I have no advice re the weaning and ttc because I was able to get pg while
still nursing (even at night - god knows how!). However, after my DS was
born and my DD wanted to nurse MORE than the newborn, I realized that
something had to give. It was hard to wean this way and I don't recommend
doing it in this order, but it DID eventually work for us...bear in mind
that my DD was a bit older than yours, but still...
We had specific times for nursing and I made it the ones that would be
harder to give up for her. So what we did was say "We are not going to
nurse at night any more because xxx (whatever reason will make sense for
your situation and maturity level of the kid). This means that when you DO
nurse in the morning, there will be more milk and you can nurse for as long
as you want. Once you are done, then you will have to wait until tomorrow
morning again. You can nurse in the morning, but mama's na-na's need a rest
from nursing at night now. Instead, you can have some warmed up [cows] milk
in a big girl cup" at night time."
I chose a time of day to start this when she was not already asking to nurse
and when she was not thinking about nursing. She asked some questions about
it and I answered as honestly as I could. It was difficult to understand
that her brother was allowed to nurse ("but he can't eat other big kid foods
like you") but she couldn't. When the evening came we made a big fuss about
the milk and what a big girl she was, and while there was some resistance it
she did not try to pull up my shirt and I was determined not to give in
anyway. After the first night she just accepted it. If she woke up in the
night, I just held her very close and told her that as soon as it was
daytime she could nurse and that I was "saving" the milk for her. I found
that while I was still drowsy I did not mind letting her nurse for as long
as she wanted (I got to sleep a little longer too!). We also specified that
we could only nurse in bed. Sometimes she would totally forget to nurse in
the morning and then if she asked again, I would take her up to the bed (and
sometimes then she would fall asleep!) and nurse her later in the day.
We gradually just cut the allowed nursing times down, to the point where she
could nurse up to the count of 10, and then cut the number of days down
(like every other day, then just weekends etc.). If you are not nursing
another one, your milk supply will eventually dwindle to the point where
they realize it's just not worth it. Whenever dd wanted to nurse I'd get
her some warmed up milk and feed it to her, but she also recognized the
additional playtime and freedom she got by roaming with the cup of milk so
she did that often as not too. I tried to give her as many opportunities to
have close time with me as I could and when her brother nursed, I'd read a
book to her or just snuggle with her in front of the TV. I took it very
slow though, and I don't know how quicky you'd like the process done with.
Even over 2 years after weaning she still occasionally asks to nurse (her
brother is still going strong), but always knowing that I will say "no".
She is 6 though, so I know she doesn't really expect me to, she's just
testing me like when she asks for chocolate pudding for breakfast
Good luck - I also recommend the book "How Weaning Happens" by La Leche
League. It's full of helpful tips
"cjra" <cjrohr31.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:270d753b-cb7f-4e8b-a85e-c70c5c1d7f27@79g2000hsk.googlegroups.com...
> this group has gotten so over run with spam, but I hope some of you
> wonderful breastfeeding folks are out there.
>
> DD will turn 2! in a couple of weeks. I can't believe my little one,
> who so terrified us with her scary birth experience, is a
> rambunctious, healthy 2 yr old. We're still nursing, but for the past
> couple of months only at night before bed, and even then not daily.
> Some nights she nurses for a few minutes then wants to read or go
> straight to bed, other nights, if we're out, she may fall asleep on
> her own. But there are some nights she'll nurse for an hour if I let
> her.
>
> I decided today we needed to wean. She hadn't nursed the last 2 nights
> anyway. Wrong night. She went ballistic. DH tried to put her to bed
> with a story and all she did was scream for Maman. I went and cuddled
> and held and talked to her and she just kept pointing to the rocking
> chair (our nursing spot). I sat her down in it, but she screamed
> pulling at me to sit down. I finally did and tried rocking her. Nope.
> Finally I caved and nursed her...but only about 5 minutes. She wasn't
> too happy, but she did fall asleep pretty quickly thereafter.
>
> So, any suggestions to make this go easier? I didn't think it'd be so
> bad because she probably skips it a few times per week already.
>
> The reason I'm weaning is that we're desperately ttc. I got pregnant
> in Nov but had an ectopic and surgery in Jan of this year. I am
> ovulated and have been since she was 13 months. However I haven't had
> any luck conceiving since then (we started trying again after 2
> cycles). After some careful charting (Was really hard for awhile since
> she still wasn't STTN), it looks like my progesterone levels may be on
> the lower side and my luteal phase is 12 days. While that's the
> minimum, it can make it tough for conception. Somewhere I read - and I
> can't find anything now, so not sure if this is right and that's my
> main question! - that progesterone drops during breastfeeding. If t
> his is the case, maybe that's the reason for the short-ish luteal
> phase and lack of conception, even though I'm hardly BF at all these
> days. I did take vitex back around the time I conceived before, but
> though I know it's not linked to the ectopic, I'm kind of scared to
> try it again, though maybe I will.
>
> For those who say just wait...I'm going to be 39 soon, and we really
> really really want another kid!
>
> I'm ok with weaning. I have enjoyed our nursing relationship but I
> don't feel bittersweet about it or anything. I would continue awhile
> if I could get pregnant, but am not sad to stop. Except when DD cries
> for me. 
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