Yesterday started like every other day, and quickly turned into the day I almost had to wean.
I woke up my nine year old, Isaiah, to get ready for school. Every morning I get everyone’s pills and vitamins for them so that no one forgets. It has always gone smoothly, but yesterday I must have been distracted.
I popped my vitamins in my mouth and handed my son his vitamin and ADHD pill. Only when he looked at it, he actually had his vitamin and my vitamin. Not his ADHD pill (Vyvanse). Crap, so that meant I took HIS pill.
I didn’t think it would bother me, but knew from a previous ER visit that my toddler was too young to have it. Would she be getting it through my breastmilk? I called my family doctor to find out. She called back and told me it would be safest to pump and throw out for 2 days. 2 days!
I started crying before the phone call even ended. My 19 month old, Kylie, would really not be a fan of that. She constantly comfort nurses throughout the day and night and will cry if I put her off. She still wants and needs mommy, and it would break my heart to have to keep her off my breast when neither of us was ready. And would she wean after having none for two days?
I didn’t like that answer, so I called my OB/GYN and my pharmacist asking for second opinions.
The OB/GYN: As long as it’s only one, and you don’t take another, she will be fine. She may just not sleep very well.
The pharmacist: If you have a pump, you could pump for a while if it makes you feel better, but otherwise one won’t hurt her, she will just be hard to get to sleep.
Both of those were enough to me to make the decision to keep nursing her throughout, but limiting the amount of time if I could. I’m happy to say that she is just fine this morning, and she had no problems going to sleep last night. She did, however, wake up from 4 – 5:30 this morning, which isn’t the normal, but other that than she has been fine.
It could have been a rough two days if I had had to wean her cold turkey with neither of us wanting it. I’m not ready, she’s not ready… I’m just glad that we get to continue a little longer.
Have you ever had a scare where you thought you might have to wean before you were ready?
I’m glad everything worked out for you
How’d she sleep last night?
She slept like normal.
no issues at all!
WOW! I’d never considered that aspect before. Thank you for sharing. I’m beyond childbearing and raising but glad there are people like you who post so that other mothers have the chance to discover things like this.
Thank you for sharing that! My OB suggested that I wean when I found out I was pregnant with my son. (my daughter was only 5mo) It wasn’t “cold turkey” but, I was forced to wean earlier than either one of us wanted. My son had a single umbilical artery, so I didn’t want to take any chances. Love your blog, btw, you seem very charming, and down to earth.
Thank you so much for the kind words.
I’m sorry you had to wean earlier than you wanted. I do agree that in a situation as yours, to not take any chances. Better safe than sorry!
I never had a scare like this, when I thought I would have to wean before ready. My 1st born daughter had to start visitations with her Dad when she was 4 months old (we broke up for good reasons). I was afraid she would eventually want the bottle over breast. At 1st he took her in between nursing til I could pump enough for an overnight stay. Eventually around 9 mos after I had to return to work in order to survive as a single mom and he had her for visits, she just had no interest any longer & ended up on formula from 9 mos forward. My 2nd born (and first son) was an extremely irritable and always hungry baby, I gave up after 8 weeks nursing because it was like I could not keep up with nursing him constantly & taking care of my preschooler/kindergartner daughter. Then my 3rd born child (and second son) nursed for 11 mos without any problems. He was done at 11mos. I started to wonder if he was going to become a toddler nurser because he just loved nursing so much more than the other two. lol