any other excl. bfeeders planning to stop bfeeding at 26 weeks?

[dal21]

is anyone planning to introduce formula? or do you plan on continuing excl bfeeding?

I'm just passed the 26 week mark and have recently been offering solids too. I'm hoping to continue BFing (with some expressing as I go back to work soon). If I need to introduce formula I will but I feel that since we've come this far (and since BFing is so easy now and it's a handy 'tool' if DS is upset/overtired etc) I don't want to change. DS will hardly take milk other than from me anyway so I'm happy to avoid the faff of cups etc unless absolutely necessary.

thanks Rosemary. I sort of feel the same too - but logic is overriding all else and I am 99.9% sure that I will gradually start dropping feeds - all reasons to be honest are purely selfish ones.

was just curious how other mnetters felt.

Well I think if I were you dal, I'd do what has become my mainstay parenting technique - see what happens

If it makes you terribly miserable then don't do it - you've done well to continue for 6 months if it isn't your bag. If it makes you happy then roll with it.

rosemary - very wise words and ones I shall heed.

Message withdrawn

I agree- do what you feel confident and happy with. If you feel uncomfortavble in public you could express or give the occassional formula feed - after all at 6 months you will introduce cows milk in other forms into the diet. I sympathise because it is exactly how I have felt

pelafina, I truely believe the being comfortable with nursing in public is a learnt skill.

I was so nervous at the beginning I dreaded DD needing a feed when we were out the house and would plan trips around her feeds.

When I started to nurse in public I found it very embrassing and used a boob tent (which properly drew more attention to us) but I started having longer trips out of the house.

By 6 months I had given away the boob tent and had done enough nursing that I knew if I pull my top up and latched baby on, noone could see anything and I felt comfortable and happy to nurse in public.

Now I don't even think about it, though I do get more stares now DD is 17 months old.

SO the short answer is you might feel very different at 6 months, tham you do now. I would wait and make a decision nearer the time.

everyone and every situation is completely different - even two babies in the same family!! mix and match to what suits- i know a lot of people who continued to feed past 6 months but no longer did so exclusively at the time you will know what will work for you and your bub good luck. every decision will have its pros and cons.....

pelafina - believe me your reason to question longer bfeeding is not at all selfish. My reasons are far more shallow and selfish.

i second the opinion of waiting til nearer 26 weeks, a lot changes as your bub gets older. I am now only feeding 4 times a day (plus expressing once for DH to give dreamfeed) - but DS is so much more efficient at getting the milk out that I dont think I spend more than an hour in the day feeding. Plus my confidence has gone up heaps - so feeding in public is no biggie (although i tend to try and feed him indoors as he is so easily distracted when out and about). But they also start getting so much more fun and interact whilst feeding. And is the closeness and interaction that I will miss the most as it is our 'special time'.

I plan to heed rosemarys advice and drop a feed and see how I feel. I have no qualms about introducing formula past 6 months, but if I miss feeding him - I may not drop them all straightaway.