[Sleepymama]

ow ow ow!! I don't remember them hurting this bad before. I've already had to limit DS's nursing (he comfort nurses--I haven't had milk for over a year, long story) and I'm thinking about weaning. I'm only 5 weeks, so it's definitely going to get worse! I have to wear a bra all the time because the feeling of my shirt on my nipples just kills!

Anyone else?

 

[Heavenly]

Ouch! I'm sorry they're hurting you. Thank goodness mine aren't hurting me at all. I really want my daughter to self-wean and she still loves to nurse. I don't have very much milk at all either, just drops, because I had a breast reduction in 1999. At the beginning I used the Lact-aid and galactogogues but I haven't used those since 18 months. Does he seem receptive to the idea of weaning or does he get really upset when you limit him? I don't think you necessarily have to assume it will get worse. The sensitivity usually wanes as pregnancy progresses and also you may get used to it. My advice if you want to continue nursing it nurse him while you are watching tv or on the computer or reading a book. Maybe if you are distracted you won't notice it as much. If you do want to wean just make sure you do it gradually, but I'm sure you know that!

 

[Sleepymama]

Finally I meet someone else who has extended-comfort nursed! You have no idea. Just about everyone in this situation weans by one year, usually earlier. I've been looking around just to know that I'm not alone. I never EBFed, and also used a SNS and took domperidone for about 9 months. My milk has been gone (I mean, not even drops) since about 10 months (hospitalization caused me major supply issues--I only had about 12oz a day at my max even with the dom). Didn't faze him a bit--he just nursed more. We have been comfort nursing for about 20 months now. It has been rough because he often does it when he's hungry or thirsty, and I have to distract him to get him to eat/drink something or else he gets really mad that there's no milk. I doubt he even remembers that milk comes out of them, but some instinct in there must remind him. Plus he didn't eat solids until 15 months (oral issues) so he was drinking massive amounts of formula

He doesn't want to wean even though I've been slowly trying over the last 6 months or so. It's the bedtime that is the worst. I've cut out the daytime nursing when I can distract him, but morning, nap, and bedtime are rough. He is mostly night weaned unless he has a nightmare or something, thank goodness. I'm limiting his time to about 5 minutes or as much as I can stand just those 3x a day. He's a pincher too, which is the worst (tried everything to stop that too; he's incorrigible. I think it comes from trying to get milk out of a stone :LOL ) He sometimes gets very upset, but other times is OK with it. It mostly depends on how tired/hungry/cranky he is, you know.

I hope it gets better. I've had very conflicted feelings for a long time now--our DC are about the same age, so I'm sure you understand. Part of me wants to tandem nurse for many reasons--in case i have supply issues again, to finally have milk for DS, and because I do feel child-led is best...but I'm not sure if I can make it, or how DS will react to sharing HIS nummies. For now the limiting is going OK.

Are you planning to do anything to help with supply or is there nothing really that you can do? Have you seen the MOBI yahoo group? There are lots of moms with serious/long term supply issues there too--reductions, hypoplastic breasts, etc.

 

[EllasMama]

Mine hurt a lot, too. I need a bra all the time, but my usually hyper-comfy bras are making my indigestion worse. Yuck! My breasts feel lumpy and sore all over, with very swollen and sore nipples.

Carol