Breastfeeding coming to an end

[inquisitiveinga]

Am I being unreasonable? I'm aware that everything changes and nothing lasts forever... I'm just so upset that my breastfeeding journey is coming to an end.

My milk is drying up (I've attempted to remedy it), so am just accepting it for what it is. I managed to feed my son for 2 months and have managed just shy of 7 with my daughter, but I'm just so sad that I couldn't do more as it's been so magical and wasn't ready for it to end!

Sorry life is tough just now💐

Ending BF gave me rollercoaster hormones so you may also be dealing with that (I had been BF for the bulk of a decade so not sure if it was worse because of that)

Babies often seem to reduce BF when they start on solids but IME it's because their wee tummies havent a clue what's going on and with feeding solids mummy's day has got busier too (mine all BF loads at night when they started solids).

If you want to keep BF just keep offering breast rather than bottle & she'll come back to it. Your supply will be sophisticated enough by now to cope with the variation. Having a bath together is a lovely way to get babies back on the breast.

Good luck with it all.

Can I offer some unsolicited advice?

I breastfed my first till she’s 2.5 and my second is 9 months at the moment and she’s still breastfed. Both times, there are multiple times I felt my milk had dried up. And people often say it’s established so it wouldn’t dry up all of a sudden. But believe me mine did from time to time. Sometimes I can link a plausible reason but sometimes I cannot. I just kept offering to my baby when this happens. And after 4-5 days or maybe longer, my milk supply comes back. It’s very difficult during these windows I understand. But if you really want to carry on breastfeeding, you can try offering to your baby even more often and don’t give up.

Agree that I don't think your milk is necessarily drying up but also want to reassure you that if you and she want it its FINE to keep breastfeeding even if you think themilk is minimal! Mine is 21 months now and feeds very frequently when with me but very short - like she just has a nip and then off - I think its far more about reassurance and closeness. And she (and I!) Need that as much as nutrition. Nutrition can be got elsewhere

Pumping doesn't tell you how much you're producing - babies are far more efficient at getting milk out than pumps

But if she’s pumping a decent amount it could still be reassuring

My boobs still had milk in them 3 months after stopping. There’s still the option of re establishing it if you wanted to. It doesn’t finish that quickly

I went back to work part time with DS when he was 5 mnths and carried on BF. DS had formula at nursery but wouldn’t accept a bottle from me. As they eat more solids they bf less. We carried on happily until he was nearly 2 but after 12 mnths it was only last thing at night and first thing in the morning with occasional feed if he was under the weather or if he asked.
He’s now 20 6’3” and has enjoyed all the benefits of being a bf baby. Rarely I’ll, so much so that if he moans about feeling unwell I panic because it must be serious.
Your body just adjusts as their needs change. It learns to produce milk when needed.

I echo the others, if she still wants to feed and you still want to carry on then do so. She is getting solid food now as well and can have water now if needed. There’s no need to see it as the end unless you want it to be!
Mine stopped a couple of months before he turned 2. That was down to us both having thrush. Something put him off it and he never went back. I wasn’t prepared for such an abrupt end to it but then, I’m not sure how much longer I would have carried on anyway.

Mine started drying up at about 8 months because DS slept like a log, never woke at night for a feed after about 6 months. He loved solids and ate loads of them.

My period came back and that just pissed him off, I'd have way less milk at certain times of the month & he'd get frustrated feeding. I tried everything but gave up the ghost by 11months.

Two threads on AIBU this eve about breastfeeding. Both OPs have stated they want to carry on/are happy to carry on and are looking for advice.
Both threads have people ignoring that and suggesting going on to formula.
Just, why? The OP doesn’t want to!

But if she's not it could cause more concern when there may be nothing to be concerned about.

Was he waking at night for feeds? Hard to go back to work and still have to feed through the night!