re: Breastfeeding (the toddler years)

Quoting Mama*AtoZ:" I didn't do any of that, just let DS do things when he was ready and at the same age he went to sleep ... [snip!] ... I know every child is different though, and it's impossible to predict what would've happened if you did it another way  "

and once he stopped nursing at night, he slept SO much better, not waking so much. We still co-slept too. And when I transitioned him to his own mattress on the floor next to our bed, he went without any trouble. He was very excited about it. He sleeps great now too (still in our room, on his own, real bed mattress on the floor).

Quoting dream:" I was pg and not getting any sleep. he was nursing every 30-60 minutes with a dwindling milk supply, ... [snip!] ... best for us at the time. If I wasn't pg and only had him, I wouldn't have had a problem with him nursing longer at night, etc."

That was my prerequisite to getting pregnant. I didn't TTC until mine night weaned, so I understand that.

My dd is 32 months old. I love breastfeeding her but here lately it seems like all she wants. And while she is on one side she pulls and pinches the other nipple. We only nurse in the morning and at bedtime and occasionally during the day. I need some sleep at night, as she still wakes up around 1am for more Mommy milk. Any suggestions on weaning? She sleeps in her crib beside our bed and goes to sleep nursing. She drinks cows milk from a sippy during the day, only wants Mommy milk if she is sleepy.

Quoting dream:" and once he stopped nursing at night, he slept SO much better, not waking so much. We still co-slept ... [snip!] ... trouble. He was very excited about it. He sleeps great now too (still in our room, on his own, real bed mattress on the floor)."

I'm not debating any of that or talking about circumstances or anything. My point was that simply, you can do X number of things to get a child to wean at 30 months (or whatever age), or you could do nothing at all and they would wean by that age naturally. That was all. I see it a lot with sleeping and discipline and potty issues too.

Okay, so I have a question. I EBF for the first six months without issues and have continued breastfeeding. My dd is now 17 months old and we still have not had issues until yesterday. I got the flu and had nursing school orientation all day, so I guess the lack of sleep, sickness, and stress got to me and I quit producing milk completely. My supply was already pretty low because she only fed at night, but now she latches on and just get really frustrated because nothing is coming out. I am still sick, should I try to get my supply back or just quit BF? Has anyone else had this issue?

Quoting Mama*AtoZ:" I'm not debating any of that or talking about circumstances or anything. My point was that simply, you ... [snip!] ... all and they would wean by that age naturally. That was all. I see it a lot with sleeping and discipline and potty issues too. "

yes, true .. if you're willing and able to wait until whatever that age is. (my sister slept with my mom until she was 12, for example). but in my case, I couldn't wait.

Quoting Andeee:" Okay, so I have a question. I EBF for the first six months without issues and have continued breastfeeding. ... [snip!] ... nothing is coming out. I am still sick, should I try to get my supply back or just quit BF? Has anyone else had this issue?"

are you taking any over the counter flu meds? They sometimes affect supply.

Quoting Kara-lynn:" are you taking any over the counter flu meds? They sometimes affect supply."

I hadn't thought of that. it is a good point. I haven't ever had illness hurt my supply. I also never had a child that only nursed at night...but honestly, I'd let her try. The fact that she is frustrated doesn't mean it is gone, it just may be slower/lower than typical. It most likely would come right back & unless there is a compelling reason to wean, in the midst of an illness is the last time I'd do it....I'd want to give her any antibodies I could & even if she is getting very little, it's still full of stuff to help her avoid illness. And based on her reaction, I'd say she isn't feeling ready to wean or she'd just give up versus being frustrated.

I love breastfeeding my 20 month old, and he is definitely not ready to give it up either. That said, I am having a few issues right now. I want to have another baby, and considering our fertility issues before I have always assumed that I would not be able to get pregnant until we weened. I have a friend with similar fertility issues and her doctor wouldn't begin to help her with number two until she weened. I had pretty much decided not to make a decision until he turns two, but now I am having second thoughts. For the last couple days it has really hurt to nurse. I haven't experienced this since he was a week old. I have heard that this can happen if you are pregnant, but I took a test this morning and it was negative. Is there something else that can be causing this? Maybe I am just premenstrual. My nipples are just so sensitive and there is definitely something going on.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Toni A:</b>" I love breastfeeding my 20 month old, and he is definitely not ready to give it up either. That said, ... [snip!] ... can be causing this? Maybe I am just premenstrual. My nipples are just so sensitive and there is definitely something going on."</blockquote>

It could be a lot of things. AF coming, pregnant, bad latch, maybe he just nursed more than normal, etc etc. Mine used to do that sometimes too. I ended up getting pregnant twice while breastfeeding. First he was around 17 months which ended in miscarriage and second time he was about 27 months(the pregnancy I'm in now). So there is hope! You're mostly protected from getting pregnant up to 6 months. After the first 6 months the chances of getting pregnant start increasing. Once you get AF back it's fair game again  

Quoting Will☮Creedence:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Toni A:</b>" I love breastfeeding my 20 month old, and he is ... [snip!] ... months. After the first 6 months the chances of getting pregnant start increasing. Once you get AF back it's fair game again  "

I have only had one period since he was born (November 4, so he was 18 months). I am not of bc and would be very happy if I was pregnant, but the test this morning said negative. I am pretty sure it isn't a bad latch or anything like that. I think they are just really sensitive. I guess I was just looking for what else could cause it. My gut says it is something hormonal. Maybe I will just retest in a week. I just hope I can handle painful nursing for that long.

Quoting Toni A:" I have only had one period since he was born (November 4, so he was 18 months). I am not of bc and would ... [snip!] ... gut says it is something hormonal. Maybe I will just retest in a week. I just hope I can handle painful nursing for that long."

You can take Vitex (also called chasteberry) while nursing & it would like help regulate AF - as would a B-complex vitamin. Both are harmless to your nursling or potential baby - they simply support good endocrine function, which regulates hormones & often is enough to get you on track if you want to TTC while nursing. The ONLY other cause of pain could be thrush & if either of you has taken any antibiotics recently, I'd keep an eye for that, but otherwise you are right that it is either likely lazy latch or hormone related.

Quoting justanothamotha:" You can take Vitex (also called chasteberry) while nursing & it would like help regulate AF - as ... [snip!] ... recently, I'd keep an eye for that, but otherwise you are right that it is either likely lazy latch or hormone related."

Thank you! I will try that.

Quoting dream:" yes, true .. if you're willing and able to wait until whatever that age is. (my sister slept with my mom until she was 12, for example). but in my case, I couldn't wait."

I mean that age might've been the same age it happens with training (for lack of a better word, in regards to all sorts of issues). For a totally made up example - it could take 10 weeks with 'training' due to resistence and upset a long the way, but if no 'training' took place the child could come to the same point themselves within 10 weeks as they felt secure, had the need met quicker and moved on naturally as they were ready. So there would be no extra waiting, the same end could be reached in the same sort of time frame but with no pressure or stress.

This thread is slow and it's taken forever to try and say what i mean it doesn't even matter :p. I hope you understand what i mean. Sometimes you don't need to do anything and it happens in the same time frame, for all sorts of things. That was much simpler eh lol

Quoting justanothamotha:" I hadn't thought of that. it is a good point. I haven't ever had illness hurt my supply. I also never ... [snip!] ... illness. And based on her reaction, I'd say she isn't feeling ready to wean or she'd just give up versus being frustrated."

I'd have all the same reasons for still nursing.

I've lost supply through stress, at least twice. Currently my supply is low but it may be a combination or stress (homeless fleeing abuse type stress, not just 'oh i have too much to do' type stress) and the fact he doesn't nurse very much anymore. I continue to offer to nurse at least once in a 24 hour period and will do (in theory) until he says he doesn't want it anymore. He still gets a lot of benefit from these short feeds so it is worth it ime to continue.

17 months is still young. There is a fair amount of teething, accidents, tantrums, frustrations, cognitive leaps, developmental jumps, and illness that are likely to occur over the next while where breastfeeding is still important and very useful.