|
First off, thank you all for the thoughts and ideas. I'm sorry it has taken me awhile to post back in response, but I've been swamped! I have decided to wait a little longer to wean, and hope I can get her to a place where she will be a little more ready before I begin. There are several reasons why I wanted to wean, which I originally chose not to list because I expect to get discouraging comments, like, Just suck it up and wait until she decides she's done, lol. I will post some of them since I'm sure you're all curious.
1) Over the last few months she has become very pushy and aggressive while nursing. She demands to be nursed in situations where we normally wouldn't nurse. She has also began to use her teeth while sucking ( not biting exactly, but still painful). She twists herself around, while still attached to me with this toothy suction, and it's really hard for me to break the suction because she turns away from me. I've tried lots of different ways to break this bad habit that she has developed, but nothing has worked, and she eventually just starts doing it again. Anyway, like I said, pushy and aggressive.
2) I am going to have a lot going on this summer, and will be very busy. I'm not going to be able to drop everything and nurse whenever she wants. I am going to start on campus classes (I've been doing online until now, but it's to the point where being on campus is necessary) and I want her to get used to getting all of her liquids and nutrition from food/other beverages. She still nurses at least 5 times throughout the day (that includes before nap/bedtime/early morning). I also want her to find comfort in other ways, like cuddling, hugs, etc. so when I'm not there she doesn't melt down when she needs comfort and security. I want to prepare her for me not being there with her 24/7.
3) I know you are all going to think I'm a weenie, but another reason is because I've been getting a lot of comments and discussions about weaning her. Not only from my sister, MIL, my mom, other family members and friends, BUT- also my DH. He keeps saying that she's too old to be breastfeeding, and he wants those back, lol. My breasts were always a huge attraction for him and used to be part of our sexual foreplay, etc. but breastfeeding changes that drastically for both of us. He feels weird about messing with them until i stop nursing, and I feel the same way. Until she is weaned, I can't stand the thought of using my breasts as a sexual "point of interest". I feel like they are for her, and so does he, but he feels like he has been patient and is ready for them back. This is not, by any means a crucial part of the decision to wean, but just a concideration.
I weaned my son just before a year, but he lost interest, and considering that I had always supplemented with bottles for him ( he was a preemie and needed special formula) it was never a problem for him. My dd is about to be 20 months, and is still nursing constantly.
4) A big reason is that I want my body back. I know this sounds selfish, but I do. I am sad to end this intimate, emotional connection with my dd, but I feel like we can grow to have other ways of bonding, and snuggling. I just feel so restricted at this point. I want to be in control of my body for awhile. She is the type of child that would nurse until elementary school if I let her. I don't look down on people who choose to nurse until elementary school, but it's definatly not for me. I will wait until I can establish a pattern and hopefully get her to a point where she only needs to nurse at bedtime/naptime. That will be good for now, and I will work towards weaning slowly after the routine is well in place.
Thank you all for the support and advice you have given. It means so much to me to have others who have been in my position to give me advice.
__________________
*Jess* Mom to Eligh Michael (10-09-2003) Alaina Marie (10-11-2007) and Happily Married to Jason since 3-16-2002
|