[425lisamarie]

I guess this would be suited for a few different forums but I"ll post it here because my main worry is extended breastfeeding. I've never posted on this board before. I want my son to be able to nurse as long as he wants to, and I enjoy our relationship very much. He is 1 year today and we are talking about another baby in the near future. I have such mixed feelings but I think there is some reason all I can do is think about being pregnant again. BUt at the same time I am so in love with Joe I can't possibly think of spending my time with someone else. I obviously know I will love another baby but I don't know how I could take away anything from my son. I grew up with a sister 19 months younger than me and I was so grateful to be so close in age for many reasons. I really would like my kids to be able to play as equals and grow up close together but I am having such a tough time deciding for sure to get pregnant. Do you just all of the sudden one day know for sure it's the right time? I don't know that I'll ever be 100% sure untill it actually happens.<br><br>
I guess my biggest concern is with bfing. I don't want to make my son stop nursing and I'm scared of my milk drying up and hating nursing <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad"> Lately I almost cry myslef to sleep because it's just making me so sad!! It's like I'm mourning the loss of something I haven't even lost yet if that makes sense. Just thinking of not being able to nurse breaks my heart.<br><br>
Maybe I've heard to many peopple tell me it's not good to nurse while your pregnant and that it's miserable, etc etc etc. Anyways, I guess I'm just looking for some positive thoughts, or the truth, or something to make me feel better!!!!

 

[janesmommy]

Hi LisaMarie--<br><br>
We are trying to decide if we are ready for pregnancy again too and our daughter is 2. She still nurses all the time but my periods have been back for a long time and they are regular.<br><br>
I would ask if your cycle is back and regular? If it is there is no reason to wean. If it's not why not wait for it? You can still get pregnant while nursing. I know lots of people who have. And as for timing, even if your kids are 2, 3 or four years apart they can still be really close. I believe sibling closness has much more to do with family dynamics and less to do with age range.<br><br>
You don't sound like you're even close to wanting to wean and it would be extremely unusual for a baby as young as yours to be ready, and if he was ready he would be letting you know. You can tandem nurse too. Nursing during pregnancy is a different experience for everyone. Nursing during pregnancy will not harm the fetus or you or your son. Some people get sensative nipples and some people experience a difference in the way their milk tastes, but certainly not everyone.<br><br>
Also it's really common for people to start thinking of another baby as their baby reaches toddlerhood. I think it's a way of dealing with a bit of sadness at watching our babies grow up. Perhaps that is what's causing some of your weepiness. Listen to your gut and your heart. If thoughts of weaning are causing you to cry, that is a huge red flag that you're not ready. And listen to your baby. He'll let know when he's ready to move on. Natural weaning is about an agreement between both of you. Don't stop a wonderful and fullfilling relationship for something that can easily happen anyway. I hope that helps. Good Luck.<br><br>
Lisa, mommy to Jane (03-14-03) <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/slinggirl.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Slinggirl"> and wife to Greg <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/love.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="love">

 

[Peony]

I'm ready for another baby NOW, I did just wake up one day thinking "I'm ready". Before, I couldn't even imagine getting pg, I thought I would be feeling that way until dd was 3. Both of us love our nursing relationship so much, dd turned 2 in Jan, and it was about 1.5 months ago when I woke ready for another!Now if AF would just come back. Give it a little time, your dd is still such a baby at 1. Good luck.

 

[425lisamarie]

Thanks <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> I don't want to wean anytime soon, but I just worry about how he will react to a new baby ya know? ANd I don't want him to be so upset if my milk goes away. I plan on tandem nursng assuming he will still want to. My cycles have been pretty regular for a while now so I know getting pregnant would not be a problem at all, it took us one month the first time<br><br>
I don't know that I am wanting another because Joe is getting older. He is still very needy and nurses a lot, I just for some reason feel like it's a good time again. And I don't know that I will ever be totally ready to share my time with another baby, because I am just so used to it just being Joe and I and I love that. I guess you never know how it's going to be untill the baby comes though.<br><br>
I guess I have a little while to think about it, hopefully I make the right decision!!