Am I selfish?

[NZJMama]

DD is 18 months old and I am ready to wean and she is not. A little background real quick. She is my third and I have been pregnant and/or breastfeeding since 2003. My first weaned around 18 months and my second at about 2.5. She still nurses at night (we co-sleep) and I am tired. I need to sleep more than like 3 or 4 hours at a time. Did I mention that I'm tired? Here's the kicker, DH gave me lasik eye surgery for my b-day, but I have to be done bf'ing for 3 months. I know a few more months wont make difference in the long run, but really I have been wanting to do this for a looooong time. She is my last and I never planned to initiate weaning with her, but now I am done nursing. It hurts because I don't have a lot of milk and I know that once we are through nursing she will start sleeping better at night.  So tell me, do you think I'm selfish to wean her? Should I just stick it out for a few more months or can I wean her without feeling guilty?

[LilPenguinMama]

I am in just about the exact same place that you are. DS is 15 months.  I am tired. Exhausted. Need to sleep more than 2-4 hours a night. He wakes up a bazillion times a night to nurse and I am about to lose my mind.  And, my period just came back and with it tender nipples and a reduction in milk. I'm uncomfortable, I'm tired, and I don't want to give up nursing but ARRRRGHGHGH I want to sleep. 

So, yeah. You aren't the only one.  I don't have any answers either, but I'm currently having the same internal debate.

[SilverFish]

um, me too. my dd is 15 months, and i never thought about weaning this early either. i just had a plugged duct last week and she has decided she hates that breast now, and bites it HARD when i go to nurse her. i was so fed up, from being sick (unrelated), a really REALLY sore breast all week, and then, bitten nipples, that i basically just stopped nursing her today. she asked a few times, i redirected and distracted, and in the end she only had milk maybe 3 times. it was really a lot less stressful than i assumed... i'm currently debating not offering at all tomorrow and seeing what happens. i thought it kind of seemed like she was less interested in nursing lately... i'm wondering if the plugged duct and biting are related to her taking less milk and not really wanting to nurse? or wanting the nipple, but just for comfort? i don't know, but i really don't know where to go from here. 15 months seems so young to me, but i don't think i can handle another few months of this!! 

[zoe77]

Have any of you considered night weaning?  I did the Jay Gordon plan and we all started sleeping through the night.  My son still would wake some but it was clear he wasn't getting any milk and my husband could easily get him back to sleep in a matter of minutes.  I highly reccomend it.  It's not all or nothing.

[hildare]

yup!  i second nightweaning.  i feel like a new person since we started nightweaning my dd.  i feel good that i still nurse that 3 times when i get home (i woh) and to sleep.. and we're still able to bedshare, too. 

i read somewhere that at this age only 3 nursings a day or so gives all the benefits. i can't locate that source atm though.

i would never think it selfish to attend to your own needs.. i mean, is it selfish to put down a toddler screaming to be picked up to use the bathroom?  nope!  not selfish. 

[D_McG]

Not selfish. I just had my 3rd.  I'd be thrilled if we get to 18 mos.