Weaning Has Begun
After a week of crummy weather and storm fronts, my migraines have been off the charts. I actually came home from work early yesterday afternoon because I thought my head was going to fall off if I stared at the computer any longer.
Matthew has been encouraging me for weeks to start weaning so I could take my migraine medicine again.
But I am stubborn.
And I have grown to love breastfeeding.
However, I am sacrificing too much quality time with Elias by being drugged on vicodin (the only pain medicine I can take) and being in pain.
So last night I didn’t nurse.
It was hard.
But it made it easier that I was in a lot of pain and half asleep from the vicodin…
I just went back to this post and read your tips. It seems like the biggest tip is to do it gradually, so that is what I am going to do. Hopefully within a couple weeks I won’t be nursing anymore and will be able to start taking my medications again… and be able to be a better mommy and wife!
________________________________________
Subscribe to my blog here
Twitter me – I’m JessicaNTurner
You will have to di it at some point and I think you are doing it all for the best reasons now. 🙂
It is hard Jessica,but you can do it.Have a great day. Blessings, Faye
Good luck – I also suffer from migraines, but have been blessed during my pregnancy to have had a reprieve. We are due in 17 days…it will be interesting to see what happens once he comes. I used to take a daily drug + a different one if I actually got a migraine. Did you use to take a daily med? It cut my migrains from 5-6+ a month to maybe 1! I am proud of you for nursing this long. With our last I only made it 4 months…I am shooting for at least 6 this time.
God Bless you!
I am on day 5 of weaning. It is going pretty good. Good luck with yours!
Good for you, for nursing as long as you have!
It certainly is a hard choice, as to when to begin weaning. One that only each mommy can make for herself and her situation.
I have not struggled with migraines, as you do, but have struggled with headaches. I just wondered if you have ever tried chiropractic care? It can help immensely, and I would highly recommend it. I hope you’ll be feeling better soon!
Jessica – I’m not sure how I found your blog. God works in funny ways like that!
I nursed my eleven month-old daughter for seven months, before weaning her for the exact reason you are stopping. Prior to pregnancy, I took Topamax daily for migraine prevention. I started taking it again after weaning.
I weaned her fairly quickly. In hindsight I would do it more slowly next time. Physically it was difficult, similar to the engorgement that occurs when your milk first comes in. Try as hard as you can not to pump (it’s tempting at times, you know, to take the edge off – but you know that will just stimulate more milk and get the cycle going). The physical part passed fairly quickly. I tried just to leave my body alone. You can do heat and cold and all that, but some places I read said heat especially can increase flow. The whole point is to get your body to reabsorb the milk that is already there and then signal itself to stop producing. I’m pretty sure at this point I am telling you stuff you already know…
I have to say that the most difficult part for me was the emotional aspect. I loved breastfeeding. My daughter took the bottle fine (I work part-time and always pumped at work), but she LOVED the boob! I felt connected to her and sad to take that time away. I never had any sadness after she was born or issues with postpartum, but when I weaned her I felt like I experienced a small inkling of what that is like. Just so many hormones changing, plus the emotions that go along with stopping.
I realize this is a lot of random information coming from a stranger, but I felt compelled to comment since I recently went through all this. I hope I didn’t seem negative. After I got through the tough part, my husband and I both agreed that we had done the right thing. My headaches improved, Campbell was as happy and wonderful as she ever was, and my emotions and hormones settled down.
Good luck!
P.S. Love your pictures!
I can’t offer an advice w/the breastfeeding- but I can definitely understand what you’re feeling with migraines. I get 3-4 a week and they’re awful. Mine are brought on by pressure changes especially, so they’re always bad when it rains. Boo 🙁
Good luck with you! I know it is vey hard, but your right, you do need to focus on getting yourself better! Good luck again!!
my migraines ended when my husband left me-
Imetrex helped until then
Remember that a healthy and happy mom is best.
I feel your pain on only being able to take Vicodin- I’m allergic to all fast acting migraine meds so it’s all I can take as well.
So many have said it but I will support you too- a healthy Mom is a Happy Mom and a Happy Mom = a Happy Baby!!!