Weaning?

Hi! So my littlest girl is 10 mos old and I had the goal of getting to one year with nursing. She still will nurse every 3 hours during the day and wakes once at night. When my semester starts in 2 weeks I plan to pump at work, BUT I cannot pump as much as she takes during the day. I have a freezer stash but I am not sure how long it will last.... So the long and short of it is that I think I will need to wean her at least for the bulk of the day probably at least by her birthday. How do I do this? We love nursing. I am heartbroken to stop. DH thinks it is weird to breastfeed for longer than a year. I don't, but don't want him to be uncomfortable. Sorry for the rambling... I hate that she is getting older.

 

I would say that depending on when you leave in the morning you probably shouldnt miss that many feedings. By that age mine were moving to a schedule where they nursed upon waking, had breakfast, napped from 10-11:30ish, nursed when they woke up, had lunch, napped from 2-3:30ish, had dinner around 5-6, and then nursed at bedtime (7 pm). With that kind of schedule you would only miss 2 nursing sessions.

As for weaning, it should be whatever works best for you and baby. I will tell you that once mine turned one I stopped pumping during the day and just nursed when I was home. They drank whole milk at meals and really only wanted to nurse at waking and bedtime (mine have STTN since they were 6 or 7 months old but that is a whole other post!). I would tell your husband that toddlers who continue to nurse have continued health and intellectual benefits. I wouldn't care how "uncomfortable" it made him...you will know when you are ready. A recent post on here mentioned several sports stars who were extended nursers....you can use that as ammunition (one was Pele, can't remember the second).

Anyway, my two weaned themselves around 19 months and it was really nice because they just gradually nursed less and there was no fussing or fighting when we stopped. I am very lucky because my husband is so supportive and has never cared how much or how long I breastfeed. He knows how to share

 

I don't think you have to completely wean. Can you nurse her 2 times a day even with the new schedule? We nursed 2x's a day for 6 months!

As to dropping a session, pick one during the day that she's not too hungry for and either do something else with her or be mysteriously gone a few days to distract her.

I like slugrad's way of replacing whole milk with nursing at a year- that seems to make sense to me as well.

The other sports star was Michael Jordan.

 

Thank you! I will miss 3 feedings while at work, if she continues on her current schedule my supply or my body's response to pumping is that I am not able to pump that quantity during the day ( I was out of town and couldn't pump as much as she took while I was gone). I was fine last spring but either supply is down or my body prefers her! So do you suggest I just stop offering the breast/bottle before meals and give her milk instead, at a year? I weaned the twins at 7 mos and it was way more straightforward... they also STTN at 7 mos, and she is going strong at 10 mos...

 

Didn't mean to take so long to get back to you! You're probably back at work now (you mentioned semester so I am guessing you went back when school started). How are things going? I hope your baby girl is still nursing strong and you guys have worked out a routine that works for you.

 

Well, if you can pump even 1/2 or 2/3 what she takes in and replace the remaining with formula/milk then you are still almost exclusively breast feeding! And, you can keep up the first thing in the morning feed, as well as feeding after you get home. She may even alter her feeding schedule to take in more while you are home and eat less from a bottle or cup while you're away. Especially at the age where solids are being offered it's not impossible that she might start taking less "milk" during the day and more when you are at home or even during her night feeding (if you plan to keep this) to make up for the change.

Regardless, if you plan to keep on nursing (and I think it's totally normal and wonderful to do so!) then you should continue to pump while you're away from her and keep up your supply as much as you can.

Also, as for your husband thinking that it's weird to BF past a year...in my books he doesn't get a vote! They're your breasts, and it's what's best for your daughter if you're happy to continue doing it. In no way should your breast feeding making him feel uncomfortable. It's not like he's doing it, right?!?! lol :rotflmbo:

 

Thank you all for the encouragement! She is 11 mos and takes 3 bottles and nurse 2/3 times a day. I pump about 1/2 of what she takes so I am depleting my freezer stores. I have introduced milk but she doesn't love it. I HATE pumping so I plan to stop at 12 mos. but continue bed time and wake up feedings.

Do you think I should have them replace a bottle with a cup of milk during the day? Should I continue to give 3 bottles or try to get her to up the am and pm nursing....?

 

I added Ovaltene to whole milk at first to get them to like the taste. I then weaned them off of it with little problem.

I think you could replace a bottle with a cup of milk during the day- that'll help stretch what you pump to mostly BM and a little formula with the 2 other bottles, too.

 

She'll get more and more used to the milk as time goes on. What you suggested is exactly what I did. I ditched the pump the minute they turned 1 and switched over to milk except for times when we would usually nurse (after naps and wake/bedtime. They went from 4-3 nursing sessions at the same time because they dropped to one nap (their choice, not mine!). I offered milk at meals/snack because I found they drank more that way than if I just gave to them on a schedule. Its always a work in progress when you change things up, but be consistent and she'll adjust!