Did you regret stopping breastfeeding?

[Nobhobs]

DS is 5.5 months and has been mix fed for the past month. He switches between breastfeeding and formula quite happily. Lately he's very easily distracted during feeds and keeps clamping down on my nipples and pulling off, which has made me really sore. He sometimes sleeps through, sometimes wakes for up to two feeds. On the nights he does sleep through I'm having to wake up to empty my boobs as I get so full and uncomfortable. Both of these reasons, and the fact he's largely formula fed anyway, has made me consider stopping breastfeeding. I'm just really scared I'll regret it and not be able to go back. I feel like I'm done but then when I go a long stretch without breastfeeding I panic and feed him. I'm just not sure what to do. Did you quit and regret it? Or did it not really bother you?

Bump

My DD is six months, I exclusively BF until three month then started combination feeding then she just decided to stop BF altogether so she’s been FF for the last two months. To be honest I was glad to stop and followed her lead on it, but I think it would have been hard to stop if she wanted to continue! It’s lovely to have my body back and get back in my nice bras rather than the nursing ones and I know I’ve gave her the best start I could so I don’t regret stopping at all.

Why don't you just bf certain feeds every day? Your body will adapt to making less milk and you don't have to stop completely.
I bf through all of the clamping, biting, pinching, etc, until my dd was 18 months old by which time I was totally done with breastfeeding and knew I had done my absolute best for her. If you think you'll regret stopping, don't. Life is too short for regrets.

No I did not! As soon as they started biting, they were weaned. I’m not there to be bitten! Once they’re onto solid food and can drink from a silly cup or bottle, there’s little nutritional benefit from bf’ing. Just give them lots of homemade veges, iron rich food and lay off the processed, packaged supermarket baby-junk-food.

Sippy cup not silly cup.

I wish I had continued longer, exh wanted me to stop because he thought it would encourage dd to sleep through, it didn't she slept with us until 3 years old. I quit at 15 months with dd1 and 18 months for dd2. If I had another (which I won't, my kids are adults) I would wean on their schedule.

DD1 was EBF until 6 months- four sharp front teeth and a massive sneeze from DH and it was weaning time...! Plus we wanted to try for another (which happened straight away, hello Dd2!).
I loved EBF though, was very lucky I produced enough to feed a flock, she latched straight away and was a v hungry little girl-
The pain in weaning her was awful though- she took a bottle ok, but had to buy an Express machine and a ton of cabbages (top tip that, cold savoys in bra!).

Basically it depends on you and how you feel, Dd2 is now one and I'm still producing some milk though (?), and she wasnt BF?...so I suppose you might have a load of time to go back on the breast if you change your mind-

Nope, not one bit! 12 months and 8 months here. With ds2 it become a total chore. He seemed to feed constantly. And I felt like a dairy cow who got no sleep, no time to myself and no life away from the baby. I did worry that it was sooner than ds1, but I have to say we have a lovely close relationship (I was worried that we wouldn't, which as silly really!) and everyone's life improved because I wasn't an emotional wreck anymore!

You have to do what you have to do. Everyone fed, no one dead....

I had pretty much the same feelings and experience as you with regards baby being happy convo feeding etc.

I mix fed for 4 months and it was nice, but towards to end I was happy to stop. I haven’t regretted it- ds never seemed to miss it, and he did sleep better.

Do you regret stopping breastfeeding?
No, but I regret how it happened. Dd was four when her father and I split up. I couldn't stand any physical contact. I could explain, but I couldn't do it any more.

I combination fed until my DS was 2 months old, and was in a very similar position to you - mainly formula fed anyway and he was starting to get distracted and annoyed when I BF. I cried for days before making the final decision to stop, and genuinely haven't worried about it since. It was absolutely the best decision for me at the time. Do what feels best for you!

Was a.long time ago and I.lasted 3 weeks pumped for three months but giving up was the best decision I ever made

I dont think i produced much milk anyway tbh I'd feed fir 2 hours plus a time and shed still down a bottle afterwards. And hours of pumping got e about an.oz each time. Fir the entire day so i never have enough fir a full feed. Not once.

Was so nice to be able to move from the sofa. To put the baby down . I.didnt get a hot meal theatre time . It all had to be cold so if i.spilt it on her head trying to eat one handed it wouldnt burn her.

My.baby days are done but I ld never hreast feed again.

5.5 months? You have done amazing.

I didn't regret it but we stopped when I felt time was right. One thing my mum said to me is not to give up on a bad day. Can you set a review day on a few days time then see how things are? Usually things get better a few days later

I went back to work when mine was 7 months, so for 4 days a week he was on water and food and pouches from 9-6 and feeding when I was around. This seemed to save me from the biting and fussy feeding and I managed to keep up just feeding to sleep until he was 20 months. It's what worked for us. If he'd been biting at 5.5 months then I dare say I wouldn't have made such an effort to keep going.

If yours happily takes formula, and if you want to stop breast feeding then go for it. As much as it's a wonderful thing, it can also be so bloomin' painful and draining. You've done brilliantly, and you should not worry about regrets if you choose to end now.