getting really sad about weaning

Re: getting really sad about weaning

• libbyann member

  March 2010

  I have no great advice, but I wanted to say that I totally understand. We're down to 3 times a day (morning, after afternoon nap, before bed) and it makes me want to cry. Will isn't as interested since I'm not producing much milk and I'm having a really really hard time emotionally accepting that.

  Someone told me to find something that you feel is bonding with your DC to replace the nursing time. I've started snuggling with him in his rocker reading stories to him and it's helping a little bit. It's definitely not the same, but he loves to read and he's super cuddly when I read him stories. Is there anything your DD loves to do that will help you feel an emotional connection with her that can help fill the void that dropping the nursing sessions creates?
  

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• amyinaustin

  March 2010

  Thanks for your reply, Libby.  We do have a story time every night before we nurse - so that is definitely something cuddly.  Wonder if she'll notice when I start reading longer and longer books?

  

  It's hard though.  Tonight, she was SO exhausted and she actually fell asleep while she was nursing (that never happens anymore) and she was so peaceful and content.  She snuggled up onto my shoulder as we did her nightly lullabies and that was really sweet too.  So we definitely have some other cuddly-type things going on at night, but it's still hard to not have the nursing.
  

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• batsteph

  March 2010

  I didn't wean Daniel by choice; it just happened by default when my milk dried up a few months into my pregnancy with William.  So as far as planning/preparing, I have no advice.  I can tell you this, though:

  I was super sad not to have milk for Daniel anymore, because I love nursing.  It was as much a weaning for me as for him.  But the nursing snuggles get replaced by other things.  After only a couple of days, I no longer actively missed the nursing time.  Sure, if I thought about it I was a little mopey, but bedtime was just as sweet and snuggly simply reading a story together and having night-night kisses.

  I was really worried about how Daniel would react to weaning, because he loved nursing also.  The last night he tried to nurse, he got no milk and looked confused.  I explained to him that mommy milk is for babies and little children who are growing up, and that he'd now drunk it all up.  He accepted that completely, moved on, and never fussed one bit about it.  He talked for several weeks about how he'd eaten all of mommy's milk and now it was all gone, but he never asked to nurse again and was never sad about it (at least, not that he showed).  That made the transition for me a lot easier, too.  I would have been a wreck if he'd been asking to nurse all the time when I couldn't do it anymore.

  I hope there's something in all that that'll be helpful for you.  Good luck with everything! 

  

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• texmommy3

  March 2010

  It is funny how things just work out . I remember feeling so sad when I weaned dd #2 (I didn't want to, but I was having anxiety issues and felt bad about taking meds and nursing.)  Things fell into place though. I was surprised.  She still wanted to cuddle!

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