Nursing mamas - how are you doing?!

[eleven]

All I can say is OUCH!!!!!! The old girls started really hurting today, at about 6 weeks. They were horrible during my pregnancy with dd, but at least I didn't have anyone hanging off of them all the time!

I'm seriously considering night weaning sooner rather than later. I think I'll be fine nursing two babies during the day, but at night?? NO WAY!!!

So how is everyone else doing?

[CrazyCatLady]

Doing ok. The pain seems to come and go. It's been nothing compared to my last pregnancy. I'd rather not still be nursing right now, but it's bearable and I don't think Zayla has noticed a bit that it hurts me sometimes. She takes the boobs for granted.

[BirthFree]

Only one side seems to cause me pain... otherwise, I just have all-day soreness "inside" (weird description, but my best shot). My supply SUCKS and is almost entirely gone. Thankfully DS nurses anyways so I think he got over the initial shock of very little num. It'd be nice if he'd wean before baby, but then again it'd be nice to tandem nurse - so in the end, it's up to him.

[veganf]

no problems

No problems here. Milk still dribbles from his mouth before naptime.
I didn't have any soreness until near the end of my past pregnancy, and that wasn't really bad, so hopefully it will be the same this time. I'm guessing it will be easier since he's older and only nurses 3-4 times a day.

- Krista

[Miss Juice]

My supply dwindled to nothingness and nursing really became unbearable for me. We nightweaned a couple of weeks ago, and she's so busy during the day that she doesn't ask to nurse, so for the past week or so we've been down to one nursing a day, just before bed. The last several days I have had so much trouble with it I have ended up in tears, so DH has started putting her to bed also. We're on day 3 of no nursing. She's just fine, but I'm sad. She's 18 months and I had really hoped to hang in there for longer.

[beemama]

I'm having a really hard time, my dd has been a biter off & on... and now is using her teeth aLOT... coupled w/the onset of my bb soreness, I'm really struggling to nurse her now. My supply seems to be great.
I know she's not ready to wean.
How do I handle this? I'm going to cut my post from yesterday & post it here in hopes that someone has some advice for me. It's actually gotten worse so I'm at my wit's end.

[beemama]

Okay, so.... nursing is getting really painful on it's own & dd is using her teeth a lot. I'm getting a little resentful when she starts biting me. I always give her a warning, like "be gentle" & "no teeth", then tell her she'll lose her nursies if she can't be gentle & then stop her. I'm frustrated so I don't know that I'm reacting in the most positive way.

While I feel so much closer to dd in other ways since learning I'm pg, our nursing relationship is becoming so strained.

I've always assumed that if I got pg she would self-wean and was okay w/that, it seems that otherwise she'd be in grade school before she self-weaned. But now I really hope to be able to tandem because I think it will help tremendously w/the transition of having a new baby in the house. And then still on top of that I don't know how much of this biting/pregnancy related tenderness I can take!
I'm so conflicted! Anyone going through similar stuff?

I think it's so great that there are so many of us *here*... we're doing such a great thing for our little ones, hope we can learn from eachother & get through this in the most positive way!

Blessings, everyone! Kelly

I wanted to add that now when I give her warning she chomps down & I've had to pry her jaw open!! HELP!

[gabry]

Kelly, hi to you too! I'm so sorry nursing has gotten so difficult. Don't have any wise insight really, except to make sure to follow through and stop nursing whenever she bites (if you're not doing that already). Also, maybe you can nurse a bit less, offer a drink or snack when she asks? That works with ds sometimes.
Over here, supply seems fine. I am more sore and especially more 'irritable' when he nurses, seems like it just feels very uncomfortable and I can't stand to nurse for very long. I let him anyways, tho

[Kindermama]

at times, I feel great when she's nursing and other times, I literally wanna run far away....the night nursing is what bothers me....how do I NW a co-sleeping 10 mos old though??? any thoughts?????

[the_lissa]

Mine aren't hurting, but boy do I find nursing to be the most annoying sensation in the world. I want to scream sometimes.,

[eleven]

Lots of s to all who are having a tough time.

I just began reading Adventures in Tandem Nursing, and I really really like it. The first chapter seems to focus on being compassionate and respectful of yourself and your needs and to be open to what happens. It was good to be reminded that mama still matters and it's not all about what's best only for the baby. It's also very realistic and discusses all of the difficult things (physically and psychologically) that can occur when nursing during pregnancy or beyond. Highly recommended!

I always assumed I would continue nursing dd throughout the pregnancy and after the new babe arrives (like Kelly, I think it would be a huge help for the transition). We've had a rough time since the beginning, so there is part of me that wouldn't mind her weaning. I'm very torn. The pain certainly doesn't help, although I've found myself nursing her often in order to be able to lie down and rest throughout the day.

Kelly - I really wish I had some advice for you. Maybe some of the btdt mamas in extended bfing or child led weaning might be able to help. Dd went through a relatively brief biting period that was pure hell. I couldn't believe the rage I felt when she would hurt me like that. I am still very nervous when I unlatch her, and never put my finger in the side of her mouth because all of her teeth are in front and she has no qualms about chomping down to keep the nipple in her mouth. I really hope you're able to get some relief soon.

Kindermama - I'm hesitant to recommend night weaning a baby under 1 because of all I have read on the subject, but I totally understand where you're coming from. When dd as around 11 months, I moved into the guest room and her night waking cut in half immediately. When she does wake, I go into their room (she sleeps with dh), nurse her back to sleep, then leave again. We will be working on changing this situation over the next few months, but it really has helped us in the short term.

While I'm sorry that it has to be so hard, I'm glad we are able to share.

[gabry]

Kindermama, maybe you don't have to nw completely in order to get a little relief. The 'No Cry Sleep Solution' has some good suggestions that may help you at least cut down on nightnursing some. Hang in there!

Merry Xmas everyone!

[beemama]

I'm not sure how this is happening, but my nipples are cracked now! I'm doing some research but this seems to be something that usually happens in the beginning w/an improper latch. I've also read that it can be yeast related, so I'm being careful about my sugar intake in spite of the holidays & will go into a mild candida cleanse when we get back home (we're staying w/family in FL, which seems to be compounding the problem as dd needs more comfort w/her routine being broken up).

So as it turns out... some of the "biting" hasn't been biting at all... but extreme tenderness... tho she does chomp down if I try to break the latch. THIS HAS BEEN SO HARD!

UGH! So I've been expressing a little milk after every nursing & letting them airdry... I remembered reading that in the beginning of my nursing days. I guess I'm lucky to have had such a good start w/BFing. I've lasted this long & have the will to continue.
We'll get it worked out.
Thanks for the hugs & well wishings...

Happy Holidays! Peace & Joy everyone! Kelly

[BirthFree]

Kindermama, I think 10m old is too young to nightwean... but that's my personal opinion.

Beemama, I notice that happens to me too - it's not him that's hurting me, I hurt, and then when he nurses (during that time), it just hurts more. You may want to look into a fungal infection if the thrush-help you're doing doesn't help much. I've had a fungal infection 3x and thrush-curing stuff doesn't do anything for that. It's hard when it hurts, I just keep trying to remember that this is a short season and how important it is to him.

Hope it keeps improving for you.
~Julie

[mimi!]

((((((((((Kelly))))))))))))))

ouch! that does sound like quite a difficult time you're having. I don't have much advice other than check with you lll for some suggestions. Last time my midwife suggested giving some water beforehand because she warned of waning supply. Sorry that's all I have.

I was started to not feel pg today until naptime and wow! was that painful! Happy that it hurt more today - sorta - and with the last pg. nursing didn't hurt too much so I'm guessing that perhaps some pain is a good thing- ha ha

[mobywrapmama]

Beemama, I also was suffering from cracked nipples and could not get them to heal...until I talked to my midwife and she suggested putting diluted vinegar (about 2 T. in 1/2 a cup of water) on them and then making sure they were completely dry before dressing (use blow dryer if necessary). It helped tremendously! Hope you feel better soon.

[veganf]

ditto

Originally Posted by gabry

Kindermama, maybe you don't have to nw completely in order to get a little relief. The 'No Cry Sleep Solution' has some good suggestions that may help you at least cut down on nightnursing some. Hang in there!

Merry Xmas everyone!

That booked helped us too. I night-weaned as soon as I found out I was pregnant again (baby #1 was 6 months). It was about a 2 month process, but it really helped me get the sleep I needed being pregnant, and had no resentment to his daytime nursing needs.

- Krista
mother to Ryan (3, weaned last month!), A.J. (23 months (still nursing), both born at home, and babe #3 (due Aug. '06)!

[carla72]

dd 18 months wakes once or twice at night to nurse. I have noticed a big drop in her daytime nursing since I have been pregnant. I had the nipple soreness where I thought I just couldn't do it anymore but luckily it only lasted a couple weeks...it is now not nearly as bad.

Hang in there

[PrinceE&LsMom]

Just my nipples are bothering me when the water in the shower hits them and when nursing. I have to stop him after a few minutes because it feels like razors are going into them OUCH! I'm hoping he weans anytime.... he is almost 3.5 years.

[mrs rockstar]

I'm trying like crazy to keep my supply up...drinking a gallon of water a day, 3 cups of mother's milk tea and eating oatmeal for breakfast. So far it's ok, I think I had a little drop but not enough to deter my dd from nursing. I'm definitely going to pick up that book.

I had a little nipple pain in the beginning, enough so that I thought I was getting my period (ha) but it seems to have stopped. Phew!