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It has begun. I am stopping breastfeeding Little I. She has (finally) accepted the bottle and we have dropped two feeds this week. She now only feeds from me first thing in the morning and at bedtime. She has an afternoon bottle of formula plus cows milk in her food. She has been sleeping through the night which accidentally dropped another feed but last night she woke up and wanted feeding. I refused her and instead changed her nappy, gave her a cuddle and put her back to bed awake. She went straight off to sleep, clearly she didn't need it. A cuddle and a clean bum was comfort enough. I have mixed emotions about the whole thing. On one hand I am about to get back (relative) freedom after being attached at the nipple to a baby for over 7mths but on the flip side I am creeping closer to my last EVER breastfeed. Which makes me want to cry. Feeding my babies hasn't been easy. We are talking nipple thrush, mastitis and unflattering underwear but they have both thrived on my supply and the knowledge that I have nourished them for so long makes me feel very proud. Whilst I want to stop, I don't want to. It was easier with Little E because I wanted a second who I would (hopefully) breastfeed so I had the reassurance that I would do it all again. We aren't planning any further children so my last breastfeed really is my last breastfeed... I've been thinking about why I don't want to breastfeed any longer than I did with Little E (9mths) and I don't really have an answer. I don't know why I want to stop really. Maybe I don't want to but everyone else expects me to. Or perhaps it is my now unstable hormones talking! But I know after the hassle we've been through getting Little I to accept a bottle at all I have to keep going and follow through completely. She has made it very clear she isn't one of these babies you can flick between breast and bottle willynilly. But for now she is letting me cut down slowly which I am grateful for after Little E's point blank refusal to take a bottle from me, forcing me to go completely cold turkey on the breastfeeding. It all feels so bitter sweet. Cue the tears... Linking up with The Breastfeeding Diaries at zenas-suitcase.co.uk
6 Comments
I am sure it must be very bittersweet to be winding down to finishing breastfeeding completely. I thought I would feel sad when my eldest stopped, but it felt like a natural time to stop and I was already pregnant with my second. This time round, I think I might find it more emotional when we eventually do stop breastfeeding. Hope Little I winds down the breastfeeding for you nice and slowly and that it feels right for both of you when she does stop. I can really relate to this post, as I am feeling the same about my breastfeeding time with Boo coming to an end. It really is bittersweet as you say. I just focus on the positive ... that I could breastfeed Boo for as long as possible and that it has given her a good start =) I also found making a list of positives to focus on after stopping is helping too, 25/9/2014 08:11:58 am
I imagine it will be a great relief to finally have your body back after breastfeeding two children - though I can totally understand the sense of sadness too. I have ended up feeding Arthur for longer than I ever thought I would, in part I think because we had such a rough time at the beginning that I wondered whether I'd be able to at all! Ultimately you know what's right for you both - every baby's different after all :) I hope the next few weeks go smoothly x 25/9/2014 02:26:53 pm
Ok, so now I'm going to cry. I'm almost certain my son and I will be done soon too, so that will very likely be my last feed. I never looked at it like that. I'll blame my overwhelming emotions on the hormones. Good luck, and thank you for sharing! 29/9/2014 05:43:05 am
I love how babies are so clear with us about their likes and dislikes from such a young age, showing their growing personalities at each stage of their development. I really feel the mixed emotion here so thanks so much for sharing this post. I think your last feed will be a sad moment for sure, but you are so right to feel immensely proud for what you have done for your children. Thanks for linking up with #BFingDiaries 4/12/2023 12:59:37 pm
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Welcome!Artist, Baker and Blogger. Mum to my two beautiful, cheeky girls. Muddling my way through parenthood with equally cheeky Husband. 
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