Milking It

Thanks for all your helpful advice about weaning, biopsies and tipping over. Here's a recap and update on my highly scientific and well-thought-out weaning decision process:

I decide: To save my sanity and stop nursing Ava at night, nursing her at only naptime, bedtime and in the morning (that is, 5 a.m. or after).

Ava: Wakes screaming at 3 am and keeps Brian (and me) awake for more than an hour. After a few nights of this, she begins sleeping through until 5-6 a.m.

I decide: To wean further, given my upcoming biopsy. I stop nursing her at naptime and rock her instead.

Ava: Sobs while I rock her, then wants to play, then falls asleep, finally, 2 to 3 hours later than usual.

I decide: To seriously consider weaning. She'll forget nursing even exisisted within a few weeks, and everything will be easier.

Ava: Begins waking up at 3 am to nurse.

I decide: What the hell. As long as she nurses only once a night then sleeps until 8 am, I'm willing. It's just a few hours earlier than what we were doing anyway.

Ava: Nurses at 3 am, then wakes at 6 am to nurse again. The following morning, she wakes to nurse at 2:30 and 5. Then Tuesday night, she wakes up at midnight! Expecting to nurse!

I decide: Not to nurse her at midnight, no matter what. I’ll show her who’s boss!

Ava: Screams, keeping Brian and I up until 2 am.

I decide: Maybe the weaning idea wasn’t so good. I consider that:
1) At her 15-month doctor visit last week, we discovered she gained just 4 ounces since her 12-month visit, bringing her up to 19 pounds, 9 ounces. The doctor says she needs to gain weight. She’s a peanut.

2) Her gums are a minefield of erupting molars. She could use some comfort.

3) I need naptime so I can have 1 1/2 hours to myself, three times a week (when John's in preschool). Naptime without nursing is hard, which makes my life hard. Why am I making my life hard?? With my other two kids, the naptime nursing was the last to go. What was I thinking? When did my brain die, and can it be resuscitated?

4) By nursing Ava at 5 am but not at 3 am or midnight, I'm sending mixed signals. Last I knew, babies don't tell time. I need to eliminiate the night feedings altogether, or it will never work.

I decide: To continue nursing her at naptime and at bedtime and, for now, nurse her whenever she wants to at night. We can wean the night feedings next week, when Brian and I stop hallucinating from lack of sleep.

Ava: Falls easily into a coma at naptime yesterday, then last night, sleeps through until 7 am for the first time since, well, never. Apparently sleep comes easier once your mom knows who's boss. (Hint: It isn't her.)