What should I do? Hard breastfeeding decision. Please read post first.

Question

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My daughter is 2 years and 5 months old and she still nurses once a day after her nap. 
I decided that tomorrow will be the last nursing session since we bought a new house and we’re moving next month. We want to start trying for baby 2 immediately and I know I don’t want to be nursing while pregnant. I also want to give my daughter a month to adjust to the change of no more nursing before we move to the new house and she has to adjust to that big change. 
I cried today while nursing her because I knew we only had one day left. It hurt my heart so much. 💔 We have both gained so much from the time spent nursing, and we both still enjoy it...the snuggles, looking into each other’s eyes, rubbing her head, and enjoying those quiet, peaceful moments together. 
I keep feeling like I should extend it “just one more day” but my gut tells me I should stick with the plan, and maybe I will enjoy the little bit of extra freedom that comes with weaning. Also, maybe my daughter will adapt quickly and be ok, even though I know she loves nursing so much. At the same time, I want to imprint these moments on my heart forever and I never want them to end (although I know they have to end soon). 😔
What would you do? Also, please feel free to share how your last nursing session went. Was it emotional, or were you totally ready?

Answer

I didn’t know my last nursing time was my last time.  At 13.5 months old my daughter decided she was done nursing.  That being said, I was sad, but super proud of my accomplishment, as you should be! Also, the snuggles don’t stop even if the nursing does.  You’re still her mom and she still needs you for love, security and comfort.  I promise you’ll still get the snuggles and she’ll get the security and love she needs too.  It’s ok to be done.  In hindsight her stopping nursing was a good thing since it allowed us to resume our fertility treatments to try for baby 2.

Answer

I allowed my son to self wean which he did during my second pregnancy it’s pretty common for them to wean themselves during pregnancy as your milk changes. I wouldn’t have done it any other way personally

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It was a Sunday morning, my husband brought him to bed with us for snuggles. He hadn’t been nursing in the morning for awhile but asked, so we nursed. He was sleepy and happy and so sweet. Then he never asked again. He was 18 months, and I got pregnant with our second a couple of weeks later, I’m currently 16 weeks.
I’m snuggling with him right now as he falls asleep in his big boy bed. The sweet snuggles haven’t stopped, and I hope they never will. 
I did cry when I realized it was really over. I wrote down everything I could remember from our journey, including the last time, so that I’d never forget how amazing that time was. The beginning was really hard, and thrush is awful, and I hate pumping, but the rest was a magical bonding experience that I’ll always cherish.

Answer

Personally, I wouldn't do it right before a big change such as moving, but it's up to you really.
You don't need to wean to fall pregnant, the child may well self wean while pregnant due to the change in taste and supply.
My daughter is 17 months, I'm 28 weeks pregnant and she's not really interested now - I hope she'll come back seeing her brother at the breast, but we'll see.
Pregnancy is actually a fantastic time to wean though as the drop in supply and the taste changes to 'weaning milk' which encourages the child to wean, then just gradually cut it out, making sure it's finished about 3 months before birth to ensure there's no sibling rivalry.
Toddler may ask for breast after birth, sometimes they are looking to go back, but often actually just testing to see how you react, if you'll allow it.

Answer

First off: Kudos and Congratulations to you! You have sustained your daughter on your milk for over 2 years and that is an amazing and beautiful thing! Also, congratulations on your new home and I wish y'all the best of luck with trying for Baby #2! 😁
Second: If your gut keeps bringing you back to the thought or weaning, no matter how hard that is on your heart, it's time to wean. Mama's just KNOW. It will be rough in some spots, but you got this! Maybe try suggesting things like "oh, look (baby girls name), Mommy/Daddy are drinking (milk replacer of choice), don't you want some so you can be like Mommy/Daddy?" 
I personally did not get to breastfeed long. I started out okay, had many hard days/nights, used a nipple shield due to inverted nipples, and had to supplement here and there, but she was happy and so was I! I did breastfeed until she was 5 months exclusively before noticing she was always hungry. That's when we started supplementing with formula. She became used to the shape of the bottle, and I figured pumping would work best. I didn't respond to the pump. I tried so many different pumps and none of them worked. The only one that did was super expensive and it was only loaned to me for a month through a program I signed up for. (Pre-COVID). My husband and I also were having very bad issues, (emotionalinfidelity on his part with a co-worker) and due to the stress of that, partnered with my problems with breastfeeding and pumping, I dried up. The last time I fed my sweet girl from my breast was the day I realized I wasn't going to get anymore. I could sometimes hand express (OUCH!) and get an oz, maybe two, to put into her bottle of formula. When I tried the last time, barely anything came out. There was no pain, no lumps and bumps, just a normal breast minus the fact I could no longer feed her that way. I even thought it was a clogged duct and tried to feel for one and never found it. During me figuring all of that out, my daughter woke up hungry. I decided to put her to breast, and she drank what she could get while I had a family member who was visiting, make a bottle. I stared into my girl's beautiful eyes and cried, running her head the entire time. Telling her what a good girl she was and that I love her so much. It was very emotional. 
Even though she got used to the bottles, and I dried up naturally, she still relied on me for feedings for another few months. So we still for to bond in a way over feeding times. 
I hope this helps!

Answer

I hope my kids don't want to breastfeed longer than 4-5 months personally 😅

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Whatever works for you. I think whatever you decide is best will be. 😊

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I'd say this decision is completely up to you, I am 19 weeks and nursing my 11 month old and my nipples hurt SO freaking bad!!! It makes me want to quite , but I don't want to give up on my little one until he is ready. My last daughter decided she was done on her own around 15 months. So hopefully not long 🥴

Answer

My daughter naturally weaned around 20mo when I was a few months pregnant with my second. I heard breast milk changes taste to encourage natural weaning while you're pregnant. I say don't stop if you enjoy it so much and see if she will do it naturally while pregnant! It was a nice experience easing into it instead of knowing which feeding would be our "last"

What should I do? Hard breastfeeding decision. Please read post first.

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