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 r bought a few Bshirts so my clothes are generally the same as before and haven’t bothered with any frumpy nursing items

Why have I not heard of these before @Rebelwithallthecause ?! I have a few similar tops from Seraphine but I don’t like that they double as maternity wear so are a bit lose around my tummy now. And so many colours!

OP do what ever you want but if you haven’t tried bottle feeding yet don’t pin all your hopes on it. I’ve been unsuccessfully trying to get DC2 on a bottle since 6 weeks. I personally get a bit pissed off with hearing about how great combi feeding is, or can’t DP give a bottle in the night to give me a break. I wish!

And not liking the clothes is definitely one of the shallower reasons I’ve see for not wanting to continue breastfeeding! I do understand though. I really missed my summer dresses, most of which just didn’t work with BF. I treated myself to a couple of new skirts instead that I could wear with BF vests.

Why do posters think formula feeding is a problem with equipment and preparation? You get a perfect prep and microwave steriliser. You get more sleep not less as it’s not always you that have to do the feeding. My amazing DMil stayed with us for about the first six weeks, she did all the night feeds. Formula preparation isn’t a reason not to use it.

My amazing DMil stayed with us for about the first six weeks, she did all the night feeds.

So you let your MIL get up to do all the night feeds whilst you slept?

I’m assuming there was a reason for this but I bet it felt lovely getting all that rest!!

I found that the lack of sleep which came with breast feeding was one of the hardest aspects and I can completely understand why people would switch to formula or combi-feed for this reason.

@ScarMatty

I truly hope your children dont inherit your genes.

They have which means they are beautiful and clever

@ScarMatty

Having searched you, it seems that your favourite pastimes are to troll and make yourself look superior, when it actually fact you just come across as someone who makes me wince.
I'm a troll because I don't agree with you?
Stop stalking

3 months was when I stopped with both of mine. I needed my body autonomy back, it had been a year.

@Parker231

Why do posters think formula feeding is a problem with equipment and preparation? You get a perfect prep and microwave steriliser. You get more sleep not less as it’s not always you that have to do the feeding. My amazing DMil stayed with us for about the first six weeks, she did all the night feeds. Formula preparation isn’t a reason not to use it.

I find bottle feeding more of a faff, I BF to 16 months but DC had at least 2 expressed bottles evening/night from 3 weeks (DH had DC while I slept early).

With breast, it’s just instantly there. No getting out of bed/no advance washing and sterilising, though I did choose to have the arse ache of expressing, sterilising etc.

We co slept so at night they helped themselves. We were always out so at most I needed a chair but when tiny could feed while walking. Also had 1 hand free for munching.

I persevered BF was because I knew we would be out non stop and it would be easier, it was the lazy option for me.

I’m not anti FF at all, DC is now FF at a late age, it does take more prep, same as when weaning started.

I lived in primark vests under everything. Or snood type scarf to cover my boob, but I never cared really and most people though we were just cuddling.

As long as you are aware that formula feeding has risks. That's not judgement, it's facts. Breastfeeding doesn't have benefits - it's the biological norm.

You don't need specific clothes for breastfeeding- I'm 13 months in and never worn anything special other than nursing bras at The beginning. I just pull down my top, lift it up etc.

It definitely does get easier. I formula fed one of my children through choice and regretted it because it was much
More hassle.

It gets much easier from 6 months. I combination fed my first and ebf my second. Bf was easier for me as I didn't like washing all the bottles etc.
But it has to be what you want no matter what we think.

@Parker231

Why do posters think formula feeding is a problem with equipment and preparation? You get a perfect prep and microwave steriliser. You get more sleep not less as it’s not always you that have to do the feeding. My amazing DMil stayed with us for about the first six weeks, she did all the night feeds. Formula preparation isn’t a reason not to use it.

Because with breeding you don't need equipment, preparation or sterilization, or even to get out of bed at all at night. Most people don't have the option of a helper to do all the night feeds for the first six weeks.....

B/feeding, not breeding!!

@QueenofmyPrinces - my DMil is amazing. She offered to fly over during the school holidays in Canada (she was a teacher) and help us. We got spoilt. Seeing the pleasure she and DFil got from giving the bottles was priceless. I have a picture in my study of DFil giving DS a bottle- one of my favourite photos.

The best thing to do when you don’t like what someone else says is to debate the point or ignore. Why some users think they’re superior for throwing insults and referencing other people’s children is beyond me. Just disagree with their points, there’s no need to insult. There’s childishness in both directions here and I hate seeing ‘ I hope your children don’t turn out like you’. Leave other people’s children out of it and report someone if you think they cross the line.

@Temp123999 if you are in fact genuinely a breastfeeding advocate, please consider the fact that being judgemental and shitty to people is more likely to lower breastfeeding rates than it is to raise them. The way you’re coming across, who on earth would want to be in your club?

OP - totally recognise your feelings about clothes. For me it was basically a symptom of that feeling of distress and frustration over my body no longer being my own. Someone else - even a little baby - having control over my body was really hard to deal with some days! The Can I Breastfeed In It group people have recommended is great for outfit inspiration to help you feel like you can get some control back.

Totally your decision whether you add in a bottle or switch to formula. Just make sure you know what it is you really want to be different and whether switching will help. I had to combo feed, and sometimes it felt like the best of both worlds, sometimes the worst!

@coffeeandgin26 what risks does FF have?

I bf both mine for three months. No problems at all. But I was mentally and physically exhausted and fed up of the two hour wakings. I switched to ff and immediately felt a sense of control. DH took more of the load and we all slept an awful lot better.
Now teens, no regrets.

My prem twins were fed on "mcdonalds formula" from birth and they're perfect. Fed really is best and the only people who bore on about how you don't do the best for your babies if you don't breastfeed are the ones who found it easy, in my experience. It's just a way for those women to feel superior. You can tell the difference between them and the ones who actually want to help and support you either way.

Give formula if you want to op. Tub of sterilised water and a perfect prep - easy peasy. I used those ready made bottles when i went out. Giving a couple of bottles a day might take some of the pressure off and you might find you enjoy breastfeeding more. In the long run, breastfeeding or not really doesn't matter. Your child will be fine whatever you choose. It's still perfectly possible to comfort your child without breastmilk and your mental health is more important even if that does boil down to wanting to wear nicer clothes. If that's what you feel is important to you to feel like yourself and regain your identity then do it.

And it was slightly more faff, but god the benefits outweighed the disadvantages, to me anyway. And I don't regret making the 'selfish' choice.

From someone who both breast and bottle fed I didn’t find the prep for bottles faffy at all, bottles took 5 mins to wash alongside my other pots (separate water obvs!) then bobbed in the steriliser for 4 mins and there they stayed until I needed to use one, then I just used the perfect prep which makes the bottle in 2 mins.

Generally did one bottle wash per day at night and one steriliser run the bottles then lasted me the next day.

Could you get a decent expresser?

Do what is best for you, you have done a wonderful job getting to 3 months :) I felt the same when my little one was about that age but kept with it and before I knew it she was 6 months old.
It does fly by.
But as I said above do what suits you she will love you non the less either way ❤️

OP I remember the clothes thing too - staring wistfully at my old wardrobe whilst wearing more frumpy stuff to breastfeed.

However- it wasn’t enough to make me give up, although I did do one bottle a day (husband did dream feed) from about the first month. This really helped me to stick with the feeding as I got a longer stretch of sleep.

Your call of course but it’s not forever. It’s Definitely hard though.

Its up to you no one can tell you how to feed your child.
I never wore 'breastfeeding clothes' just my normal ones for the 3 years I breastfed.

@Temp123999

Please, take a look in the mirror.

No one on this thread has agreed with you.

Are you that obvious to the world?

@MillyMollyFarmer

Feel free to tag me next time instead of just making lots of references.

I'll react how I wish when someone try's to make a new mum feel bad.

I never said I was superior.

I did report and guess what, MN didn't do a thing, as usual.