Please talk to me about night weaning. I'm pregnant and night feeds are becoming unbearable...

[overbuurvrouw]

DD is one next week and I would like to let her tandem feed / self wean but night feeds are becoming really unpleasant.

My nipples are so sensitive at night that I'm really finding it hard to feed, I have to fight myself not to rip poor DD from the breast

Thankfully the day time feeds are fine but I really think I need to do something about the night feeds. I've been letting her feed for as long as I can stand (which isn't as long as she'd usually feed) so I suppose that's a step in the rright direction.

Oh, she's teething at the moment (top front teeth). Is there any chance that might have effected her latch?

No advice, but when my ds (10mo) got his top teeth, feeding turned painful as he was scraping the nipple with them. And it did seem worse at night. It has improved though, but I'm not pg so don't have ultra sensitive nipples!

Hopefully someone else will come along with some better advice. Some babies do welf weaning during mums pgcy though.

Thanks BouncingTurtle!

I hadn't even thought of what would happen when her teeth do come through It really does seem like I'm going to have to do night weaning, I don't think I could take scraping too...

Luckily she's not a biter (yet).

I'm really hoping this is just a nasty combo of sensitive nipples and teething. The afternoon an bedtime feeds were really unpleasant today.

Her latch is atrocious. Grrrrr. I'm worrying I'm going to have to stop all together.

Night feeding a one year old?? NO waaay. A child this age should never need feeding at night. Can you up what she is having during the day? What is her diet like/daily feeding routine?

Another point - if you are pregnant aren't you going to have to stop feeding your 1 yr old anyway very soon? Why not stop now? Or are you planning to bf 2 children????

JolieGirl - did you read the OP?

Joliegirl -what a lot of bollocks you talk! I've tandem feeding a two year old and a four month old! Silly sausage

OP - the sore nipples thing may pass - mine did - I was sore for the first three months - but to answer your question, I did night weaning by working out how often DD was feeding and worked out it was 10pm, 2am, 5am and 6am. What we did was delayed each feed a bit so they crashed into two feeds - ten minutes a day - so I think we got to 12 and 4am and then moved the 12am one back enough that she slept through it and she spontaneously dropped the 4am one. In the time we were delaying it we cuddled her, talked to her and kept saying 'yes you can have some in a minute, when the clock says XX' The no cry sleep guide has some good advice.

Tandem feeding is great btw for avoiding sibling rivalry.

Oh and re the teeth, try feeding her lying down so the weight of your boob is no against the top of her mouth - that might help!

Yes actually of course I did read it. Just no idea why anyone in their right mind would want to feed a one year old and a newborn. And correct me if I am wrong - a one year should not need feeding at night if her dietary needs are met during the day. Sounds like a bad habit based around comfort rather than a real need.

And WhoMOvedMyChocolate - that is F*CKING rude, my opinions are not bollocks, they are totally valid. Just becuase they do not tie in with yours does not make them wrong.

Thanks WMMC. Feeding laying down is just as bad as sitting really, with the added bonus that she often kicks me stomach 'tis a shame feeding laying down is such a lifesaver.

I'm 10 weeks so there's still hope! I might try and tough it out for a couple of weeks. That way I might actually be able to give her a full feed after making her wait.

And how will your boobs know whether to make colostum or milk? And don't forget to drink milk to make milk. And no feeding once they're walking/talking/sitting up

Right, cliches out of the way!

I always struggle with DS when he's getting a new tooth, it's as though he doesn't know where to put it! But it does pass when it's through completely. I suppose the different position when you're lying down must be making the difference.
Congratulations! And slight

JolieGirl - words fail me

jg you're wrong that a 1yo doesnt need bf and you're wrong that you have to stop when pg
Unless that's a new law no-one's mentioned?

x

Thanks Stealth, that helps too. DD got her first two teeth in two days and without a squeak of difficulty months ago. This is effectively our first teething experience IYSWIM.

No I didn't say a 1 yr old doesn't need bf - I said a 1 year old should not need feeding at night - regardless of whether bf or ff.

And my argument against bf 2 children is based around why? Why is there a need? I just don't get it. I am fully in favour of bf and have bf my two DS but 2 at the same time? Totally exhausting and totally unnecessary

how pregnant are you? I got pregnant while feeding and had some very unpleasant feeds, but got through it and DD self weaned at 15 months (when I was 5 months pregnant). I was very sad but quite relieved as the thought of tandem feeding was very daunting. Towards the end the sensitivity and the tongue flicking just felt awful. Your milk does change though apparently, and I defintely found DD to be less appeased by feeds, which changed her latch and made the whole thing less relaxing for both of us. Good luck and well done for hanging on in there!

Are you aware of the WHO guidelines JolieGirl? Have you read up on tandem feeding? In fact. do you have the vaguest idea what you're talking about?

If not kindly fuck off somewhere else.

JolieGirl - its so rude its almost amusing that you'd be so insulting about the OP's chosen course. The OP never said she had a problem with the night feeds themselves, just the soreness. To say she's not in her right mind to do that, and your amazement at the idea of feeding 2 children displays your ignorance.

overbuurv - my DS has just got his top teeth (at 9.5mo) and his teeth are rubbing my nipples when he's too eager / sleepy, so although I don't have an answer, you have my sympathy! I do find feeding lying down rubs less though!

Cheers fourlittlefeet! I'm glad to hear it worked out well for you.

I'm only 10 weeks so there is still hope!

Damn my sausage fingers...

Here we go, good old Mumsnet. Yes of course I am aware of the WHO guidelines, no I have not read up on tandem feeding guidelines (I have a life and hobbies and interests and friends) but I stil stick by what I am saying that I just do not get why any woman would want to feed a toddler and a newborn at the same time. And none of you can still explain to me why a 1 year old needs to feed at night. What a lovely time she is heading for to bf 2 babies all through the night. Why???

OP here.

Erm, my body, my babies, my choice?

It's not full moon until Thursday is it?

Pointless debate....I have my view you have yours. Good luck with your choices