Please help me decide - should I stop BF

[ironwoman123]

DD is 6.5 months and EBF and was a bottle refuser. She's slowly taking more each time I try her with a bottle. Previously she would take the bottle until about 10 weeks then would absolutely refuse, scream and cry.

I gave up trying but decided I would try again and to my surprise she's taken some milk from the bottle.

So now I'm really undecided and I don't know what to do. Should I stop breastfeeding.

In the beginning I didn't have any clear idea of how long I wanted to breastfeed. I BF my son for 6 weeks but stopped as I wanted my body back.

This time I had mastitis 3 times and really struggled. I was so close to stopping but I powered on. Anytime I have thought of stopping, DD refused the bottle anyway so my decision was made for me.

I've like breastfeeding. It's been difficult but I enjoy the bond. Don't get me wrong it's been really hard work. I've done every single feed and she can still wake up every 2 hours during the night.

I've never had more than 3-4 hours sleep for 6.5 months.

My son who was FF from 6 weeks slept through from 5 months and before then was just waking once in the night.

I know switching to bottle doesn't gaurentee her sleeping better but I'm hoping it may have some improvement? And then maybe OH can do one or two too so then I could sleep.

Also I have 3-4 nights out that I would really like to attend over the next few months. 2 of them are an overnight and whilst the plan is to take my DD with me, it would be lovely to be able to leave her.

So my question is really, can anyone help me decide.. do I stop?

Or do I continue to combination feed (feeding one or two bottles of formula a day and the Rest BF)?

But then do I risk her refusing suddenly again?

I probably wouldn't feel comfortable leaving her overnight if she's only on one or two bottles a day as she may need or want me to BF her during the night and then I wouldn't be there?

I really enjoy the convenience or BF but I'd equally love to get my body back and just feel a bit more me.

But I also LOVE the feeling of BF her. The closeness and the bond. How she relies and loves me so much.

But then the thought of a night sleep is so tempting!

When they're a year plus, they are well established onto solids, drinking water from a cup, crawling and then walking, breastfeeding cuts right down and is nothing like feeding a small baby. At 12 months my DS1 was feeding in the morning, the afternoon and evening. During the day he was totally happy with food and water. He also started going the whole night without waking at around 11 months. DS1 then self weaned at 16 months.

At that sort of age they can also cope with days where you don't feed at all, if you need to be away somewhere.

You haven't said but I would guess you've had a few 'give her a bottle and get a break' people in your ear when actually you need support for bf, as that seems to be what you really want. Thing is, bottle does not necessarily equal sleep and you'll have let go such an amazing calming tool as well as all the other pluses.

She's still v young and I think it's really normal to ve feeding her for naps at this stage-I still feed my 20m old at times but it's only a few mins. I agree with keep going to next feed and also that it gets less and less from where you are.