because you gave her your all”. I love my family and am so thankful for such special and unforgettable moments like these.”
Maya’s publication has received thousands of comments and applause, not only congratulating her for having given her daughter the best, but also for having captured the end of such an important stage in their lives in a very emotional and special way.
Making the decision to wean a child is never easy, because it is not just about stopping giving breast milk but about stopping having that precious ritual that only exists between the mother and her baby, something that is undoubtedly a great moment and an emotional experience that many mothers have gone through.