To just want to stop breastfeeding...?

[Username1233]

My LO is 12 weeks tomorrow and exclusively breastfed. I express when I need to go out without her, and she takes to a bottle well. But here's the thing, I just don't want to breastfeed anymore? I can't explain in. Im tired, I want to wear normal clothes again, i feel uncomfortable feeding in public, I feel gross pumping (no idea why, I can't explain it!), I want to be able to leave the house without feeling like im in a rush to get home and feed her. My DP isn't keen, says we're saving money and it's working well (yeah, for him!).

Can I start off by just giving the odd bottle of formula here and there, and then start slowing reducing? I just want to be able to leave the house without rushing back (and again, hate expressing!).

If you want to stop then stop.

You need to do it gradually, swap one feed out for formula at a time then wait a few days then swap another.

I hated pumping too, I wouldn't do it.

Your baby, you can do whatever you want! I’d definitely stop pumping straight away and instead replace a bottle of expressed milk with formula. Choose the same time each day to give it then gradually replace another feed at a separate time with another bottle. You may find that actually you want to combi feed, you might not, either is fine but if you reduce slowly then 1) it’s better for your boobs and hormones and 2) you have more of a choice

Of course you can, and by exclusively bfing for 3 months, you've bfd more than most mums. If you're already giving breastmilk in a bottle sometimes then the transition shouldn't be too hard - you can always mix some formula with some breastmilk initially to ease the transition for the first couple of times. But usually best for you to do the change gradually (less likelihood of sore boobs) by introducing one bottle a day, then two, etc.

I agree with PP above though, combi-feeding may be your answer - means no more pumping and your DP can play more of a part, but also means you have the convenience of bfing when you want ie not having to sterilise bottles, wait for cooling etc, so you've got the best of both worlds. We combi-fed both for over 6 months - for us that meant I bf when I was with the DC but they had a bottle when I wasn't (ie if with DH or at nursery), then for the last couple of months I started only bf first thing in morning and last thing at night, then dropped one of those before DC pretty much not interested any more by then food was becoming more interesting for them! But equally if that doesn't work for you then all formula obviously OK too.

You can stop if you want.

To reduce the risk of mastitis you need to go slowly.

You could not express a bottle for her and use formula instead and see how she takes it. Be aware it might unsettle her tummy if she’s not used to it. You can also use it to see how you find making up formula. Some women who want to swap do change their minds when they see the sterilising and instructions.

Then if you want to go ahead, swap either a morning or afternoon feed for formula first. Wait a few days and swap out the next feed and so on.

You might find that swapping one or two feeds just makes it a bit easier for you and you can continue with combination feeding. Or carry on to fully stop.

As you’re reducing your supply try to alternate between breast and bottle feeds to reduce engorgement.

You might decide to keep night feeds as breastfeeds just because it’s easier to breastfeed at night than make up formula. Of course you don’t have to if you want to fully stop.

Sometimes people feel like they need permission to stop, so here it is. If you want to, you can stop at any time.

I'm sure there's probably a 'correct' way to do it, so look that up and off you go.