Stopping breast feeding

[Gillyweed001]

Ds has been breast fed for 12 weeks, and in the last few weeks, I've had issues with him refusing the breast. Its really been stressing me out, so we have decided to go onto bottles. Should I express maybe once in the morning, and then in the evening, and slowly reduce the time I'm expressing?

Hello! Have you tried self expressing and smearing a little bit of breast milk around your nipple before you feed? My daughter went through this phase and I tried it - it helped to entice her as she'd smell the milk and get the taste for it and latch on. Also it protected my nipples in the early days - amazing healing properties!x

Hi Midlands! I have tried that I'm afraid, with no luck. Not sure if my milk has already adjusted to the lack of feeding, as I don't feel engorged at all? That's why I'm wondering about the expressing.

I stopped at around the same time for similar reasons. I fround just expressing a little when I felt the need was the best way to painlessly run down supply

Thank you diambar. Do you remember how long it took? I feel sad about stopping, but think I will be a lot happier, as I won't be so stressed!

I think it took about a week/10 days. Don't worry - it's perfectly natural to feel sad, I felt the same, but with both my children things got a lot better, for both me and them, once I stopped. Remember that you've done very well to bf for 12 weeks, and, as a mother, you know best what will work for you and your baby. x

Just wanted to say I'm in similar position with DS, although he's not gaining weight as he should :(. Im knackered & am not spending any time with DD which I feel very guilty about. DS not too keen on bottle tho - is your LO taking it ok? We aren't really sure how to tackle it yet, going for a slow approach! He's had 1oz via syringe/chewing on bottle tonight!! X

Hi Amey, sorry to hear you are in the same position. DS has had a bottle in the middle of night since about week 5, so dh could do a feed for me while I slept. Today was a bit stressful, as he still wasn't drinking a lot in the morning-only had 1oz on one feed! However, I was out this evening, and DH kept having to go and make bottles, as he was guzzling through them, so maybe he prefers to eat at night! I'm giving DS the expressed milk, so we will gradually transfer him onto formula.