Help me keep going with my 1 yo. Is it worth it?

[bumperliciious]

DD2 is 13 months, about the same age as when I stopped bfing dd1. But by then she was on one feed a day and didn't notice me stopping at all.

DD2 on the other hand loves the boob. Problem is I'm not enjoying it so much. I never did really. Of couse I get the odd lovely moment, the occasional feeling of satisfaction but mostly I do it because it is good for her, it's easy(ish) and she loves it. I work 3 days a week and on a work day I feed 2-3 times, non work day 4-5. But I spend most evenings (she still often feeds to sleep) fending of her hands from going in my ears, mouth, nose, pinching and scratching my boob or arms. In the day she feeds in all manner of positions.

I feel a bit manhandled and just snapped at dd1 for keeping on touching me while I was reading to her as I just couldn't bear it!

I don't know what to do. If dd2 stopped I'd be sad but not too bothered. I just know she'd really hate to give it up, I'm not sure I can do that to her yet.

I guess I just want good reasons for continuing or ways to stop if I decide I want to.

Bf is only right if it is working for you both. You already know that though.

What do you want? Do you want prodding to keep going or do you want permission to stop?

FWIW ds stopped all by himself at 13 months, he just stopped asking. I stopped feeding dd at about 21 months because I just couldn't take it any more. I couldn't cope with the pestering, I couldn't cope with the nights. I had tried and tried to get to a happier point of having morning or evening feed only but for her it was all or nothing. She complained bitterly for one day/night and then that was it, she accepted that the milk was gone and she didn't bother asking. She must still have fond memories of feeding though, she is nearly 3 now and I'm pg so she has designated one breast for the baby and one for herself when they start making milk again .

'What do you want? Do you want prodding to keep going or do you want permission to stop?'

I don't know. I don't think dd2 will give up without a fight. Nights aren't really a problem any more. I'm just feeling a bit physically mithered!

How about starting to teach her nursing manners www.kellymom.com/bf/older-baby/nursing-manners.html. If she didn't do as many of these things would you be happy to carry on?

feeding after one still has lots of advantages www.kellymom.com/bf/bfextended/ebf-benefits.html.

I agree with working on nursing manners. You could give that a go at least, and if you're still feeling like you want to stop, you haven't lost anything.

Oh ds is the same with all the proding and pinching and poking and the positions. But he really suffers with teething and bf definately helps. Plus all the other reasons to continue.

Could someone take dd2 for a whole day (she could manage all day without milk I'm sure as a one off). We did this recently as I was ill and oh it was bliss for 8 hours to be left alone. I felt it really let me recharge enough to carry on bf without minding so much.