When did you stop breastfeeding?

[Sunlighthouse]

DD is 10 weeks and breastfeeding seems to be going well. I'm not sure I'm really enjoying it though I find it stressful being the only one who can feed her and I don't like not knowing how much she is getting.

I had lots of trouble feeding my first DD so she was combination fed and then on formula from about 6 weeks. Honestly I think maybe I preferred bottle feeding. Or perhaps it's just that it is what I know.

How long did you breastfeed for? What is a realistic goal? I'm wondering if I could just make it to 6 months and then switch.

3 and a bit? But it doesn't matter how long anyone else did it for, it's what is right for the two of you.
Can't say I ever thought "I'm enjoying this" it was just something I did - the relief of feeding when you were engorged aside!

DC1 - 12 months
DC2 - 11 months
DC3 - 8 months

3.5 years.

I loved and hated it in equal measure, but I look back with fond memories.

It felt overwhelming being the only one who could feed him (he wouldn't take a bottle), but also very special that he preferred me to a plastic bottle.

Although he had to come everywhere with me, I loved the freedom of only needing to chuck a handful of nappies in a bag and go out. I didn't have to plan how many feeds or bottles I would need and didn't need to worry about being delayed and not having anything to feed my baby with.

It's your body and your baby. Do whatever feels right for you, but never make big decisions on a bad day x

Longest was fed for 4.7 years
Shortest 26 months

3 years

Started with the goal of a year. It gets so much easier as time goes on.

I mixed fed and my DD stopped bf a day before her first birthday. She decided she didn't want to feed anymore.

I had seen one of my now adult nephews do the same years ago. He decided to stop at 7 months.

Had to stop him the summer before he started school. I swear he would still be going if I hadn't (currently 9 )

#1 - 2 and a bit years, we both loved it and she was very gentle. She more or less self weaned at the end though when it had dwindled down to us both feeding to sleep last thing at night and I wanted to stop cosleeping.

Current baby is 11mo...more or less on demand including when she wakes up at night which is quite often, and a bit during the day as am furloughed and she isn't at nursery. I'm happy to co sleep for another year but might wean her off the boob a bit earlier than #1...she is more careless than #1, who could fall asleep with a mouth like a butterfly's wing. #2 needs reminded all the time to keep a good deep latch and clamps down as she falls asleep (but wakes up angrily if I break the latch). Teeth marks aren't nice!

With DD1 I had to pump breastmilk for about three months as she had a terrible latch, then we discovered nipple shields and used them until she was six months old and able to latch on properly. From then I fed her until she was seventeen months (though I'm pretty sure it was only night feeds from around her first birthday).

Currently breastfeeding DD2 who is three and a half months, it was really painful at first as she had a tiny mouth and severe tongue-tie. We had it fixed though and it's been amazing since. I'd ideally like to feed her for as long as I fed DD1.

In my naivety, before breastfeeding I assumed I would stop breastfeeding at 6 months when I introduced food. Not sure how I thought that would happen!

At about 11 months he stopped wanting night feeds and then stopped wanting it during the day as well at about 12 months. I fed him once a day before bed until I went on honeymoon at 13 months without him and when I came back he was completely uninterested. TBF the 1 feed a day was getting shorter and shorter anyway.

I was happy enough to end it but if he had wanted to continue I would have.

Both children 12 months then straight into cows milk from a cup.

Found it way easier than the thought of having to deal with bottles etc.

I think for most it gets a lot easier from around 12 weeks, they tend to feed more quickly so they can spend more time looking around the room.

I fed my first for about 10 months then was fully formula fed. Started cutting down on daytime feeds from 9 months--it was summer of 2018 and SO hot all day I couldn't hold her against me for so long, she was a VERY slow feeder, usually an hour in the day at least each time. Was also returning to work at 11m and wanted to TTC again and periods hadn't come back.

Currently got a newborn, 3 weeks in and already had mastitis. Will see how it goes. No idea if she is gaining weight etc as can't get her weighed due to covid 19. Hoping to feed until 1 year then straight to cows milk but we shall see....!

I also imagined I would stop BF at 6 months until we actually started giving her food and I realised they don't reduce milk intake for ages and are really just tasting things for quite a while.

Baby 1 BF till 14 months
Baby 2 BF to the week he turned 2
Baby 3 Bottlefed.

About 6 hours with ds1 (realised I had literally no colostrum after pph)

I really loved bottle feeding so I never breastfed ds2.

Got a lot of ‘what, you didn’t even try?!’ comments but have 2 happy, healthy little boys and don’t regret a thing.

Dd1 15 months
Dd2 16 months
Dd3 23 months (a real boobie monster)

All fully bf, never took bottles but had beakers for water from 6 months and later for fresh milk

11 months
3 years
16 months and counting

About 2 weeks, then it was SMA all the way
He's 30 now. Seems OK!

Still breastfeeding my 2 year old. Won’t stop any time soon I imagine as I plan to let her self wean. You just have to go with what feels right for you. For what it’s worth I also had a really difficult start, and said many times that I hated it as it was so painful for me... but once it clicked, it was great.

2001

Sorry, couldn't resist

PP is correct that breastmilk is always changing, based on baby’s needs. Also, there may be more watery and/or more fat rich milk at different times (including within a single feed). However, it isn’t correct that breastmilk starts off more watery, then gets thicker as baby gets older and so they need less milk. Older babies may feed for a shorter period of time, but this is because they have become a more efficient feeder.

In answer to your question, I fed my first for 16 months and am currently at 6 months with my second.

I fed each of mine for around 18 months. My youngest was premature and 3.5lb at birth and she thrived on it.

You don't need to worry how much they're getting if you bf on demand because they'll get enough and just keep on feeding until they're full.

Joyfully remembering the days of cluster feeding... 🙄

As for whether I enjoyed it, I don't think that ever came into it. I very much enjoyed not having to get out of bed for night feeds, sterilise bottles or work out how many bottles to take on a day out though! 😜

About 2 weeks, then it was SMA all the way. He's 30 now
@Katinski you really need to wean your son.