Hello there,
My DS is 14 months old, and we have had a good nursing history until recently. As he has gotten more active, he is more easily distracted, active, jumpy, and grabby when nursing and is using me more and more as a warm pacifier at night and naptime. It can take up to 2.5 hours or longer for me to put him down. DH with a bottle usually takes 30 min. I can tell that he's emptied my breasts at bedtime and naptime yet he wants to still be attached (sometimes painfully and lately for an hour or several) until he goes to sleep. This is getting more emotionally difficult and physically painful for me, but I feel guilty considering weaning because he doesn't show any signs of wanting to wean. Lately, DH and I have been relying more on formula or EBM after he nurses from me in the eve to get him to sleep. I know this doesn't help with supply, but we don't know how else to get him to sleep without being attached to me for hours. I believe that DS is going through a bit of a rough teething patch right now, which makes it harder to pinpoint the problem and possible solutions. I want to continue nursing as long as DS wants to, but I don't know how to unravel whether this is a sleep or BF issue or both.
Please share your thoughts, experiences, and advice. I love my son so much and want to do the best for him, but I just don't know what to do in this situation.
Thank you all for your ideas, time, and thought.
KTmom
My DS is 14 months old, and we have had a good nursing history until recently. As he has gotten more active, he is more easily distracted, active, jumpy, and grabby when nursing and is using me more and more as a warm pacifier at night and naptime. It can take up to 2.5 hours or longer for me to put him down. DH with a bottle usually takes 30 min. I can tell that he's emptied my breasts at bedtime and naptime yet he wants to still be attached (sometimes painfully and lately for an hour or several) until he goes to sleep. This is getting more emotionally difficult and physically painful for me, but I feel guilty considering weaning because he doesn't show any signs of wanting to wean. Lately, DH and I have been relying more on formula or EBM after he nurses from me in the eve to get him to sleep. I know this doesn't help with supply, but we don't know how else to get him to sleep without being attached to me for hours. I believe that DS is going through a bit of a rough teething patch right now, which makes it harder to pinpoint the problem and possible solutions. I want to continue nursing as long as DS wants to, but I don't know how to unravel whether this is a sleep or BF issue or both.
Please share your thoughts, experiences, and advice. I love my son so much and want to do the best for him, but I just don't know what to do in this situation.
Thank you all for your ideas, time, and thought.
KTmom
