To quit breastfeeding now?

[hipsalips]

I have a three month old and have been EBF, and while a lot of the time its nice to breastfeed I am getting a bit worn down from it.

I'm debating stopping but feel very conflicted. On one hand I like it (sometimes), I know its good for my DD.

On the other hand I hate the clothes I need to wear, I find all the nursing clothes well dowdy, and would feel more like me if I stopped.

I'm planning to wean her at 6 months, would it be worth swapping to formula until then or would you stick with it, or combination feed to get the best of both worlds?

I would combination feed.

On the clothing front, this is what helped me. I just wore normal clothes but with a vest top underneath then when it was time to feed the top came down and vest cake up. Could u perhaps try this then u would be able to feel a bit more like yourself in your clothes and not have to wear special nursing clothes.

I would persevere and I say that as someone who did. J felt exactly as you however my boy is now 1 and I'm still going.

Couldn't be bothered with formula and I don't really agree with it tbh.

What about expressing?

Do whatever you feel is best for you. I stopped with my little boy at 6 weeks, now I can honestly say it was due to comments from others. I missed breastfeeding so much when I stopped but it didn't hurt him to go to formula. He is now an extremely advanced happy toddler who makes me so proud. To have done it for 3 months is amazing, do what you feel is right

It’s up to you but your just getting past the difficult bit. Join the Facebook group Can I breast feed in it.

I wear normal clothes to bf - anything that can be pulled up or down, or unbuttoned works.

As you enjoy BFing, and as you say it's the best thing for your baby, don't let something as minor as clothes stop you!

Combination feed! Night bottles are brilliant.

Couldn't be bothered with formula and I don't really agree with it tbh

You don't agree with formula? I'm sorry to hear that. What were you and the tin of Aptamil arguing about?

Definitely try wearing a vest underneath this helped me a lot too. Even a bralette rather than wearing a feeding bra will work. You might find it more hassle than it’s worth to introduce formula now - my son would not take it at all.

Switching to formula at 6 months? Good luck with that!

#horehound
Just out of curiosity why do you not agree with formula?

In 5 years time will you look back on this time with your baby and be happier that she was exclusively breastfed or that you were able to wear what you wanted. That sounds like I'm being snarky but I'm genuinely not; which one is more important to your overall view long term, not just now because now is a very short period of time in the grand scheme of things.

Do what feels right . Try mixed feeding start small 1 or 2 feeds to gently wean. Aptimal is fairly easy on the stomach despite a pp not agreeing with it.

Like someone else said, you are just getting to the point of it getting easier. I'd stick with but it's totally up to you. I never really liked breastfeeding but stuck into for 17 months 😂😂

Out of interest, how does it get easier? Does something in particular change?

@ViciousJackdaw

Couldn't be bothered with formula and I don't really agree with it tbh

You don't agree with formula? I'm sorry to hear that. What were you and the tin of Aptamil arguing about?

I love this response and I agree with the sentiment. I’m also still bf a 13 month old but my first was ff by 6 weeks old. No of that matters to the OP. Her body, her family so her choice me. It’s entirely up to Mum to do what is best for her and her baby and other children in her family. Mum’s need to be reminded that they need to look after themselves to be able to look after their babies.

Also remember that formila feeding comes with it's own hassles.
Sterilising bottles, having to make them up, it not being available on tap, planning ahead when going out etc.
All I'm saying is make a decision with all the facts and not just based on clothing styles.

I combination fed from the start and loved it! Night bottles and shades night feeds throughout! Plus neither of us were whinging about having less/more sleep because everything was fair.

Personally I'd stick with it and just wear my own clothes (button up tops etc) if that's your only issue. I've breast fed three babies and have never worn nursing clothes.

@hipsalips

Out of interest, how does it get easier? Does something in particular change?

As they get older they don’t need help to latch. Babies go longer between feeds. They become much more efficient, my DD has gone from taking up to an hour a feed to both boobs done in 10 mins.

It gets easier because they get better at feeding more efficiently so less feeds, and less time per feed. Lots of the cluster feeding growth spurts happen around 6 weeks, 16 weeks I remember as being the worst two then it was plain sailing til we weaned at 2 years. Also better night sleeping in some cases, when you start with food even more so

I ff my first and bf my second. I'd say formula is more of a faff to be honest and if you keep going til 6 months then at least they're eating food then so don't need as many bottles making. You could combo feed though, it doesn't have to be one or the other. I feel like the most important thing is that you're both happy

I felt very worn down by it around 3 months and developed a real dislike of doing it while out (not entirely sure why) so I started combination feeding with 2 bottles a day (the 10.30 one for DH to do and a middle of the day one while I was out) and it meant that i continued breastfeeding until 7 months which I don’t think I’d of been able to do if I’d felt the options were only breastfeeding or formula.

PLEASE PLEASE do what 's best for you

I ff my first and bf my second. I'd say formula is more of a faff to be honest
I agree with this the bottle washing, sterilising, cooling boiled water.
I BF my 2nd it was handy without prep.