if you are going cold turkey, make sure that you are ok too. dealing with a blockage would not be nice.
try not to sit in your regular feeing position. offer alternatives, 'you can't have a feeed now, but lets blow bubbles or dance silly or have a cold drink of water....
Sending you strength my DS is the same age and I have just dropped his night feeds. It's tiring and draining Although I'm doing something differnet, I tell him "boobies are sleeping" or "boobies are empty" and he takes that usually, sometimes good and sometimes it upsets him.
I can only echo what PP's have said - distract, do heaps in the day, I don't sit down AT ALL as it's just a cue for DS to ask for it, offer something else (drink, food, etc). I remember to be more present for DS when I'm cutting a feed, as it's that closeness he is missing, so I cuddling him more, carry him more, physically play with him more (like swing him, throw him in the air safely of course, tickle, wrestle - I like laying on the floor on my tummy and he crawls all over me, he loves that!), involve him in day to day stuff like cooking (well, show him, talk to him, explain what I'm doing, give him a spoon and a mixing bowl, etc)
Yeah, how are your boobs? Don't mean to be rude lol, I am curious as I always feel engorged after not feeding for 24 hours, even though DS is practically down to 2 feeds in 24 hours. That's one thing I've been really fearful of stopping cold turkey, that I would get blocked ducts or masititis or something.
I've had to go cold turkey will all mine after other attempts didn't work. My first was 2.5 when I weaned her and the 2nd 23months. The engorgement with the 2nd was aweful. DD3 usually has a good feed/comfort cuddle at 10am which coincides with going to sleep so its the one I was worried about and knew I would struggle with the most. Her night feed was only ever a few minutes and she has been going to bed with her Daddy for a few months now so I could study overnight so that made the night easier. I feel a little firmer but not full or engorged at all. It must be because DD has not been getting much for many months now.
So 10am came around with many tears poor baby. Makes me feel so aweful as I want nothing more then to give it to her but its now day 4 and that would be such a waste if I wasn't to follow through with it now we have started. I tell her boobies are sore and they are gone now. She went to her Dad last night and gave him a cuddle and was crying and told him boobies are gone. So so sad for us both. I know now is the right time as I have been over BF for a while now and I start a new job in 2weeks and DD is going to FDC so it will be hard for her carer to get her to sleep without them.
I actually have quite a history with mastitis and so far so good. I've had it 3 times with DD3 but 5 times with DD2 between 2-8months of age and have some scarring because of it which I think has affected my milk supply. Maybe thats why I'm not engorged or the fact DD just hasn't drained them for a while properly and my supply is limited anyway.
Ohh Mildez, I know what you mean re: sticking it through/ It feels heartbreaking, doesn't it? Good on you for staying on track.
I returned to full time work about 6 months ago, DS went into FDC two days a week and is with my mum the other three. All our feeding went from day to night and I was/am exhausted from it, missing my bed (as i sleep with DS due to the feeding) and am well over breastfeeding, as awesome as it was. I kleep reminding myself it is a breastfeeding relationship, so we both have to be ok with it, and more ofetn than not, I wasn't.
Thanks for sharing re: the engorgement (or lack thereof!). Hope it gets smoother from here on in for you both
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Suggestions on weaning an older child?
my DS is the same age and I have just dropped his night feeds. It's tiring and draining
Although I'm doing something differnet, I tell him "boobies are sleeping" or "boobies are empty" and he takes that usually, sometimes good and sometimes it upsets him.
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