Today I stopped breastfeeding and sobbed

[scoobycute]

Have a beautiful little 10 Month old son who is a dream baby and have been gradually weaning him off breastfeeding for a while for different reasons (hoping to try again for 2nd baby, had mastitis twice, pumped a lot, had terrible latch issues at the start etc - hasn't been an easy journey to be honest and the time had come)

Offered him my breast this morning and he refused. Even as I type this it breaks my heart. I'm so sad that the other day was my last ever breastfeed!!

I know it had to happen and it was my choice...but like I feel like he's going off to college and doesn't need me anymore 🤣

Anyone else out there felt the same? Am I hormonal lunatic with small boobs that will put weight on now?!

Well done for doing 10 months OP! Sounds like a very gradual and natural process that you’ve been through together to stop.

I equally loved breastfeeding but when my son was three (yes 3 YEARS old) and still absolutely obsessed with ‘boobie’, I began to have serious concerns about how I was going to stop and felt almost entirely out of control of the situation!

I’m very much hoping that next time, stopping will be as simple as you’ve described!

I could have written this post a couple of years ago when DC started rejecting the boob at 10 months! We had all the same issues you've described but I still cried and cried but ultimately I really enjoyed having my body back and wearing clothes that I couldn't before ect!
My period arrived soon after and I wondered if my changing hormones were why he'd stopped feeding. It's so sad when they stop feeding xx

Yes it is very normal...and you will probably feel this everytime your child hits a milestone and moves on!

Wait til you get to the first day at school!😭

Well done for doing 10 months, I couldn’t feed my first at all. He was in special care and by the time my milk came in, he wouldn’t feed. My second child I managed 2 weeks and tried topping up with bottle, which he then preferred. I did try and I feel guilty that I couldn’t feed for very long.

I cried so much when 1st dc abruptly stopped feeding. Even looking at the cushion I used to feed set me off! I think it’s partly hormones and partly that they are moving on to a different stage. Less upset with dc 2 as was expecting it, plus I think I wanted my body back by then!

From what I've read it's normal to have a low mood/grieve when stopping, it's to do with the drop in oxytocin I think. Sending love to you.

Wow you've done well! It's possible he might want some more comfort feeds when I'll/ upset etc, so it might. It totally be the end if you still want the odd one. But it does sound like a natural ending if it was his choice. I had to stop feeding due to surgery so the choice was taken out of our hands, breastfeeding grief is a real thing and there are several little books available on it which might help you. There's one called Breastfeeding Grief and Why It Matters which really helped me - very short and available in Kindle very cheaply!x

Just to say, you can still BF while pregnant with another child if you choose.