I think I belong here.
I love the idea of CLW. I just don't think it's for me.
My son is 2.5 years old. He's still nursing a LOT. And, I get really touched-out. It doesn't help that he's a rough nurser. I *finally* got him to stop twiddling the other nipple, and he decided to start playing with my moles instead! Nursing is like nails on the chalkboard to me a lot of the time.
I have set limits. DS nightweaned 6 months ago when he moved to his own bed (not forced, he really loved having his own bed). When the weather got cold in early January, he started coming back into my bed in the middle of the night, and was nursing through the night again. After his father and I got into a bad fight, DS wouldn't even start sleeping in his own bed. So, we're cosleeping full-time again, which means he's nursing at night again. I finally had to tell him that he can nurse for a little while, then roll over and drink his water (sippy cup that stays on the bed next to him and doesn't spill) and go to sleep. It's mostly working. I just have to remind him a few times a night.
I've never been able to sleep well while DS nurses. When I do sleep through it, I end up with dreams of being sexually assaulted, and have to fight the urge to throw DS off of me. I end up sleep-deprived and on edge.
I also set limits during the day when I've had enough. Though, I tend to give in when DS really seems to need it. I've been offering lots of hugs and kisses, or distracting him with tickles and toys rather than nurse him sometimes.
I know I can't wean DS anytime soon. For one, he's nowhere near ready. He's also very strong-willed, and fights some of the limits I set. I'm very much a "pick your battles" type of person.
My other issue is that I suffer from rapid-cycling bipolar disorder, and I'm convinced that the only reason I haven't had a bipolar cycle since DS was born is because I'm breastfeeding him. I'm reluctant to give that up, since I greatly fear losing my mind again, and how my insanity will affect my son.
Lastly, H and I are separating. We're doing the best we can to avoid disrupting DS's life more than absolutely necessary, but it will affect him. I don't want to take away DS's most comforting routine away from him - he's going to need it. It's bad enough that he won't have such constant access on weekends anymore.
So, while I largely hate nursing, and I'm setting a few limits, I can't wean him yet. I just don't know that I can keep this up until DS weans himself. I don't see myself still nursing him in 3 years.
We'll see what happens, I suppose.
I love the idea of CLW. I just don't think it's for me.
My son is 2.5 years old. He's still nursing a LOT. And, I get really touched-out. It doesn't help that he's a rough nurser. I *finally* got him to stop twiddling the other nipple, and he decided to start playing with my moles instead! Nursing is like nails on the chalkboard to me a lot of the time.
I have set limits. DS nightweaned 6 months ago when he moved to his own bed (not forced, he really loved having his own bed). When the weather got cold in early January, he started coming back into my bed in the middle of the night, and was nursing through the night again. After his father and I got into a bad fight, DS wouldn't even start sleeping in his own bed. So, we're cosleeping full-time again, which means he's nursing at night again. I finally had to tell him that he can nurse for a little while, then roll over and drink his water (sippy cup that stays on the bed next to him and doesn't spill) and go to sleep. It's mostly working. I just have to remind him a few times a night.
I've never been able to sleep well while DS nurses. When I do sleep through it, I end up with dreams of being sexually assaulted, and have to fight the urge to throw DS off of me. I end up sleep-deprived and on edge.
I also set limits during the day when I've had enough. Though, I tend to give in when DS really seems to need it. I've been offering lots of hugs and kisses, or distracting him with tickles and toys rather than nurse him sometimes.
I know I can't wean DS anytime soon. For one, he's nowhere near ready. He's also very strong-willed, and fights some of the limits I set. I'm very much a "pick your battles" type of person.
My other issue is that I suffer from rapid-cycling bipolar disorder, and I'm convinced that the only reason I haven't had a bipolar cycle since DS was born is because I'm breastfeeding him. I'm reluctant to give that up, since I greatly fear losing my mind again, and how my insanity will affect my son.
Lastly, H and I are separating. We're doing the best we can to avoid disrupting DS's life more than absolutely necessary, but it will affect him. I don't want to take away DS's most comforting routine away from him - he's going to need it. It's bad enough that he won't have such constant access on weekends anymore.
So, while I largely hate nursing, and I'm setting a few limits, I can't wean him yet. I just don't know that I can keep this up until DS weans himself. I don't see myself still nursing him in 3 years.
We'll see what happens, I suppose.
She's down to only nursing at bedtime - that's the only time she asks, but I would definitely distract/etc if she were to start asking throughout the day again...
Thankfully!
