OMG! This might actually be the end of breastfeeding. Hooray!

[mawbroon]

I went away for 2 nights in February and realised that the one full day that I was away from ds2 was the first day since DS1 was born that I hadn't breastfed a baby/child.

DS2 has now not had milk for almost a week (he's asked but not been too bothered when I've said no).

The end is in sight after 8years of continuous nursing including 2.5yrs tandemming.

Yay! Well done you. I would go out and buy a high necked zip at the back dress in celebration!

Wow, 2.5 years of tandem nursing? You deserve a medal!

8 years?

Just think, next time you have a cold you can take proper drugs instead of fecking paracetamol!

That's amazing - congratulations!

Mawbroon I second Gunpowder's dress suggestion - that's what I'm looking forward to in 2 or 3y time

Well, I am not a girly girl and dresses are not my thing, but I completely agree with the sentiment!!

To think that when DS1 was born, I thought "I would give breastfeeding a try"

Don't you bet on it. DD2 said she'd give up BFing when she started school. However, she decided weekends and holidays didn't count.

Then she decided she'd give up when she started juniors, Hmm that got forgotten too.

Suffice to say she had given up by the time she started secondary.

But I've never tandem fed (DD1 disliked BF as much as her sister loved it) that alway seems like hard work and bedtime must be a nightmare.

Ah, I know exactly how it goes StarBall!! DS1 did not want to give up and I basically told him enough was enough at 7.

I've had enough, so poor DS2 is getting the heave ho at 3.5yo. But, if I had tried that with DS1, it would have been the end of the world. DS2 isn't so persistent and is generally handling it a lot better than ds1 would have at that age.

Gah! I woke up this morning to find ds2 helping himself to milk. I am a really heavy sleeper and tend not to wake if he does that in the morning. I have no idea how long he was feeding for!

oh no! but it did make me laugh

I found weekend mornings the killer. Way easier to doze and feed than get up and make breakfast.

And like your Ds1 DD2 would have been massively upset if I'd just said no on some arbitrary date.

In fact in the end that's what I did, but not until she was so old and feeding so rarely, she couldn't come up with a good counter argument.

Congrats. Time to head to Rigby and Peller for some beautiful, non nursing bras. That's my plan when I'm eventually not pregnant/nursing. I even have a fund set up!

Gave up in nursing bras by the time DD2 was one, horrid things.

Ended up back in perfectly ordinary underwired M&S, which DD moaned about as they were harder to slip out the way.

Can't remember when I stopped wearing a nursing bra. I wear stretchy crop top type things now which I find are much more comfortable than proper bras.

Argh, DS2 was really upset at bedtime, just in general, not about having no milk. He was just super tired and a bit hysterical, so I offered him milk. He latched on then said there was no milk, then he tried the other side and said the same.

How come, that even though I know it's fine to stop, I still feel bad about it

I've been tandem nursing for almost 3 yrs(feeding for 5 years). I'm reading this post with interest.

I really want to stop. Stopped wearing nursing bras about a year ago as to be honest I don't care if my milk ducts get damaged now!

I feel guilty about continuing to feed DD1 but guilty about asking her when she's going to stop too.

Sometimes I don't think they will ever stop.

This is such a nice post as I relate to it having stopped 3 or 4 weeks ago and I'm still so relieved and excited as well as proud I kept going! (Ds was 2.3 and I meant to stop at 2.6 when stopped letting DD but he had such a good overnight stay I just kept going and was amazed but no complaints).

I took a firm stance with both ours when decided to stop as they both barely ate solids so dependent. Dd found it harder emotionally so needed reasoning (me being tired) and endless cuddles while DS simply didn't seem to notice as I remained a bit distant for a few days eg no bath sharing and I'm thrilled it was as easy when I expected a battle.

It is wonderful to stop as I hope you all feel the same pride at giving your DC a good start but also just lovely getting a bit more rest and independence! I did suffer from serious low moods for about 3 days while my milk was going which was horrible but it quickly passed

DS2 had another little try at bedtime last night, but seems to accept that there's no milk any more.

I can't believe it disappeared so quickly after 8years!

I am also super emotional at the moment. I presume it's my hormones, but I do also feel a bit "end of an era" ish, IYKWIM.

Yippee, the end of the line for a lovely part of mothering onto the next stage. :)

Totally get the 'dress' suggestion, lol.

Don't worry about your hormones, it is common that you'll be up and down a bit until they settle. Wonder how long that will take after eight years of nursing ?

It is a bittersweet business, on one hand I can't wait until I'm finished on the other hand, I can't bear the thought of no more little sleepy milk filled babies/toddlers !

Aw bless, you've done an amazing job and your little one is clearly reading to move on. have a sniffle and then enjoy the freedom

Aww this is one of the loveliest threads I have ever read on here. My Ds2 is a major boob monster and also barely eats solids so I know I should give up but finding it very difficult! Or else I can see it could go on a very long time..