How long did you breastfeed and why did you stop? - Page 3

[fruitfulmomma]

I've been lactating close to 11 years with only one really short break during my 3rd pregnancy. DS and DD1 were right around their 4th and 2nd birthdays when I forced it on them because I was so sore. DS was ready and it went really easy, dd was not ready at all and I still wish I had put more effort into continuing. DD2 and DD3 both nursed until around their 4th birthdays and it just became less and less, no real point where it stopped. DD4 is 27 months and still nursing around the clock.

[Marsupialmom]

My first nursed until he was 27 months then he weaned himself. 

My second nursed a little over 4 years, then weaned herself.

My third she weaned herself sometime after her second birthday and before her 3rd.  She was the most "startling" because I just woke up one day realizing have had not nursed a child in a while.  

I tandem nursed the last two.   

[applecider]

DS1 - nursed till he was almost 3. I was pg and it was really no big deal, I'd say he basically weaned himself with a little nudge from me.

DS2 - still nursing STRONG at 2.25. I hope to be done by 3, I'm really going to push that! Nursing has become VERY painful from ovulation to my period so it's hard for me to keep going.

[branbran54]

I didn't bf ds1.

I bf ds2 for 17.5 months.  I was 4 months pregnant at the time and it was brutal.  I never cut back on it, but noticed that he was doing that himself.  He was still waking up 4 or 5 times a night.  One day he just stopped.  He never asked for it again and that was the same day he started sleeping through the night.  I was so thankful for that. 

I am due Sunday with ds3 and am not really looking forward to bfing again.  I have enjoyed these last few months of not having to do it.  I am not sure how long I will do it.  I take it one day at a time and set small goals.  We will probably start to ttc when he turns 2 and I would like to be wrapping it up by then just to give myself that break.

[KristyDi]

DD will be 3 on Friday.  We're still nursing, but I'm nudging her slowly towards weaning.  I'm feeling touched out regularly so we're slowing down with the intention of dwindling to a stop.

[Leisha]

I weaned my DD (now 2.5 yo) about a month ago. If it had been up to her, she would have still been nursing all day every day, so to speak ;-) but i just thought the time was right...

Since weaning her, she has been sleeping through the night (before, she had to be nursed to sleep - this often took hours and not without tears - and woke up several times a night to nurse) and i have to admit i was just getting a bit tired of it myself sometimes, even though i always loved our nursing sessions before. 

She seems actually happier now; before, she often wanted to wean during the day and i would refuse (well, try to distract her, etc) and i think it caused her some stress... So I think it was a good thing, for both of us.

And, unfortunately, my partner was pushing me a lot to quit breastfeeding. But he had been for a while, and i didn't give in to it, so that actually played little part in my decision. Just recently i felt that it was ok to wean her. And it actually helped that he really wanted me to quit cause that means that he helped a lot, like for example by putting her to bed every night etc (i had already cut down to mainly nursing at night).  I think that, if he hadn't "convinced" me to start weaning DD, i probably would have done CLW, but i don't regret weaning her at all... again, i think it was just a good time, for all of us :)

I was afraid that weaning would be a "traumatizing" experience, seeing how attached she was to "dollie" (= what she calls nursing/my boobs :lol ) but she still loves cuddling and kissing them, lol so i am really happy that the comforting, familiar feelings associated with nursing have not gone away.

[Lilysmomma2008]

I have one daughter and she is 28 months old and nursing for naps and bedtime. I found out I was pregnant when I was 18 and I'm not sure why, but it never occured to myself or to my soon-to-be husband that I would do anything but breastfeed. I got very lucky with my just under 9lb newborn baby girl and she instantly knew how to bf. I had to start her on solid foods at 3 months on her doctors reccomendation because she was nursing every 15-30 minutes and of course I was worn out. I barely had time to run to the bathroom. She did well with the food and nursing and is still enjoying it now. I have my moments of frustration with nursing and soreness like any other nursing mother, but I do enjoy bf her and spending that special time with her. My husband is skeptical and one of those people who think breastfeeding for one year is a lot and after that is too much, but I asked my family and the average age that the women who did bf continued until 2 1/2 years. That encouraged me. I have an aunt who ha been wonderful in supporting my bf. Most of my family and friends are very negative about it and disapprove of it. I just don't bring it up around them and I am going to continue to bf my daughter as long as she and I are both comfortable doing it. I was pleasantly suprised to see that so many in this forum bf for much longer than I have and with multiple children. Thank you so much for sharing your stories.

[QueenOfTheMeadow]

Originally Posted by branbran54 

I didn't bf ds1.

I bf ds2 for 17.5 months.  I was 4 months pregnant at the time and it was brutal.  I never cut back on it, but noticed that he was doing that himself.  He was still waking up 4 or 5 times a night.  One day he just stopped.  He never asked for it again and that was the same day he started sleeping through the night.  I was so thankful for that. 

I am due Sunday with ds3 and am not really looking forward to bfing again.  I have enjoyed these last few months of not having to do it.  I am not sure how long I will do it.  I take it one day at a time and set small goals.  We will probably start to ttc when he turns 2 and I would like to be wrapping it up by then just to give myself that break.

One day at a time is great!! I night weaned each one at about 12 months, and it made things seem much less stressful.

[tabrizia]

I nursed DS until he was 3 1/2 and I weaned him because I was pregnant with newbie and couldn't handle nursing 2 while pregnant.

DD self weaned at 22 months, so about 2 months ago, I really wish she had kept nursing, but she shows no interest now, I am kind of hoping she starts again when newbie arrives, but I am guessing she won't.

Newbie is due sometime within the next 4 weeks, and I plan on letting him nurse till he self weans or is at least 3 1/2, probably will cut off at 4, but no clue at the moment.

[mamabearsoblessed]

DD 1 self-weaned at 4yrs 4 mos. That was actually with gentle encouragemnet..

DS 1 self-weaned at 3yrs 9 mos, he tandemed with dd1 for almost 2 years . He ended up weaning following a second lost pg.

DD2 self-weaned at just about 2.5yrs during pg. She is my littlest weaner to date ;).

DS2 is just 6 mos and will self-wean. Chances are he's our last Baby :(. He can nurse forever if he wants ;) LOL.

[Thandiwe]

Originally Posted by Lilysmomma2008 

I have one daughter and she is 28 months old and nursing for naps and bedtime. I found out I was pregnant when I was 18 and I'm not sure why, but it never occured to myself or to my soon-to-be husband that I would do anything but breastfeed. I got very lucky with my just under 9lb newborn baby girl and she instantly knew how to bf. I had to start her on solid foods at 3 months on her doctors reccomendation because she was nursing every 15-30 minutes and of course I was worn out. I barely had time to run to the bathroom. She did well with the food and nursing and is still enjoying it now. I have my moments of frustration with nursing and soreness like any other nursing mother, but I do enjoy bf her and spending that special time with her. My husband is skeptical and one of those people who think breastfeeding for one year is a lot and after that is too much, but I asked my family and the average age that the women who did bf continued until 2 1/2 years. That encouraged me. I have an aunt who ha been wonderful in supporting my bf. Most of my family and friends are very negative about it and disapprove of it. I just don't bring it up around them and I am going to continue to bf my daughter as long as she and I are both comfortable doing it. I was pleasantly suprised to see that so many in this forum bf for much longer than I have and with multiple children. Thank you so much for sharing your stories.

Welcome to the forums, LilysMomma!  I hope you find the MDC boards as warm and inviting as I have!  I come from a really mainstream family, too, and I have fought the skepticism in my life, sometimes against my husband too, and it has been really awesome to have a group of mamas to turn to who completely get it and support what I feel in my heart.  Hope to see you around!

[earthmommy2]

DD nursed till she was about 20 mo.  Self weaned.

DS#1 nursed until I got preg with #3...Self weaned kinda...He came up to nurse and told me my milk was "ewwie..."

DS#2 Still nursing and loving it!   He refuses and is not a fan of solids.

[joycenjackiesmom]

DD #1 was 4.5 when I gave her the nudge to stop nursing.  She had nursed all through a pregnancy and after I went back to work and was pumping for DD#2 I couldn't have both nursing anymore.  She was only nursing once a day so it wasn't too hard for her.

DD#2 weaned herself abruptly at 18 months---one day she nursed like usual the next she refused.  I was able to convince her to nurse one more time when I became engorged but that was it---she wasn't even tempted when offerered.