Breastfeeding/weaning 17 month old

[shala]

Hi,
i have a 17month old & i am still breastfeeding. he only has 2 feeds a day, morning when he wakes & night time before bed. he will sometimes ask for the morning feed by hurling his dummy when we are lying in bed. he doesnt feed very long and sometimes only has one boob. he doesnt seem to be really that interested and i thought i may as well wean now so i can get myself into shape before i fall pregnant again at the end of the year. i think 17 months is really good so im proud of how far i have come. only thing is tonight i had a bit of a cry thinking its the last of him actually being a 'baby', its so emotional. i just want to know how (emotionally) people get through it?

[love4life]

Hey there, I can really relate. I was the same with my son at about 20 months. If you want to keep going, then do so. But if you are ready to stop replacing the feeds with lots of cuddles and special mum and bub time can help. I still miss feeding him to be honest and he turned 3 today. You have done a fabulous job!!

Lorraine.
_____________
Spend some time with me and discover the essence of breastfeeding.
http://www.the-essence-of-breastfeeding.com

[genegeenie]

Its a hard time. I was veyr nervous about stopping breastfeeding - also at 17mths, but it was getting uncomfortabel for me and I dont think he was getting much from it.

In th end it happened because I was pregant, there was very little milk and I have read it changes the flavour. He started taking a bottle for his day sleep (rice milk for us, he has cow/soy intolerence) and at 26mths still enjoys a bottle as a calmer.

Teh best thing is I dont really think it changed our relationship, I felt just as close and developed other ways to have that special time; stories, cuddles before bed, cuddles in the cot etc

It ended up being a huge relief for me, not the drama I thought it was going to be.

Good luck

[genegeenie]

oops lots of typos, am typing one handed while feeding #2, you know how it is!

[shala]

thanks to you both very much. well tonight was my 1st night of weaning, he had dinner, then his bath, then i gave him a bottle while on the couch with tv muted, then me and him went into the bedroom where we would normally do the breastfeed & read some books while he brushed his teeth. he seems to have gone to sleep fine. how long should it be until i give up the morning feed, any suggestions? he did actually ask for that feed this morning so that will be the hard one.
im feeling better than i did last night, and it may not be as hard as i thought. i think i will always miss it because i have cherished nursing him so much. thanks heaps x