With a firstborn who hated nursing due to reflux issues, breastfeeding started as a struggle and quickly ended with regrets and feelings of failure. Then when my daughter, Lucy, was born, I got the special nursing relationship I had hoped for and planned to go on for at least two years (partly because it was going so well and partly because extended breastfeeding decreases my risk of breast cancer, something I’m concerned about because my mother is a breast cancer survivor). But when a new pregnancy changed my milk, Lucy self-weaned at 13 months. So here I am in round three with my second little girl, Gwen, now 14 months. Everything has been great, but a few weeks ago I started feeling restless and irritable about still nursing.
We practice ecological breastfeeding and due to reflux, my kids usually prefer to snack frequently. After the baby turned one, I was feeling touched out and physically and emotionally drained. I was dreading nursing her and I was also worried about a weekend trip I would be taking (my first night away from her) and how it would all pan out. So I decided I was done. Just done. No more. She was nursing about 10 times a day and once at night and I was over it. But having never weaned a baby (the first two self-weaned), I was nervous. How do you do it?
I asked around and got a few suggestions. Some said, if you’re done, just be done, cold turkey. Others said, keep it up and push through. And then some said to try “don’t offer, don’t refuse.” My skin was crawling with that touched out feeling. But that third option was resonating with me and so I tried it, I wouldn’t offer, but I wouldn’t say no if she asked.
What I realized the next day was that SHE wasn’t insisting on nursing 10 times a day. I was offering whenever I had a spare moment and so she’d just eat because it was offered. I was so used to taking every opportunity I wasn’t helping the “big kids” to sit down with her and nurse like we did in the newborn days that I hadn’t transitioned to letting her ask when she was hungry. In one day we went from nursing 10 times a day to nursing 4 times a day. Only when she was “asking” (she was fussy when everything else seemed ok, after a few days she learned to say “Nuh”). In 48 hours I felt so much better. I wasn’t irritable and touched out, but I still felt connected to her. That 4 times a day quickly shifted to twice a day and once at night and then she dropped the nighttime feeding. Before my trip out of town she was only nursing once a day and I thought with regret, when I get back she’ll be done.
But she wasn’t. She wanted to nurse as soon as she saw me and has been nursing once or twice a day since. I’m not sure how long she’ll keep this up, but I think we’ve found our groove for what works for us. It’s all new territory for me because I’ve never nursed a child this old and I don’t know exactly what the next year will look like. But I like letting her take the lead and show me what she needs.
I’m not a breastfeeding expert, but if I could tell a few things to myself when I first became a mother here’s what they would be:
- Just because you have a difficult breastfeeding relationship with one baby doesn’t mean you’ll have those same issues again.
- Don’t get stuck on what you expect breastfeeding to look like. Medical issues, new pregnancies, etc. can change the length of the relationship.
- Be flexible and don’t beat yourself up over what you envisioned as the ideal.
- Breastfeeding is a relationship, a two-way street. When it’s working great for your baby, that’s wonderful. But when it stops working out for you, the mama, that’s significant and you’re allowed to make changes.
- If you’re dreading nursing instead of looking forward to a bonding time, consider what’s making you feel that way. Follow your instinct when something feels off. Sometimes a simple fix can get you back into your groove.
I’m really grateful that we found our groove again.
Has anybody else experienced this touched-out reaction when transitioning into nursing a toddler? Any tips to share about having a positive breastfeeding relationship as your baby grows?
I really wanted to nurse until (at least) the two year mark but Lucia self-weaned around 17 month. I was so, so sad when she stopped. I loved nursing and that special bond. I felt guilty because I was sure she wouldn’t have weaned if I wasn’t working outside the home and away from her. But mostly, I think the sadness came from weaning a baby without another one on the way. I thought I would have at least been pregnant by the time Lucia weaned and that was not the case. I shouldn’t have had so many expectations going into it since breastfeeding is so unpredictable, but it’s hard to not have those.
It’s kind of a weird place to be in right now where I’m a huge advocate of breastfeeding and read all the articles, etc. but haven’t breastfed for over a year and don’t know when the next time is that I will breastfeed. I struggle to figure out how I can support breastfeeding when I have little experience in it myself.
I get that, Mandi. I was fine with Lucy wanting to wean during my pregnancy with Gwen but since I’m not pregnant right now, I feel very different about things this time.
I needed this post today, if only to put to words what I was feeling “touched out”. My daughter doesn’t nurse often during the day but still needs to nurse to nap and sleep and still wakes a few times a night to nurse and always at 5 am sharp before usually getting up for the day around 7. When she was around 11 months I was able to put her to sleep at night without nursing and she’d sleep a good 8 hours but the day after her 1st birthday she completely reverted to nursing to sleep again and waking several times at night, which might have been because of a growth spurt but she’s still more or less following that pattern almost a month later. She’s also very attached to me, she doesn’t really accept food or milk or being held by anyone else including my husband. I’m feeling very burnt out and that’s probably contributing to her separation anxiety, but I often wonder if I’d feel that way if extended breastfeeding were more accepted. I don’t think my baby looks “too old” to be nursing but I sometimes wonder if that’s what people are thinking. Definitely struggling with my feelings right now.
I can relate to the “burnt out” feeling. For me, it was the constant night time feedings that wore me out as well. Like Haley said, the nursing situation needs to work for mama AND baby. For us, it always helped to have my husband take on a bigger role for the night-time stuff. Maybe because my babies knew there was no possibility of him giving in. I’m not sure, but the meltdowns were definitely worse with when they were with me. Not to mention, when you’re tired its sure nice to have backup. 🙂 I always try to keep in mind (when I feel like I’m abusing them by not nursing my one year old for the 5th time that night) that you can comfort a baby in many ways. Nursing is not the only way. I’m still there, I’m still comforting them, they have not been abandoned. 🙂 ….That helps me anyway. And as far as the nursing an older baby goes- in my experience, most people are kind. Most people are just plain old regular folk doing there best just like you, and they probably don’t care one way or another about the precise age of your nursing baby/toddler. Especially other mothers. We’re all doing our best and we’re all a little insecure about it. And for the few that do care for some odd reason…. nursing might simply make them uncomfortable period, and for that I’m sad for them.
My first birthday after Dax was born I was really touched out too. I told Dan, “All I want for my birthday is one day where no one touches my boobs.”
Yeah nope. Didn’t happen.
We taught Dax to sign for milk which was great because as he started nearing his 2nd birthday I switched to “don’t offer, don’t refuse”. And since he can legitimately ask, I didn’t feel like I was forcing weaning (because honestly with Dax nursing has been a breeze for the both of us).
Now, he nurses when he wants which is right before bed/nap and first thing after he wakes up in the morning/after naps. And I’m fine continuing it because it works for us and I don’t feel touched out anymore. I know him and I know he’ll drop some of those when he’s ready. (He does fine when I’m out of town btw.)
Since he’s two now I’ve gotten a lot of negative comments from my friends (“Really? Still? Ugh please wean before kindergarten”) which hurts me. I don’t know God’s plan. This could be my only baby. Why rush it if it currently works for us both? Like you said, it’s a relationship, and it’s going great for now.
Oh, that’s so hurtful of your friends! I don’t understand that kind of input – it’s not a relationship that has anything to do with anyone but you and Dax, and if it’s working, go with it! So frustrating. I can’t imagine anyone feeling comfortable giving that kind of input on any other private, intimate relationship. Oh well. Good for you for doing what’s best for you!
See, I love that you and Dax have settled into what works for you both right now. So sorry about the comments. Unacceptable. I don’t see any reason to rush things either.
I used to get comments from people about still nursing my one year old. Like, he’s one now.. You can stop. I was too embarrassed to say I was still nursing but I kept nursing him til he was almost 2. Looking back I wish I would’ve just put them in their place.
A 1 year old is still a baby! I really think people underestimate the complexities of the nursing relationship. Yes you could go cold turkey but not every mom and baby can handle that. I’ve learned that if baby’s not ready, they’re not ready. If you don’t have to worry about going back to work or otherwise needing to be away from your baby and you’re comfortable continuing why not!
My twins are 14 months old and I have nursed them a great deal, nursing exclusively until I absolutely had to introduce food and still nursing now even though I hadn’t expected to make it this far. About a month ago, I felt that “done” feeling too. I had been nursing them 5 times a day at that point. I realized (similarly to you) that it wasn’t Alistair & Emerick who needed the 5 times a day. In fact, none of us needed it. We are down to 2-3 feedings a day now and it will probably feel right for a while before I make another tweak. My 1st weaned at 13 1/2 months, so this is foreign territory.
Yup, I was in the exact same place as Ashley with my twins at that point too, and “don’t offer, don’t refuse” has always worked great for us! My only problem was that when one of them asked, the other would always want to nurse, too! Then I got really sick for a few days and they didn’t nurse the whole time, at which point I decided we may as well just call that weaning, considering I’m pregnant with our fifth and wasn’t gaining weight…
I had trouble gaining weight at the beginning of my last pregnancy, too, Rosie. Partly due to all the puking, but also the calories from nursing. I was too sick to be sad when Lucy decided my milk tasted weird from pregnancy. In fact, I was relieved because I couldn’t get out of bed so nursing was just….hard.
Yeah for some reason I’ve never managed to gain weight during that first trimester due to nursing + nausea… I usually lose a few pounds, but this current pregnancy was the first where I started using magnesium oil, and I actually kept my weight steady, just couldn’t gain anything because of all the calories still being burned nursing twins – I just could. not. eat. enough!
As I wrote in your instagram, I have felt that overwhealmed feelings and am still going through them. This is my first baby who due to some muscule issues wasn’t breastfeeding for first three months. I was pumping until he started phisycal therapy and menaged to control his neck better. Ever since, I have mostl been nursing on demand. Some time ago, I felt so tired and drained and just wished to stop. I have cut it to three tmes a day + night feedings but I refuse when he asks more. I just fear this is never going to stop. For some reason I really want to stop and I haven’t really figured out why. I guess I personly don’t feel comfortable any more. I know I will be out of home for three days in October and I plan to not introduce nursing once I come back. I do feel bad about him as he is clearly still attched to nursing. And this is all very confusing for me as having so many daily struggles is so draining and tiring.
All these things are really hard to gauge, Katarina! I’m sure you’ll make a great decision. The emotional draining was what was difficult for me with how often Gwen was nursing. Once we cut out some feedings, I felt much better and more myself again.
I don’t have any advice, my oldest girl self-weaned at 11 months after she bit me and I yelped. 🙁 My younger girl is now 7 mos and she’s already started biting me with her new teeth. Eek. I’m stressing though, because I have to go back to work in a month, and she is super clingy right now. With the oldest we did a combo of bottle (w formula) and bf, until she rejected the breast, but I think I am nursing the youngest about every two hours right now, and it’s making me nuts, as well as worrying me about how it will go when my husband takes the last three months of our parental leave. She’s a mama’s girl.
I’ve totally been there with the back to work anxieties. Benjamin ended up preferring the bottle, too. It was tough! I hope the transition goes better than expected!
I think you have a right to feel touched out, so don’t feel badly. Two of mine self-weaned so I think that’s a healthy way to go. Either way, I thinkit is fine.
Thanks, Tacy!
My 13 month old is my longest nurser yet; my two older girls both self-weaned at 12 months almost exactly. He only nurses before nap and before bed, but he doesn’t really seem to eat, just kind of comfort suckle to calm himself down. I could probably try to settle him without nursing, at least at naptime, but I do so love those 10-20 minutes of just the two of us while he grins and goofs around with me.
I think trusting them with knowing their own needs as far as weaning is the right way to go, barring any outside complications or circumstances. I have days when I just want to put him in his crib and have a glorious hour or two without a small person clinging to my body one way or another, but I am trying to remember that these days are so short and I need to soak up those special moments as long as I can.
They are special moments!
This is interesting for me because I am in such a different place. My only son is 5 and he was born in between my Junior and Senior years in college. I was a huge advocate for breastfeeding, but when he was about 3 months old, I had to go back to school and the stress of school, and the inability to pump while I was away dried me up soon after and we had to switch to formula. We took him off formulat at one and switched to milk and got him off the bottle quickly.
We are now pregnant with our second and, unless some miracle happens, I will have to go back to work after s/he is born. Of couse I plan to try to breastfeed again, and since my workplace is nursing friendly, I hope that pumping will work for during the week, but I am worried about how to tranistion bottle feeding (of breastmilk) and breastfeeding. And, since my oldest was weaned before teeth (though he did get them early, at about 4 months), I am worried about getting biten this time around.
I had a very similar experience with our firstborn as far as working away from home and difficulties with pumping. But it really might be better this time around for you! And honestly, the biting thing wasn’t a big thing for either of my girls who nursed after teething. I was nervous about it, though!
Just a note of an encouragement, it is possible to work and bf. I’m going strong at 7.5 months while working FT. You can do it mama!! It isn’t easy but if you are determined it will work. My suggestion is to introduce a bottle at 6 weeks and give one occasionally until you go back to work. Make sure to always use the slowest flow nipple and have your caregivers pace feed bottles (method of bottle feeding that mimics breastfeeding- google it for a YouTube video) it is a great feeling as a working mama to come home and reconnect with baby through nursing. Also if you join local bf groups (online or in person)there will be other working mamas and that has really been an encouragement to me!
My Gv is 14 months old, too. I totally get the touched out feeling, but I was worrying lately about how she hasn’t been breastfeeding as much as she used to. Then I realized it was okay, because she’s not a newborn anymore and she shouldn’t be eating all day, everyday at this point. I had to kind of think about how I’ve been managing the whole process. I realized that I’ve been doing the ecological breastfeeding (although I didn’t know it had this name) and letting her come to me for milk all along. I still don’t know how often she eats during the day, but I just can tell it’s less. I had to reassure myself (because I’m hoping we’ll continue to breastfeed until she’s two) that she still breastfeeds a decent amount at night and in the morning and then still has “snacks” throughout the day. Thanks for writing this post, because it’s nice to read that someone else is having the same thoughts/concerns I’ve been having!
“I still don’t know how often she eats during the day”
I am so bad about paying attention to that! During those early newborn well child visits they always ask how often she nurses and I just say……um…..enough?
Hahaha, YES! I’m thankful that our pediatrician has always just asked if she’s nursing and soiling diapers often. I’m so happy he’s asked in such a vague way, because I probably would have been an anxious wreck if he’d asked me to quantify it all!
Dear Haley
i have 7 children. My oldest will be 11 at the end of the month. So i’ve been nursing for 11 years, usually tandem.
i know well the restless feeling, mine usually comes with a clenching of the stomach. i’ve found that these feelings of discomfort are a sign of dehydration for me. Perhaps you should check how much you are drinking. As a busy mom, it’s very easy to forget to drink and eat. So make sure you are taking care of yourself.
Yes, the ‘don’t offer, don’t refuse’ rule works great for toddlers.
Also homemade kefir can help or even cure reflux. You might want to look into kefir and its many health benefits.
Hope You Are Having An Awesome Day!
I’m experiencing this for the first time. I’m in my third trimester and my toddler is only nursing at night. But if he wants to nurse for more than about 5-10 minutes, I’m done. I’m so touched out and I just can’t handle it. I wish I had more advice. Right now, we’re working on my husband taking over more of the nighttime routine. It may just be a phase, it may be my body saying that it can’t handle nursing and growing a baby.
I remember that horrible touched out feeling! I had a couple sets of “Irish twins” 😉 and nursing while pregnant gave me that feeling. I felt awful! But I began to hate nursing! No one else I knew felt like that and I though there was something wrong with me. Thanks for writing about this!
I’m still nursing my firstborn, she’s 21 months old now. I guess I had the ‘goal’ of nursing till she’s two, but I don’t really have a set stopping time…I feel touched out now and then, especially since my cycles have returned and now my breasts are sore sometimes.
She nurses…A LOT. A lot a lot a lot. I don’t keep track. But she asks for it a lot – tired, scared, nervous, whatever – nursing is her comfort object. And why not? I work from home, and she’s never been away from me longer than 8 hours.
I’m trying to just let it happen as it happens. For whatever reason, she needs to nurse more than most kids. I’ll probably end up tandem nursing her with the next one. But, it’s what my breasts are for, so when it’s frustrating I offer it up for all those who want a child but can’t have one.
My first three children self-weaned around one year old, really before I was ready for them to stop nursing. There were definitely some sad feelings for me to deal with there! This time, with my fourth baby, he is still going strong! At 20 months he was still nursing about 5-6 times in 24 hours. Although there have been times I felt touched out, or my nipples hurt, I’ve been so grateful for this nursing relationship, especially since in such a busy household (four boys!) it has been a lovely connection for us. Just in the past month (age 21 months now) he has dropped down to 3-4 times in 24 hours (twice in the night, unfortunately for me, lol!) and I think he’s starting to feel less need for nursing. But until HE is finished, this is working just fine for us. And even though he is nearing age 2…he’s still so very little, and I’m so glad that God gave me the ability to supply his needs for physical and emotional nourishment in this way!
Thanks for this post. My third is exactly the same age as yours and she nurses a LOT especially at night. I’m feeling very touched-out right now and I’m about to spend a weekend away that I’m quite nervous about. I think I’ll try the method of not offering or refusing and see what happens! She is my longest nurser so far too.
Thank you, Haley.
I have a little boy, and our nursing relationship was nothing that I had anticipated. He never stopped crying and never slept, i just knew that something was off. The feelings of failure are still overwhelming at times, but I am hopeful for a breastfeeding relationship closer to what I had envisioned with our next babe. Your experience gives me hope.
Thank you for this awesome post! I’m not a mama yet, but my husband and I definitely hope to use ecological breastfeeding. I was breastfed until I was nearly four, and my five other siblings all went different lengths of time than I did. Also, I second the recommendation for Kippley’s books, they are very helpful!
I nursed my eldest till she was four and my younger until she was almost three and I’m waiting for number three in the next two months or so. Touched out for me usually meant that I needed to eat or drink something. It did occassionally mean that I needed someone else to watch my littles for a bit. We didn’t really have anyone around when my kids were little to watch them so even a half hour to shower or to garden or do laundry was a luxury. Getting that tiny bit of space to myself would help and then I could be really present for the next time my little on needed me and they would generally chill out a bit. I would also say that little can be taught about boundries as well. Alot of littles love to twiddle. I hate it. Nursing was done when they couldn’t keep their hands away from inside my shirt. That helped alot with the touched out thing. Just because you’re nursing doesn’t mean your little has absolute access to your body at all times. Nursing babies and toddlers is different. It helps every so much when there is someone who’s done both there to help you make the transition. La Leche has always been immensely helpful to me, just to hear others talk about the same things I was dealing with with small children (not necessarily nursing).
Dear Haley,
You just do what feels right for you. You have given Gwen an amazing gift! Breastfeeding for any length of time is an accomplishment for you and baby. It is always hard to let it go, whether it is the baby self-weaning or the mother ending the nursing. I am a woman who, for whatever reason, only produced minimal amounts of breastmilk after having both of my babies. My exclusive nursing relationship with both of my babies lasted about 5 to 6 days before I had to supplement with formula. I honestly would have done almost anything to produce more milk and had a longer breastfeeding relationship, but eventually, I had to surrender to the fact that my body would not produce it. It was a very difficult and emotional experience. I had tried everything and gave it my best effort. I think it is all about perspective. I am happy for you that you have had such a long breastfeeding relationship with your daughter. I really appreciate and like your blog.
Haley, this is great! I nursed Therese until 25 months, simply because we both enjoyed it! (I had to wean her because of my HG.) I don’t know how long Maria and I will go, but I think your advice is perfect! I would add two things: 1) don’t force yourself to stick with it if you’re so frustrated that it’s affecting your health, well-being, or relationship with your child. 2) know that there are all kinds of ups and downs nursing the second year…and, like the first year, they will pass!! So don’t think you have to quit if you don’t want to!
This post is so timely! My 17-month old loves to nurse. He nurses often (without me offering) during the day and still at night. I’ve been “touched out” quite a bit lately – mostly because I’m tired and want my own space in bed again. Just going to try and go forward into uncharted territory and pray God give me the grace to know what to do next! Would love for baby boy to drop some nursing sessions (my oldest self-weaned at 13-months) but I know I’ll miss that time together too which makes me encouraging weaning tricky.
My son is four, and for the last two years, has cut down to just nursing at bedtime. Over the last six months or so, the duration has shortened to just a few seconds. Now he’ll nurse for five seconds on each side at naptime on the weekends; otherwise, he’s not requesting it at bedtime more than once or twice a week. Due to a family history of uterine cancer, I have let him nurse as long as he wanted to, although I hit the “feeling over-touched” wall when he was around one. At this point, I don’t really mind the few seconds it requires, but it’s pretty obvious that he’s nearly done. I did have the benefit of being “cycle-free” for about four years, from pregnancy to just after his third birthday, so that was another reason for me to power through and allow him to continue nursing. I never thought I would be “that mom”, the hippie-type who would nurse a kid who walks and talks and attends preschool, but I appreciate the immunity boost it gives my son, especially since my twin died of SIDS when we were a month old, and I want to give my son as many health advantages as possible. His pediatrician has been fully on board, and supported our decision to just keep going until my son is ready to stop. I’m looking forward to a little weight loss when he’s finally done, but this bonding time has been irreplaceable, and I don’t regret nursing one bit.
Yes!! My 21-month-old daughter is still nursing at bedtime and nap time, and also, frustratingly, from about 3:30am-7am, intermittently. I am so exhausted of the early morning nurse-fest, and I’m ready for it to be over. This morning, when we woke up, I said, “Anne, why do you wake up all night and wake us up?” And she said, very simply, “Nurse!” and pointed at my boobs. I’ve been trying to explain to her for months that nursing is for the daytime, and I guess I’m just going to have to be more firm. It got harder when she started saying “please.” My husband and I are both ready for the all-night wake ups to be over, but I think we’re still both a little hesitant to give up the snuggles. I would love to night wean without stopping cosleeping, but I don’t know if it’s going to happen for us. We shall see! Glad little Gwen is still nursing after your night away – I do love the toddler nursing (in the daytime!). 🙂
My littles night wean before they stop sleeping with us. We found picking a week where we had a clear field and were rested up before hand (hah) and then being very firm that Yaya (what they called nursing) was sleeping until five or six oclock worked. But you can’t give up after two or three nights. This worked for us but obviously everyone is different. Good luck. I just wanted to let you know it can be done.
Good for you Haley! Finding your groove is a good thing — and you’ve shared what I think is the most important part of nursing — and that is listening to your own body and heart for clues as to what is best. Advice and encouragement from others can be helpful in sorting it all out, but your body and mind are very powerful knowers of what to do.
Nursing a toddler is a very special experience, because the relationship is one that is significant beyond nourishment. It is one that confirms compassion and sacrifice and love and closeness. However, there are definite challenges unique to nursing a toddler — that “touched out” feeling being such a significant one! As well, an emotional drain can happen when we see our child developing critical thinking and understanding, but yet that thinking does not always extend to the breastfeeding relationship.
I’ve been a nursing Mama for over 10 years — straight. I’ve had four children and each has nursed for an extended time and in tandem with their next sibling. My two oldest weaned in different ways, one at the age of 4 and one at the age of 3. My third child I’ve long been trying to wean, but she has not wanted to. We’ve finally agreed on a day later this week, right before her 5th birthday. This has — by far — been the most painful close to a nursing relationship, and I know that I will have to create some opportunities to connect with her in positive ways again. I am not sure when my 2 year old will wean, but I do know that I want to be more graceful in our ending the nursing relationship.
I never imagined tandem nursing, I never imagined nursing each of my children for such an extended period of time. I know that the difficult moments are real and so very hard. But the good of it all is so very good too. As I think ahead, knowing that I am nearing the end of my role as nursing mother, the word that has started to come more often to mind is sacrifice. These past ten years, I have willingly sacrificed my physical (and often emotional) part of myself to my children in a tangible, life-altering, and body-altering way. That allows me to take on the enormity of what I have done with both gratitude and pride.
Haley — I am wishing you all of the best in your nursing relationship — as it comes but once with your sweet Gwen.
Best,
Claudine
My second baby Lucille is 16 months and still going strong with breastfeeding. We nurse when its time for bed or nap time or just when she asks. And she does ask. She says “boob, boob.” Its pretty funny, and pats my chest. This extended nursing is new to me also; my son weaned himself at 9 months. I like knowing there are othothers out there that are nursing passed the 12 month mark.
So much yes. I think I will be rethinking and renegotiating my relationship with my son until we’re really ready to be done nursing. He’ll be 2 in October, but now I’m thinking, why not let him continue? He still asks four times a day, at least, and I say yes at least twice. The freedom to be flexible, now that he’s old enough to understand “not right now,” has saved a previous relationship.
I have to say this post came at just the right time for me. My 10 month old has gone on a bit of a nursing strike. We wrestle, he screams, I sometimes cry. And no nursing usually gets accomplished. I’ve spent most of this time feeling like a failure of a mom. I still don’t know exactly what the answer is for our situation, but you have helped me feel a bit better about it. Thank you.
After nursing for almost 5 years straight, oh how being “touched out” resonated with me. I was in the middle of writing a post on breastfeeding when I read yours. I liked those words so much that I linked to your post in mine; I hope that’s okay. I’m so thankful that mothers like you share both the good and the bad sides of nursing. Wishing you well!!
I love nursing my babies and most of them have self-weaned before I was ready for them to. Right now, though, I have a 13 month old who is making me a little crazy. He isn’t really interested in nursing at all during the day – maybe just once at naptime. And he makes this QUITE clear by biting me and crying. But he wants to nurse ALL. NIGHT. LONG. At bedtime at 8pm, and then at 10/11, and then at 1/2, and then at 4/5, and then at 6/7. I would love to nurse him that frequently during the day; I’m a SAHM so I totally can, but I’m worn out with the night nursing.
Mine do that when they’re in the distracted by everything phase. The only thing I’ve found helps (helps, not fixes), is to nurse lying down in bed.