Want to stop breastfeeding!

[Greywillow12]

Just that really. I have had enough I’m so tired of the constant feeding people telling me it will get easier. I feel it has just go harder .

My dd is 6 months and I’m just so knackered by constantly feeding day and night. Last night was awful she fed constantly from 6pm until 7 am this morning but was awake for nearly 5 hours last night feeding.

I had to get my partner to take her for a bit as I felt like I was going to explode.

I think I have given all I can give with breastfeeding and really want to move onto formula. How is the best way to do this as we have already tried two different types of bottles and she won’t take them?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated thanks

Taking a bottle will be totally alien to the child, it is a new skill to learn. Also they are not only getting milk from your breast but comfort so it will be a big change for them.
Firstly, pick one type of bottle and stick to it. Is it an option to try with expressed milk first so it is a familiar taste? It's probably best to get your partner or someone else to try when you are out.
Once the child will take a bottle you aim to drop one feed every few days to reduce the risk of engorgement and block ducts.

Also, don't ever feel like you have to explain yourself. You are doing what is best for you and your baby and you have given them an amazing start! Well done!

If you no longer want to breastfeed then don't breastfeed. You've done it for six months which is more than many. Years ago people didn't breastfeed for longer except maybe once at bedtime and no-one thought twice about it.

What DitchingTheDye says about making a gradual change is very sensible.

Don't say "move on to formula" it's not a progression, it's a change.

If you stop dead you put yourself at risk of mastitis. Absolutely do it gradually. Do you express already? Does baby take a bottle ever? Perhaps that would be a good place to start. Either offering a bottle of expressed milk or formula.

If baby won't accept from you perhaps leave baby with your DH and get him to offer. Babies are clever little things and if you're around they'll demand you.

In terms of bottles. There's billions of opinions. In my experience, stick at one type of teat for a week. As mentioned earlier, learning to use a bottle is a whole new skill to learn.

Whatever you do don't stop on a bad day.

I’m definitely having a bad day. I know I can’t just stop and will do it gradually. I just feel that if my partner could do some feeds it would help. I feel my mental health going as she just feeds all the time.

I also have a 7yo ds and I feel like he’s just being told mummy is feeding the baby constantly and it’s not fair on him. I’ve been trying expressed milk she doesn’t take that either .

Thanks for all your responses i suppose I just needed to vent 🙁

I've been there and I still have wobbles all the time. It can be so all consuming.
You could also try a cup at this age. Keep trying with small amounts and try to not to let them (or yourself) get distressed when doing it. We went through similar when I returned to work and it took a few weeks of trying but now he loves his bottle.

I need a new word instead of "try"

Try is a good word. Doesn't carry too much pressure :-)

@Greywillow12 do you have a sling? I fed my LO hands free in the sling a lot. Took a few days to master but meant I was able to care for the baby but have free hands and literally do a weekly shop/clean the bathroom/ run around being me whilst nursing.

It would give you the hands to play with your 7yr old

I do have a sling well a wrap sling will it work in that ? I just need to try and get her to take a bottle or cup if she can I really need my dp to start doing some feeds. I will just keep trying every day and hopefully she takes to it.

Don't bother introducing a bottle now, just start with a cup

It's ok to say you're done but the advice to reduce gradually is very sensible.
You might find now you're able to add solids that feeds reduce anyway