Should I wean?

Re: Should I wean?

• webMistress0609 member

  September 2010

  I've been wondering how you were doing! Haven't seen you around since the BFP announcement.

  Anyway, obviously I can't decide for you, but here's how I decided when I was faced with increasing diet restrictions due to Ari's allergies. I was in the grocery store trying to restock our pantry with food I could eat & was having no luck. If it was free from a,b,c,d, then it had x. I broke down in tears & left the store, saying to myself "I'm just going to have to wean, I can't do this", but that made me cry even more. I just couldn't imagine weaning & knew Ari wasn't ready. So I decided to do the thing that made me cry less.

  I haven't tandem nursed, but my understanding is that your supply will start to dry up over the next few months, so she may lose interest on her own. Maybe encouraging her to cut back to 2 sessions a day may be a good balance for now too.

  Go with your gut on this one. You ultimately have to find a balance between nursing & sanity.  

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• Harper'smom

  September 2010

  I agree with Webmistress that cutting back rather than stopping completely might be best. There is no guarantee that weaning is going to help with the exhaustion, dizziness, etc. It might not be worth the stress that total weaning could cause the two of you. The dizziness and exhaustion stayed with me through my entire pregnancy. No fun! DD is 20 months and I agree that right now nursing at this age is so sweet. I would feel really torn as well. Take care of yourself :-)

  

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• Ruby_Soho

  September 2010

  It sounds like you're still getting some pleasure out of BF, your DD smiles and giggles are a pretty good reward. So maybe step back and take a look at the big picture... are you eating enough healthy and nutritious food *regularly* through the day, are you drinking enough water, are there other tasks/activities you can cut to give you some more rest time (hoovering, cleaning!)? If DH is happy to look after your DD at night, can you go to bed an hour earlier, or two hours earlier? Even if you just put your feet up and read for an hour before going asleep it'll help you wind down and give you a bit of space to focus on you and your new growing baby

  But if you can't do the above, then by all means wean. It's only between you and your DD, if it's what's best for you two then go for it. 22 months of BF is an incredible start in life for her, you should be immensely proud. I'm hoping to get to at least a year, I'd be over the moon if I can BF as long as you have
  

  
  

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• aspade member

  September 2010

  First, get the dizziness looked into.  It's likely anemia.  Then hopefully you'll feel better soon!

  Second, I agree that in the next 10 weeks or so, your supply is likely to go way down, if not dry up, so she may wean naturally.  That's about how long it's likely to take for you to taper, too.  Since you're still enjoying your nursing relationship, I'd let nature take its course (unless it becomes too painful).  The exhaustion you feel is also going to get better in the second tri, which you're close to.

  GL! 

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