Comments on: Weaning, Partial Weaning and Mixed Feelings

By: Strocel.com | Closeted Extended Breastfeeding

Strocel.com | Closeted Extended Breastfeeding — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 14:02:58 +0000

[...] On the one hand, I’m not embarrassed that I’m breastfeeding my toddler. I nursed his big sister Hannah until she was almost 3 years old, and I’ve had a similar goal for Jacob. Just now, at 2 1/2, I’m starting to offer alternatives when he asks to nurse, but I don’t push it. I’m not in too much of a rush to be done, and I believe and trust that weaning will happen in its own time. [...]

By: The Slow Road to Weaning | Attachment Parenting International Blog

The Slow Road to Weaning | Attachment Parenting International Blog — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 12:55:39 +0000

[...] weaning when we reached a point where the relationship wasn’t working for me. I started with partial weaning, using techniques like “don’t offer, don’t refuse”. We worked together to [...]

By: Capital Mom

Capital Mom — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:44:03 +0000

This is really interesting. I have been thinking a lot about weaning lately. I had weaned my daughter by this age. I mostly breastfeed before sleep and naps. I can feel myself getting tired of it sometimes and wonder how much longer I will continure. I would like to be able to make it until all his teeth (except 2 year molars) come in but we'll see. .-= Capital Mom´s last post ..Teaching moments =-.

By: Lauren @ Hobo Mama

Lauren @ Hobo Mama — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:56:11 +0000

Thank you for this! I love the idea of an in-between stage that is its own thing, and a gentle process for both mother and baby to transition. Every time I read a weaning story, I get teary-eyed and feel frantic, and this is the first time I've felt, OK; It's going to be OK. Thanks for being the voice of reasonableness. .-= Lauren @ Hobo Mama´s last post ..Wordless Wednesday: 50,000 words down to one =-.

By: TheFeministBreeder

TheFeministBreeder — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 07:56:24 +0000

I never really consider my son partially-weaned, although maybe that’s what he is? He only nurses a few times a day, just for a minute or two at a time. He asks for it, and I give it. But I don’t offer. He always wants to nurse first thing in the morning, and then anytime he sees me sitting down (and then when he’s really upset about something.) It doesn’t feel like he’s actually getting anything out of it, but I can tell I’m still producing a little. I know I’ll be sad when he stops. I’ve almost just become so accustomed to it that it will feel strange when it’s over. Plus, that will mean he’s a big boy, and the idea of him not being a baby anymore is just too sad. I need to get another little one around here pronto!
.-= TheFeministBreeder´s last post ..(Not So) Wordless Wednesday =-.

By: Jessica - This is Worthwhile

Jessica - This is Worthwhile — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 01:20:04 +0000

This is such a lovely post. Like one of the other commenters, my son self-weaned at 14 months. I wasn’t even close to being ready for it. I’m grateful it was such a smooth, easy, gentle process for him, but I definitely mourned the loss. I listen to other mothers’ stories about toddler-weaning and log it all away for baby #2. He/She might want to nurse forever! If so, I’m armed with tons of information and intelligent, thoughtful posts like this one to reference.
.-= Jessica – This is Worthwhile´s last post ..Obviously, I’m in a funk =-.

By: caroline

caroline — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:44:42 +0000

I am here now. I am doing the “don’t offer; don’t refuse” method. Its working very, very well, and I feel as if I have gotten a bit of my body back. He’s a lot younger than I had wanted to wean (17 months) but I’ve let him lead, and this was his idea. If we nursed during the day, he would just wriggle and bite, or detach and reach for my water glass, so we stopped and he’s not looked back. Now we just nurse on wake-ups, or occasionally when he’s really crabby, or feeling sick.

I had to give up exclusive breastfeeding at 7 months when my son went to day care. I was devastated, wishing I could just have done it a bit longer, missing the cuddling and quiet time, believing that I was letting my son down, and preventing him from having the nutrition he needed so much. My husband wasn’t much help, saying “its ok, he’s got formula after your pumped milk is used up” which wasn’t exactly what I wanted to hear, and yes, there is the irritability factor that made me a bit crankier than normal.

We settled into two nurses a day for a long time happily, so perhaps that is what is making our weaning so smooth.

However, now that I am weaning, I expected to feel so sad, like before, depriving my son and I of that time together that was really kind of sacred. But I’m not. I’m rather excited at the prospect! Underwires and fancy bras can come back out of the drawer! No more dry-husk feelings after he nurses, and I can got back to the gym with only 1 sports bra, not three (bounce-ouch-bounce-ouch).
.-= caroline´s last post ..The Anticlimatic Needle Adventure =-.

By: Leanna

Leanna — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 04:42:16 +0000

Breastfeeding was always something I wanted to do and I was determined to make it happen. When Poppy was born she was wisked off to the nursery because she was having breathing problems. When she came back to me the nurses told me that they needed to give her formula because her glucose was low. I was worried that I would be rejected after she had her hands on formula, but as it turned out I had to use formula as a back up as my body adjusted to making enough milk for her. After the first couple of weeks of struggling and perservering I was able to breastfeed and get rid of the formula. I loved my breastfeeding moments with her. We nursed to sleep, nursed to calm, nursed, nursed, nursed all the time and I have never felt more needed.

When I was told that I need to have an MRI and that I needed to stop breastfeeding I was so upset. She was 15 months old, but I had planned on nursing for alot longer. I felt like I was letting her down. I was worried that she wouldn’t need me anymore. I was heartbroken, but we made it through. It didn’t seem to take very long once I found a bottle that she was satisfied with We tried quite a few…

The only thing I notice now is that Poppy is still quick to reach for my breasts when she is upset or scared, or just needs some comfort. Sometimes she does it at inconvienient times, but mostly it’s during quiet cuddle times before bed, and to be quite honest about it, it makes me feel a little better too.
.-= Leanna´s last post ..New dolls up in the shop =-.

By: Tracey

Tracey — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:18:40 +0000

Great post Amber. I had expected to breastfeed until my son was around 2, and then anticipated a long painful weaning process. And then suddently at 17 months my guy said 'no more'. Well not really those words, but he wanted no more and made his intentions clear. It broke my heart. I wasn't ready to give it up yet. But he was. .-= Tracey´s last post ..Bright Nights Vancouver Tweet up =-.

By: Angela at Breastfeeding 1-2-3

Angela at Breastfeeding 1-2-3 — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:08:39 +0000

I loved this post Amber. My experience weaning my second daughter was almost exactly like yours with Hannah. I felt some irritability too, and while no doubt it had something to do with being pregnant with my third daughter at the time, I also believe it had to do with my dwindling milk supply. For me, as weaning progresses and my milk supply naturally decreases, it becomes more and more uncomfortable for me to nurse. Not painful at all, just, well, irritating

Thanks for sharing these thoughts on the emotional and practical aspects of weaning!
.-= Angela at Breastfeeding 1-2-3´s last post ..Best Breastfeeding Health News of 2009 =-.