still nursing my 16mo old and thinking of weaning... « Back to Group Discussions

[breachaplin]

It could be just because I am stressed, my DH is TDY with the military across the country so it is just me and 4 kids and my handicapped father in law. As soon as DH gets back in March we move from Iowa to California. I am morning sick with this one and find myself trying to distract my 16 mo old when she asks to nurse. I feel terrible, this is not my first time nursing while pg and the last time, I weaned when I was 20weeks because my milk dried up and it got painful (ds was 18 mo when I weaned him) my goal is to nurse each for 2 years but I am sure that I don't have what it takes to nurse all the way through and tandem. Anyone else nursing a toddler while pg again? Are you planning to wean or keep going?

[bohemianmama]

I am nursing my 22 month old. He doesn't nurse alot any more mostly just when he is tired and at night.  my nipples have been so sensitive but I am pushing through it. I don;t have plans on weaning him, but I do avoid situations during the day in which we would want to nurse.  Like I don;t sit in my rocking chair during the day because that is where I always still when putting him to bed, if I do he comes running. lol

he is my first nursing througha pregnancy so I don;t have much to compare it to.

[kmarie8284]

Sorry things are stressful for you right now breachaplin! I'm nursing my 19 month old DS still. I'm not planning on weaning him, though I probably wouldn't push continuing if he moved in that direction. I nursed DD all through my last pregnancy, and she kept going strong even though my milk disappeared completely about half way through. I'm glad I continued because there were definitely some benefits after DS arrived (she was able to help relieve engorgement, I didn't have to worry about supply, I could sit down more), but it wasn't a picnic and I totally get why people wean during pregnancy. I did end up night weaning her, and helped her learn how to fall asleep at night without nursing down. I plan on at least doing the same with DS. I remember that the frequency of nursing really went down once my milk left, and I'm hoping the same will happen this time too, since it's starting to get uncomfortable.

[jen&james]

I am nursing my 25mo old and been trying to distract her as much as possible. I have also started nursing a bit on the couch before bed and then taking her to cuddle her in bed without nursing.  She has been waking early in the morning about 4am and starts crying if I don't nurse her which disturbs everyone.  She then wakes again at least 2 more times before we get up.  It is getting really uncomfortable and hurts for her to latch on.  I really want to wean her but she is really stubborn and doesn't allow me to distract her as much as I would like to ;) We are a work in progress.  I just know that the discomfort I am having now is going to get worse in the second trimester.  I weaned my last 2 boys while pregnant with the next and they were both between 2-2 1/2.  

[LLtheTinkerbell]

I am in the same boat as you and the PPs. I have an 18 mo old who is nuts about nursing. I had to limit nursing because it was all she wanted to do when we were together (and she would just snack during the day, not really nursing for long periods but wanting access at all times). Plus we were still nursing many times a night. I night weaned over Christmas and now she will go the first 8 hours of the night without nursing. If I don't nurse her at that point she's up, even if its 4am. Night weaning has helped me get a little more sleep but not tons - I usually get a 4-5 hour stretch now. I feel like I need way more sleep - with early pregnancy I am SO tired all the time. I don't want to change this enough to wean yet though. I'd like to make it til she's 2, at which point I'll be 7 mos. I say all this now...

[canadaap]

I hope you can find some stress relief somewhere. I am still nursing my 23 month old, but I feel great so far and it's the only way I can get him to sleep, so it makes sense to keep nursing.

[LivingSky]

I'm nursing my 18 month old and I have to say it is really wearing on me. I'm aiming to make it to his second birthday in July, but I'm not sure that will happen. He honestly doesn't nurse all that much and most of the time I can distract him, but it hurts SO much that it makes me want to cry. I'm making no firm plans at this point but kind of hoping that when my milk dries up, he'll lose interest.

[Bromache]

I was still nursing my first while pregnant with my second. We lasted about three months, until a combination of me not being able to stand it anymore and him accepting that and the milk changing, and then we stopped. It was pretty gradual and not too terrible. He was 21 months old. I wanted to nurse him till two, but it just wasn't going to happen. It was just way, way too annoying to my tender, sensitive, pregnant breasts.

I have to say, I'm so happy it went that way! He hadn't ever slept through the night till we finally quit, and getting those next six months of solid night sleeps (well, except for getting up to pee!) was really needed. It was also nice to have my boobs to myself for a while.

[henmama]

I have such mixed feelings about this. My sweet little man Henry is 21 months old and loves nursing and so do I. I have enjoyed (almost) every minute of it. He is not a snuggly guy, so I relish the chance to have him quiet and still in my arms. He shows no interest in weaning. I have such feelings of guilt that I am growing this other child and he doesn't even know how it will affect our nursing relationship. My nipples are so sore now and my let down takes forever and is quite painful. I feel like I'm already losing my supply. 

Any mamas gone through a pregnancy and been able to keep their supply up? Is there anything I can do to keep it? I would love to tandem nurse...I feel like it would help Henry transition. I've read that herbs don't work to keep up supply since they are overpowered by pregnancy hormones. but we're just not ready yet!! :(

[100%mom]

I'm nursing my 12 month old. He still wakes up anywhere from 4 to 10 times a night. We are starting the process of night weaning. I need some sleep! I'm hoping he will wean all the way when my milk dries up. Otherwise, I'll wean him.

[Bromache]

Originally Posted by henmama 

I have such mixed feelings about this. My sweet little man Henry is 21 months old and loves nursing and so do I. I have enjoyed (almost) every minute of it. He is not a snuggly guy, so I relish the chance to have him quiet and still in my arms. He shows no interest in weaning. I have such feelings of guilt that I am growing this other child and he doesn't even know how it will affect our nursing relationship. My nipples are so sore now and my let down takes forever and is quite painful. I feel like I'm already losing my supply. 

Any mamas gone through a pregnancy and been able to keep their supply up? Is there anything I can do to keep it? I would love to tandem nurse...I feel like it would help Henry transition. I've read that herbs don't work to keep up supply since they are overpowered by pregnancy hormones. but we're just not ready yet!! :(

Awwwww. Hugs to you. 

Perosnally, I had no desire to tandem nurse, but LOTS of moms here on mothering.com have done it successfully. From reading some of the stories, it sounds like if the nursling is determined to keep nursing and you continue to allow it, the amount of milk won't matter. They will dry-nurse just to have the comfort and closeness. Just my opinion, but I'd say to let nature and your older child work it out for you: if he keeps coming back to nurse even after the milk is gone, let him! However, if he decides to stop or it becomes to much for you and you change your mind, then you should stop.

However, there's no reason you couldn't get him back into it even if he weans for a while, if it's that important to you. I've read plenty of success stories of that happening here as well. :)