Please help.....

[Treece]

I believe that CLW is best for the child, and maybe for Mama. But here is the problem I am experiencing: I want to wean every time my AF visits. I really hate the way my 3 yo's stronger suck feels at that time. The rest of the month, no prob. I've told him sucking hurts mama and I need him to stop when I say I have a "nee-nee". His word for hurt. For the most part he seems to get it and stops nursing when I ask, but he cries and acts like I have just slapped him. I think it really hurts him too. But it really makes cramps worse. I didn't know this was what was going on all weekend, b/c I have only had 3-4 since my 1 yo was born. I want to nurse as long as he needs, which seems now that I may be posting a similar grade schooler question in a few years. That's OK with me. So how do I manage my cramps without hurting my son?

[kythe]

I'm sorry for what you are going through. I don't have any real advice, but I don't think what you are experiencing is abnormal in any way. They say breastfeeding helps your uterus tone after birth, and it is a common symptom within the first few weeks post partum to have cramps while breastfeeding. I know you are years past that, but it sounds like your body is just doing its thing.

You aren't doing anything wrong, its okay to want to take care of yourself. Are you tandem nursing? I found myself weaning my firstborn during pregnancy because breastfeeding became too painful. She started up again right after the birth because in her mind, she hadn't really "weaned". I know she missed a few months of breastmilk before she was even 2 yrs old, but I did the best I could. She went on to nurse until she was 5, and she is very happy and healthy anyway.

[canadiangranola]

I wonder if you took some rescue remedy before you nursed him on those days if that might help? It should be available at a local health food store... helps calm you, might help you relax enough to breathe through the pain?

Or perhaps if you explain to him ahead of time that mama's milk needs a rest day sometimes, and filled the day with snuggles and lots of loves instead....

Just throwing out ideas.

[Treece]

Those are all very good ideas. Yes, I am tandem nursing and the 1 yo doesn't hurt on those days. It's just the day before and the 1st day of. I didn't know this until this month. I have had so many problems with mine since DD's birth (1 yo). I just thought mine was going to be excrutiating the rest of my life. I thought I should wean him. I know he isn't ready.

As far as hugs and cuddles, when he wants "na-nas" and I cuddle him, he goes for it. Then it's all out war to stop him and is just much easier to give in. However, one thing that does take his mind is playing with him. He really likes cards, esp Uno. lol

But I am so much better now. A week later.

[sosurreal09]

DD is only 16 m/o but I get the same thing! Whenever my AF is around it hurts to BF b/c of cramps but also my nipples are so sensitive and it really hurts.

I take Pain Ease it is the equivalent to tylenol or something but it's homeopathic. I only need one even though the dose says two. I bought it at whole foods...it's an all over pain reliever.

[Treece]

So, Painease helps with other pains? Like arthritis stuff?

[sosurreal09]

Well the bottle says for muscles, menstrual, back and tension. It has magnesium and magnese in it for muscular and neuromuscular tension, but it also has california poppy and corydalis yanhusuo, chinese peony, and meadowsweet.

It doesn't even say headache on the bottle but I get bad migraines and it definately helps! That is the main reason I take it. IMO they don't say everything it covers. It says the muscular stuff b/c of the magnese and magnesium which I guess is a proven thing.

I would say pick some up and try it, but I don't personally know if it will do anything for arthritis. I know the person I talked to about it at WF highly recommended it and said that's all they used for pain relief.