I have a now 15 month old son who is still breastfeeding. I've recently been experiencing pain after he nurse like an empty feeling and sometimes just a random acheness. I had to start giving him a bottle so I could get some relief not everytime just 2 or three times a day. He likes to nurse 10-12 times in a 24 hour period. I'm getting close to my period could it be that I'm PG?? or hormones or is it just time to wean? I breast fed my second child until he was over two and he never had a bottle. I'm just not sure what to do and am looking for some opinions.
Thanks
Well I've decided it must be PMS because I've been very moody this weekend with little to no patience. I know many of you said not to introduce a bottle that he doesn't need it but he is a small boy who gets most of his nutrients from me. It seems to have helped me catch up and to breathe a little by giving him a bottle if he wants to nurse before three hours have passed. I offer him food all day long I just can't get him to sit and eat more then a few bites at a time. He is a very active and happy boy. I'm feeling much better and feel like I can cope better. I know stress doesn't help I've had sick kids since thursday too so I'm rather thankful for a break. Thanks for all your advice.
random thoughts here, could be pregnancy, period starting or perhaps yeast. at 15 months he doesn't need a bottle, offer a cup, but otherwise nurse when you are able and follow up with an LC or MD close to you. C., IBCLC
My youngest is 13 months old and nurses anywhere from 5-10 times per day. My middle child (who nursed to age 2 1/2) was still probably nursing 10-12 times a day at this age and eating very little solids. You already know this, but I wanted to point out to others that it's perfectly normal for a 1-year-old to still nurse that often -- for comfort and nourishment, and it's not a bad thing either way.
I know that my milk supply always drops and nursing gets uncomfortable both right before my period comes and if nursing while pregnant. (My older two children both weaned when I was 6 months pregnant with the next child.) So, it could be the normal hormonal effects of your cycle, or you could be pregnant. It could also be a yeast infection as someone else mentioned, but I have no experience with that.
If you wanted, you could try stretching his feedings out a bit on the days that his nursing so much is uncomfortable for you. Or you could partially wean to even 4 or 5 times per day if he seems ready. It's not necessary to offer a bottle at this age, though, unless he seems to need it. I usually just offer a snack and drink of water if I need to skip a nursing session for some reason, and my kiddos have generally done just fine.
Hello there! Kudos to nursing so long...that is wonderful. My advise would be to cut the nursing down a bit. 10-12 times a day is alot. Also, I would stop offering a bottle and start giving a sippy cup or a snack. He is probably looking for comfort during some of those feedings so maybe just give him a sippy cup and hold him close when you would normally breastfeed. Goodluck & God Bless!
Don't know about the pain, but nursing 10-12 times a day sounds like he isn't nursing for nourishment. Try soothing him in other ways, and to limit breastfeeding to just a few times a day. By 15 months, he could easily be taken off bottles entirely and getting all his nourishment from table food and milk.
You've gotten a lot of good advice already, so I will just add that if you are comfort nursing a lot, it may be just because he "thinks of it" everytime you sit down in a nursing position, perhaps on the couch. If you break your home routine a bit by standing up more (for instance when checking e-mail) you won't inadvertantly remind him that nursing is an option at that moment. The LLL saying is "don't offer, don'refuse". Also, you might try getting out of the house a bit more to break current cycles.
Good for you for extending this precious time into the toddler years.
Maybe you have a brest infection. I had one when I was breastfeeding my daughter. My breast was sore and had some redness. I went to the doctor and they gave me a prescription for it. Maybe you need to talk to your doctor. Hope this helps!
Nursing a 15 month old 10-12 times in a 24 hr period sounds like too much!!! That's a newborn schedule, not a baby who is also eating solid food. Is he doing this for comfort or are you still actually producing that much?? I think your breasts are just aching for a break. Good luck.
Pregnancy can cause this. Periods can cause it. A change in your milk supply can cause it. You can try putting warm packs on your breasts between feedings to relieve pain. Not a heating pad though, lol. That might get too hot.
I would also suggest talking to a Lactation Consultant or someone from La Leche League. They may be able to give you some more information.
Wow, 15 months and still nursing that often? That's awesome!
God bless,
A.
At 15 months, he's also old enough to drink from a sippy cup. I only nursed my children to a year and when I weaned them, they went straight to the sippy cup - no need for the bottle after a year. Assuming he's not allergic to dairy, he's also old enough to introduce regular milk if you wanted to supplement and give yourself a break. Have you asked your pediatrician about his frequency of nursing at this age? Perhaps the pediatrician would have some suggestions that would help get him to eat more solid foods so he isn't as needy about nursing.
