Breastfeeding question

adymarie

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Ladies, for those of you who have breastfed your children, how old were they when you weaned them? Both Kevin and Derek were breastfed only for their 1st 6 months, then breastfed and baby food (include regular food baby sized). Kevin continued to get breast until he was 14 and a half months (basically until I went into the hospital to have Derek). He never looked for breast after I came back from the hospital - I would have given it to him if he wanted it, but he didn't. Derek is showing now signs, at almost 13 months, of wanting off the breast. He is only being breast fed 4 to 6 times in a 24 hour period, but he still wants it. The World Health Organization suggests breastfeeding for 2 to 3 years, but I am really beginning to want my breasts back - I have been breastfeeding continually between 2 kids for 2.5 years.

What are your suggestions? Thanks
 

krazy kat2

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My daughter never would latch on, so I pumped for 6 months, so that is not much help to you. I am sure you will get some good advice here, but have you though about contacting the La Leche league for info? You could probably Google them and find a website. They were very helpful to my daughter when she was trying to nurse her daughter. I hope weaning goes smoothly for you.
 

fostermomm

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Ari could never latch on right so I just pump. I plan on doing it until shes a year or so.
 

crazykitties

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First of all, way to go for doing this long.
I have a eight month old who I'm going to start weaning soon. I think that whenever you feel it is the right time for you and your baby, then that is the time to wean. KWIM? I too need my boobies back.
 

goldenkitty45

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I'm not really sure. I went back to work when he was 4 months old; however I still breastfeed him when home and at nite. He took to either bottle/breast, as I had someone that had to use bottles when he was at their house for daycare.

I'm guessing (son is 19 yrs old now
) about 6-9 months - when he started eating more solid foods and drinking milk/juice from a bottle.
 

jujubee

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I breastfed both my kids. One is 25 now, the other is 10. The oldest, i nursed for about a year. The youngest until about 16 months, i was home with her until then so it just worked out that way. For both of them I decided to see what would happen, if I wasn't always 'ready'. (You know how you feel it is about time to feed them?) Well, i just didn't do that, and they didn't want it! Waahhh!
So it wasn't really weaning, it just stopped.
 

swampwitch

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I nursed our daughter for 18 months, then at night only until she was almost three. I knew she would be our only and didn't mind. She decided when it was time, so there were no tears (of hers, anyway
). She never had a pacifier, so we didn't have to wean her off of that, either.

With all my allergies and autoimmune problems, I figured the longer she nurses, the better.

I know what you mean about wanting your breasts back, though. But the time is short (relatively) and the benefits of nursing are enormous. Hang in there.
 

pee-cleaner

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I was similar to the last poster. My dd was my only one, and I nursed in some form or fashion until 39 mos! At the end, I felt myself getting irritated and like I wanted to push her away while she was nursing. I felt like a mom lion who was ready to wean. So I did.

You'll know when it's time.

Cally
 

snuzy

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My older son, I nursed til he was 18 months, younger, 12 months old. They both just lost interest, so I didn't have to do any weaning.

As far as getting breasts back goes, the only time I had them was when I was pregnant or nursing
, However I don't miss them enough to have another kid.
 
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adymarie

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Thanks everyone for your input. Hubby is wanting me to wean, but I don't think the D-man and I are ready yet. Plus Kevin is fascinated by this breast feeding business. He gets upset when I put the "boobies" as he calls them away.
 

aussie_dog

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My niece's mom breastfed her until she was 18 months old (around that, anyway). I'm not sure if she's currently fully weaned or not, she might still be breastfeeding (my niece will be 2 years old in August).
 

leli

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Whenever you're ready, you can make it easier by doing a gradual transition. At first, just get rid of one session a day. Maybe a mid day one. After a while (days or weeks, depending on yours and his reaction), take out another and then another until you're clear. I would recommend that you keep in the pre-bed one until last, since it's the one most likely to upset his routine. Once you've taken one out, do not ever put it back, even for a day or it'll prolong the process. Be firm. I promise, even if he cries one day, you're still an awesome mommy and you are not a meanie!


Also, the key word here is REPLACE. Replace the breastfeeding session with a new and fun activity, just for you and Derek. He will react much more strongly to the loss of mommy time than to the loss of the breast, so don't just get rid of the cuddle you would normally be having. A special trip to the library or store before you start can make sure you have on hand a new and unfamiliar book or a toy. Maybe a mommy and Derek bath together when you get rid of the last session? A special toy or puzzle that only comes out at that time? I recommend low key toys or games, though, to keep up, insofar as is possible, the atmosphere that breastfeeding has.

Anyway, do it at your own pace and don't be pressured, it'll go much more smoothly. Don't be pressured either way, though. Don't stop if you don't want to but don't keep going if you don't want to either. Good luck!
 
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adymarie

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Originally Posted by Leli

Whenever you're ready, you can make it easier by doing a gradual transition. At first, just get rid of one session a day. Maybe a mid day one. After a while (days or weeks, depending on yours and his reaction), take out another and then another until you're clear. I would recommend that you keep in the pre-bed one until last, since it's the one most likely to upset his routine. Once you've taken one out, do not ever put it back, even for a day or it'll prolong the process. Be firm. I promise, even if he cries one day, you're still an awesome mommy and you are not a meanie!


Also, the key word here is REPLACE. Replace the breastfeeding session with a new and fun activity, just for you and Derek. He will react much more strongly to the loss of mommy time than to the loss of the breast, so don't just get rid of the cuddle you would normally be having. A special trip to the library or store before you start can make sure you have on hand a new and unfamiliar book or a toy. Maybe a mommy and Derek bath together when you get rid of the last session? A special toy or puzzle that only comes out at that time? I recommend low key toys or games, though, to keep up, insofar as is possible, the atmosphere that breastfeeding has.

Anyway, do it at your own pace and don't be pressured, it'll go much more smoothly. Don't be pressured either way, though. Don't stop if you don't want to but don't keep going if you don't want to either. Good luck!
Thanks - those are great ideas. Right now we are pretty much down to 4 in a 24 hour period. We'll see how it goes. I don't want to rush him.

Thanks everyone!
 

leli

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Originally Posted by adymarie

Thanks - those are great ideas. Right now we are pretty much down to 4 in a 24 hour period. We'll see how it goes. I don't want to rush him.

Thanks everyone!
Definitely don't rush. Don't rush him and don't rush you. If you're not ready to stop, then wait a while. Also, you can always cut back without cutting out completely. I know with two boys in close succession, it feels like you've been doing it forever. But you can go on for a while until you and he are comfortable. Derek is still a little guy. It's not like you're whipping it out at the high school graduation! LOL.

Yeah, anyway, just take your time with it. Different kids will lose interest at different times. But, if, after a while, he hasn't lost his interest and you HAVE, it's okay to start to wean. It's a two-way street.
 
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