Nearly a year bf- now what?

[apple_20]

I've somehow managed to bf for nearly a year ! I say somehow but actually after the first few months it's been a breeze.

Though I have had plenty of moments where I've thought if I stop maybe she'll sleep more than 2 hours in a row/ I'll be able to go out more. But we've muddled through and I've cherished our special nursing moments.

I'm not sure what the next step is for me. I don't feel like I need to stop bf completely but she STILL is up every 2-3 hours wanting milk and cuddles in the night!
I'm also hoping to be back at work in January probably full time- what will that do to her? Will she try and make up for lost time and feed all eve?

Basically I'm wondering should I start dropping her feeds gradually up to January so it's not such a shock? If so how?

ThAnk you for reading! As you can see I'm torn,

 

[noon_child]

I can't chose for you but I can say that breastfeeding still has amazing benefits past a year. If she needs the milk for nutrition then trying to cut out feeds will just make her wake more surely. If it isnt food but comfort she wants then I'm not sure how removing that source of comfort will help, as she'll still want/need comfort but you will have to look for other ways to give it (and they might not be as successful or quick!).

What I started to do at around that time was try cuddle /pat /sing before offering food straight away IF it had been less than 3hrs since the last feed. I found that the first wake up (usually about 10pm) she quite often responded to cuddles and shhing, so I got OH to do those wake ups to get her used to comfort from others. If she got very upsetI breastfed her.

January is a long way away in baby terms and you might find she has cut down feeds on her own by then.

 

[apple_20]

Thank you I agree that I don't want to stop comforting her. It would be nice if daddy could comfort too!

I'm hoping she will cut down on her own by January I just worry if she doesn't then it's a lot changing at once for her.

 

[honey915]

Well done for getting this far! It's incredible isn't it!? My ds2 fed until he was two and I only weaned because I was pregnant and the idea of tandem feeding made me feel like I was putting too much on myself and dd would miss out on her deeds fiend that she'd be newborn. So basically with ds2 he was a total milk monster and fed all night long. My back ached and I was knackered but the idea of giving up at 14 months made my heart ache! But I as working 12 hour shifts and so so tired beyond words. In the end my partner said that he was going to do controlled crying and gave me little choice in the matter. We went in every few minute and it worked from the second night with hardly any drama. He now sleeps really well. So he night weaned but u carried on feeding on demand during the day and while I was out at work for 12 hours he'd have his solids and either expressed milk or cows milk because he was over a year from a beaker. He didn't really like other forms of feeding but if he needed it he'd have a bit and have a really good feed in the morning and at night. I worked his bedtime routine around feeding so he'd get a few and in my days off (5 days a week cause I only work 2 days) I would give it in demand. He really loved it for comfort so Keats remembered to feed when he wanted it and when I wasn't here he got used to it pretty quickly and would run up to me in the evening and tank up before bed! My return to work was when he was 9 months and at this point he was still in my bed all night and up all night so I would feed all just long. He really tanked up at night and refused milk from a bottle for a while,but maybe the odd sip from a beaker here and there when he was thirsty. He was on solids at this point. So in my experience night weaning is the way forward. Although I was so worried I'd really miss that night time bonding he woke up around 5am for me to feed him and have cuddles until I had to get up which was lovely. This was I had a full nights sleep and cuddles. Best of both worlds. Your milk supply just adapts. Our bodies are amazing. You might be a bit full now and then that you need to express some at work but that's no problem and you're legally allowed to express at work for health and safety reasons. Sorry for he ramble. Hope that helps xx

 

[honey915]

Sorry predictive text literally drives me mad!

 

[apple_20]

Thanks for your advice, I was away Saturday night so she had no milk all night and didn't want daddy cuddles. Last night I decided to see what happened if I didn't go in and feed her if she cried, but see if she'd fall back to sleep after 5 mins.

She did! Slept through the night for the first time EVER! 7.30-4.40 with no feeds and only waking breifly then self soothing. She fed lots in the early morning then back down until 7am happy mummy, I hope we can keep this up.

 

[noon_child]

Thanks for your advice, I was away Saturday night so she had no milk all night and didn't want daddy cuddles. Last night I decided to see what happened if I didn't go in and feed her if she cried, but see if she'd fall back to sleep after 5 mins.

She did! Slept through the night for the first time EVER! 7.30-4.40 with no feeds and only waking breifly then self soothing. She fed lots in the early morning then back down until 7am happy mummy, I hope we can keep this up.

Wow that's amazing! My LO never responded to being left to cry, she'd go for hours...I hope this is the solution you wanted.

 

[honey915]

That's amazing! So pleased for you! Hope it lasts for you and you settle into a lovely routine

 

[apple_20]

We tried it a few months ago but she wasn't ready and wasn't settling herself, maybe she's just ready now, let's see how tonight goes !

It is a big positive to me as if I can get a good amount of sleep I'll find working easier.

 

[honey915]

Good luck! X

 

[Literati_Love]

Wow, that's amazing, apple! Can't believe she fell back asleep on her own! That would also never happen to my dd but as you said I guess she was just ready. Sounds like you don't need to night wean now but we did just night wean and it has improved my dad's sleep a bit. It's quite tough to get her to sleep when she wakes up now, so I am much more tired than before, but she has done one 5-hour stretch for a couple nights now. Hoping for more improvement soon. We didn't let her cry though. It was very gentle and we soothed her to sleep with as many cuddles and back tickles as she wanted.

As for going back to work, I didn't bother to reduce feeds at ALL before I went back and then when I did go back I just pumped at lunch for a bit, but she ended up barely even drinking an oz or two while I was gone (even though she nursed every few hours when I was home) so I stopped pumping altogether shortly after. I still nurse before work, after work and before bed (and up until recently - all night long) and she seems to have adjusted just fine. When I'm not there, she's seems to just 'wait' for me so I think you may find your dd is totally fine if you don't worry about dropping feeds well beforehand.

 

[apple_20]

Thanks literati she's been much better at night but since she has a cold she has been having a 1am feed and a 4am get into bed with mummy and feed/sleep until morning. I'm okay with that at least it's not all night like before!

Now my work start has been moved forward to November so looks like no time to cut back on feeds! Now I'm just concerned my boobs are gonna kill me I will talk to my boss about pumping at lunch I'm sure she will find me a room!

 

[c1403]

Similar scenario here. My DD is 13 months and wakes 2-3 times at night. I always nurse her back to sleep as it keeps her quiet and doesn't wake the whole house, but I am tried. I need a good sleep so not sure what to do next. If I ignore her she just continues to cry....
During the day she feeds 5-6 times if I am at home. The two days I work she goes 7 hours without milk and she will not take a bottle.

 

[c1403]

Ps... Hope your LO keeps up the good sleep for you

 

[apple_20]

Thank you. She's not very well at the moment so it's gone to pot! All she wants is boobs. .

 

[Literati_Love]

Same here! DD is sick and back to nursing all night and asking for it every 15 minutes during the day! I am exhausted! It seems like there's ALWAYS something, doesn't it? Hope your LO feels better soon and goes back to sleeping for you!

C1403 - hope your LO's sleep improves soon as well!

 

[twiggy327]

What I did and it helped so I didn't get engorged was to just replace one feeding a day with cow's milk (my kid's were 11 months old when i start) in a sippy cup. I did the morning feeding before daycare as it was easier to just give them the sippy and a fruit bar with oatmeal instead of BFing and did not pump. Then, after like a week, i think it may have been closer to 10 days, I took out the before lunch bottle (both of my kids hated baby food so i just gave them soft "table" food from 6 mos on) and replaced with the sippy cup and an extra snack like applesauce. Another week, took out another feeding but kept the night time nursing until they were a year old and then by that time i was almost totally dried up and we got rid of any bottles or nursing for good. The nighttime feeding is the hardest since thats what they used to go to sleep.

 

[apple_20]

Thanks! My lo actually self soothes to sleep has done from about 4 months old but it's the waking in the night feeds she seems to need, I'm going to cut down when she starts feeling better.

I'm feeling very 'end of an era' today