breastfeeding question

[sunshineoutdoors]

Well dd is 6 months and for the past week or so I have been trying to reduce the breastfeeding and introducing formula with a view to stopping bf.

However, it has been a big faff and I hate making up the bottles that she then doesn't drink all of and the whole day just seems to revolve around making bottles, throwing them away, making lunch, making more bottles, worrying about whether she is drinking or not, trying to figure out how to make bottles up if going out for the day, making more bottles, throwing more milk away, making dinner, making more bottles etc etc.

So I have decided maybe to just continue with the breastfeeding for longer. It feels more instinctual, less hassle and just easier without any stress. also when I am bf it's the only 'break' I get - a chance to sit down, watch tv/mumsnet and drink a cup of tea. I can't drink a cup of tea while I'm feeding dd a bottle.

Now I'm worried that I will have lowered my milk supply. She wasn't drinking lots of formula the most I got in one day was about 300 mls, she has still bf at least 3 times a day, particularly first and last feed. I will make enough milk for her now won't I?

Also does bf get less time consuming once dd eats more solids? She's getting really good at biting and chewing so I'm going to do more finger foods than puress... then I can eat at the same time as her.... I'm just after the easy life really! Will dd feed less? Will the next 6 months be easier in terms of bf? I quite like the idea of moving from bf to cups of cows milk.... she will lap water from a cup now so I feel this would be doable. I'd love to hear other's experiences of weaning from the breast at 12 months.

Your supply will be fine, it may have dipped a little if you where offering her formula instead of BM but it's very easy to get it back again just feed as offten as possible and it'll catch up again in a day or two.

She will slowely drop feeds on her own as she take's more solids and therefore you will be feeding her less. You'll just be replacing it with the constant offering food instead though.

Just out of interst by the way why where you thinking of switching to formula at 6months? I'm just curiouse, so don't answer if you dont want to.

I can't give you any experiences of weaning at 12months as I've fed both mine for longer but I'm sure others will be along with more info soon.

When you say a bottle do you mean an actual proper babies bottle? Because you don't have to use them. She can use a cup or about toe with a spout rather than a teat. Mine have always used this as they don't do bottles.

About toe - wtf - bottle.

Thanks for reassuring me re supply miggrl. I guess I just always had it in my head that I'd bf until 6 months then I could get my body back, go out, drink etc but now it's come to it I don't really care about that at the moment. Also me and dh want another dc and feel ready to try and I felt I might have more chance of ovulating if I stopped bf. But now that doesn't feel right as it feels like dd still needs me to bf and if my body's not ready to get pregnant again I should listen.

Don't know if that makes sense and I don't judge anyone for using formula but at the moment it is just feeling right and natural that I continue bf, and that for the last week or so I have been trying to fight that and it's not felt right and I'm not sure why. Dd hasn't enjoyed it and neither have I. It's silly but now I've made a decision not to bother with the bottles I've got an urge to wake her up and tell her it's ok, you're right, we'll keep breastfeeding. How stupid is that? I realise I might be a bit hormonal due to reducing the feeds!

Missnevermind I was trying a bottle but I will keep trying a cup for water and then maybe sometimes she could have milk from a carton in a cup if I want a break. I got fed up with all the boiling water, mixing, using within 2 hours thing, but a cup and premade milk could be something I could try. I don't want to put this pressure on myself that she must take it though, as that is what has been stressing me out. I gather it might be a good thing she won't take to a bottle as I'll never have to get her off it later?

You can also have a drink if you want while BF, the gereal rull of thum is if your safe to drive your safe to BF. So the odd glass of wine is fine.

I know what you mean about thinking you'd get to a certain point and then stop. I had that in mind with my first thinking we go straight to cows milk and cups at 12months. She had other idea's though so we carried on feeding. I think it's right that you go with what feels' right for both of you, in fact that is the only thing that matters when chossing when it's time to stop.

If you get your periods back you don't neccearly have to wean to get PG either. it's actualy not a very effective form of contracption in the west as we are all to well fed.

Today has felt so stress free after the last week. I don't think measuring and knowing how much dd is drinking suits me, it just stresses me out. Now we've been back to breast all day I have no idea how much she's had but I'm sure it's been enough.

I'm glad I made this decision, I didn't realise how much I was worrying about how I was going to get dd off the breast until I decided to stop trying. Thanks for your comments and reassurance.

Hey if it helps I found that with my DS gradually cut down on his own and he completely refused any more breast feeds by the time he was 11 months. I then offered him cartons of formula (much less faff) in a cup. Now (nearly 14 months) he just has cows milk in a cup. My periods did come back when I was still breast feeding, at about 8 months when his feeds started to reduce.

That does help a lot. Dh and I have talked tonight and he said that to him it feels right for us to wait until dd is more ready to stop bf rather than us forcing it on her - he is fantastic and I must say he would also be very supportive if I was committed to getting her onto the bottle. Knowing that I can keep trusting what feels right for all of us to do and still see an end to breastfeeding in sight eventually is very reassuring. I do feel so much better now I have made this decision to relax more and do what comes naturally. Thank you for your post

I have actually noticed a drop in number of feeds dd is having today - like she is snacking less but taking more less frequently. Hopefully my periods will return soon, but if not me and dh have agreed we just want to take things naturally and if we conceive we conceive, but not to get too hung up on having a plan to get pregnant again.