it's over!

[squirmyworm]

I remember reading a very moving message here a few months ago from a mumsnetter (sorry I can't remember who it was) about her last breast feed and how special feeding had been for her. She was giving up with a mixture of sadness and thankfulness and I found it really inspiring - particularly as I was going through a difficult time myself with cracked nipples etc. Just wanted to say if you are out there - thanks. You really made me feel it was worth continuing and now that I've come to the end myself I understand exactly how you felt. I am SO SO grateful that with support from my dh, bfcs, midwives, a forgiving baby and crucially, you musnsetters, I managed to feed for six months. At times it was excruciating and at times I despaired but I loved the feeling of closeness to my ds it gave me and I feel so privileged to have been given the opportunity to do this. I'm stopping now because of a combination of persistant mastitis, a demanding full time job that I have returned to (with nights away)and the fact that it feels right and I have a sense of ds and I moving on, sad at leaving this wonderful phase behind but moving on in hope and faith that the next stage will be as much if not more fun and fulfilment. Just wanted to mark it really, to say thanks to you all, to have a little share of my sadness that it's over and to celebrate the fact that it happened at all.

[strangerthanfiction]

Well done squirmyworm for b/f for six months, your ds will continue to feel the benefits from all your love and hard work for a lot longer to come.

I fed dd for 18 months, though the last 6 were just 2 feeds and the last 2 was one feed. I found it very difficult to stop, it's good that you have such clear cut and obvious reasons to stop. I couldn't find a reason. Dd's 1 bedtime feed didn't really interfere with anything and I loved being able to chill out and cuddle her close before bed. It's been a month since I dropped that last feed and I still fill up with tears when I think about it. I LOVED feeding dd, it was one of the BEST things I ever did but I was very lucky - I never had mastitis or cracked nipples or any of those problems. I only work 2 days a week as well so that wasn't an issue. I gave up because I thought it was time and because my health's not been too good leaving me pretty exhausted. I'd always set my own limit to 18 months and I also thought giving up would be right psychologically (dd's such a little person now I thought I was 'keeping her as a baby' by b/f though I know that's not really how it is in general, just my personal thing) for us both. As it is I still wonder if I made the right decision, I miss it a lot. Dd's moved on from it much more painlessly than I have!

Gosh, sorry, didn't mean to talk about myself so much in your thread. I guess I haven't really spoken to anyone about this I've just quietly got on with it and suffered a little bit of a broken heart. Your lovely message here brought it all flooding out.

[karen99]

Squirmy, I've only just seen this thread. I just wanted to say well done and I know exactly what you mean about the support MN gives you. Plus it's so nice to hear about people who have had difficulties and have gotten through them and decided to continue. I had a rotten start to bf as my ds had an [undiagnosed] tongue-tie. But we perservered and bf for 9.5months. I/we loved it. But now a few months on (ds is now 11mo) we haven't missed it and have enjoyed lots of other cuddles we didn't seem to get before.

Well done

[AussieSim]

MN was also v supportive for me during breastfeeding which I gave up one week ago (DS 16mo). I had no reason to stop and was putting it off until I had the opportunity to go away for the weekend (at DH's suggestion) to visit a friend leaving DS with DH (maybe DH is more cunning then I give him credit for). Anyway it was easy for DS, and now I am looking forward to having that special experience with no. 2 if we have one.

[fairyprincess]

Just to wish you all the best squirmyworm xxx

[Spod]

squirmyworm... well done you for feeding for 6 months, it really feels like an acheivement doesnt it!!

strangerthanfiction... i can really relate to how you feel. my dd is 7 months and i too love feeding her and i know now, that when the time comes to stop feeding i will feel as you do. cuddling up for early morning and bedtime feeds is just amazing and i will miss that. i have no plans to stop feeding yet, although those around me seem obsessed with me stopping feeding soon. i just wanted to say i sympathise with how you feel... brought tears to my eyes. well done for feeding this long, and i hope you still get lots of cuddles from your little one.