Extended nursing painful? Weaning tips?

mommatotwo2

Hey all. So LO is 18.5 months. I have loved our nursing relationship thus far, but I am getting ready to let it go.  For some reason, nursing is really starting to get uncomfortable. I'm not sure if her suck is just so strong now that she's bigger or if she's just nursing frantically (and sucking too hard) because I've been trying to cut her back during the day.  At any rate, it's getting uncomfortable and I am starting to dread nursing.

Does anyone have weaning tips? This kid LOVES nursing. The moment I come home in the evening she grabs the boppy and starts pulling my shirt up/laying down in the cradle position, etc. She's completely addicted. If I am there, she wants to nurse. I am not sure how to wean when she is this attached. I know that this isn't the natural or maybe fair thing for her, but I just don't feel like I go can go for much longer.  I have another child, I need to get some things done around this house now, I am about to head into a busy time period at work and I feel like I just need our nursing relationship to end now.

Despite all of the reasons I want to stop nursing now, emotionally, I'm also having a hard time with it.

Any tips from you momma's, I'd really appreciate it.

crash916

That's so tough. I don't have any weaning advice of my own. But from others experience cutting session lengths is a good place to start. Hugs and good luck!

mommatotwo2

@TarHeelMomToBe‌, no not pregnant though I would have suspected that had I not just ended my period a couple of days ago. I'm sorry for your loss.

mommatotwo2

Thanks gals. We were already down to just bedtime nursing on weekdays (I work outside the home), but weekends were another story. I ended up on an antibiotic today and though it's probably bf safe, my llittle is allergic to penicillin. This is a sulfa drug which she hasn't had yet but there is a high correlation with cross reactions. So, with that in mind, I've decided that last night was our last nursing session. DH is putting her to bed. She's crying

surpriseaddition

I'm sorry. I don't have any advice, but I can totally relate to your situation. My LO who is 19 months also brings me the Boppy when she wants to nurse. She's even just recently added a new step, where she now requires a blanket to put on top of the Boppy. I've been thinking of weaning too, but she is so attached to it, I just can't. I keep hoping she'll start to cut back on her own. GL!

mommatotwo2

Lol @surpriseaddition‌, that made me smile! I feel so bad too and the only thing I tell myself is that its not going to get easier as she grows older and I know I did not want to nurse after 2. I think if I let her naturally wean, she'd be much older.

surpriseaddition

I nursed my DS to 18 months when he self-weaned, and I never thought I'd go that long. Now this LO is addicted too like your LO...so I don't know what will happen. I figure I'll stick with it for cold/flu season and then make some changes closer to 2 if nothing has changed.