Please could any extended-ish BFers remind me why I'm doing this

[ohbugrit]

DD is 19 months and has always been a very enthusiastic boob fan. She had a virus this week (hooray for boobs) and has now got tonsillitis. She's on antibiotics but has been feeding constantly for the last few days/nights. She's much better but is completely manic about BF now. She's been insisting on being latched on since midnight, for example. I am so sore and fed up and so desperate for sleep, space and some time off for my poor nips.

This is really just a moan but if anyone happens to have the answer, I'd love to hear it!

The lovely feeling of closeness you have when doing it? The fact that it seems to soothe her when nothing else does? Because when she is ill it's the one bit of nutrition she'll always take? Because when she's not being such a vociferous feeder it still feels like the most natural thing in the world to do? Because she still actively seems to want and need the nutrition and comfort it derives?

Still bf at just 2, did it til 2.5 with DD, by which time I really had had enough. DS would do it constantly if I let him, he's a real boob monster and the above are my reasons for continuing...I do understand hour frustrations though as I have been through those phases with both of mine...I still love doing it mostly though, and still feel like it's one of the loveliest parts of being a mum (for me, understand it's not the same for all.)

Ps have you some Lasinoh tucked away from the early days for your poor nipples?

Ds had a nasty virus a couple of months ago and fed constantly.
He couldn't physically take in anything but breastmilk. Water made him gag. The dr pointed out that without Breastfeeding, he would probably have ended up in hospital.

^ is that a good reason? :)

I hear ya. DD2 is 22 months and has taken to shouting 'mummy milk!' and pulling at my top quite blatantly when she decides she wants some. She has also been known to request 'daddy milk?' in front of a load of other parents while DH was taking DD1 to gymnastics, and even, rather hopefully 'sister milk?' to 4yo DD1!

But the feeling of closeness and the glee on her face when I get home is lovely. It's also great to have a way to immediately soothe her if she is upset. And she was v ill with chicken pox recently and it was the only thing she would take.

I do wonder how the hell I'm ever going to stop though- she is a little obsessed!

Thanks folks :)

I think part of it is that it feels like stopping will be impossible. I feel so claustrophobic, probably made worse by being exhausted. She won't cosleep so I'm having to spend hours sitting in a chair feeding her every night, which isn't funny after 19 months!

I was very glad of it last week, because she barely drank anything otherwise.

Because at 19 months boobs will stop being the most interesting thing when she's feeling better. There's a whole world to explore and you'll return to BFing being lovely cuddly and special. And bloody useful for comforting all the bumped heads and knees exploring the world seems to lead to

Because bfing prevented my then nearly 3y being admitted for dehydration and low blood sugars after a virus knocked her for 6 and meant she lost interest in eating and drinking and conciousness (only time I have ever very strongly encouraged any of my DC to bf). I only did this because the nurse in the children's A&E told me she was very dehydrated and children who are this dehydrated have very low blood sugars. She fed like a newborn on both sides and when the nurse had come back with the blood sugar test kit she had perked up and her BS was 5 so no treatment needed.

The same virus also triggered Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and even when the painkillers weren't touching the pain, bfing did. She would climb on my lap stiff and aching with her joints swollen & red with pain in her eyes (like animals do) and then she would start bfing with her eyes closed. She would relax and open her eyes and look at me with love. I could make her feel better when even drugs didn't work. She is bfing occasionally at 4y 4m and has been in remission from the JIA for about 6m.

I will never regret bfing her - ever - no matter how hard it has been to juggle bfing her and being ill myself or her younger sister being ill (lots of admissions to hospital all round). And no matter that I am pg with DC4 and may well end up bfing 3 of them

Ahh, now sitting in a chair for hours a night would make me feel differently about it! will she not come in with you?

(CTG here, just doing my quarterly ish name change!)

all these posts have brought tears to my eyes and I had to say something. Youre wonderful mothers, youve made me feel all warm in my heart and I'll feed my DD with extra enjoyment today.

Absolutely totally what Gem33 said - I fed DS2 till he was 2 and hope to do the same for DD1. Thanks for the extra reminder about how fantastic it is!

They are lovely posts, and thank you all for sharing them.

She won't come in with us and hasn't settled in our bed since she was a baby. I'd never believe that a baby who wouldn't cosleep could exist, especially after DS who self-weaned from BF at 2.3 but continued to appear in our bed for years, and still does given half a chance! She just crawls around/over us/off the edge etc. Very wiggly sleeper. She seems to prefer to be in her cot with her head wedged in a corner

I think perhaps the antibiotics are giving
her a crampy tummy because she's been grumpy all day and only had short naps. I shall persevere and try not to swear at her so much tonight