[mimim]

My DS is 32 months and has gradually cut back to nursing 2 or 3 times a day since I got pregnant 6 months ago. Lately even that small amount has been too much for me.

Nipple soreness is not an issue any more; it barely hurts to nurse. I just get this creepy feeling when he nurses and always end up cutting our nursing sessions short.

I think the annoyance with nursing coincided with my milk supply completely disappearing a few weeks ago. His latch changed a lot after that.
We talk about how to nurse so it's more comfortable for me. He'll sometimes pop off and say "no licking, right mama?" or something like that, so I know that he's trying to cooperate. I try as hard as I can not to let my irritated feelings show, but sometimes I think he's getting it any way.

Anyone BTDT? I'd love some suggestions on how to combat these feelings or how to make nursing bearable again.

 

[plantmommy]

It's hormonal, and I don't really think there's much to be done, unfortunately. I have btdt, but my ds weaned about a month after I started getting the heebiejeebies.

He did self-wean, and happily.

 

[galadriel]

If you really, really want to not let these feelings show, it will probably be pretty tough. If I am feeling irritated with it, I need to find something else to think about. I find myself thinking about labor a lot, and doing visualizations. I also look at dd's baby pictures a lot, which helps me feel connected to the baby that she still is, in many ways.

I also want to let you know that I had a horrible week like that (where it was creeping me out--maybe also had to do with milk supply change?), and then it went away. I am due in April, if that gives you an idea. I also have read that for a lot of mothers, tandem nursing at first feels a lot like this (creepy-crawlies), but that the feeling usually goes away after a month or two. So, I consider coping with this to be practice!

 

[mimim]

Thanks for the replies. Not very encouraging, though... I do like your suggestions Ubertulip. When nursing was painful in the first half of the pregnancy I used to do labor visualizations and relaxation techniques to get through it. I should start doing that again.

I'm starting to feel like my body is telling me it's time to stop nursing.

Maybe the reason why nursing is so hard during pregnancy is because we aren't really meant to do it. DS already has his heart set on sharing with the baby, so weaning is not really an option, even if that's what I wanted.