Stopping breastfeeding - the positives?

[endofanera23]

I've been breastfeeding for over 16 months and think the final feed will be within the next few days but it's making me really emotional!

I cut down during the day because of work but then cut out the morning feed and have cut down on the evening one. Partly the reason is having a few work trips away in the next month or two and partly that I have surgery coming up in a few weeks, plus a chronic pain condition that seems to be worsening, and thought it might be best if I'm not restricted on what I can be prescribed. I would probably have stopped within the next few months anyway so it might as well be now for those reasons. I'm just going to be an emotional wreck regardless of when it is! Doesn't help that it's definitely my last baby.

I just wondered if anyone had any other positives/good sides they could tell me about so I feel less sad about it all!

Can wear any clothes you want without worrying about boob access.

After a couple of months when the hormone production had adjusted I felt SO much less foggy. I'm glad I breastfed both of my children but I am so happy to be done with it!
Sixteen months is incredible and you've done a wonderful thing. What that little one needs now is a mother who is as well as she can be and for that you need to prioritise you here!

Thank you! Yes, I'm really looking forward to buying some new clothes as I've been hanging on to ancient things and breastfeeding-wear until I knew I was done and what size I'd be. Though how long do I leave it before a bra fitting?

It would be amazing if my head would be capable of thinking straight again!! I feel like a total fraud at work - my productivity is lower and my general ability is definitely lower too!

I felt like a had a bit more freedom back, and more time to myself.

I was also beginning to get touched out at some feeds, so it was nice for that to go away.

After stopping, DS also became a wee bit less dependent on me and was happier to be with his dad, which was lovely to see.

The absolute freeeeeeedom

The fact you can go out and about and drink what you like and take drugs / get a tattoo / use tretenoin if you wanted and you’re not the only person who can ultimately comfort your child in this one specific way

Being able to wear proper bras and proper clothes is amazing

Having your own body back

you’ve done amazingly well and I did about the same with 2 DDs but was so happy to be finished

Stopping now will probably be much easier than stopping when the child is older! I know a.few people who have gone till 2 and really struggled because the child then didnt want to give it up! I stopped at 12 and 13m with my two and it was definitely a much smoother transition for us.

Freedom, sharing the comforting of DC more, proper clothes that you actually like, feeling like yourself again. I'm so glad I BF my DC but was so happy to stop both times once decision made. Felt so much better after a couple of weeks.

I breast fed my first son until he was 2.5 years and stopped because I was struggling to conceive. I was very sad about stopping but I tried to stay focused on what would be the positive outcome as a result and it did help.

I breast fed my second until he was almost 3 years and by that point I was really ready to stop because whenever he saw me he’d be thinking it was snack time. He was always sitting on my lap and sneakily trying to put his hand up my top and it just became really, really irritating!

When I did stop feeding him it felt so liberating to have my body back and feel like I was me again as opposed to feeling like a source of nutrition for my child.

Although he was older he was still quite easy to wean off as he didn’t have much emotional attachment to breastfeeding so didn’t need it for comfort and it was more about replacing the feeds with a biscuit or something 😂

I don’t think any ‘positives’ that others wrote about are going to make you feel much better because ultimately there may be 100 positives to not breast feeding but they only mean something if you want to stop breast feeding of your own free will.

You have very genuine reasons for stopping but those reasons mean that in some way the freedom of choice to stop has been taken away from you and that’s why you feel so upset.

There’s a lot of research now about the emotional difficulties some women can go through if they are put in positions of having to stop breastfeeding before they feel ready to and so your upset and heartbreak is completely normal.

I’m sorry you are in this position but what a wonderful start you’ve given your child and you’ll always have those lovey memories ❤️

Thank you all - I'm equally feeling a bit better and welling up at the same time!