Really need to stop bf-how so I do it

[Susieloo]

Ds is 6.5 months and for various reasons I really have to stop bf, he will take a bottle but still massively prefers me and I'm starting to get the feeling that I might have to go cold turkey on bf. I'm trying to wean him of me but its not really working although not really been that long to be fair, do I persevere with offering bottle rather than boob or is this never going to work and am I better to just stop and ride out a horrible day which will break my heart but I do really, really want to/need to stop now. Sorry if the suggestion of going cold turkey sounds really harsh but I'm getting desperate!!

The problem is cold turkey might make you ill (blocked duct, mastitis) and the hormones will most likely make you quite emotional.

How long have you got to quit? Do you want to drop all feeds? I think the idea is that you drop one feed a week, maybe every few days if need to go faster. So if your DS currently feeds 8 times a day you offer the bottle regularly for one feed and not offer the boob until he next wants to feed. It will probably be hard to know if he wants boob for comfort or for a feed unless he is in a routine of sorts.

Don't express, have hot baths etc as that can increase supply.

I would have found it hard to stop at 6 mo with my DD but she didn't take bottle. Hopefully someone who has been there done that will come along soon.

Thanks halo, my aim is to stop feeding altogether as soon as i can really so I'll persevere for now with trying to bottle rather than breast feed every other feed I think and accept that it will take a while to drop all of them, thanks again.

In the same sitution with five month old who is still hurting me when feeding and won't take a bottle so hoping you get some good answers!