My 5th itis in 4 weeks - could broken nights be a cause?

[whenwillisleepagain]

Not really sure where to put this - here, on bf, or on health. Anyway I am usually robust but have been determined to do extended bf with my DD (now 21 months) and my nights have been broken usually every 2 hrs for much of that time. Had a good spell of night weaning but then she started with canine teeth, which seems honestly endless. Doesn't help she goes to nursery so brings home the germs of assorted 1-2 year olds and my DS is in Reception class at primary school, so it's like living with numerous viruses. I am so tired but have been reluctant to stop bf, as my son has asthma / eczema / food allergies and I think I have become, tbh, superstitiously rather than rationally attached to doing extended bf with DD to try and prevent the same happening to her. My GP and DS's paed have both advised me it's fine to stop at this stage. So here I am, sleep deprived, irrational and now I have earache following sinusitis, laryngitis, conjunctivitis and bronchitis in last 4 weeks. WWYD?

I would night wean again

I feed my DD who is 2.5 years BUT haven't fed at night for 18 months

An yes, I think in my totally non scientific opinion, that major broken sleep does contribute to you being more vulnerable to catching stuff

You can keep feeding as still lots of benefits for mum and child but reduce night feeds

God, how do you cope? I've got sinusitis and am crying every day from the pain!

I agree with ruby - it will also probably improve the quality of your milk if you reduce the overall number of feeds and try to cut out nights so you can get some decent unbroken sleep.

Thank you both - I think I had got to a point in my irrationality where I could only see two options - bf or stop bf. My ear turned out to be infected but has calmed down - it was very uncomfortable though! But now I'm feeling able to face night weaning, I must make some progress.

It's good to hear that the quality of my milk might improve. TBH I am not sure how much I have and how much DD actually drinks during the night - her nappies are only occasionally heavy in the morning, which makes me suspect that she likes fiddling around on my boob for comfort more than anything else. She has developed a particularly infuriating habit of raking the boob she's not drinking from with her finger nails in a sort of reflex action and she gets very grumpy if I try and stop her doing it. Combined with earache, the being scratched thing nearly drove me up the wall over the weekend.

I guess now I've had your thoughts on what I should do - which I agree with - there's the small matter of the how to do it. I think I will aim for Thurs to start night weaning again. DD could potentially move out of mine & DH's room and into her own one in about 3 week's time, so I need to prepare her for that - am also crossing fingers that it might reinforce any progress I've made with night-weaning. At nursery she takes herself off after lunch, lies down on a mattress and goes to sleep, so I know she can do it.