MY EXTENDED BREASTFEEDING JOURNEY

If anyone told me four years ago that I would be part of the ”extended breastfeeding” moms’ group (when you breastfeed your child after they have turned 1 years old), I would have rolled my eyes and said a definite no – but here I am.

The thought of breastfeeding terrified me. Throughout my pregnancy, I kept that option at the very back of my mind. I just felt I didn’t have it in me to go that route. I was plagued with mental images of saggy breasts with stretch marks all over them.

But behold, when I had laid eyes on the most beautiful baby girl in my arms, nobody had to ask the question, nobody had to give me a cue. I nursed my baby immediately. That moment brought me so much joy and purpose. My breasts were truly serving their purpose. This was bigger than me: I was nourishing my baby, I was providing her with food, warmth, comfort, nutrients.

It’s been exactly four years. The bond with my daughter has been out of this world, and my decision has brought me nothing but joy. I thought I would lose my supple breasts, but I look at them with pride now. I would do it again in a heartbeat. To all the mamas out there, we don’t need capes and secret identities to be heroes; we are our children’s everyday superheroes (supermoms) already. INDY MBANGANI, JOHANNESBURG, GAUTENG