Well, I think I'm dealing with the opposite issues from Donna. We are now experiencing separation anxiety with Austin, a big contrast to my happy go lucky little boy. I think he has it from the boob as well. I started to notice it a little when he had his surgery for his tubes and adenoid. He couldn't eat or drink after midnight, which meant no nursing as well. He would typically wake up once or twice to nurse during the night. Well you thought the world was ending that night when he wasn't able to nurse. Since then I've noticed him nursing more frequently and for longer periods of time. He's also gotten within the last month or so, that when I hold him, he only wants to nurse. He will pitch a fit until he nurses, then he's fine. I can't just hold him or rock him whenever, he's got to have the boobie as well if he's in my lap. Well, since the past two or three weeks, at night he's gotten where he nurses for almost an hour. Sometime there is just comfort sucking, sometimes actual nursing. Last night, I thought he was going to stay attached for almost the whole night and I was about to go batty. One, I couldn't go to sleep and two my nipple was so sore I thought I would die. I don't know what has gotten into him. We went from him nursing for 5 - 10 min. and be done to marathons now. I love it that he still wants to nurse, but at the same time, I'd rather go back to the 5-10 min. Have any of you ever had this problem??
My child has always been a marathon nurser. Even at 2 yrs 4 months this morning - after we were up and dressed, she nursed for 45 min and had no intentions of stopping until I asked if she wanted chocolate? Mind you I offered her plenty of healthy alternatives before the chocolate. But I 100% understand what you mean by driving a mother batty with constant nursing.
Are you sure he's not going through a growth spurt right now? That would also cause the marathon nursing sessions. It's besides the point now - but he should have been able to nurse up to 4 hours before his sceduled surgery. It only takes 4 hours for breastmilk to digest.
He could well feel some anixity about being denied the breast again and want to make sure he is full incase he is denied it for an extended period again. How is he doing with solids right now? Is he eating as much as he was before the surgery? More? Less?
He does okay with solids. He usually has a cup of yogurt every morning for breakfast, usually 2 jars of food for lunch and usually a jar at dinner or if he'll eat what we are eating he'll eat off our plates. He has had his good and bad days with eating. We've been trying to wean him from his baby food for a while, but some days that's all I can get him to eat. I'd say he got doesn't eat as much as he did before his surgery. We've also been through the stomach virus where he threw up for a day and a half, and now he's got more teeth coming in (I believe his molars) and they have giving him fits along with the separation anxiety that we are dealing with. So since Oct. he's been through a lot. We've also been dealing with upper respiratory since Christmas eve. I didn't think about a growth spurt, but that could be the case also. Thanks for the info though. I also didn't know he could have nurse up to 4 hours before his surgery. I wish I had known that. Thanks for the support.
I also didn't know he could have nurse up to 4 hours before his surgery. I wish I had known that. Thanks for the support.
A lot of doctors don't comprehend this either sadly.
I know the last time Liriel had a stomach bug - it took awhile to get back to eating normal. And she nursed more. She also is teething (1st 2 year molar just popped through) and wanting to nurse a LOT right now. Last night was the first night she didn't nurse half the night away in some time. If some thing is bothering him, like teething, he's probably using nursing for comfort.
Kate goes through phases like that....unfortunately for my boobs we are in a phase of constant nursing....I know what you mean about sore nips...I have them right now too.
01-02-2008, 11:15 AM
Separation Anxiety of the boob
I started to notice it a little when he had his surgery for his tubes and adenoid. He couldn't eat or drink after midnight, which meant no nursing as well. He would typically wake up once or twice to nurse during the night. Well you thought the world was ending that night when he wasn't able to nurse. Since then I've noticed him nursing more frequently and for longer periods of time. He's also gotten within the last month or so, that when I hold him, he only wants to nurse. He will pitch a fit until he nurses, then he's fine. I can't just hold him or rock him whenever, he's got to have the boobie as well if he's in my lap. Well, since the past two or three weeks, at night he's gotten where he nurses for almost an hour. Sometime there is just comfort sucking, sometimes actual nursing. Last night, I thought he was going to stay attached for almost the whole night and I was about to go batty. One, I couldn't go to sleep and two my nipple was so sore I thought I would die. I don't know what has gotten into him. We went from him nursing for 5 - 10 min. and be done to marathons now. I love it that he still wants to nurse, but at the same time, I'd rather go back to the 5-10 min. Have any of you ever had this problem??
But I 100% understand what you mean by driving a mother batty with constant nursing. 
