weaning-breast changes

[spicy tomato]

Hi Momma's out there.

My 3 1/2 year old is weaning. It is a combination of child-led and gentle Momma-led. He was only feeding to get himself to sleep for 2 months. Then I was away for 2 nights followed by another 3 nights with just Daddy to help him fall asleep. Now he is more comfortable falling asleep on his own. It is a bittersweet milestone for us both. He has tried to nurse three times in the morning, he doesn't last long and he seems to have lost his taste for it. I want to wean (despite my own surprising mixed feelings on the issue), so this is a good sign.

Here is my problem. My breasts are very sore and uncomfortable. It has now been 2 full weeks with only 3 short nursing sessions. Has anyone else experienced this??  How long before the pain goes away?  Is this normal for weaning an older child? Weaning from once a day I thought it would not be so painful.
 

Any thoughts would be great.

[TiredX2]

Congrats for nursing so long! 

I think a certain amount of breast soreness is totally normal when weaning an older child.  One major issue for many women is just time--- for me I was 21 when I got pregnant with my first and almost 31 before my youngest weaned.  Even had I not been pregnant and nursed during that time period my breasts would have probably been different by that time, kwim?

In the situation you are describing, I would just be extra careful to watch for the signs of plugged ducts or mastitis.  If you have localized pain or swelling, start running a fever, etc.. I would get some medical attention.  If it is more just an occasional deep "muscle" (lol) ache, I would assume it was just body changes.

Good luck with the rest of your nursing journey!

[annettemarie]

I'm going to move this out to Breastfeeding Beyond Infancy since you're using both mother-led and child-led weaning techniques.