Help! Trying to Wean Off The Breast....

[wuzzlefraggle]

Hiya Ladies

Right, the thing is, my daughter is 11 and a half months old and I've decided it's the time for me to wean her off the breast for good. She has been on solids for ages and drinks water through the day, but likes to breast feed when she is tired. It's for comfort, me thinks.

Today is day 1, and so far has not had any breast, (but has had water) and I managed to get her to sleep (is napping as I type!)with no problem at all.

How long will me breasts feel like they are about to burst for???? And how many bottles of alternative milk should I give her throughout the day, do you think?

Thanks in advance all

I'm so boring these days.

Well, tv's shite, dh is watching some war film or other, the house is tidy(ish, very ish), so what better things have I got to do?!

[wonders if still has bottle of lime crusha left from pregnancy cravings]

Millions of kids grow up well and happy without coming near to milk (half of Asia to be precise.)

Hmmmm

handbags ladies

Franny, yeah, dd still has some breast in the morning when she wakes up and some just before she goes to sleep. I'm not gonna be too brutal with the withdrawal

Taffy - you trying to get rid of breast milk too? What type of cups you using?

Main reason is that DH and SIL are starting to make "bitty" jokes and telling me I need to stop lol. I thought a year is a good time to end things so if I started now, it should be a gradual process.

"Main reason is that DH and SIL are starting to make "bitty" jokes and telling me I need to stop"

you are kidding? Tell them to sod off!

i happily fed my two until they were 12mths and on their first birthday's they woke up to a beaker of warm cows milk and never wanted the breast again. i personally didn't want to continue past the age they can help themselves (which i felt was around 12mths).... i once saw a mother sat in a baby group with a 4 and a 3yr old and they just whipped her top uup, pulled her bra down and both started sucking a nipple each- not the best thing to see even from someone who fully agree's in breastfeeding!! but i would have happily carried on feeding just at bedtime for a little while longer if they'd wanted/needed it for comfort!!

dont listen to the 'bitty' comments- thats just narrow minded people not realising whats best for you and your daughter!!!

Why did you mind seeing it, even though feeding that long isn't for you though? Just curious.

i really dont know....it just was the fact that i think at that age a child should know when to listen to its mother. she told them no once but the pair of them just did it anyway!! i honestly dont know why it was so offputting, but other friends were there too, also breastfeeding and it bothered them too. i think it may have been more because it was a baby group and the oldest child there other than hers was around 8mths!! surely they should have been at school/nursery too??....i dont know- i just didn't feel comfortable with it!!

I have a dream that one day women will be respected for their choices about whether to breast or bottle feed their children, without being subjected to offensive and ignorant remarks, pressure and judgment.
and then I wake up
I agree you don't really need to give bottles of milk, although I would offer beakers if she wants them and I would make an effort to offer cheese, yoghurt etc.
and by the way, if you want to carry on bf then it is your choice and no bugger else's business. as Desi says we are mammals and we need the calcium and frankly human milk is a much better alternative than cow's milk and recommended as a main drink until at least two years old.

franny - no joke, sadly. apparently I should have stopped 'months ago' to quote.

harpsi, yeah, Ive decided on the beakers instead of bottles (dd doesn't seem to like them anyway) and she loves cheese and yoghurt too.

Wuzzle, sorry to hear they are being so unsupportive and, well, so ignorant

I always found this page very helpful when I was first breastfeeding a toddler (after a while I kind of stopped being bothered what other people thought )

I hope it might help you - you could ask dh to read it, maybe?

a new dad and mum in need of breastfeeding help here

must admit Franny, I was quite annoyed at the lack of understanding too. Men can be so thoughtless! and yes, ignorant.

I'd just like to thank you all for posting you've all been a great help ladies.