Feeling guilty

[Kessernags]

My DD is nine months old now and my husband would like me to stop breaqstfeeding now and switch to a bittle. He says that I have given her a really good start in life and he would now like to get a bit more involved. However all the books we have here say that the best thing you can do is continue to nurse until baby is a year old. I was originally only going to do six months and I have now already done nine. It just feels like the best thing I can do for her. I feel guilty about stopping an putting her onto some man made stuff. My DH has said that if I want to I can carry on but I think he has had enough and would like me back to himself. I just feel so guilty and pulled in two directions.

kesser, forget what the books say and do what makes you happy.

trouble with the books is that the babies haven't read them!

you've done great to feed for so long, I'd let hubby get a chance now and introduce a bottle, won't do little one any harm.

pat yourself on the back and move onto the next stage.

Could you perhaps agree with your dh some other ways in which he could become more involved - bathing her, giving her her solid food etc, rather than doing her milk feeds. Not sure where 'here' is, but the World Health Organisation actually recommend bfing until age 2. He is right that you have given her the best start in life, so why on earth would he want you to stop that?

It would be quite fair enough to give up if you actually wanted to (and well done for getting this far), but since you don't it seems silly to consider it.

Why not agree with your DH that you will re-assess the situation once she turns 1, as at least then you could switch her straight onto cows milk, and avoid the formula stage.

What do you want? You say what your baby needs, what your husband wants, but what about you?

Are you enjoing feeding and still wanting to do it? If so, then do it. If your DH is wanting to give bottles, then let him give one every now and then (you could express or my DS has the odd bottle of cow's milk because he won't take formula - I go with the theory that he skips the odd breastfeed anyway, so one bottle of cow's milk every now and then isn't making much difference iyswim).

Your DH wanting you back - its a few months in a whole lifetime - he can stand to wait if that is what you and your daughter want.

Thanks everyone. The thing I am not really sure what I want to do. It woul dbe nice to stop but I know its the best thing for DD. DH is really very supportive. He has said that if I want to carry on until she is a year old thats fine. He only wants whats best for her as well, but I think he would like us as a couple to have a bit more freedom. Giving her the occassional bittle semes like the answer. Thank you.