I'm not sure how to phrase this, especially given the breastfeeding tone of mothering.com. A wonderful tone might I add... but, leaning heavily toward BLW.
For medical and some personal reasons I would like to begin the weening process with 17 month old ds. We've had a very healthy, good breasfeeding relationship. Despite latching issues, chronic pain, mastitis more than once, thrush that left me having to nurse through open wounds on my nipples 3 seperate occasions, and exclusive baby to breast feeding (in other words, no bottles and no break) we've had a sucessful run at this thus far.
While ds has cut back some he isn't showing any disinterest for breastfeeding. In fact, he often drags the pillow he always lays his head on in my lap for feedings over to me and insists I feed him. I do of course. He also still wakes up once or twice during his nighttime sleep and requires to be fed. More so for comfort than intake.
I've been quite sick for a long time and getting worse. I won't go into detail but there is a chance that drinking my milk could make ds ill if indeed I have what it appears that I do. There are also some personal issues that I'd rather not get into but, having an older child continue to breastfeed may become difficult for me. We're not at that point yet but I don't want to wait until I get there.
I do feel bad for wanting to slow and eventually take away something ds clearly benifits from both nutritionally and emotionally but also understand that at some point he will stop (by his choice or mine).
Here is what I'm having trouble with. He's never had a bottle or sippy (even with breastmilk) and I don't want him to start now. He hasn't used a pacifier since 3 or 4 months old and he's not going back to them. He will drink from a cup with straw and I've been able to replace some daytime feedings this way. However, I can't replace the comfort sucking that he still asks for 4-6 times per day when refusing his cup. Without a bottle, sippy, or pacifier how do I manage to further the weening process? The night feedings seem especially impossible. I've tried holding him, rocking him, singing to him, laying down with him, etc... but even if he does fall asleep he usually wakes a 1/2 hour to an hour later wanting to breastfeed. I NEED sleep and that routine is not possible for me for any length of time. Falling asleep while BFing ds isn't possible for me (causes of chronic pain won't allow).
How do I..... I don't even know where to start. I don't want this to be a tramatic process for either of us but, I don't know that I can or should wait this out much longer.
For medical and some personal reasons I would like to begin the weening process with 17 month old ds. We've had a very healthy, good breasfeeding relationship. Despite latching issues, chronic pain, mastitis more than once, thrush that left me having to nurse through open wounds on my nipples 3 seperate occasions, and exclusive baby to breast feeding (in other words, no bottles and no break) we've had a sucessful run at this thus far.
While ds has cut back some he isn't showing any disinterest for breastfeeding. In fact, he often drags the pillow he always lays his head on in my lap for feedings over to me and insists I feed him. I do of course. He also still wakes up once or twice during his nighttime sleep and requires to be fed. More so for comfort than intake.
I've been quite sick for a long time and getting worse. I won't go into detail but there is a chance that drinking my milk could make ds ill if indeed I have what it appears that I do. There are also some personal issues that I'd rather not get into but, having an older child continue to breastfeed may become difficult for me. We're not at that point yet but I don't want to wait until I get there.
I do feel bad for wanting to slow and eventually take away something ds clearly benifits from both nutritionally and emotionally but also understand that at some point he will stop (by his choice or mine).
Here is what I'm having trouble with. He's never had a bottle or sippy (even with breastmilk) and I don't want him to start now. He hasn't used a pacifier since 3 or 4 months old and he's not going back to them. He will drink from a cup with straw and I've been able to replace some daytime feedings this way. However, I can't replace the comfort sucking that he still asks for 4-6 times per day when refusing his cup. Without a bottle, sippy, or pacifier how do I manage to further the weening process? The night feedings seem especially impossible. I've tried holding him, rocking him, singing to him, laying down with him, etc... but even if he does fall asleep he usually wakes a 1/2 hour to an hour later wanting to breastfeed. I NEED sleep and that routine is not possible for me for any length of time. Falling asleep while BFing ds isn't possible for me (causes of chronic pain won't allow).
How do I..... I don't even know where to start. I don't want this to be a tramatic process for either of us but, I don't know that I can or should wait this out much longer.
