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Help me stop breastfeeding - practically and emotionally

2 replies

FedUpWithItAllWeep · 07/09/2019 21:47

Well, its not even breastfeeding anymore but expressing..

DC1 is currently unwell having a long stay in hospital. During the course of this both me and DC2 (10 months) got an infection and ended up on the same antibiotics. The Dr advised me not to feed as some of my antibiotics would make it in to the breastmilk and there was a potential for overdose. I decided to just pump and dump as I was alternating over night stays with DH anyway so DC2 was having a bottle regardless. He had been having bottles at nursery so I wasn't concerned.

Well, I should have been. He is now refusing boob. Doesnt even latch anymore just bites. So, I have been manically expressing but I dont get much and am not even covering half his feeds.

Logically I know I need to stop. He's 10 months, its fine. I cant sustain the pumping as DC1 has another three weeks in hosp and DH needs to go back to work. Its just silly.

But emotionally I am devastated. I "failed" to breastfeed DC1 and it was a huge struggle with DC2. But when I made it to six months I knew that was it and I would get the year, maybe even two. I cant bear that it has been robbed from me.

I think I need a little handhold as I start reducing the expressing tonight.

Also, practically how do I do this and avoid getting mastitis. DC2 was still feeding very regularly so Im not sure how long to push the gaps between expressing.

TIA

OP posts:
SuperLoudPoppingAction · 07/09/2019 21:51

One thing I picked up on - at this age babies can sometimes switch to biting and it might not have anything to do with your absence. The technique I developed was to push further towards the baby and it seemed to stop the biting.

Another thing to avoid mastitis might be to alternate hand expressing and machine expressing. It seems to empty the ducts better.

If you definitely wish to stop, sage tea can lower the amount of milk you produce.

One thing that can help emotionally is remembering how much breastmilk you have given your baby and how helpful it's been for them. For health, closeness etc.

AngelaScandal · 07/09/2019 22:08

FedUp that’s so so hard, particularly when you’ve persevered this far. One thing to do - maybe speak to a lactation consultant to help you plan next steps be it reduce supply or protect supply?

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