How do I give up breastfeeding?

[ChasedByBees]

DD is 20 months now and has a morning and evening feed. The evening feed she can do without without too many complaints, but if I'm not there for the morning feed (if I'm away for example), she screams and sobs hysterically and won't accept comfort or hugs from DH. Last time I was away she gathered all her toys into a hug and sat in the corner of the room rocking and weeping. :(

We've probably got into bad habits in the morning, she's still in our room and so at 5am she gets out of her cot and comes over to me for her feed. She then lies feeding in a half dreamy state till 6 or 6.30am. Her feeds have always taken an age, partly I suspect in hindsight she has a tongue tie.

I want to give up as I want to sleep later than 5am, I want to go away and know she won't be distressed and for a personal reason - I hate breastfeeding. I can't stand the sensation.

How do I get her to give up without being so distressed?

I made my OP far too long again didnt I?

Watching with interest. I think I may need to wean my DD at 17 mo to go to a wedding abroad.

Well done for sticking with it this long if you don't enjoy it.

oh bless her with the toys!!

i'd take it slowly. so maybe start by just cutting down the length of the feed. you might need something exciting to distract her with? OR, if you can bear it, when she wakes up at 5 take her downstairs for breakfast?? I know that's not ideal long-term, but it might break the cycle of wanting to nurse first thing in the morning?

if you go down the cutting down the length of the feed route, then maybe allow her to nurse for 10-15 mins or whatever, then distract with something... taking her downstairs, getting DH to take her, give her a biscuit and a cup of juice or milk?
gradually make the feed shorter and shorter

Thank you both for replying. :)

Bundaberg, I think this is the way I'll go - I stopped her this morning after about 15 mins. There was lots of grumbling, a few tears and then pulling the duvet off me and ordering me 'out!'

I think we'll have to bite the bullet and start getting up at 5am for a bit.

Any ideas on how long it will take her to get used to no milk?

She'll be going in her own room around Christmas so that should really help.

Cucumber - many of my friends used a trip like that to wean their DC - just not being around meant that it was a convenient time to stop. Their DC didn't get quite as distressed though. Perhaps you could try not being around one morning and she how she reacts?

Also, a friend went away for a week and resumed BF afterwards so it doesn't necessarily have to be the end if you didn't want it to (your body may react differently of course, I was surprised she could do that).

Thanks for that Chased. I had heard that our boobs can cope with some separation but a week sounds like a long time. My DD has recently started at nursery so is used to some separation and copes very well but dives on me like a feral animal when I come to collect her.