Tell me I can do it!!! x-post

[wbg]

So I posted this in the breast feeding section, and then found this section where it seemed more relevant so I am reposting it here as a x-post.


My beautiful LO is now 18 months and just awesome. She is absolutely obsessed with my boobs, which I think rocks!

However, I also find this age so exhausting and tiring. She sometimes gives me a break and will eat only at bedtime, in the morning and once or twice during the day. She still wakes at night but will settle with some cuddles from her Dad.

But then she goes back to waking and nursing constantly. Only I can settle her. My breasts start to feel sore and abused and I almost flashback to those early weeks!

With #3, at this point I actually weaned him. And I have always regretted it. He adored my boobs and he spent the next 4 years putting his hand down my top every time he needed comfort in order to replace what he really needed!
I was just so tired looking after the three little ones and I felt that I needed to sleep!

DH is awesome and super supportive, but he works very long hours so is not around a lot. We have no help and no family around.
I feel so honored that I have been able to have wonderful breast feeding relationships with all my babies and I really want to keep going with this gorgeous girl as long as she needs it.

I guess I am hoping for some moral support! An words of wisdom. Is this an age thing? Or will she need to nurse this much for a lot longer. FYI, she is a pretty laid back happy baby. Very active and healthy. Just a little boob obsessed. DH thinks its genetic and they all get it from him!

Oh and on a completely selfish note, I never get my body back until after I finish feeding and I miss my non flabby body! wah! I think my body skipped the class where most others learnt that BFing will help you lose the weight. Mine likes to retain it until weaning time??? Anyway that is my ridiculous and silly rant!

Advice, hugs anything....!!! Gentle words please...am a little frazzled and over sensitive at present!

[kiwiva]

You can do it!! Take a deep breath!

18 months was very frustrating for me with DD. She nursed like a newborn! It was every 1.5-2 hours round the clock. I thought I would go insane.

One day she woke up and started talking like a maniac and the nursing diminished greatly. She was gearing up for a big development leap and once she met it she settled down to a more manageable nursing routine. Really!

And I also apparently am holding onto the weight until weaning, well at least I hope weaning will help! I just let it go and accepted my new mama body (well as much as possible, I still have my moments).

DD is still very attached to nursing (at 37 mos). I really don't see her weaning anytime soon.

[mckennasmomma]

I can tell you are a very loving and concerned mama. Having experienced an "early" (not really!) weaning once, and knowing you don't want to do it again, I know you will find a way to get through this rough patch. She will slow down her nursing again. Like the pp said, she is likely on the brink of a big developmental milestone, or she could be teething again.

As for the body and weight, you know from experience that in time, she will wean, and you will get your body back. Maybe there is some sort of opportunity or lesson in this? Like finding small moments through the day where you can "sneak" in some exercise (pushups on the edge of the counter while cooking, doing lunges while holding your LO, toe raises in the grocery store, kegels while nursing...)

[wbg]

Thanks for the encouragement and words of wisdom.

[halomancer]

When my 2 year old was that age, I couldn't even push him in a grocery cart without him asking to nurse and grabbing my shirt. Now, he can usually be distracted unless he is tired or hungry or hurting. So it will get better, you can do it.

[Shanny2032]

My sister dropped the last of her weight after weaning so I am hopeful that is genetic too. I think you are doing an awesome job. I don't really have any words of wisdom since my dd is not yet 12 months, let alone 18 but I wanted to say that I am a Nanny and the LO I take care of is exactly 1 year old than dd. When she was about 18 months I would have given anything to be able to nurse her out of some of the toddler funks she would get into. Even now - she wll be 2 next week - she wakes up SO unhappy from nap and I would just love to be able to help her through that with the "magic" of nursing. Obviously, that ain't gonna happen but I look forward to being able to calm my toddler in this way and hope you can continue to look at the positives like that