19 month old biting, nursing less

wonkatalia

TTM about self weaning, please.  DD1 weaned herself by suddenly biting me (really hard) every time I offered her the breast.  That was it, she was just done.  That was at 16.5 months old.

DD2 is 19 months and has started lightly biting at the end of her shortened nursing sessions.  She used to nurse for 4.5 minutes each side, every time.  Over the last couple of weeks, it has gone down to 2.5 minutes to 1.5 minute or less each side and sometimes looking at me and nodding her head no.  I can tell that she's not emptying my breasts. 

Self weaning, right?  Or has anyone else's toddler gone through a similar phase and then resumed nursing like normal?  She's not sick (she would often nurse less when she wasn't feeling well).

I'm wondering if I should pump a bit to maintain my supply or just let nature take its course...

vvvvvfee

it could be a phase. DS had periods at a younger toddler (particularly after he learned a new skill, like walking) where he was very distractible at the breast, with short sessions or constant switching back and forth. or, she could be slowly cutting back. either way, i would not bother with pumping. you said in the check-in that she nurses 2-6 times a day, so even if she's only nursing a short time, if she's nursing multiple times a day, that should be plenty of stimulation to maintain a bit of a supply for her.

wonkatalia

Thanks @vvvvfee.  She's been turning me away completely more often.  Yesterday I only nursed her twice (one side in the morning, the other side at night) for 2 - 2.5 minutes each time.  I was getting pretty uncomfortable.

Thankfully, this morning she nursed for 3-3.5 minutes on each side so I'm feeling much better about supply and that maybe it was just a phase.  It's not that I don't want her to wean, I think it will just make me sad when she does.  I was really emotional when DD1 weaned so suddenly.