You've done an absolutely amazing job. For me, I just "knew" when the time was right. It took a couple of days, DD was only having the feed before bed and that first night, we went out for dinner and got her babysat, so I wasn't around for it. Second night was horrible. She was crying, I was crying. Third night, she didn't even come looking.
Thanks girls... another night survived although it was a bit rougher than the first. Yesterday was fine, she asked a couple of times but was easily persuaded to do other things instead. She had her bedtime feed and was in bed as per usual at 6pm. She then woke up 3 times overnight (8pm, 10pm and then some other point during the night); the first she settled within a few minutes with a backrub, no protests. The second we were up for about 40minutes and there were tears, it was really hard but she finally got back to sleep after some water and leg rubs... I hopped back into bed and cried and cried and cried. The third was a bit of both, she did half-protest (you know when they are kind of half asleep and give a little bit of a whinge) but was back asleep pretty quick. She asked again this morning but daylight hours are easy to negotiate.
Feeling a bit sad about it. Hate knowing I could easily calm her with milk and I'm not but hopefully it passes quick, she seems her happy usual self when she wakes up so can't be too traumatized... I had always thought she would just wean herself when the time was right and I was in no rush but I know it is better to do it now than be forced into it with a new sister around, I definitely don't want to increase any jealousy/resentment by associating weaning with the new baby. I worry that because we have been breastfeeding so long, I haven't really had to comfort her in other ways and maybe I can't or don't know how but I'm sure that isn't right, just surprised how much security I found in breastfeeding. She did a poo this morning and that reassured me a little that everything will still work haha silly, I know. Still going to be doing the bedtime feed and reassess in a week or two once we are on the other side of this hurdle.
It's weird, I didn't cry when she started solids or turned one (or two) or any of that... but last night, for the first time, there were a lot of tears about my little girl getting bigger.
so much of what you have written, i have thought lately. i haven't made any decisions yet though. my LO is only 18 months, which makes the decision more difficult for me. She night weaned herself earlier in pregnancy which i am thankful for.
i am 27 weeks pg, haven't really noticed whether my milk is changing to colustrum, DD hasn't given any indication that it is changing.
i have a little voice that would like her to wean herself, but then i wonder what would i do without being able to settle her with boob, and what about when she gets sick....
HotI, I definitely think it would have been a harder decision for me too had DD been younger but I think if your DD has nightweaned, that is the main part if you are happy to feed both. To be honest, I doubt I will fully wean, I already can tell I will cling to her bedtime feed for a while (because of the security with illness, balanced diet, soothing, getting her to sleep easily etc) but the nightweaning seems important to making sure the transition from one to two is smooth so going to be strong and stick to that. Luckily, DD is making it easier as last night she slept through so we are now at 3 nights without milk overnight! Hoping this means we are on the home stretch.
Well done JF. What an awesome Mummy you are. I didn't have that problem, I night weaned DD earlier, I think maybe around 14 months I started trying to stretch her out overnight. Then when I was pregnant she gradually cut her feeds down anyway to once or twice a day due to the lack of milk. There came a point when I had to decide if I should wean her or not because like you said I didn't want to do it when DD2 came along and have her associate it with that. I chose not to wean her. Really, I couldn't be bothered I was pregnant and it was easier to get her to sleep at night with a BF. I also wanted to make it to 2 yrs and she was 2 just after DD2 was born.
Anyway, if you want to keep feeding I can tell you that it works out just fine! I think what you're doing now is really important. If you've got her down to one feed a day before DD2 arrives then it will hopefully be easy to keep her at that afterwards and then it's no real drama. One extra feed a day is not a big deal for me.
I actually found it so sweet that DD1 was still feeding. She seemed to actually like to share it with DD2 and wasn't jealous at all, I actually think it helped. Maybe she could see how just becasue DD2 was here didn't mean anything changed for her. I also liked having that time with her, forced us to make sure we got some one-on-one time and also helped remind me of how she really was still a baby herself
Well done to you and your DD, you're doing great!! xx
Yeah, I think that is what we will do... cut the nightfeeds but keep her bedtime feed and possibly even her morning feed if she is interested in one (I like being able to stay in bed a little extra before starting the day haha).
Well, things are going well. She hasn't had a night feed since we started this although is still having her bedtime feed and one when she wakes for the day. Haven't had anymore troubles or tears either, guess she really was ready... haha 2.5 and down to 2 feeds, slow and steady
2014 BellyBelly RAK Recipient.
I was pregnant and it was easier to get her to sleep at night with a BF. I also wanted to make it to 2 yrs and she was 2 just after DD2 was born.
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