Night weaning toddler because of pregnancy?

Question

Ok, my son is 21 months old and ever since I became pregnant, I am not 16 weeks along, he has been nursing like a newborn. I do not mind so much the frequency, it does not bother me. But my issue comes at night. He nurses about 2-3, sometimes more, times at night and I have begun to have some contractions when he nurses at night, and cramping in my sides and lower back. I pushed through it for a while, but now it has started to get to be just a little too much for me to handle, plus I am worried about if it is possibly a concern for the baby/pregnancy. I do not want to wean him completely, and there are no signs or reason that I need to, but am feeling like maybe night weaning would be a good idea. We also co-sleep, and do not want to end that either, so any advice would need to work with our co-sleeping.

If you have any tips on how to at least decrease the night nursing, or on how I can help the contactions/cramping without night weaning, I would greatly appreciate it.

And if you are posting just to tel me I have to wean, cannot nurse during pregnancy, my son is too old... blah blah blah... please spare me.

Answer 1

It is likely that your milk supply has decreased somewhat, and the increased frequency of nursing is his way of trying to get your supply up.

One thing that I do is go give my nursling a sippy cup of water at night time. When he wakes, I offer him the cup. Sometimes he takes a drink and turns over an goes back to sleep; sometimes he gets mad and wants to nurse. Over time, though, he takes the cup more and more and the breast less and less. It takes a while, but it works - I'm using this technique for the 3rd time right now.

I've found this article from Dr. Jay Gordon to be very helpful as well:

http://www.drjaygordon.com/development/a...

Answer 2

You could try telling him that momma's milk is sleeping now, and that he can have it when it's light out.  It will be difficult for a while, since he can probably smell your milk and such, but try holding him close, rubbing his back and singing to him while he settles and drifts off to sleep.

Typically, you can nurse all the way through pregnancy without it being a problem.  Braxton Hicks contractions are usually felt earlier in subsequent pregnancies (I've felt them since four months as well, and I'm not nursing right now).  They also tend to be more common at night, because you're weary from the day's activities.  Nipple stimulation will only start true labor once your uterus is sensitive to the oxytocin released, and that is usually very very close to term.

So, while they may be annoying, I don't think that the contractions will hurt your pregnancy.  Your son actually might self-wean anyways once your milk begins to turn to colostrum again.  Many toddler nurslings are put off by the change in taste.  If that happens, you may be able to see if he'd like to restart nursing again once the baby arrives and you have milk again.

I wanted to add that you'll find a ton of info on this subject if you check out the forums and articles at La Leche League's website.  Many many mothers there do child-led weaning, extended nursing, and co-sleeping.

http://www.llli.org/

http://forums.llli.org/index.php

Answer 3

Are you sure you are drinking enough before bed?  You also might want to drink at night that can help the contractions.  Also try taking red raspberry leaf tea as well to reduce the severity of your contractions (and possibly increase breastmilk supply)

Otherwise there is the No-Cry Method by Elizabeth Pantley:

http://www.digsmagazine.com/host/host_en...

Night Weaning

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/weaning/weani...

Changing The Sleep Pattern In The Family Bed

http://www.drjaygordon.com/development/a...

Answer 4

I agree.  Your son is probably old enough to understand that mama is sleeping, mama's nurses are sleeping and he should go to sleep too.  (My kids call my b*****s "nurses."  I taught them to say breast, but they prefer nurses.)  He can nurse in the morning when the sun comes up.

You can also try what I did with my two year old nursling when nipple sensitivity got to be too much for me to handle.  I told her that nursing made mom hurt right now, and I know that she doesn't want to hurt me.  I told her that she can nurse after the baby is born and my nurses feel better.  I gave her extra cuddles and she went through a couple weeks of potty regression, but she told me that she understood and she didn't want to hurt me.

I hope that helps.  A good midwife can help you with this.