Breastfeeding coming to an end

Was he waking at night for feeds? Hard to go back to work and still have to feed through the night!

But if she's not it could cause more concern when there may be nothing to be concerned about.

Two threads on AIBU this eve about breastfeeding. Both OPs have stated they want to carry on/are happy to carry on and are looking for advice.
Both threads have people ignoring that and suggesting going on to formula.
Just, why? The OP doesn’t want to!

Mine started drying up at about 8 months because DS slept like a log, never woke at night for a feed after about 6 months. He loved solids and ate loads of them.

My period came back and that just pissed him off, I'd have way less milk at certain times of the month & he'd get frustrated feeding. I tried everything but gave up the ghost by 11months.

I echo the others, if she still wants to feed and you still want to carry on then do so. She is getting solid food now as well and can have water now if needed. There’s no need to see it as the end unless you want it to be!
Mine stopped a couple of months before he turned 2. That was down to us both having thrush. Something put him off it and he never went back. I wasn’t prepared for such an abrupt end to it but then, I’m not sure how much longer I would have carried on anyway.

I went back to work part time with DS when he was 5 mnths and carried on BF. DS had formula at nursery but wouldn’t accept a bottle from me. As they eat more solids they bf less. We carried on happily until he was nearly 2 but after 12 mnths it was only last thing at night and first thing in the morning with occasional feed if he was under the weather or if he asked.
He’s now 20 6’3” and has enjoyed all the benefits of being a bf baby. Rarely I’ll, so much so that if he moans about feeling unwell I panic because it must be serious.
Your body just adjusts as their needs change. It learns to produce milk when needed.

My boobs still had milk in them 3 months after stopping. There’s still the option of re establishing it if you wanted to. It doesn’t finish that quickly

But if she’s pumping a decent amount it could still be reassuring

Pumping doesn't tell you how much you're producing - babies are far more efficient at getting milk out than pumps

Agree that I don't think your milk is necessarily drying up but also want to reassure you that if you and she want it its FINE to keep breastfeeding even if you think themilk is minimal! Mine is 21 months now and feeds very frequently when with me but very short - like she just has a nip and then off - I think its far more about reassurance and closeness. And she (and I!) Need that as much as nutrition. Nutrition can be got elsewhere

Can I offer some unsolicited advice?

I breastfed my first till she’s 2.5 and my second is 9 months at the moment and she’s still breastfed. Both times, there are multiple times I felt my milk had dried up. And people often say it’s established so it wouldn’t dry up all of a sudden. But believe me mine did from time to time. Sometimes I can link a plausible reason but sometimes I cannot. I just kept offering to my baby when this happens. And after 4-5 days or maybe longer, my milk supply comes back. It’s very difficult during these windows I understand. But if you really want to carry on breastfeeding, you can try offering to your baby even more often and don’t give up.

Sorry life is tough just now💐

Ending BF gave me rollercoaster hormones so you may also be dealing with that (I had been BF for the bulk of a decade so not sure if it was worse because of that)

Babies often seem to reduce BF when they start on solids but IME it's because their wee tummies havent a clue what's going on and with feeding solids mummy's day has got busier too (mine all BF loads at night when they started solids).

If you want to keep BF just keep offering breast rather than bottle & she'll come back to it. Your supply will be sophisticated enough by now to cope with the variation. Having a bath together is a lovely way to get babies back on the breast.

Good luck with it all.

I only breastfed mine once a day (or pumped once) for 7 months and had a 2 week gap and supply was still OK.

Can you take some time out for skin to skin? (Safe) co-sleeping?

If you want to continue the best thing you can do is just feed her. Your body will respond to how much or how little milk is taken from it. The more you give bottles the less it will produce. I wonder if, with everything that has been going on you’ve not been feeding as much which has diminished your supply. But, you can definitely increase the supply again just by feeding more. I too could still get milk out of myself for a long time after DS weaned.

Do whatever works though. There is no right or wrong time to stop, it’s just what works for you and your family. Don’t beat yourself up for not being able to feed for longer.

Keep it going! Don’t supplement with formula if you avoid it, and your supply will replenish. I massively regret stopping BF at 12 months with mine. I did it because I went back to work, but if I could go back, I’d pump at work to keep the supply going.

Agree with the PPs - if you enjoy the breastfeeding and your DC is happy to do it, that's enough of a reason to keep going even if they're not getting much nutrition out and need to increase either solid food or formula intake.
I bf my DC until they were 4. I doubt they really got much milk for the last 2 years of that! But they were happy to carry on and so was I.

I agree with all of this. My eldest was breastfed and very prone to constipation.

Remember also that babies feed for comfort as well as food. She may be picking up on the stressful situation and just wanting her safe place.

It sounds like you are having a really tough time. Look after yourself OP. And whatever happens with breastfeeding be proud that you have already given your little one a great start in life. x

There's really no need for you to stop or decide that it's over. Your milk supply might be temporarily hit if you're stressed but it'll bounce back. Just keep feeding; you can supplement with formula if you feel the need.

Pumping isn't a good indication of supply. Some people don't respond well to pumps but baby can get milk just fine.

I didn't have a choice in stopping either, I was admitted to hospital and my daughter was sent home to dad so I could start new medication.
Stopping today doesn't detract from your achievement. You have done amazingly. It sounds like a tricky time for you at the moment too so make sure you look after yourself too. The first days and weeks are hard but it will get easier. What ever you feel is ok, try not to bottle it up and talk to people.
Breastfeeding wasn't an easy journey for me but stopping wasn't easy to. Take care

So both of my kids were exclusively breastfed and still got constipated (including the boob mad 18 month old). So I wouldn't worry about that as a sign. At this age it's easier to watch wet nappies - have they decreased? How is your baby's weight gain? Are they still following their centile curve? I don't think your breastfeeding journey is over if you don't want it to be. You've had a hideously stressful time, and this won't be helping, but it sounds like you and your baby are still keen to feed so if you need to top up for a couple of weeks (although I'm still not sure you do to be honest from what you've said) then that's not the end of the world ❤️

So sorry for your loss and that things are so tricky.

Can you pump a few times a day so you can see how much you are producing? Then you may feel reassured if it’s actually a decent amount and your little one is just going through a hungry phase!