I haven't given DS3 a breastfeed for 4 days........please tell me I'm not the only one.....

[TheQueenOfQuotes]

who started off BF'ing, then switched to mix-feeding (quite early) but "hung on" to the BF'ing (I was feeding DS3 just once a day) but actually felt happier when they stopped completely??

Don't get me wrong I loved breastfeeding, and all it's benefits, but also equally happy FF'ing (without it's benefits ). I'm not sure why I was continuing to feed him once a day - as it was only a short feed and I KNOW my milk has been slowly dwindling in recent weeks/months. I think part of it was for "me" (selfish reasons ie feeling good about myself rather than any benefits which may, or may not, have arisen from it. It sounds daft, I know, but I'm actually quite relieved I've now made the break, so to speak. I'm not sure if continuing it for this long actually did me any favours or not. I certainly don't feel any worse because he hasn't BF for several days, but actually feel like a weight has lifted off my shoulders .

Please tell me I'm not the only one who's had this, or similar, happen???

I haven't given my ds3 a breastfeed for 4 months! He was 2.6 though. No formula for us at this stage but it was nice to get my boobs back for myself, ds3 was very demanding and I couldn't sit down for 2 minutes without him jumping on me and pulling up my top. It was a relief, I have to say, even though a part of me missed it and he was very upset for a couple of days.
I also managed to get pg again, which just wasn't happening when bfing.

QoQ - feeding is an emotional, psychological, nutritional and physiological connection with your baby, however it is done...it's more than just a way of getting milk from one (human or otherwise) container into another human's body. Naturally, it gives rise to complex responses and reactions in you.

Why is is 'selfish' to feel good about yourself? Why did maintaining breastfeeding make you feel good? Because you recognised that this important connection, which you had planned on doing and whose benefits you recognise, was still there. Don't belittle the continuation of bf as something selfish - your baby and you enjoyed it and it was always good stuff you were giving him

Over time, other factors start to enter the situation - feeling you have done your bit, feeling a need to move on, feeling the effort involved was not giving enough payback, recognising your baby looked and behaved fine on formula...so you changed your mind, and having done so, felt relief that the decision had finally been made.

You sound pretty normal to me!

tiktok that is a lovely post. You are normal. There is a strange combination of feelings about feeding but if you feel better now then I think you have done the right thing, but probably feel a bit guilty about it, which is normal. I feel a bit like that. Currently on two bottle feeds per day and am sad that she is happier that way but am quite sure I am doing the right thing for us all...