Just stopped bf, need advice and reassurance

[hub]

Stopped bf DD, 14 months. Feel a bit low and my boobs are really sore. Does this take long to settle?

Has anyone else out there stopped bf recently?

DS was 14 months when he self weaned (i.e. was biting!).
Was down to a couple of feeds per night, for comfort really.
Physically, boobs felt sore for a few days IIRC and that was it. Emotionally, didn't feel too bad - joy at having my 'independence' back overpowered any lingering wistful emotions.
OTOH DD is curently 15 mo and shows no signs of stopping. She has never bitten me and shows no signs of self-weaning yet, but again we are down to a couple of night feeds so am expecting it to happen sometime before she's 2....although it she carries on won't be too bothered. Just look out for me on one of those CH4 docu's about extended bf's....
Why did you stop? Did your DD self-wean?

Haven't stopped yet (ds is 14 months) but think it is not long in coming and just wanted to offer some sympathy - I'm sure I'll be really miserable! Hope the soreness goes soon.

I stopped at v similar time to you and I would say after 2-3 weeks you'll be OK. It is totally natural to miss it as you have been doing it so long. Also, can play a bit of havoc with your (this one/next one) cycle when you stop, although not necessarily.

Thanks everyone

mami, that does reassure me. She fed so much and was really keen, but it just seemed to come to a natural end - she stopped looking for it. I was just feeding in morning and night since 12 months, before that she was constant!!

liege, I do feel a little funny about it. I had said I'd stop at 18mths, if she hadn't self weaned, need to start thinking about losing weight, and baby no 2!

crokky, not sure what you mean? My DD self weaned but it does seem like a good time, need to sort myself out before trying for number 2. Were your periods funny when you stopped bf?

This is what happened to me: when I introduced DS to solids at 6 months, my periods then came back and they were totally regular at 28 days. However, when I stopped BF at about 13 months, I had a (just one) 38 day cycle! After that, back to 28 days. Although everyone is different.

Hi hub - I stopped bf dd1 at 12 months and it did take a couple of weeks before my boobs stopped feeling quite full and tender (even tho we were down to just one feed a day by then). Remember you can take more than just paracetemol now if you need to.

Am just about to stop bf dd2, at about 15 months, feeling quite sad as I'm pretty sure we won't have a third baby. But I'm also really looking forward to having my body back (and boy does it need some attention ).

You're bound to feel low - your hormones take a while to settle down and it's a very emotional time - but you should also feel so proud of feeding your daughter for as long; so many people don't or can't. Good luck with number 2!

Aaah hub I can sympathise with you - my DD3 has just started to self-wean at 13 months and I feel really sad!

She is now down to one very brief feed at bedtime, from 3-4 feeds per day usually.

My boobs have started to settle quite quickly but I feel quite sad about stopping, especially as this is my last baby

I feel sort of redundant, which I know is daft. I can start wearing nice bras again and get my boobs back!