just stopped breastfeeding. feeling sad

[mellowmee]

DD is just about to turn 14MO and i just put her to bed and didn't give her a feed in her bedtime routine. That's the only feed I do now, and now I've stopped. I only ever thought i'd breastfeed for 6 months, so to get to 14 is amazing and I am shocked at how much i enjoyed breastfeeding her. I am ready to stop, she was hurting me when she fed and it felt right to stop, she's getting big. But I feel really sad, to think we'll never that that particular closeness again :( Can't believe how fast she's growing up, she really isn't a tiny baby any more.

Well done you for feeding your daughter for so long

I hope you can replace the bedtime feed with lively cuddles and a talk about the day - not feeding surely won't mean less closeness, just different closeness.

Congratulations on feeding until you're ready to stop. I think that's the perfect length of time to feed for

You will get closeness in other ways but it is sad as its one of the first of many milestones. now go off and treat yourself to some nice non breast feeding bras!

Thanks sandboy . Now that i've stopped i don't feel ready to stop, if that makes sense, because it is the end of something so special. But I would have always felt like this, because you always have to reach this point. I just had a little cry! I can't wait for the morning to give her a big cuddle now :)

shenanagins Yes, a bit more weight to lose, diet starting tomorrow and then i'm treating myself to some nice underwear :)

mellowmee - if you really don't want to stop or you are having 2nd thoughts, you don't have to, you can just feed her again whenever she wants/you want.

If you want to diet you can whilst bfing and you can also wear nice 'normal' bras - I never wore bfing bras with DD3 after about 12m just dropped the strap and tucked the cup under and these were t-shirt type bras with underwire (also had some really pretty satin ones that I could feed in too).

One the sore while feeding front have you done a pg, or might you be ovulating or just about to start your period? Or has this been going on for some time?

But whether you change your mind or not, you have done a fabulous job getting to 14m. So many congratulations

Nooo treat now to something a bit nice, doesn't need to be expensive and then have another treat after you have lost the weight - i still want to find the person who said you would drop the pounds breast feeding as it clung on for dear life!