Want to wean, but not sure how

[littleblondegirl]

I have spent the last 6 or so years of my life either pregnant or breastfeeding. My reasons for wanting to wean are purely selfish. I would like myself back.

My first two were weaned because I became pregnant with their siblings. My supply dried up and breasfeeding physically repulsed me, which I struggled with. I vowed that I would finally have a child that I could let wean when she was ready, but I feel like I have changed my mind.

She will be two in July and mostly nurses before bedtime and is still waking up at least once a night to night nurse. She is very feisty and does not accept that she will not be getting her "milks", so I usually give in because of the cry-fest that insues. I have tried offering her other things instead, but she insists on milks. I have tried cuddling.

I feel terrible that I am trying to deprive her of her beloved milks, and that I want for that relationship to be over, but the need for to me to stop is even greater than that.

Any suggestions?

[mleavell]

Well, I am no expert since I only had one but I would start with the overnight nursing. I remember telling my little guy that when he woke up at night we would not be nursing.

When he did wake up, I told him it was still night, offered him his water cup and told him that we would nurse in the morning. I think we had reached a point, though, where he was not actually nursing back to sleep, he would nurse then flop around for a long time. Since it was not what he was using to get to sleep, I figured it was ok to drop it. For awhile, to make sure he had some nutrition, I gave him yogurt before bed.

After he got used to that, I dropped the morning nurse by feeding him as soon as he got up. Lots of early mornings, though.

To end his before bed nurses, we just did a countdown. 5 more nights, 4 more nights, etc. He was close to 2.5 and he did really well. He asked to nurse a few times afterward but when I reminded him that we said "Bye-Bye Nursing" he was fine with it. Once again, though, he was not nursing to sleep, he would just nurse for a few minutes and was done.

Good Luck!

PS. Can your husband help at night to keep your boobies away from her?