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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

How long did you BF for? Feel like giving up at 7 months! :(

23 replies

NoFoodwithaFace · 28/03/2012 12:55

DS is now 7 months and I've had enough! He has three meals a day now and his dad gives him a bottle of formula before bed since 6 months, so i'm only feeding him about three times in the night and then about 3 times during the day for max of five minutes at a time.
I just feel seriously fed up with it now, especially as he's getting a lot more wriggly and big to feed in publib (91st centile).
I really wanted to feed him for a year, but now I'm the only one amongst my friends who fed past 5 months and i'm finding it hard! Give me some inspiration someone please!

OP posts:

EauRouge · 28/03/2012 13:06

Hi NoFood, what is it exactly that you are fed up with? Is it because you don't know anyone else that is still BF? You could go along to a local BF group so that you could meet other mums that are BF. It's tough when you feel so isolated. Here is a list of LLL groups.

This is lovely for inspiration :)

MigGril · 28/03/2012 13:57

It can be hard when you don't know anyone else still feeding but agree with Eau go to your local BF group see if you can meet a few more mum's who are still feeding. Have a look at your local childrens centures they often run groups, you may find some of the helps are still feeding toddlers.

Just think if you feed untill 12months no need to faff with more bottle's or cost of formula. Plus all the extra health benafits for both you and your baby.

You've done so well to get this far your really doing a fab job.

And as you asked I fed DD untill she was almost 3years I was PG and was soure and DS is still going strong at 16months and I intended to let him self wean.

mrsnesbit · 28/03/2012 13:59

7 months here, went back to work shortly after, it went ok.
Good luck

NightLark · 28/03/2012 14:03

For me the best motivation past 6 months is how useful bf is when they are I'll. It's great through ear Infectons chickenpox etc. I have been reminding myself as dc 3 is a distract able 9 months now. First 2 were fed to 22 and 20 months respectively.

HipHopOpotomus · 28/03/2012 14:53

I intended to stop with DD1 when she was one, but then she had a run of colds, tummy bugs etc and yes, BF through this time was really marvellous. She would never take formula, and stopped eating when ill, but did BF. I stopped at about 15 months I guess.

DD2 is now 10 months & a little lovely monster - I too consider stopping from time to time. Last night she fed most of the night - it can be exhausting. I think about stopping at 12 months, but then we have a lovely quiet feed and I think I'll continue longer. I especially love the way it connects us once I returned to work - those morning, evening & night feeds are wonderful (when she isn't feeding ALL night long that is!)

I don't give a toss what others are doing - it's between me & DD2 - that is what is important.

jan2011 · 28/03/2012 17:16

hi..
i was also toying with the idea of stopping soon. i DO want to continue, and am even doing one bottle of formula at bedtime (it hasn't helped with the night wakenings s at least gives me a break) but its the exhaustion that is so hard, she is feeding all night.
i am trying to get her to feed more during the day so it will be less at night but who knows. part of me wants to stop, the other part of me loves it, loves the connection, especially the feeds when she is sleepy and not distracted. i am going to try to continue! i hope it gets easier...my LO is just over 6 months. good luck with whatever you decide.

Original poster

NoFoodwithaFace · 28/03/2012 17:19

thanks everyone :) yes its really useful when they're ill! He had a tummy bug last month and bf was the only thing he could keep down for a whole week! forgot how usefull it can be!

I used to go to the local bf group, but they have recently made it a 6month and under only group as it's so busy :( everyone I met there has now gone back to work or stopped feeding.

I'm not sure why I'm fed up now, it's so much easier than it was since he's on solids and i'm not a human milking machine. Think its just I really want my body back. I still have the odd drink and night out since he takes formula, so I'm not sure what it is! I feel like its stopping me from losing weight too since I'm constantly hungry, which is seriously getting me down!

OP posts:

otchayaniye · 28/03/2012 21:46

3 and a bit years. including pregnancy and tandeming.

not what you wanted to hear, i expect!

everythingstopsfortea · 29/03/2012 15:58

why put yourself under such pressure to carry on for a year? If it's not feeling good to you physically or mentally anymore then don't feel as if you have to go on. he will begin to sense that you aren't happy anyway. It's not a crime to want to get a bit of yourself back either so try not to beat yourself up about it. Mum's have enough guilt already!!

Wants3 · 29/03/2012 16:04

I fed both mine for 2 years each, they basically weaned themselves. I was a sahm then but I will be going back to work after ml so am hoping to still bf but have some bottles possibly of expressed milk. Just do it until you feel ready to stop, it is up to you:)

HipHopOpotomus · 29/03/2012 16:15

it's not necessarily about guilt though everythingstopsfortea.

For me BF for 12 months means no formula, not sterilising, no making bottles in night etc - none of which I want to do. DD has never had a bottle and I wouldn't want to start up with that at 10/11 months. Plus, the occasions where she has been offered formula in a cup (with CM and DP) she has refused it, even though she will happily drink water from the same cup.

12 months is a milestone many Mum's aim for - after that babies can have cow's or goats milk, and no need for formula to be involved.

I found with DD1 that once the 12 month milestone was reached, I relaxed somewhat and was happy to continue to feed for a while longer, with a different attitude. I imagine that it will be similar with DD2.

missdeelite · 29/03/2012 17:04

8 months ds1, stopped as didn't have confidence or support to carry on,felt happy to stop
7 months DS2 - cried and cried, didn't want to stop but various issueswith sleep and supply
4 months still going strong ds3, may aim for a year this time but not pressurising myself, just taking its natural course!

ruthyless1 · 29/03/2012 20:07

Hi,

In a very similar situation! DS also 7 months and having 3 meals a day- very distracted and wiggly when feeding!! I keep thinking about switching him to more formula (he's had the odd bottle since he was 4 weeks) but my original aim was to feed him to 12months and that's still another 5 months!! you should be so proud you've managed 7 months and if switching to more formula is best for you both then do it!!

CPtart · 29/03/2012 20:28

Three months for each of my DS and I too had had enough by then. They've both grown up to be healthy active young boys. No allergies etc. I too felt slightly guilty at the time, but several years on and compared to all the tribulations since then it really now seems like such a minor issue, yet such a big deal at the time. Those early months are for enjoying them, it shouldn't be a chore. I have learned over time that as much as I love my children, my feelings count too. I'm glad I didn't plough on resentfully after 3 months and wish I hadn't spent so much time worrying about whether I was short changing them in any way!

Original poster

NoFoodwithaFace · 30/03/2012 09:20

CPtart I think that sums it up really, it seems like a huuuuge deal now but in the long run 7 months or 12 months won't make a lot of difference.
I think the only things keeping me going are the reasons HipHop said. It seems silly to pay for formula and wash bottles etc when I've got over the hardest bit! Think my new target will be 8 months and see how I feel!
(plus the only time I get to come on mumsnet is when I'm bf DS!

OP posts:

jan2011 · 30/03/2012 09:21

its so hard when they are distracted. mine is 6 months and so distracted that she is not feeding in day and feeding more through the night...i wonder does bottle feeding help with this or is it the same. if it helped i would do more bottles during the day and do the bf from evening till morning. i still love the connection but its very hard. but there is no way im going to start sterilising bottles in the middle of the night, that sounds like much harder work to me.

YorkshireTeaGold · 30/03/2012 17:44

I stopped at 8 1/2 months, bf was only source of milk til 7 1/2 months then wound it down gradually. I was in the same boat as you as I was feeding 3 times at night and that was what I found hardest, some people may be Ok with it but I was completely exhausted and ill - I cut those down gradually from 7 months then night weaned. It was a bit tough doing it but DD adjusted so quickly (and ate so much solids) that I knew she didn't need it for nutrition.

I'm happy with my choice, proud I did that long and love having my body back... you sound like you're wanting encouragement to continue though, and should do if you want to - it's such a personal choice so you should try not to be influenced by friends (easier said then done I know). You may be OK with the waking but speaking from my experience if you tried to cut down night feeds you might feel better?

shinny98 · 01/04/2012 08:55

Hi, in a similar situation. Wanted to give up bf but realized so much easier than steralizing bottles and also having a tough time tring to get my six month old to take formula. I just thought he s being fussy cuz he wants me to give him a feed.how do you know if he just doesnt like e taste of that specific formula and wen to change it?

pinkyp · 01/04/2012 08:56

We're still bf at 16 months

PinkFondantFancy · 01/04/2012 10:01

I've EBF for 6.5 months, but all of a sudden she's started to take some formula from a bottle and I'm hoping to wean her off breast ASAP - establishing BF was a huge struggle and I'm ready to finish now, I'm exhausted and really need a route for someone else to take over a bit.

tooscary · 01/04/2012 11:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HipHopOpotomus · 02/04/2012 10:22

DD is 11 months today. She has 8 teeth. She isn't really biting but she is scraping my boob with her teeth often when she feeds. It's really annoying & uncomfortable. She is feeding most of the night at the moment - ie using me as a human dummy. It's heightened as she has a bad cold. I'm too tired to have the battle now! She will not go lightly or peacefully.

So one month to go ................ perhaps.
Ideally I'd like to feed longer, and I can't imagine getting her off the boob, but its wearing thin ........

BertieBotts · 02/04/2012 10:31

That's a shame that the BF group has had to restrict itself to mums of under 6 month olds :( Ours has recently closed as there weren't enough people using it!

It might be worth looking for an NCT group, baby cafe or La Leche League group near you (If you click on the blue links it should take you to a page where you can search by postcode) - they might have mums of older babies, La Leche League especially tends to have mums who BF for longer than 12 months.

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