Feeling guilty about stopping BF my 1 year old...

[rosepicture]

12m old DD is currently on three feeds a day (pre-breakfast, mid-afternoon and before bed), since we've 'encouraged' her to give up her mid-morning feed. She feeds loads throughout the night though (at least 3 times...) and generally eats well, but isn't keen on any other milk sources (won't touch formula, but I can get some cows' milk down her). She's very slim for her height (25% weight, 95% height) but always has been (and one look at DH will tell you why!).

I'm keen (in a way) to cut down the BF or stop entirely since I want my cycles back to TTC#2 (no periods since October 2009!) and to try to get some sleep (have probably averaged about 4/5 broken hours a night over the last year), but part of me also feels very guilty for doing this - if I was back at work fulltime I think I'd feel differently, but I'm here (I work part-time from home) so feel incredibly guilty refusing to give her the boob when it's only about 20cm from her!! Am really torn. Anyone with any advice?

[TruthSweet]

Well you don't need to wean to get pg for starters though a temporary decrease in bfing (say a nice weekend away with DH?) can kick start your periods again.

The average getting period time is 14m post baby so you aren't late at getting them back.

Have you read Taking Charge Of Your Fertility? It has lots of info on fertility and cycles etc so might help you with conceiving if you are worried about it.

[RitaMorgan]

How about just stopping the night feeds? My periods came back when ds stopped feeding at night though I know that doesn't work for everyone.

Would you like to continue feeding just morning and night? I was thinking of stopping at 12 months too and have swapped ds's mid-morning and mid-afternoon for cow's milk in a cup, and actually have found I'm quite happy to keep doing the first thing/bedtime feeds for the time being.

[rosepicture]

I didn't know you could kickstart them again like that - thought it was all or nothing.... If it works that'd be perfect.

And I also didn't realise about the 14m thing - everyone I know with babies a similar age seems to have their cycles back (or be pregnant again!!). Very reassuring.

I keep hearing about that book - will seek it out.. Thank you for the hint.