Stopping BF (reluctantly); what now?

[Millymolliemandy]

I should say it is me who is reluctant to stop not my DD. She is 14 months (well 12 ctrrected but 14 actual although I am not sure that is especially relevant) and we've been having a night and morning feed only for the last 6 weeks or so, and she seems to be refusing these now (I am also 14 weeks PG so not sure if this has anything to do with it either).

Should I keep offering the breast, and should I also be offering her some other sort of milk in a beaker instead/aswell?

I am guessing straight to cow's but any advice would be fab as unsure she is getting enough dairy.

Dd self weaned when 13 mo, I was 8 weeks pg. I just offered warmed cows milk with half a teaspoon of sugar (breast milk is sweeter than cows milk). I've gradually reduced the sugar and now she drinks it straight. I heat it for 40 secs on high in the microwave. That's at bedtime.

In the morning she has cows milk on weetabix and I make sure she has a yoghurt every day and maybe ice cream for pud so she gets plenty of calcium.

Mine self weaned at 13 months. I was really upset so be kind to yourself. I expressed for over 2 weeks in case she changed her mind. She happily drank the expressed milk in a cup.

After that she went straight onto fridge cold cow's milk no problem.

It could be a nursing strike as it's not usual to self wean under 2 1/2y (normal range is 2 1/2 - 7y). Pg can sometimes trigger nursing strikes - DD1 & DD2 had a nursing strike when I was 6m pg with DD3 that lasted 2 weeks, DD1 did self wean a couple of months later but that was related to her jaw development and DD2 is still nursing 3 years later (and I am pg with DD4!).

Kellymom has lots of good info on nursing strikes here.

Thanks everyone, TruthSweet you are the oracle on matters BF, I recall you dispensed some wise advice to me previously. On reflection (and she still hasn't had any milk) I think she has a cold and this might actually be the reason - BF with a blocked up/runny nose has never been her favourite - so I will keep trying morning and night in the hope that it is just a strike, and meanwhile will offer a bit of cow's in the afternoon.

Luckily at 14m your supply is pretty robust so you probably won't need to express unless you get uncomfortable. You might find snuggling in bed helps or having a bath together triggers the urge in her to nurse again. Colds can make bfing tricky so clearing her nose before being 'available' for nursing can help (saline or bm drops in the nose may help).

Trying to keep the offering low key also seems to help (even if only from a psychological stand point). I mean if you get a drink, a snack and get settled in your favourite nursing spot and then try to get baby to nurse it can be more unsettling (for both of you) if she refuses than if you are just having a cuddle in bed and they are there for her to nurse from if she wants but equally it's no hardship if she doesn't. Hope that makes sense .