Friday, March 27, 2009

Who's The Wean-ee?

I decided that I wanted to finish breastfeeding by the time Charlie was one. Our pediatrician said we could start milk by 11 months. So he now drinks milk with breakfast, lunch, and dinner! He's done so well with the transition, and while he doesn't drink his entire cup full, he never tries to nurse and it doesn't seem like we're missing anything. It's two weeks until his birthday and I have two feedings left to give up- first thing in the morning, and right before bed.
I'm not ready to give up the bedtime one yet- he's been such a finicky sleeper from day one and I don't want to mess with the 11 hour stretch we've got going!
But wait... I'm not ready to give up the morning one yet either... he wakes up around 6:30 and usually the only energy I can muster is to plop him into bed with me and nurse him/sleep until we're both a little more awake and a little less crabby.
I know I can keep going as long as I want with these two feedings, but I'm really ready just to have my body back to myself for a while, you know? Hmmmm I may just have to suck it up and get out a cup of milk in the morning... any advice mommas?

7 comments:

Lacey said...

I am right there with you Bethany. I am still nursing Hadley. I just cut out two feedings last week and am down to morning and night. I didn't feel like she was getting much milk from me anymore. And you know what?? She's been sleeping so much better. Guess I am definitely not producing as much. Anyway, I am down to morning and night also...I think I'll continue for a few more weeks- we'll see. I nursed Ellie for 14 months and kind of want to make it there for Hads too. I think morning is hard to give up than night time for the momma because that is snuggle time and you don't have to get up right away. Hope it goes smoothly for you. :)

Dacia said...

TOTALLY understand!!

those were the last two feedings i kept too. I went back and forth trying to decide which one to drop first- for the exact same reasons.

that morning feeding is nice and I did not want to give it up.

Ellie and I still have lazy time in the morning though. I fill her sippy cup with milk the night before and put it in the fridge (which I highly recommend) and I fill the little cheerios container the night before and have it ready. I go get the milk and cheerios before I go into her room and shut her door and we sit in there until mommy's awake enough to fix breakfast. :-) she usually sits on my lap for a while and drinks her milk and nibbles cheerios...then eventually gets up and starts playing in her room.


oh, i just remembered something else. Not sure if you ever do a bottle at all...but instead of dropping that night feeding altogether, i gave Ellie a bottle of formula first and then nursed her and gradually increased the amount of formula each consecutive night so that eventually, by the time she finished the bottle, she was full. one day she just wouldn't latch on after her bottle and that's how I knew she was ready. Of course then you have to go through the process of weaning from the bottle, so that might be more trouble than it's worth.

good luck! hope my advice helps a little. sorry for the novella.

The Sharp Family said...

Get pregnant. That's how I weaned my first two. Not sure how I'm gonna wean #3...Okay okay, so this plan is not for everyone!

Teri Dufilho said...

hahahaha.....i vote for lindsay's method!......those are cute pictures....

Audrey said...

I'm still nursing my 15 month old. It is the longest I have nursed any of mine.
And I was also thinking about if I should stop (we only do mornings and nights) but last week he started cutting his molars and has been miserable. When he wakes up in the middle of the night with his mouth hurting, the only thing he wants is to nurse. And nursing him back to sleep, knowing how comforted he is, has been even more special than all the other breast feeding times we have had. So I say stick with it. It is something beautiful.

just. us. said...

I bet that is so hard, but really I am just so glad that you were able to breast feed for that long. Most people that I know, have not been able to feed for that long. That is really good! I am sure you will and Charile will find other ways to bond!Good luck to you though.

Katy said...

I remember this feeling! It happened more with Emma because I had to stop before I was really ready. Though it is nice to not have to consider every top or remember breast pads or worry about feeding in public etc. Now I completely hog Clark's feedings with a bottle and cuddle him just a little extra...Chad says I'm making him a mama's boy and I say HECK YES! :)