It's a tough one, and I totally know what you mean about not wanting to take their comfort away. I too am taking the gentle approach and happily feeding on demand day or night. But it reached the point where I was getting so tired that I was getting depressed and not-so-gentle (impatient, snappy, not reading her cues well) through the day, so I decided to push the envelope a little, and night weaned. We did an approximation of the Jay Gordon approach (you can find it through Googling his name + night weaning). I didn't push it for the full night, just gradually weaned off until eventually refusing feeds before 5am. We probably had 3 really rough nights (lots of tears but in our arms the whole time) and then a rockyish week after that. That was a few months ago. She then started sleeping from bed time through the night and waking at 5:05 on the dot - like "ok, it's past 5, where's my booby"!! Then off to sleep again 'till about 7. Then last week, with no encouragement or pressure from me, she just stopped asking for boob. Still wakes for a cuddle, but just happy to snuggle in to me and go back to sleep. Ahhhh sleep, how I have missed thee!

All the best for a good night's sleep, the return of AF, and the conception of another wonderful addition to your family. xoxo