I will assume that since you posted this and gave it the title you did that you are unsure about it. Nursing is still very benefitial to her besides nutrition. Now that you have the night time nursing thing limited you could nurse her during the day when she asks if you wanted to. It really isn't your DH's decision IMO and there are many sources for why its benefitial to nurse til the age of 2 if you want to convince him. if you feel you want to still nurse her you should.
To wean or not to wean?
Hello,
My dd is 17 monthd old, and I have begun to wean her. I would continue to breast feed her, except that she was an all night nurser---and I am feeling a strong pull from my DH to initiate this process.
I will be honest and say that I think that this is trying to fix something that doesn't need to be fixed. If that makes sense....I am on the fence about how I feel about this. If there was an alternative that I was comfortable with then I wouldn't feel this struggle. *sigh*
Nevertheless, she is now nursing one time at night. During the daytime, if she wants to nurse (which she doesn't really ask for very much anymore) I will offer her up something else to eat or to drink, and she is usually quite happy. Most of the time she just needs some kind of comfort, which I am more than happy to give! *smiles*
Actually, I have found a dramatic improvement in her appetite and palate for different types of food and for larger amounts of food now that she is not nursing so often (It was about 5-6 times a day and 5-6 times a night about a month ago).
So DD nurses once a night right now and the rest of the time I give her a mixture of organic **** milk and enriched soy milk to drink. I don't like giving her so much cow's milk to drink, since we are vegetarians and don't drink much of it ourselves. We have it in our fridge, but we only use it to cook with or for cereal or coffee. Anyway, I know that a high fat content is important for growing toddlers and this is why the community health nurse keeps pushing **** milk on me, and so I have contemplated expressing my breast milk (while it's still here) and giving that to DD in a sippy cup so that we all feel better. My boobs are so engorged right now that I am in pain!
Anyway, I know most of you out there are long time nursers and I applaude and respect your choices. I am not sure why I am writing here, since I don't really have any questions that I don't have the answers to somewhere in my head---or something that I can look up.
I try to give my daughter lots of cheese and yogurt (organic if I can find it), and definatly soy milk since she enjoys this. I want to avoid giving her cows milk for all the reasons that everyone has suggested and is aware of. I do have a breast pump and I am contemplating expressing my own breast milk to give to her---since they're engorged and I would have some relief and then no one can really say that I'm breast feeding her...ha ha ha. Plus, we would nick the all night breast feeding marathons in the bud---but she would still be getting all the breast milk she needs!
I have tried to give her a soy powder formula, but she turns her nose up at it immedately--and I don't blame her since I think it's gross! Right now she really likes the enriched soy milk, but I'm worried it's not enough fat for her diet (Since **** milk has twice the fat content) and I am wondering how best to supplement her diet to make sure she's getting enough. Anyway----I am going ot keep lookign up this info, but if anyoen has a good resource to giev to me, it would be greately appreciated!
Anyway---I guess I just wanted to talk about this to poeple who understand---or can aleast see things from my perspective....thanks for listening...
K
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:
My dd is 17 monthd old, and I have begun to wean her. I would continue to breast feed her, except that she was an all night nurser---and I am feeling a strong pull from my DH to initiate this process.
I will be honest and say that I think that this is trying to fix something that doesn't need to be fixed. If that makes sense....I am on the fence about how I feel about this. If there was an alternative that I was comfortable with then I wouldn't feel this struggle. *sigh*
Nevertheless, she is now nursing one time at night. During the daytime, if she wants to nurse (which she doesn't really ask for very much anymore) I will offer her up something else to eat or to drink, and she is usually quite happy. Most of the time she just needs some kind of comfort, which I am more than happy to give! *smiles*
Actually, I have found a dramatic improvement in her appetite and palate for different types of food and for larger amounts of food now that she is not nursing so often (It was about 5-6 times a day and 5-6 times a night about a month ago).
So DD nurses once a night right now and the rest of the time I give her a mixture of organic **** milk and enriched soy milk to drink. I don't like giving her so much cow's milk to drink, since we are vegetarians and don't drink much of it ourselves. We have it in our fridge, but we only use it to cook with or for cereal or coffee. Anyway, I know that a high fat content is important for growing toddlers and this is why the community health nurse keeps pushing **** milk on me, and so I have contemplated expressing my breast milk (while it's still here) and giving that to DD in a sippy cup so that we all feel better. My boobs are so engorged right now that I am in pain!
Anyway, I know most of you out there are long time nursers and I applaude and respect your choices. I am not sure why I am writing here, since I don't really have any questions that I don't have the answers to somewhere in my head---or something that I can look up.
I try to give my daughter lots of cheese and yogurt (organic if I can find it), and definatly soy milk since she enjoys this. I want to avoid giving her cows milk for all the reasons that everyone has suggested and is aware of. I do have a breast pump and I am contemplating expressing my own breast milk to give to her---since they're engorged and I would have some relief and then no one can really say that I'm breast feeding her...ha ha ha. Plus, we would nick the all night breast feeding marathons in the bud---but she would still be getting all the breast milk she needs!
I have tried to give her a soy powder formula, but she turns her nose up at it immedately--and I don't blame her since I think it's gross! Right now she really likes the enriched soy milk, but I'm worried it's not enough fat for her diet (Since **** milk has twice the fat content) and I am wondering how best to supplement her diet to make sure she's getting enough. Anyway----I am going ot keep lookign up this info, but if anyoen has a good resource to giev to me, it would be greately appreciated!
Anyway---I guess I just wanted to talk about this to poeple who understand---or can aleast see things from my perspective....thanks for listening...
K
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I think really, I just need a push or a pull in one direction or the other, which is really sad because it should not be that way. I think I need to decide what is best for both my daughter and I right now and then stick to that. I think for the most part the night weaning has been a sucess. Dear K nurses once a night because I beleive she needs teh middle of the night nutrition as well as the comfort. Plus, my DH is not really willing to get up and help her back to sleep--and quite frankly he is unable to do it because my DD just screams louder.
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But, I do think I was getting to a point where I was not enjoying nursing so much and I do like htat my daughter is now taking in her nutrients in other ways. I think I am on the fence because I want some of my own independence, but I also want to sacrifice my own needs and feelings to make sure my daughter is getting the very best for herself. (That is why I think I should express milk and give it to her in a sippy cup. I just don't think I'll be able to express enough....but if I could, then I would feel sooo much better.) I am thinknig that is what I should try...
Hmm, I should get to bed. Thanks for your response and for getting me thinking.
K
Originally Posted by PatchyMama I will assume that since you posted this and gave it the title you did that you are unsure about it. Nursing is still very benefitial to her besides nutrition. Now that you have the night time nursing thing limited you could nurse her during the day when she asks if you wanted to. It really isn't your DH's decision IMO and there are many sources for why its benefitial to nurse til the age of 2 if you want to convince him. if you feel you want to still nurse her you should. |
But, I do think I was getting to a point where I was not enjoying nursing so much and I do like htat my daughter is now taking in her nutrients in other ways. I think I am on the fence because I want some of my own independence, but I also want to sacrifice my own needs and feelings to make sure my daughter is getting the very best for herself. (That is why I think I should express milk and give it to her in a sippy cup. I just don't think I'll be able to express enough....but if I could, then I would feel sooo much better.) I am thinknig that is what I should try...
Hmm, I should get to bed. Thanks for your response and for getting me thinking.
K
I agree with the pp that it does not sound like your mind is made up. Really take a long hard look at your nursing relationship and make a decision you can live with; whether that be weaning or not. (But in my humble opinion it doesn't sound like you are ready yet, nor is your dd from what you have said
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) My dd is 17mo as well and I am nursing through pregnancy even though it has been challenging becasue she needs it and neither of us are ready to wean. Kiera only nurses a handful of times a day now whereas a few weeks ago it was 8-10 times a day - I am not kidding! Perhaps your dd is just cutting back on nursing becasue of her age? Did she cut some teeth? That's why mine nursed like a fiend for a while and now just takes "sips". Kiera nighweaned herself due to my pregnancy, however, and I find that makes it easier on me to nurse her in the day time when I am well rested. Perhaps nightweaning would help? Dr. Sears has some information on his website. I HTH and keep us posted!
I could have posted this! When this was an issue in my house I took a step back and looked at the situation. DH was getting crap from a "friend" about my nursing. It made him paranoid that if he was commenting surely the rest of the world would as well. He made comments. I got stressed thinking about it. It put me on the defensive constantly. DD picked up on this and nursed more as a form of somfort. DH got more weird as a result. It was a circle that never ended. What did I do? I made up my mind to not make up my mind.
When I had DD I knew I would nurse at least one year. I didn't know if I could/would go beyond that but a year was my minimum. When her nursing suddenly become fodder for everyone I stopped thinking about it how long I would go and the logisitics of extended nursing. Instead I took it day by day. I tried not to think of anything while she nursed except for the fact that she was nursing. A couple days of, "Wow, I am the reason she is growing" type thoughts I started to mellow out a bit. There are days I would consider weaning just to shut everyone up. I just can't do it absed off that though. It seems to selfish to me.
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to you mama. It's hard figuring this all out.
When I had DD I knew I would nurse at least one year. I didn't know if I could/would go beyond that but a year was my minimum. When her nursing suddenly become fodder for everyone I stopped thinking about it how long I would go and the logisitics of extended nursing. Instead I took it day by day. I tried not to think of anything while she nursed except for the fact that she was nursing. A couple days of, "Wow, I am the reason she is growing" type thoughts I started to mellow out a bit. There are days I would consider weaning just to shut everyone up. I just can't do it absed off that though. It seems to selfish to me.
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*sigh* I still have not yet made a decision. My daughter does not nurse at all during the day. She will nurse 1-2 times at night. I don't think I am going to cut out this nursing at all until she decides to do it herself. This way, my milk is still there if I decide to nurse more and she is still getting some breast milk. I know at this point if I try to get her to stop all nursing at night-time she will have a huge meltdown. I don't want to deal with this when I am tired or sleeping, and neither does my DH. So, I doubt that he'll fight me on that one.
<<<Just a side note: when we were in the grocery store today I wanted to just get the organic milk and soy milk, but he thought it was best to get the enriched formula as well because he wanted to be sure she was getting all that she needs. *sigh* I didn't explain anything to him at the time, and quite honestly I don't want to get into a big discussion about it right now---but I think I will all in due time since I don't think he understands. (I think he thinks it's just an appropriate time to wean and that it's expected---i have a feeling his mother might be putting these thoughts into his mind...) >>>
So.... during the daytime I would like to supplement her nursing to ensure she is getting all that she needs. So I am glad that you gave me these suggestiosn for getting healthy fats.
Those are good suggestions for getting healthy fats. My daughter has no problem with soy, so I have been giving her enriched organic soy milk. It has about half of the fat of **** milk, which is what was recommended to me. I have tried soy formulas, and my daughter turns her nose up at them. I have not tried almond milk, but I spotted it at the health food store and I might get soem of that to mix in with her milk.
I like yogurt and I am comfortable giving my daughter an organic yogurt, so I have bought the 4% fat yogurt and I make sure she gets some every day.
In the end, I continue to nurse my daughter and night and I think I am going to hold onto that until she is ready to wean herself. It is not ideal, but it makes me happy for now and I will talk to my DH about my feelings sometime when I have the energy and space of mind.
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: Thanks for listening....
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K
Originally Posted by earthmama369 If you can go to 2 years, you'll be giving her the time the WHO has defined as nutritionally important. But as a mama who nursed a lactose-intolerant toddler through pregnancy, when I wasn't sure I was making enough milk we made sure she got her healthy fats through olives, oils (olive, safflower, etc.), almond butter, and coconut milk (makes a great smoothie!). |
<<<Just a side note: when we were in the grocery store today I wanted to just get the organic milk and soy milk, but he thought it was best to get the enriched formula as well because he wanted to be sure she was getting all that she needs. *sigh* I didn't explain anything to him at the time, and quite honestly I don't want to get into a big discussion about it right now---but I think I will all in due time since I don't think he understands. (I think he thinks it's just an appropriate time to wean and that it's expected---i have a feeling his mother might be putting these thoughts into his mind...) >>>
So.... during the daytime I would like to supplement her nursing to ensure she is getting all that she needs. So I am glad that you gave me these suggestiosn for getting healthy fats.
Those are good suggestions for getting healthy fats. My daughter has no problem with soy, so I have been giving her enriched organic soy milk. It has about half of the fat of **** milk, which is what was recommended to me. I have tried soy formulas, and my daughter turns her nose up at them. I have not tried almond milk, but I spotted it at the health food store and I might get soem of that to mix in with her milk.
I like yogurt and I am comfortable giving my daughter an organic yogurt, so I have bought the 4% fat yogurt and I make sure she gets some every day.
In the end, I continue to nurse my daughter and night and I think I am going to hold onto that until she is ready to wean herself. It is not ideal, but it makes me happy for now and I will talk to my DH about my feelings sometime when I have the energy and space of mind.
K
Is your daughter mooing? Growing a tail? Grazing on grass? Probably not huh? So why give her cow's milk instead of human milk?
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-Angela
-Angela
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