The end of bf - I feel so rotten?

[belgianEASTERbunNY]

My dd had her last bf last night. She is 17mths and would happily keep going but I want to TTC in the autumn and we are getting married this summer - somehow the time seemed right and I decided Easter Sunday - rebirth and all that .

Tonight she went down with just a few extra cuddles, chuntering and complaining a bit for around 15 mins - no worse than when she doesn't fall asleep on the job though. I, on the other hand, cried my way through my supper - I feel so low I can't believe it and dp thinks I am a wuss and should be celebrating her moving on and becoming more independent. Why do I feel so hurt/ lost/ sad/ don't know what I feel??? Can't quite believe I am never going to have THAT closeness with her again.

Tell me I'll feel better in a couple of weeks though eh?!

You know Belgian it is hard when bf stopps no matter how it happens.

In my case ds much stopped himself (Sometime after his 2nd birthday) I can't say exactly when as it was so seamless. I do know he was bfeeding at his 2 year old birthday party and now that he is 2.5 he doesn't bfeed any more and hasn't for a couple of months I think (it's difficult to remember)

My breastfeeding experience was different to yours (and most people) in that I really didn't enjoy it much. You'd have thought my primary emotion would be overwhelming relief, and to some extent it was but there was still quite a bit of sadness.

I was particularly upset when ds got a DV bug recently and I was fussing over how to make sure he was hydrated. I did then very much wish I was still breastfeeding as he would have taken that no problem as often as I offered. As it was I was faffing about with dioralyte (now way would he drink it - not that I blame him) and diluted juice.

Beligian - It sounds like you are ready to stop and as you say your dd seems OK with it too. Good luck and be kind to yourself over it.

I am very and about some of things that have been said to posters here about their breastfeeding.

Hi belgian, I've just stopped bf too. Ds is a year and we are hoping to start trying again soon too, so I know how you feel. I have been working since ds was 5 months just 2 days a week, but I am increasing my hours to 3 days in a months time so I not what you mean about feeling there is still something that only you can do for your dd.
I am trying to see the positive side of stopping, we went out to the theatre the other night and mil was able to put ds to bed and we went out for dinner as well! I am also looking forward to buying some new bras, nursing bras are the most unattractive items on the planet especially when they have been washed 3000 times!
Big hugs for you.
xxx

hi i know how you feel, i stopped last wk feeding my nearly 19 mth old. It was partly my choice (i am nearly 17 wks pg and it jsut got to painful in hte last few wks feeding) so dropped the mornign feed and then had decdied to give up evening feed a few wks after that but one night my dh got her dressed and she did not ask for boob so he put her in to bed. I felt really sad but relieved that there were no tears and she has only asked for it one night since but i did not feed her as i am all dried up and did not want to go up when decided that was it. I really miss it but feel less tired with the pregnancy and pleased that my body will not be working quite so hard now with having to produce milk and grow a baby. I do miss the cuddles and the fact that i was the only one who could do boobie

Good luck wiht getting pg and well done for feeding so long