To Night Wean or Not

(Via here)

So Piggie Smalls is 18 months old.  He is breastfed and sleeps next to me.  I love this arrangement and definitely don't want much to change about it.  The only thing I would possibly like to change would be the comfort nursing that he does throughout the night.  It's not like it's draining me, but since I've become pregnant, it's become agitating, tiring, and painful.  Painful as in my body is definitely more sensitive and also my back aches to lay there in a twisted position while he nurses.

Most advice I've seen says to night wean if you feel it is affecting your daily functioning.  This makes me hesitant because I'm not sleep deprived, I'm just annoyed.  I definitely freak out in the middle of the night at him sometimes because I feel so touched out and then being sandwiched between him and my husband makes this preggo want to scream and run away to another room.  Currently he sleeps no longer than 2 hours.  And starting around 4-5ish in the morning, he nurses probably every 30 minutes to an hour.  I will have to start closely documenting the time so I have a better idea of this.

I would also like it if he could be a "better sleeper".  For me that would mean he could fall asleep in other places besides our bed, and without me having to nurse him.  He won't sleep at anyone else's house hardly, and I definitely have to nurse him to sleep on their bed if he's to do so.  And it would be nice if he could re-settle himself.  I'm a huge advocate of comforting babies to sleep, and would never leave Piggie Smalls to cry by himself.  I'm also conflicted because babies don't sleep like we do, so we shouldn't expect them do.

But he's 18 months old now, he will continue sleeping next to me, and he would never be left alone in this process if I were to night wean him.  He would just learn that night time is for sleeping and he can have milkies in the morning.  I think the process would be harder on me than on him...

I love Dr. Jay Gordon's plan for night weaning.  You can tell that this is a plan that would work, cause it's more proactive than some other gentle night weaning plans, but the plan is only for babies over the age of one year, and it's written for bed sharing/cosleeping families.  I like this because it doesn't involve leaving baby in another room to figure out how to go to sleep by themselves.  Mom and Dad are right there comforting baby, but just letting baby know that it's no time for nursing.

I read a great series of blog posts over on The Leaky Boob, where she documented the 7 days it took to night wean her 18 month old girl doing Dr. Jay Gordon's plan.  It ain't gonna be no walk in the park, that's for sure!  And I'm a little afraid, because my 18 month old is just like hers...he likes his milkies and he will put up a fight until he gets it.

But like I said, I'm pregnant...and would like a little bit more rest.  I would also like for my body to not be constantly going.  Breastfeeding during pregnancy is draining and demands patience.  My first step to figure out my personalized plan, and also start a very good bedtime routine for Piggie.  More consistent.  I'll keep you updated!