So much taking place in the world which gives me a variety of topics to write about. Today I am choosing to practice exactly what I preached in my April 1, 2020 Emotional Self-Care post. I am making the deliberate choice to control my self-care narrative.

Today is January 16, 2021 and I am nine days away from having a four year old. The time has flown by quickly and it feels like we were just discharged from the hospital. Her birthday, January 25, also represents the fourth year of our breastfeeding journey 🎉🏆!!! We had challenges immediately following birth and I would have had unpleasant words for anyone on January 25, 2017 had they told me that I’d still be nursing my daughter four years later. To utter such words would have been the ultimate form of disrespect resulting in the end of a relationship! At that point in time we lived life in three-hour increments and it was asking too much of me to even focus on the next day.

Time flies fast! The three-hour increments turned into a day. The days turned into weeks. The weeks turned into months and the months turned into years. I am amazed that the four year milestone is quickly approaching and we are still at it! I vividly recall setting our breastfeeding goal for six months. We were supposed to be done in June 2017, however, the art of breastfeeding somehow became easier and we never stopped. Fast forward to 2021 and my baby (she will always be my baby) is content with nursing a few times a day. She knows what she wants and will not hesitate to grab her milkies when she needs a quick snack. All challenges have disappeared and I have zero complaints about this leg of the journey.

I am beyond grateful for our journey; yet I recall our humble beginnings! You couldn’t pay me to be grateful in January 2017 and six months could not come quick enough. Grateful is the feeling because the choice to breastfeed my daughter has created new opportunities for me. I had no idea that I would become a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC) and would assist other babies, parents and families. A blog certainly was not on my radar in January 2017 nor was a Monthly Breastfeeding / Chestfeeding Subscription Box. Who knew!? I simply hoped to shower every few days, catch a quick nap and survive the next three hours. Anything beyond that was not important. I also cannot forget about the friendships and professional relationships that I have built in the last four years. Breastfeeding is still a way of life for me because it has positively impacted every aspect of my life. The unbreakable bond with my baby and the unwavering desire to breastfeed her was the catalyst that sparked it all!

There are still those that respond with negativity when proudly state I breastfeed my daughter. Said people existed at every part of the journey. They really frown when I state that my baby still nurses as she approaches four years old. I am not offended and will respond by dropping facts about breast / chestfeeding. My teachable response often results in silence by the other party. Their silence is not my concern as I have done my part by educating. I admit that I wasn’t always in this space. My outward confidence was not the best early on given our struggles, however, I remained steadfast and never waivered on my goal to nourish my baby.

In closing, it is imperative to remember that the duration of your breast / chestfeeding journey is between you and your little one. It is your personal choice to determine what works best for you and your dynamic. My personal experience highlights the importance of choosing a supportive tribe. I will forever and always preach about the need to surround yourself with a positive and affirming breast / chestfeeding community. Such communities exist. Do yourself a favor and seek them out! You won’t regret it.

Until Next Time,

💙 Salimah

Peace, Love & Breastmilk™

The Maziwa Tribe blog does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Content from Maziwa Tribe’s blog is not intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. The information provided on this blog is intended for general consumer understanding. The information provided is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact your family doctor or other medical professional to obtain medical advice.