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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Anyone else really sad that they will eventually have to stop BF?

31 replies

arabellaandbaby · 19/07/2010 17:56

Hi all

I know this may sound crazy. I really wish I could continue to BF forever as I love it so much. I love the cuddles with DD and our special times together whilst she's feeding. She is really calm and we have a lovely bond when she's at the breast. Don't get me wrong, she's a lovely and happy child at most other times, but when she's BF, it seems like she's really enjoying herself (as well as getting a full belly!)

DD is coming up to 5 months old. I love breastfeeding her so much that I'm counting down the months to when I will eventually have to stop doing it, because there will come a time when she will no longer need it and also less importantly the need to return to work.

Does anyone else feel like this? DD is my first, but I feel like I need another DC asap in order to continue BF! Does this sound really really silly?

X

OP posts:
sweetnitanitro · 19/07/2010 18:02

It doesn't sound silly at all! DD is 21 months and I plan to feed her until she decides to stop (who knows when that will be!). Also I'm currently expecting DC 2 so hopefully I'll be tandem feeding come February. I also love the closeness and cuddles.

Your DD is only 5 months, when are you planning to go back to work? Could you leave her some expressed milk for the day time and feed her when you get home? I'm a SAHM so probably don't have any useful advice but I know there are a few on MN that have gone back to work and are still breastfeeding.

greenbananas · 19/07/2010 18:44

No, it doesn't sound silly. It's a really precious time. Sometimes I see elderly ladies looking quite emotional when they see me breastfeeding DS and I'm sure they are remembering the days when their little ones were young. I feel so lucky to be breastfeeding right now... but I'm sure there are other precious times ahead as DCs grow up, things that we can't even imagine yet.

TakeLovingChances · 19/07/2010 21:47

When DS was born and he was feeding all day and all night I often felt like giving up. I kept telling DH I just couldn't bear to do it anymore, but I kept going, taking it week-by-week and now DS is 21 weeks old!

I had always thought I'd stick it out to when he turned 6 months, but now I think we might go on beyond that, will play it by ear.

I understand how you feel, OP.

lovingmy2 · 19/07/2010 21:56

i understand too. DD is 8+ months old and i too love breast feeding. I know it'll come to and end soon and she is my last. I feel whenever i think about it.

sanfairyann · 19/07/2010 21:58

wait til they're almost four and then you'll be glad to stop - or maybe it's just me!

lindsell · 19/07/2010 22:02

I understand too, ds is 15mo and I'm still feeding him twice a day (had to cut down when I went back to work) but although for many reasons I do want to stop now I also can't imagine stopping and it does make me sad to think about not feeding him anymore.

I thought I'd just bf for 6mths and then 12mths and now I'm thinking well maybe I'll stop at 18mths

Your dd is only 5mo though so you don't need to stop bf anytime soon

lovingmy2 · 19/07/2010 22:08

lol sanfairyann

TheBreastmilksOnMe · 19/07/2010 22:11

Yes and No. You don't have to give up until she is ready and that could take her another 5 years and by that time you may have another child, then another and so you could be feeding non-stop for at least a decade and trust me, you will want your body back then. My DS is coming up to 2 years and in the early days I felt like you did, that I never wanted it to stop but I am pregnant againg and feeding him is really sore at the moment and it just doesn't feel the same anymore so I think by the time this next baby is a toddler I will be ready for a break!

moaningminniewhingesagain · 19/07/2010 22:32

Oh yes, I remember that lovely stage when BF gets lovely and easier somehow. DS is 19m now and while I will miss it when he stops, I am ready anytime

He still gives me a fabulous cheesy grin when he's about to have a feed though, and pats my chest all excited.

I went back to work in January too, has been fine to still feed when I can, if that helps.

sanfairyann · 19/07/2010 22:50

if you wait til they can talk they tell you it's a lovely snuggly feeling and better than chocolate or ice cream. how good is that!!

Elpis · 19/07/2010 22:52

Yes, I completely empathise. DD is 14 months and still feeding about six times / 24 hours. But I tell myself that when she does want to give up she'll have other ways of expressing her affection and we'll be able to talk together.

You really don't have to give up when you go back to work, though it is worth investing in a good pump because it does the job faster. I've been expressing four days a week since October and DD has never had formula.

MumNWLondon · 19/07/2010 22:53

I have mixed feelings.

Although I am really enjoying feeding DS2, and again he is likely to be the last, I am going back to work in October when he is 6 months. Of course I could easily feed him twice a day (don't want to express at work) but I eat too much cake (ie am always hungry) when BFing and would really like to loose some weight.

Also I posted a few days ago about a medical condition I have. Am more likely to continue if I can take the medication.

pooka · 19/07/2010 22:55

DC3 is now 10 and a half months. I fed his older brother and sister until about 13 months. But they were both night weaned from about 7 months, and he feeds about twice a night.

He is my last child, he is very keen on feeding, and we're co-sleeping. If I were to make a conscious effort to wean him at 13 months that would only be about 10 weeks away. Seems awfully soon to me. I don't think either of us are ready. So will metaphorically put my fingers in my ears and say "lalalalalala".

lovely74 · 19/07/2010 23:02

it's wierd isn't it how your feelings towards it change over time> I hated it at first as it was complete agony and DS fed non-stop. I said "I'll do it till he's 4 weeks" then 3 months, then 6 months....9 months in we're still going. It's only recently that I've decided that when I go back to work (he'll be 13 months) I'll carry on morning evenings and weekends until I decide I want my body back.

DS does have a FF at bedtime now, and if we go out (the freezer stock is almost gone and I do not have a good relationship with my pump!) but I think using this option has meanth that I can completely see BF'ing as a pleasure and a joy. The responsibility for feeding is not completely mine but what is is lovely.

cerealqueen · 19/07/2010 23:20

No, I feel the same and DD is 20mo now and has one feed first thing and is as keen for that as she ever was. I love the morning cuddles and extra snooze time! I'll continue until she wants to stop!

scaussie · 19/07/2010 23:34

Not silly at all and sounds so lovely, why would you want to stop this special time. My daughter decided to stop at 2yr and 2 months. Please don't count down the days until you stop, enjoy and cherish every moment.

You don't need to stop when you go back to work. I mixed fed and my supply did not dwindle...it kept up with my DD demand of it, it is not as sensitive as the first few months when it is trying to work out how much to supply.

With weaning onto solids you may find that you drop a feed or two leading up to her 1st birthday. After that my dd would sometimes have 3 feeds one day, 6 the next 3 days, then 1 the next and it never dwindled. I also had to take anti-biotics and stop for 5 days and nothing happened.
So you need not worry right now and enjoy the moment.

scaussie · 19/07/2010 23:36

Meant to say that if you return to work and the only bf time is at night-time and if you are lucky 1st thing in the morning too then your supply will adjust for this routine.

MoonFaceMama · 20/07/2010 11:30

i'm not even thinking about stopping bf yet (similar to pooka) but gave ds his first solids yesterday...ok so he only gummed the soft bit off some cucumber sticks...but it made me suddenly and unexpectedly sad. Up untill then he'd been all made of and by me. I know this probably makes me sound like a complete meglamaniac, and sorry for the ot hijack. Just had to get it off my chest.

Bf is so special i can understand you not wanting to stop. Looking at the other posts hopefully that will be some time off even more with another dc

OgreRebel · 20/07/2010 11:36

I felt like that too. It was a wonderful feeling after a tough start.

DD is 3.2 now and I've gone full circle. I just want it to stop tbh.

willowstar · 20/07/2010 11:37

I completely understand, I feel the same way. I found breastfeeding so difficult in the early days but I am so glad I stuck it out, she is almost 10 months old.

I am pleased to read other people's experiences of returning to work. I head back in 5 weeks and I am heartbroken at the though of leaving her in a nursery with strangers but also I am worried about the feeding thing. she still feeds 5 to 6 times in 24 hours and I can't express much at all. Determined she won't have formula so will have to just give her water when she is at nursery. only 2 and half days a week.

anyway, sorry to hijack your thread, but yes, I completely understand, it is great!

Bramshott · 20/07/2010 11:46

Oh yes - I cried lots when I knew I had fed DD2 for the last time (she was 11 months, and for us, it was time to stop).

mawbroon · 20/07/2010 13:33

Agree with sanfairyann, except mine is nearly 5.

But I love feeding ds2 who is 20 weeks.

And then I feel bad for not enjoying feeding ds1 anymore.

Never easy eh?

fiziwizzle · 20/07/2010 14:07

I feel exactly the same! I love it so much, feel so proud that I've grown this human inside me for nine months, and then sustained her on the outside for five. I know that the time is approaching to start her on solids, and it makes me feel .

fiziwizzle · 20/07/2010 14:08
Jackstini · 20/07/2010 14:11

Yes but trying not to think about it.
ds is 19 mo now but no idea when he'' want to stop. dd went to 2.6 so hoping I have a while yet...

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