Anybody who has seen Lucy and I out and about even once, has likely seen her aggressively trying to get under my shirt regardless of where we are. Before she was born, I imagined only breastfeeding for about a year. I really didn't how what to expect, and didn't anticipate it being the amazing experience that it was. Up until Lucy was 18 months old (last week), it was an important nutritional source for her, and was a saving grace during times of leaps, teething, and fussiness. It helped her avoid sickness this fall when the rest of us were down and out with cold, and above all, it was a major comfort for her throughout the day.
Had I not gotten pregnant again, I wouldn't have weaned her yet - there was no reason to! I was still producing a lot, and Lucy always wanted it. We really had a good system going. However breastfeeding can take a lot out of you. Partner that with pregnancy and lupus, and I am one exhausted mama; I need to help myself where I can. I was nervous to wean, and though I didn't want to do it gradually, I wanted to be as gentle as possible. We did it in a weekend, with fussiness lasting until the end of the week. It's now been about 10 days since she's nursed, and I am amazed at how she adapted.
Here's how I did it:
First off, I waited for the perfect timing, and decided that the "now or never" moment came when Shane ended up having an extended weekend at home.
Thursday - Sunday
Shane tended to Lu instead of me during times we'd typically nurse, like before bed, first thing in the morning, and after nap. This was the incredibly helpful first step in distancing her from breastmilk.
There have been several times in the past 6 months that Shane and I have left Lucy for a few days at a time, and we go straight back to our breastfeeding routines after we come home. So during our "weaning weekend," I wanted to make sure she saw me around the house - though not during her nursing routines - to help distinguish this time as one of change. Lu handled this well, and went down very easy with Shane. There really weren't any difficult times over the weekend. She went from breastfeeding 3 times a day on Wednesday (the day before we began), to once on Friday morning, to nothing by Saturday.
Monday - Friday
Back to our regular schedule with Shane at work, and back to putting Lu to sleep myself. During the week we were in the habit of nursing at least two times daily: after work, and before bed. To eliminate the post-work feed I relied on screen time and tasty snacks to distract a pretty pissed-off Lucy, and get her used to being beside me at "nursing time" without nursing. After about 3 days it got way easier, with no tears, and only half-hearted attempts.
Weaning before bed was only tough for a single night, and I am still shocked at how quickly she adapted. The first night she fought and cried and wouldn't accept the bottle I was offering. I danced her around and sung, trying to make the routine different from what it was before. The second night, I offered her the bottle and she took it, immediately snuggling into me. She finished the whole thing, and went soundly to sleep. Not only was I shocked at how quickly she learned, but I was immensely comforted; I thought she wouldn't snuggle like we did before. Yet she snuggled, she was affectionate, and all my fears of losing our bond were put to rest.
It's been a week now that Lu's been weaned. Our connection is just as strong, she's napping better when she's at day care, and I've got one less thing taking a toll on my body. Though it was a hard decision, and full of tears (for both of us), it was the right one to make.
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P.S. But what did I do with the extra breastmilk I have continued to produce since then, you may ask?
MILK FACIALS. Every day. My skin is glowing and I look 22 again.