Weaning hell.

weaningPIN ITI’ve been trying to wean Bo for over a month now, or is it two? I can’t keep track. I’m struggling. I hear all these stories of babies who wean themselves and I just can’t imagine Bo ever doing so. She asks for milk about ten times a day, no joke. She would happily be curled up on my lap attached to me 20 hours a day, including every 1 – 2 hours all night long. Seriously. It’s intense. I was always happy to say that I would breastfeed as long as Bo wanted me to. But now I’m here at almost 18 months and I’m exhausted. My body and mind are both exhausted and I need my body back. I’d be very happy to continue feeding her once or twice a day but every couple of hours is just too much for me now. So I started weaning. I started just saying no more. I started offering milk or water. I started offering cuddles instead. I started trying to distract with other activities. At first it seemed like things were going well. We had a week where sleeping got better and wake ups became less frequent. We had weeks where during the day she was easily distracted and her eating became better. Then, it seemed, the penny dropped and we went right back to the beginning again.

It’s been a pretty intense month for us. With the new house came a transition to Bo’s new room, which was going really well. Until it stopped going so well. I slept on the floor in her room in the cold night air for over a week. It didn’t make much difference. I tried to not feed her during the night. It didn’t make much difference except making both of us tired and cranky… and tired. Did I mention TIRED?

The other day I tried to put Bo down for a nap (and nap time has been just as hit and miss as it has her entire life, if not worse of late) and I fed her and cuddled her close, and she wouldn’t go to sleep. So I told her calmly that there would be no more milky and put her down in her cot sleepy but awake. Sometimes this is fine and she’ll go to sleep, sometimes she just shrugs and rolls over… Not this day. She screamed and kicked and punched and screamed and demanded that I feed her. To which I responded with a calm, not right now, now it’s time for sleeping. Her anger and her determination shone through and she fought me for two hours until the time she was shaking and trembling and pleading with me. She cried and I cried and eventually one of us was going to have to budge. It was me. I gave in. She fed to sleep and napped. For ten minutes. Before waking and demanding I feed her again.

It was absolute gut wrenching heart through a mincer hell and it nearly broke me in two.

Everything I read online about weaning says that it’s best to let someone else assist with comforting the child, so that it’s not too confusing. Not hand the whole responsibility to someone else (generally the father) but to encourage assistance so that the child is getting comfort elsewhere. There is no elsewhere here. There is just me. There isn’t anyone else in the middle of the night or the middle of the day. There is just me. Confused and anxious and exhausted old me. Trying to be gentle and patient and loving. Not leaving her to scream alone but holding her thrashing body gently in my arms, tears staining both our faces.

This parenting gig is bloody hard work. We all have our challenges. Bo’s sleep has always been mine.

Every night I put her to bed and I walk out of the room repeating to myself, tonight’s the night… tonight’s the night… and one night it will be, right? 18 months is a very long time without even one solitary good nights sleep.We are working on sleep pretty proactively right now, trying to turn a corner. We use gentle sleep cues and music and her room is warm and she’s happy to sleep in there, it’s just feeding. When she wants it, she wants it and there is no convincing her otherwise. I’ve even tried offering bottles… which just become torpedo’s to dodge… I’m at a loss of what happens next. I think part of me just knows that I have to try to be consistent and calm and gentle… and keep on keeping on. Right?

Have you been through weaning hell? Do you have any gentle tips on how to successfully wean a very attached little being?

xox

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  • July 29, 2013 - 5:19 am

    Julie - Welcome to my world! I am writing a very similar post right now. At 15 months I weaned Jarvis during the day and kept up the sleep feeds. He was feeding every hour or so and my weight had gone under 50 kilos, not good when you are my height. This went okay, lots of distraction. I got him a special cup and he could drink drinks with Mummy… kinda worked. But I kept up the sleep feeds.
    I have to go on new medication so I cannot feed Jarvis any more, he is almost 20 months, so I thought it not too bad a thing. Day three I am exhausted, he will scream, cry, throw himself around, and pull at my chest trying to get a feed. I feel an emotional wreak. My boobs are swollen and sore, my chest has scratch marks all over it. I have not slept or eve really done anything in three days. The only way he eventually sleeps is whimpering in my arms. To get a one hour nap takes about three hours of me holding him and trying to sooth him.
    Oh, and my eldest, it was easy, she did self wean around 20 months.
    If you figure this out let me know.ReplyCancel

    • August 1, 2013 - 9:25 pm

      Sash - Solidarit Julie!! It’s heartbreaking isn’t it! I hope Jarvis gives you a break soon… xoxReplyCancel

  • July 29, 2013 - 5:33 am

    Lilybett - I think we went through weening hell but at 2 days and 5 days, and 1 week and 2 weeks and 6 weeks… and it was me weening off the idea of being able to feed my baby myself and the idea that breastfeeding was natural and easy for everyone. I think weening can be tough no matter when or how it happens – even when the babies do it themselves, it can be rough for the mamas. It’s definitely a huge transition for you both.

    How does Bo handle feeding and sleeping at childcare? Maybe there are some cues there that could help. If you come to the end of your patience and are desperate for that extra help – our childcare centre is sometimes able to accommodate extra days – if it’s financially possible, a week long stint in care may help you both to get over the hump – to give you a break and cut out Bo’s day feeds.ReplyCancel

  • July 29, 2013 - 5:35 am

    aims__love - i am in no way a breastfeeding expert; as i couldn’t breastfeed due to supply issues, but in reading this i come away with maybe now isn’t the best time? i totally 100% understand your need for your body back and a good night sleep, and ten times is an awful lot! but, i guess a move and a new room and it just being you&her, that is a lot for a little one to take in and on. lots of changes for her, perhaps once you are both more settled (even just give it another few weeks) it could be easier. i know it will be a hard road whenever the time comes, toddlers are stubborn! my boy (almost 19months) had a huge seperation anxiety phase at 18months, so it’s possible she might need extra comfort for now?
    sorry, so real tips. just some advice from the outside πŸ™‚ & good luck! you are doing a great job, mama!ReplyCancel

  • July 29, 2013 - 5:38 am

    aims__love - also, maybe just work on the days for now, wean those feeds down a little & then once that is mastered go on to attempting nap times, then night times. slowly elimate? when you have a sleeping battle, it’s hard to fight an extra battle on top of it! xReplyCancel

  • July 29, 2013 - 5:58 am

    kristen - Hi there…as another single mom…no words…just some virtual hugs.ReplyCancel

  • July 29, 2013 - 8:03 am

    Brandee - I wish there were some magical ideas I could give you, but I have none. My son just turned two and is every bit attached to me as he was at the beginning πŸ™‚ Your daughter is so lucky to have you. Especially a strong, healthy, happy you! Trust yourself. And leaving her to let someone else comfort her may not work either, no point in being upset about not having that as an option!!! Sorry for no helpful words, but thinking of you and sending you warm thoughts!ReplyCancel

    • August 1, 2013 - 9:26 pm

      Sash - Thanks Brandee!ReplyCancel

  • July 29, 2013 - 9:37 am

    kathy - Another solo ma in a similar predicament…I’d like to night wean my 20 month old but it’s endless drama. Have more-or-less given up, will try again in Spring. Good luck and every strength xReplyCancel

    • August 1, 2013 - 9:25 pm

      Sash - And to you! xoReplyCancel

  • July 29, 2013 - 9:43 am

    Jeanine - Same. I went through the same but not for weening. Just for sleeping alone and also becuz my LO has some little yet considerable amounts of developmental delays. With her learning delays up, her patience, understanding, and calmness was pretty much thrown completely out the window as she turned 15-18months. She is 4.3 now an juust started sleeping through the night. HONESTLY. 3.9yrs is when she and I slept through the night for the first time!!! And it was always like yours, 3 days up and some technique works, then three days down n nothing works: kicking screaming fighting yelling exhaustion and giving in for 20mins–no sleep some times even. And it was always something I dreaded. Night time and nap time…i lost 35lbs in 9 months, have done this alone the entire time and have a teenager to raise as well… All i can suggest (only suggest) is what I Did!!! Get to your local store that sells “juice cups” i went through literally 8 different ones cost about $55.00 or MORE in total for FAILED ATTEMPTS but eventually to get her off the bottle and constant ME TIME, clawing, distracting, tapping my face, kicking my les… Was the type of “Juice Cup” A–use milk inside obviously & try all different types!!! Vanilla,Almond milk, watered down, everything! Chocolate milk!(you get the point!) .. Just don’t give UP or yourself. If one flavour doesn’t work after you try for two feeding times, try a different milk but not go back unless you have to obviously– they are our wee babies after all)) that has B–a Slow release of fluids The juice cups these days come in a flow type per age in months. As long as its not boob. AND C–a sort of sucky flattening almost bottle or boob like silicone sort of mouth piece. … Then, after I had to start sleeping with her again, putting a dresser in front of the door Becuz shed just go roaming an walking around the house (if it wasn’t a Night Terror…) 9months til 3.8 years.. I FEEL Your pain. BUT I HAD NO HOPE: I can tell you miraculously It Does ChANGE–at least it changes xo Jeanine HReplyCancel

  • July 29, 2013 - 9:47 am

    Jeanine - Sorry opppsie i didn’t mean for it to be so long. Im actaully exhausted myself. Feel free to delete once read–sorry again! πŸ˜‰ My only intention is to help!ReplyCancel

  • July 29, 2013 - 11:42 am

    Rowena - Can’t help with the breastfeeding as I lost my milk at 4 months. I’m trying to ween my 3 year old off the bottle but you know what I’ve decided?! It’s too hard at the moment, it’s not the right time for us and so I’m happy for him to have that comfort. Obviously the bf is having an impact on you too so perhaps just try to cut it back. I’d keep the feeding to sleep at the moment and the night ones and start by reducing some random middle of the day feeds, then perhaps she will eat more which will mean she won’t need as much at night. Then you can start to reduce the night feeds. All sounds good in theory right?! I’m not one to talk as my son at 3 still only gets 6 hours of sleep out of 24 (!!) so we are permanently exhausted here. Hope you can figure it out soon. Persist with a bottle too as that’ll help if she can take that.ReplyCancel

  • July 29, 2013 - 1:58 pm

    Tiggi - “When you go out with your toddler avoid wearing clothes that allow easy access to the breasts. Avoid undressing in front of your child, as this may remind him to ask for a feed.

    “If your child really seems to need to suck, weaning on to a bottle may be better than going directly to a cup. Give a short breastfeed, then the bottle. Take it slowly, at the child’s pace.

    “If you are weaning because you have had enough, but your toddler is unwilling, you are likely to have times when you feel very tense and even angry about feeding him. Your toddler may sense this and his anxiety may make him ask for more feeds. This can become an unpleasant cycle; he becomes more anxious and more demanding and you become more upset and irritable.”
    -Australian Breastfeeding Association, “Weaning Toddlers.”

    Don’t know this will do much, but thought I’d share at the very least.
    I once heard that when trying to wean the unwilling, making the feed before putting to bed one in a shared bath. It relaxes and soothes both parties and makes putting down and walking away easier. Or to find a certain place/situation to re-associate feeding with. Such as a certain chair, and say that unless you are sitting in that chair it is not time to feed. But I will be honest my son self-weaned (in my opinion far too soon) so I never went through this and cannot vouch for these methods, they are just what I have heard.

    GOOD LUCK!!!ReplyCancel

  • July 29, 2013 - 2:16 pm

    Stephanie - Sash, i just went through this with my 20 month old daughter. The night feeds were getting too much and she woke anywhere from 3-5 times to nurse. During the day it was during nap time or just before bed.

    I started weaning about 3 weeks ago, i only nurse her once in the morning. I try to get out during the day so she will sleep in her stroller (otherwise she will take a really late one at home after a lot of tears)

    I know it’s horrible to let them cry it out, I was completely against it, but your sanity and wellbeing is important, especially if you are full time caring for Bo, i know how exhausting being a stay at home mama is, and being well rested and not exhausted makes a huge difference to parenting. A few days of completely refusing will help, if she cries then cuddles, singing, storytime. Have a backup of activities ready. Maybe after a week offer nursing only after her breakfast.

    lots of well wishes, i know this is hard for you, but Bo must get her determination from somewhere, I’m sure it’s from you!ReplyCancel

  • July 29, 2013 - 4:41 pm

    bromba - Hang on! I’m sure it will get better. Best wishes and my warm thoughts for both of you. My first though was – you (both of you) had so many changes recently – home, daycare, your working outside home. It is a lot for Bo to process and maybe it affect her hence the feeding and sleep regression. I’m sure she will settle in to new digs and be back on track. I was (so far) very lucky with weaning of my daughter, at 18 months she is feeding only morning and evening, I believe in our case the key was daycare, so yes – help of extra person was important. I’m sure daycare minders are used to and happy to help with weaning plus far more experienced then us (firs time parents)are. My daughter still comes sometime during the day to ask for milk, but mostly as a comfort thing. I did not try to wean morning and evening feeds, which is where things still can go pear shaped! But bottom line – as Bo goes to day care with some regularity, maybe this is you source of extra help in weaning, also sleeping – napping.ReplyCancel

  • July 29, 2013 - 4:58 pm

    Laura - Just wanted to say how much I LOVE your blog from over here in the UK. I have been through the same weaning struggles with my little girl (at 12 months). I hoped to go as long as my daughter wanted to, but I found I was getting no sleep and started to resent breastfeeding.. I wanted my body back and could see that other babies around us were completely whole, happy and hearty on bottled milk.
    I really commend you for going as long as you have! I really was exhausted by 12 months and I have my husband’s help! I completely admire you for your courage, strength and patience! Motherhood is phenomenal, and tough!
    I wanted to wean gently, dropping one feed at a time (i thought this would be easier on both of us), but I think I was confusing her in all honesty. A friend suggested I just stop altogether so there was not the option. It was not my ideal scenario, but I hadn’t succeeded with the gentle approach..
    I just told my daughter it had “all gone”, was “finished” (using the baby signing we use at her mealtimes) and offered her a bottle of milk instead. I was against giving my daughter a bottle, thought I could go straight on to a sippy cup, but I still enjoy giving her a bottle on my lap at bedtime now and she looks into my eyes,just like she did when we breastfed. It was a tough time but I found it easier once I was strong with my own decision. I gave her ‘booby’ for the next month only on waking (just so could get an extra half-hour rest) and then we finally stopped that too. I found her sleep improved no-end!
    Good luck! You will get there. Do what feels right for you. You need your energy and Bo will follow your lead eventually! She’s a stunning little girl! πŸ™‚ xxReplyCancel

  • July 29, 2013 - 5:00 pm

    Leah - Oh, I feel for you, I really do. It must be so tough on both of you. I’m still feeding my 17 month old, and can’t see him ending that anytime soon. I too, think that he will be one of those kids that is going to fight tooth and nail for it. And, to be honest, I’m just not up for that. I didn’t think he would still be feeding this age and is a bit outside of the ‘norm’ amongst my family and friends. But, you know what? They don’t have to deal with the tantrums, scratches and pleading from MY child. Together it is our choice to continue, until one or both of us decides ‘no more’.

    Talk it easy on yourself. There appears to be a lot of stuff going on for both of you. Go slow, breathe deeply and give cuddles.

    Leah x

    {P.S. Have you tried calling the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) for some tips or ideas… or just someone to talk to? They have a website you could check out too! Their no is 1800 686 2 686. Hope that helps}ReplyCancel

    • August 1, 2013 - 9:22 pm

      Sash - I hadn’t even thought of calling the ABA. Brilliant idea! Thank you xoReplyCancel

  • July 29, 2013 - 6:34 pm

    Kathy - My son used to have one feed in the middle of the night but it ended up being more of a comfort thing as I don’t think I had any milk left and it does become a habit. In the end I just decided to do it and it worked with my child. Every child is different and it sounds as if you are doing a lot of different strategies to get to where you want to be. Maybe go to the shop and get her to pick out a special sleep toy/doll teddy. So explain that this is the sleep dolly and she comes out when you ar staying in your bed and to to sleep. You just bring it into her when she is in bed and when she wakes up you put it away. Maybe even a doll that can drink a baby bottle and she can use that as an activity. You both have had lots of changes but at the end of the day because she is not getting your milk you know she will be okay because she is eating healthy food etc it won’t harm her not to have the boob and you need to give your body a rest. Good luck Regards Kathy A, Brisbane, AustraliaReplyCancel

  • July 29, 2013 - 6:41 pm

    Akanksha - Going through same phase,trying to wean off my 21 month old daughter,haven’t, got any geat ideas though,but have found that rather than fighting with her and letting her cry for an hour, feeding and then unlatching her in 5 min helps.I then try to explain her that u have got your milky ,and now its sleep time.She does cry ,but settles herself up.By this age they are more reliant on us for comfort than appeasing their appetite.hope it helps.
    Please excuse my horrible English ,as I am not a native speaker .I always want to leave a comment but hold myself back as I am not eloquent enough.Just to let you know,I have been reading you since the days of Barefoot inked and religiously read every single post of yours.you inspire me …
    Love and hugs!!!ReplyCancel

    • August 1, 2013 - 9:23 pm

      Sash - Thanks so much for your feedback Akanksha… Barefoot inked! Gosh that feels like a lifetime ago! xx I’ve started trying this, letting her have milky but just for a short time… sometimes it really works… other times she’s not impressed. Thanks so much for your help!ReplyCancel

  • July 29, 2013 - 9:06 pm

    Rachel - I don’t have any specific tips but i do sympathise. Weaning is tough and the hormonal changes make it feel even worse. Kiran is the same, he demands milk a million times a day. He still wakes up in the night for feeds but we co-sleep so it’s not a problem for me. I am trying to cut back on the nursing during the day though. Sometimes distraction works and sometimes it doesn’t.

    I started weaning Maya at about 9 months and it was much easier, though it didn’t feel so easy at the time. Actually she was only feeding for naps and sleep then anyway. I just cut out her afternoon feed first, then the morning one and I dealt with the night time ones (the hardest ones later!) it took a few goes but I just offered her water in a bottle instead and she got used to it. I did everything very gradually so she was totally weaned by 12 months.

    Kiran is now 18 months and I do think it is much harder at this age as they are much more demanding. however they also understand more so reasoning with them is not such a crazy idea. I do think that maybe you should try waiting a couple of months as you’ve just moved house and had a lot of change recently. It can be very unsettling and nursing is a comfort to them.

    As for the sleeping I get the impression that Bo isn’t a great sleeper? But it’s totally normal for them to wake a few times a night until 2 at least. Maya is nearly 3 and still usually wakes once for water.

    It’s so very not easy! Good luck xReplyCancel

    • August 1, 2013 - 9:24 pm

      Sash - Bo is a terrible sleeper. I’d be super happy with three wakeups a night. At the moment we are averaging at 5… tonight it’s been 4 already and it’s only 11pm!ReplyCancel

  • July 29, 2013 - 9:48 pm

    Heather - I feel for you so much! I know you don’t typically like parenting books and tend do want to take the most natural approach, so I hope you’ll take a look at this – http://drjaygordon.com/attachment/sleeppattern.html. It’s Dr. Jay Gordon, and he has a gentle approach to night weaning that several of my friends have had great success with. Good luck Mama!!ReplyCancel

    • July 31, 2013 - 7:53 pm

      Angi - This is a great article, Heather! respectful to the kids’needs, understanding towards the parents going through this…encouraging a balanced attitude and flexibility…very much to my taste, thank you!:)ReplyCancel

  • July 30, 2013 - 3:21 am

    Anna - Just like you I would happily state I would let my daughter wean herself.
    But in the end it was just to much for body &mind – I was exhausted and desperately needed my body back to manage all the other changes that were going on in our life at that time.
    Since my husband had been taken care of our daughter during daytime while I was at work I knew she was perfectly well without nursing as long as someone else took care of her. But once I entered the scenery she would throw a fit.
    I tried the gently way offering her a bottle, a stuffed animal, cuddles – nothing worked, she fought like a lion. Also I tried to reduce feeding times one by one which really didn’t work AT ALL. I guess this approach was something she really couldn’t understand: Why get milk at some points and at others she wouldn’t? Of course she would throw a fit. The categories I thought in (daytime – nighttime – more than 4 hours in between,…whatever) just weren’t anything she could relate to.
    In the end I decided that the constant fights were nothing near gentle to none of us. So I just stopped breastfeeding. We had four horrible nights. She cried, she fought, she wouldn’t sleep. I lay with her, talked to her, comforted her and if it got really bad I carried her around in her ergo carrier on my back…I really wanted to make sure that she understood that I am there for her…and felt like an awful mother that is to egoistic to continue breastfeeding. Thankfully there was this other little voice inside me that told me to trust my guts.
    After day four my personal miracle happened: For the first time ever my daughter slept from 7 pm to 7 am and woke up smiling. Moreover: she has been sleeping through the night ever since. (Exceptions included, of course, but a slept through night has become the norm.) It’s been a couple of months and I still can’t believe I got this lucky.
    I have no idea if our weaning process would work for another child and mother, but for us it was the right way.
    I agree that someone to help you might be one solution. I personally was so unsure of what and how to do it that I needed to do it alone even so I could have gotten help.

    Trust your guts!
    Love your blog & greetings from GermanyReplyCancel

    • July 30, 2013 - 6:32 am

      A - i didn’t want to leave this exact comment because I wasn’t sure how it will be received. In my culture, if you’ve tried the slow method and it doesn’t work, you wean the child off completely and at once. You don’t ever go back trying to breastfeed the child again. You will surely have some horrible crying and weeping, but eventually, s/he will settle down. All the best.ReplyCancel

    • August 1, 2013 - 9:21 pm

      Sash - Thank you so much for sharing your story with me. I really, really appreciate it and it gives me hope that my miracle might be coming soon! xoxReplyCancel

  • July 30, 2013 - 4:12 pm

    Alicia - Hello,

    I will not be able to provide any more advice or ideas than all those that have already commented on your post.

    First of all I would like to say that you are doing a wonderful job with your daughter! You are an exceptional mom!

    As for weaning. I weaned my son at 12 months. But I had been gradually feeding him less during the day and the last month or couple of weeks he would only feed before bedtime. I found that explaining it to him and simply not giving in was the way out that worked for us. I was the one that had to comfort him, he did not want his father for comfort, so being two doesn’t necessarily help.
    Once they see that you have made the decision, that it is a decision and not simply an idea, they will scream and fight but they understand it and eventually stop fighting. The most important thing, I think, is that you be convinced 100%, that you understand that you are still there for her, that you are not letting her down, and not feel guilty for the decision you have taken.

    Go mama! Go Bo!

    Love,
    AliciaReplyCancel

  • July 30, 2013 - 9:28 pm

    Rebecca - I’m weaning my 19 moth old off of bottles – right now she only gets one before bed. But she asks for it all the time. I just say no, only at nighttime. Sometimes she cries bloody murder, sometimes not.

    I read that explaining to and preparing the child ahead of time can help. Pick a day in the near future and show her that this day there will be no more milky, and keep reminding her that its coming. I think the key is to decide to do it and stick to your decision, no matter how hard she cries. I know it can be hard. I just keep telling myself that she is well-feed and loved and this to shall pass.ReplyCancel

    • August 1, 2013 - 9:18 pm

      Sash - I try and tell myself the same thing… but gosh it’s hard, isn’t it!ReplyCancel

  • July 31, 2013 - 7:06 pm

    Angi - This is in the past for me, but still a very vivid memory (my daughter is now 5).
    Our weaning process lasted for 1 year…and I couldn’t have done it without the continous support of my husband. I started this process when she was 1 year and 2-3 months…my husband helped me during the nights, he was sleeping with her and in case she woke up, he offered her water…the only time when I was not doing this was when some teeth were growing and she was going through discomfort and pain..then I was nursing as much as she needed. During the day, I was saying no to her when I felt it was too much…it was easier during the day as she was very active, interested in new things…but it was not working all the time…I tried to be flexible and just feel when it’s the case to nurse her…in a few months, I was nursing her 3 times a day, at wake-up, before her daily nap and before going to sleep in the evening. Then we cut the feeding in the middle of the day, then the morning one and the last one remained the evening one…I was not pushing things, when I felt she really needed it, I was not refusing her and …I didn’t know how much time this would take…it took one year…and she was fine and at peace with herself when it stopped…I also had the chance to be with her home till her 3 years old, so I was basically hers…she didn’t need to replace nursing with any other attachment object…I think it would have been different if I weaned her and went to work …

    Hugs from us and hang in there! πŸ™‚ReplyCancel

    • August 1, 2013 - 9:15 pm

      Sash - Thank you Angi! I’ve taken your advice on board. I think you are right, we know when it is really needed and when it is not… I’m trying to be more sensitive to this now with Bo and not be so hard on both of us… thank you xReplyCancel

  • August 2, 2013 - 8:28 am

    endelaney - I stopped breast feeding my daughter at 14 months. It was cold turkey because I had to leave town without her for the weekend and didn’t think through what I was doing. I didn’t bring my pump and made a decision to stop on a whim and because I was feeling like I needed my body back. However, I was not totally ready and either was my daughter. I went against my gut. I still get emotional about it sometimes. I was not expecting the emotional roller coaster as I stopped either. Maybe people have shared that with you already. Or maybe it was stopping cold turkey:( I have no advice, except go with your gut and don’t be surprised if when you wean you feel like you are pregnant again:) Best of luck!ReplyCancel

  • August 7, 2013 - 8:44 am

    The great weaning debate | how to escape - […] for a while so I figured now was as good as any time to publish it. A number of blogs I read like this one and this one have been publishing weaning-related posts recently. I guess it’s because our […]ReplyCancel

  • October 14, 2013 - 11:26 pm

    Andrea - 330am and so frustrated I could punch a wall.,Over it. Just want goddamn sleep. Might go back to sleep school for weaning help. I completely understand this postReplyCancel

    • October 15, 2013 - 4:30 am

      Sash - Andrea… It is months since I wrote this post… and we are still breastfeeding. sometimes three times a night. I get needing to punch a wall… it’s so frustrating. I just couldn’t cope with the drain any more so I relented… There has to be an end to it eventually.. Right? xxReplyCancel

      • October 16, 2013 - 1:57 am

        Andrea - I could handle getting up to give water/bottle/add a blanket- but the 20 minutes of trying to stay awake, or sometimes an hour to get him back into a deep sleep..,.,yes, my friend says “this too shall pass”. To which I wonder a, whether ill be human at the end of it, and b, whether ill consider another child…ReplyCancel

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