To feel a bit sad at ds stopping breastfeeding?

[okthen]

DS turned one a couple of weeks ago.

He was such a boob monster for months, I thought it was going to have a long hard task on my hands to wean him off breastfeeding.

Then, gradually, he lost interest, until eventually starting to refuse his last remaining feed (bedtime) point blank around a week ago. I kept offering at bedtime in case it was down to teething or something. But I finally took the hint, and tonight put him down without offering. He went to sleep fine.

So that is that

I didn't want to extend breastfeeding, was keen to stop around age one etc. so basically everything has happened as I hoped!

But... But now it has ended, I feel really wistful, especially as I can't even remember when the last feed was or what it was like. I didn't treasure it. And if we stop at 2 kids (don't want to but might be sensible!) I may have given my last breastfeed ever!

I suspect I am being over-indulgent and a bit ridiculous. But still!

Give your boobs a good old pat and a pep-talk about the wonderful work they have done. And give yourself a break re feeling emotional about it. Children grow and develop all the time and of course you have to roll with the changes but equally that doesn't always mean it's easy. I also can't remember the last breastfeed. I remember when he refused - I can remember the exact day and even date because it was a significant one for other reasons - but the last time he fed, not a clue. There will be other lasts over the years, and you won't remember them either. For eg I can't remember the last time my son called me 'mummy'. I remember him making up his mind that I was from now on to be 'mum', and I know that last 'mummy' must have happened immediately before, but I didn't know it was a 'last' at the time. But I digress. You've given him a brilliant start - not only grown but fed a baby! That's a remarkable achievement.

I was really upset about my last breastfeed with what was going to be my last child. It is an emotional thing, even if it happened really nicely.

Yanbu

Well done you for letting your child wean from you

Your ds must be very secure and happy

Have a few to celebrate your hard work

Thanks wallison. The lasts are more significant than the firsts in a way, not least because you don't realise they are happening...

Ps I would give my boobs a pat, if there was anything left to pat. They are ruined, ruined I tell you!

Congratulate yourself on a wonderful job well done and you letting your DS make the decision. Lasts are always sad, I still remember DD2's last feed (and that was my choice, not hers, because I didn't know then what I know now, else I would have let her decide ) but I also remember that I fed both my DDs for almost 14 months, and that a lot of how healthy they are is down to that.

YANBU, it's the end of a lovely thing you shared.

ah op, lovely post. lots more lovely moments to come though.

ah op, lovely post. lots more lovely moments to come though.

A thanks for indulging me

Am about to cry at thought of last feed in the future!

Well done you

^^ me too, indulge yourself you have done amazing! Self weaning is something I am really hoping for in the future

I remember my last child's bf. I knew it was the last feed after being pregnant or feeding for 7 years (3dc). Dc had been self weaning for a couple of weeks and I had decided to stop around her second birthday. She was really sleepy and fell asleep feeding. I cried. I was really upset, it was the end of our family's baby phase. But I was so proud of my achievement.

I don't remember the last feed for my other two dc though. Maybe because I was pg when they weaned so I knew I would feed another, but dc3 was to be the last. Well done on feeding till one year old.

YABU. You've stopped feeding him from your breasts. So what.
He was ready to give up, he wanted to give it up himself. Surely it's what's best for HIM, not you?!

I felt a bit sad about dd2 stopping at 1 even though I stopped her she liked to smile and gnaw argh.

It's not u but do keep an eye on yourself your hormone change can make you a bit sewiff for a while after.

santa not very nice.

Totally agree with santa

I'm guessing Santa ff or has limited experience bf.

Dreading this to come too! Just feels like it would be very sad, I'll miss the lovely bonding cuddles.

Well done though. :)

Well done btw, op.

oh dear don't turn this into a breast v ff debate. it isn't.

op made a perfectly reasonable post and it's just as much a milestone as any baby dropping that last bottle.

moving in is great but you are allowed to mourn the passing of babyhood in any way you like.

The thing is Santa/peazely it can be an actual physiological response to the hormone change.
I felt horrible and instantly wanted a new baby.

2 months on that was clearly bonkers looking back.

I totally understand this and yanbu, I felt the same when dd had her last bf a couple of months ago, slightly different as she was 7.5mo and I made the decision that it was time to stop (needed some meds not compatible with bf and she was feeding all night which was making me demented with tiredness) but I still mourned the passing of the baby stage knowing she is absolutely my last baby

We're almost at that stage too! Dd feeds for less time each time. This time round I'm looking forward to weaning though.. With DS I felt guilty when he self weaned during my pg as I had dreams of extended bf.... Now I just have dreams of extended sleep!

Yanbu, im sure when the time comes I will feel the same, even though I have a bit of a love/hate relationship regarding bf ds4 almost 10 months.

As you said yours was a real boob monster it does give me hope that mine might self wean happily before he's 6! I would really like him to start at 12 months and have stopped before 18 months and it would be really nice if he did it himself.