It's been a difficult few days in my house. I am in the process of weaning a my little girl; who really loves to nurse. I mean, she loves it so much she giggles before latching on.
We have been very lucky in the nursing department. She latched right on in the hospital and besides from a little scare the night we brought her home (that landed us in the children's hospital for a few nights) it's been pretty easy.
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| coming home :) |
Ever since she turned one, I have used the "Don't offer. Don't refuse" method of weaning. It didn't work for Liza. She loves it too much. It is the only thing she has for comfort. I've tried to get her attached to blankets, lovies, stuffed animals, dolls, you name it. It's like she knows what I am doing. She has never fallen for it. Smart cookie :) I should also mention that she stopped taking a binky around 4 months old and would never take a bottle. She has her own mind, that's for sure.
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| napping in her Dora bed |
We made a countdown on the calendar and though Liza doesn't totally get it, it has been good for me to have. I decided that today would be the last day that she nurses. So, we are stopping those last two nursing sessions cold turkey. It sucks, but I think it's the way it needs to happen. She isn't going to let go of one session and keep another. Know what I mean?
I am so sad. As much as I want to be done nursing, I know that this is the end of Liza being a baby. If you have ever nursed than you know how bonding it can be. It's difficult to explain. I'd keep nursing until she self-weaned, but we'd really like to have another baby sooner rather than later and nursing has done a very good job of being birth control. After talking with my doctor, I am pretty sure I need to wean in order to get things going inside :) This is probably why.
Now I'm all teary and stuff.
I know she is ready. I know I am ready. It's just hard to let go. It's hard to take away something that she loves. That comforts her. That puts her to sleep :)
I'll let you know how it goes. Hopefully I stick to my guns and don't give into her incredibly cute voice asking/crying to, "nurse."
Wish me luck!
XOXO Sarah
Good luck! We went through the process when Pierce was 15 months and had a really hard time dropping the last feed (his special one was first thing when he woke up) After a week of "today is the day" failing, I planned on a special daddy weekend. Basically, I was just going to disappear and do super fun me things for the weekend so nursing wasn't even an option. I ended up with the stomach flu and in bed all weekend instead, but the idea worked and by Monday he wasn't asking. If I thought he was goinig to I would pull out a toy and really try to distract him - throw a dance party or something. You are a great mommy - and you will both get through this!
ReplyDeleteAww girl I feel you. I weaned our big girl when she was two. It was a slow process but it worked the key for me was not to sit down lol! Every time I sat she wanted to nurse!!! Little sassy is 19 months and the slow wean has begun with the goal of being done by two. It's sad but good to be down before you resent it at all. Good luck update how it goes!
ReplyDeleteWhy are you weaning her if you both enjoy it? Gwendolyn self-weaned around 18 months; she just pulled my shirt down and shook her head "no" and that was that. I was so sad and unprepared! At 27 months, however, I'm still nursing Josiah! It's so good for him, and it's not all the time, so I have no problems with it. We all got sick recently but he was pretty much fine - probably because of the immunities from the breastmilk. And I'm not as worried about refusing certain vaccinations for him because of the fact that he still nurses. I get choked up at how big he's getting, and even though I know he needs to stop sometime I don't want to let go of my "baby."
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your comments, girls! Meredith, I have thought about doing that too. My only problem is that she only goes to sleep for me so I think I'll deal with that once the weaning process is over! I actually think once weaning is done she will go to sleep a lot easier. Kate, keeping busy has REALLY helped the daytime nursing. I keep taking her out of the house to the park, store, etc. because if we are home she wants to nurse. The worst part of the day is between 4 and 5:30. She is hungry and tired and wants to nurse. Karla, I edited my post a little, but I need to wean her so that I my body can get back to normal :-)
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate your comments. It was great to see them this afternoon when I was feeling a little sad!
XO Sarah