Can I stop breastfeeding?

[IsItTime]

Please someone advise me.
DC3 is 11months old. I am still BF'in her. I have absolutely loved it, still do. But now I can feel myself getting low and I am also feeling trapped.
How best do I stop BFin and is it ok to go straight to cows milk?
I didn't want to be the one to stop it. Mt DD2 stopped of her own accord at 15months but I'm really struggling at the moment.
Saw the Doctor today because of how low I feel and he put the idea in my head about stopping. I don't know. I feel so confused.

:( Sorry you are so low.

You can call any of the bf helplines and talk about this - they won't make you do anything, but they will help you work out what you want to do.

Would stopping bf make you feel any less trapped? Or would you feel sad you had stopped and still feel trapped for some other reason.

Did the doctor give good reasons why stopping bf would be a good idea, or was it just an idea he wanted you to think about?

Hope you get a good chance to explore this and come out the other side happy you have made the right choice all round.

PS The fact you say you still love breastfeeding makes stopping a big deal for you...and it seems to be separate from the feeling low.

If it helps I have been told to stop breastfeeding pretty much every time I have been to the doctors since having children !

Doctors seem think all a mother's problems are down to parenting issues, if it wasn't breastfeeding, it would be cosleeping, dummies, giving a bottle at night they like to be directive.:)

Giving up something you 'absolutely love' and 'still do' doesn't sound like the way to make you feel better ? Hope the helplines help and maybe a second opinion at the doctors with a different GP ?

If that's what you want, of course you can stop breastfeeding. 11 months is an impressive stint and you shouldn't feel guilty if that's the right choice for you.

BUT

Are you sure that that's what you want. You say you love breastfeeding and that the doctor put the idea about stopping in your head. Why did he say that would help? If you are feeling low and trapped, would stopping doing something you love help that?

Are there other things making you feel trapped and unhappy? Is there anyone in RL you can talk to about your feelings?