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Original poster

Night weaning and mastitis

8 replies

Softsoftsleep · 11/04/2023 03:13

A week ago I stopped breastfeeding my 14 month old at night. She was latched onto me all through the night and just wanted to feed constantly. I now put her down awake an do the shush pat and stay with her but don't lift her.

I give her her last breastfeed just before bedtime around 8, after a big supper. I try not to feed her again until 5.30am. If she wakes I do the shush pat. It has been difficult, but each night she goes to sleep by herself more easily and I'm getting more sleep.

I've been feeling quite unwell the past few days and today was diagnosed with mastitis. The doctor said that I didn't have to feed the baby at night unless I felt very engorged and gave me antibiotics.

Baby has been awake for 2 hours and now I'm doubting myself. I just don't know what to do? Should I be feeding her in the night? I really want to stop breastfeeding at night but does she need it? I feel like I've put so much into night weaning...the crying, the sleepless nights, now the mastitis and I don't want to undo my sacrifice...but she has been crying for 2 hours.

What should I do?

OP posts:
Original poster
Softsoftsleep · 11/04/2023 03:31

I broke and breastfed her. What a waste of two hours shushing and patting!

OP posts:
somethingfunny · 11/04/2023 03:34

Do whatever works for you. I'd say a few hours awake time during the night wouldn't work for me. With my first I stopped feeding to sleep at bedtime around 14 months, but kept feeding overnight to get her to sleep as fast as possible (we coslept so this led to the most sleep for the most people). Within 2 months she stopped wanting to feed overnight (resettled with cuddles) and a few weeks after that started regularly sleeping through the night. I'll be using the same approach (stop feeding to sleep at bedtime but keep feeding to sleep overnight) when the time feels right with my second (12 months old)

SquigglyGum · 11/04/2023 03:37

Its so hard isn't it, you're doing a great job.

Nutritionally, no your 14m doesn't need to be bf at night, so she's not going to starve without it. She has been used to it so it will take a little time to get her used to the new routine. I've found offering water in a cup (actually dh doing this at night wakings) means they stop when they realise they're not getting boob.

She will have been used to the comfort though, so to a degree she needs it. So maybe think how you could replace it with a soft toy or lovie that smells like you. You're doing what sounds like gentle sleep training so she knows you're there.

Finally, managing the mastitis. Look at the updated advice - you can manage it without antibiotics, with ibuprofen or other anti inflammatory, and ice packs. Be gentle with massage, and avoid over feeding.

Best of luck, she'll get there!

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Original poster
Softsoftsleep · 11/04/2023 03:38

somethingfunny · 11/04/2023 03:34

Do whatever works for you. I'd say a few hours awake time during the night wouldn't work for me. With my first I stopped feeding to sleep at bedtime around 14 months, but kept feeding overnight to get her to sleep as fast as possible (we coslept so this led to the most sleep for the most people). Within 2 months she stopped wanting to feed overnight (resettled with cuddles) and a few weeks after that started regularly sleeping through the night. I'll be using the same approach (stop feeding to sleep at bedtime but keep feeding to sleep overnight) when the time feels right with my second (12 months old)

OK that makes sense. So long as she doesn't breastfeed to sleep the first time she goes down. OK that's interesting thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
Softsoftsleep · 11/04/2023 03:43

SquigglyGum · 11/04/2023 03:37

Its so hard isn't it, you're doing a great job.

Nutritionally, no your 14m doesn't need to be bf at night, so she's not going to starve without it. She has been used to it so it will take a little time to get her used to the new routine. I've found offering water in a cup (actually dh doing this at night wakings) means they stop when they realise they're not getting boob.

She will have been used to the comfort though, so to a degree she needs it. So maybe think how you could replace it with a soft toy or lovie that smells like you. You're doing what sounds like gentle sleep training so she knows you're there.

Finally, managing the mastitis. Look at the updated advice - you can manage it without antibiotics, with ibuprofen or other anti inflammatory, and ice packs. Be gentle with massage, and avoid over feeding.

Best of luck, she'll get there!

Thank you so much! That's reassuring. You're right that she is looking for the comfort and I need to be mindful of that. Re the mastitis, I've been trying everything naturally but have not been feeling any better, worse in fact. The chills, muscle aches, exhaustion, general flu like symptoms were worsening more than the 'breast' symptoms. Feel like I've turned a bit of a corner but it's been a tough few days.

OP posts:
SquigglyGum · 12/04/2023 04:39

That sounds really sore, and like you needed antibiotics so you did the right thing. My suggestion isn't instead of antibiotics, in that my gp suggested these additional measures to help solve the root cause and to manage myself next time I feel a blocked duct and the beginnings of mastitis. I've managed to get rid of the inflammation using the cold pack (actually a banana from the freezer, it's just the right shape!) and ibuprofen before the fever and chills set in.

Original poster
Softsoftsleep · 12/04/2023 06:04

I definitely needed the antibiotics...had images of myself collapsing into a ditch if I didn't get something sorted 🙃 I've had blocked ducked as lumpy boobs before with my other kids, which I managed myself but it never got to that really systemic stage before. The pain in my breast has all but gone now too. I slept in a different room to the baby and had a great sleep too!

OP posts:
SquigglyGum · 12/04/2023 11:49

Hurray for a nights sleep! Great news and hope it's the first of many

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