I think I've made the decision to stop - but slowly

[pelafina]

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Poor you - I am sorry that no one else has responded. I don't have any practical advice to give but just wanted to show some support.

I know what you mean about spring getting you down - maybe it's having the extra energy to feel down iykwim.

I have had my moments with bf too, what has made it easier is being able to talk about it with other women who know where I'm coming from.

Would it help you to talk to a bf counsellor? They won't try to pressure you to do anything either way, and they are well trained + have their own experience to fall back on. They could probably give some advice about switching to mix feeding or formula completely. You can find the numbers on this page I called them today about my own issues (my 10 mo dd is losing interest in bf and being bitey) + found it v helpful to talk to someone who understands the emotional side of bf.

I hope this helps, take care

Hi

I bf exclusively for 6 months and then tailed it down (along with some formula feeds) over time to morning and evening and then eventually just once every few days if dd needed comfort until I eventually stopped when she was 17 months.

I can remember in the early months feeling really fed up. The inital pain, the incessant feeding during growth spurts, the throwing up of milk and having to start again, the tiredness. Nothing out of the ordinary. Sometimes feeling claustrophobia. I did want to do it and it did work reasonably ok physically but it did feel like work with the occasional lovely, peaceful, cuddly feeling.

I agree with Starlight that it doesn't have to be totally either/or. You are probably through the worst of it by now. Once a baby starts eating solids, it needs less milk and the feeds generally become less frequent. It does get a lot easier.

Do what you feel you can, what is right for you, and don't feel bad. Maybe tail down to one feed a day (in the evening) and the rest formula. I understand that there are babies that will not take a bottle, my cousin's dd refused for over a week, but it did work in the end - it's just an adjustment for them.

Pelafina - Hi, a very long time since I was in this situation, but one practical thing which helped when I started adding bottles was to get teats with cross-cuts instead of holes, because the baby still has to suck to get the milk instead of it flowing automatically. It's more like what they are used to, so he might take to it a bit better. You're also right in getting DP to try at first, as DS won't associate him with breast feeding, or smell the milk, so won't be wondering quite as much why you are doing something different.

And please don't feel bad about considering your own needs as well as DS's - he needs a mum who has the strength to cope with it all, far more than he needs breastmilk or co-sleeping. You've given him a great start by getting this far with the feeding, but you have to remember you're in this for the long haul, so you have to allow yourself space to get your energy levels back up and feel back in charge of at least some parts of your life. I've never suffered from depression, so I don't know how much that affects you, but I can certainly remember just how ground-down by it all I was feeling by a few months in, so I do sympathise.