when you stopped breast feeding, how did you feel? and how do you feel about it now?

[robinrednomorenowemptybreasts]

for me bf was a real struggle, it did not come easily or naturally, i had to bf dd constanly for the first 4 months,upto 35 times a day. it took me 4 months to get bf established, but after the first 4 months i really started to enjoy bf. and long lazy feed while watching tv etc!

for me when dd turned 8 months, i dropped down to bf once or twice a day. it was not enough to keep up supply, i thought it would be after 8 months.

so i stoped bf when dd was 8 and a half months
i felt sad to stop,which suprised me, as at the start i thought i would stop at 6 months exactly ! i did feel quite a surge in the change of hormones, much more irritable for a week or two or maybe three.
it was like my happy pill had worn off.
i also felt a bit relief as i was struggling with the bitting a bit tbh.

now i still miss it and if i ever have another baby ill be looking forward to bf it. [rose tinted glasses maybe ?]
although i don't have rose tinted glasses about being pregnant.!

but my overall feeling now is, happiness, pride and its like something ive got that noone can ever take away from me.

i think its affected the way i feel about myself in a good way.. and id like to help others to get to this end result.

the reason for my post is to encourage other struggling mums, my message to you is yes its hell at the moment, but when you get there, it will feel like youve climbed everest! and it will be something you can keep forever.

and to also be nosey and ask others how they now feel looking back on there bf time ?

i loved bf and was very lucky to not really have huge hassles with it, and yes i also look forward to bf future dc! I seriously admire women who struggle with bf but keep going.. I did feel a bit sad when i stopped at 10 mo but as my ds had refused a bottle til then and then finally did, i did feel quite liberated! But i did notice that i got miserable more easily after i had finished too - i figure that all that prolactin that your body is busy making to help me relax (?!) when you bf had finally dried up...

fairy, yeah i loved the bf hormones, they should sell them as chillpills

well done for sticking with it!! I found bf remarkably easy with two of my 3, and I really enjoyed doing it with all of them. i fed the last one for 17mo, we sort of ended it by mutual agreement, if that makes any sense.
robin, you would make a fantastic bf peer-counsellor. I'm one, the training is fab and you have so much to give to help mums who are needing some support. Have a look at La leche and BfN to see if there is anything in your area if you have the time?

I stopped at 6 weeks. I had very mixed feelings on it. Sometimes I liked it, sometimes I didn't. I found the pressure to bf very overwhelming and didn't feel like I had a choice in the matter.

After a long, induced labour my milk wasn't in. I was stuck on the ward at 2am and woken up at 3am. 'Time to feed!' was announced by the mw who I very nearly wanted to kill. My dd wasn't interested and nothing was coming out. After half an hour of being treated and milked like a cow by the mw, still nothing happened and my nipples felt raw and ready to drop off. Dd was getting distressed and I asked that they give her formula as I didn't want her to go hungry and I was just so tired. I may as well have stabbed her from the look on her face! It kind of went downhill from there lol.

However, ever the optimist. If I ever had another I would absolutley like to try bf again, and hope to keep it up for a bit longer.

I felt guilty for stopping bfing ds3 even though he was 2.8. I felt guilty because I stopped for me rather than for him, I was ttc and it wasn't happening as long as I was bf. I think he would still be bfing now if I hadn't stopped.

I really liked breast feeding ...didn't have any real problems both DDs latched on fine so I was v lucky...I missed BF when I stopped I liked the moments alone with my DD the closeness ...the relief..lol..the bonding..the way we would connect..but...I also enjoyed the freedom of not having to feed and my DH was over the moon!

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stopped at 19 months

dd self weaned

was only on one feed at bedtime

i liked it

so did she

but was actually ok when she stopped

thought would be sad

but was ok

dh is ecstatic

my libido is just returning

thanks fro sharing your stories, i find it really interesting.
well i don't think id make the best bf supporter as i feel im a bit clueless!
i do not have a good way with words, wish i was more, errr articulate but im not, and id feel really bad encouraging someone to do it how i did. ie constanly feeding for 4 months, i don't think i know enough to make a good supporter except to family and friends, although i guess thats what the training is there for.

anyway thanks for your storys i find them fasinating

it makes me sooooo sad to think that there's a chance i may not BF again. Fed DS for 2 years. was very very very ready to stop (he wasn't though) still miss it sometimes though.

I bf dd1 for a year, we were both ready to stop. I knew I wanted another dc so would probably have another chance to bf so was ok with stopping.

Stopped feeding 13 mo dd2 a month or so ago, and it's felt like a much more momentous decision. I'm ok with it, it feels right although I am still a little sad. My hormones are settling down now but that was hard at first, I'm also still getting used to the fact that I can leave her with other people, the freedom is somewhat dizzying!

I HUGELY miss the convenience of it though, we stayed in a B&B over Easter and it was a nightmare of cartons of formula and steri bottles - I much preferred being self sufficient.

DD1 - stopped at 12 months I was 3 months pregnant so don't know if that had anything to do with it, wasn't too bothered was feeling rough and nipples were sore too.

DD2 - stopped at 15 months felt a bit sad for a bit but quickly got over it, had 2 months of my body back completely before I was pregnant again.

I think with this one I will feel really sad as she is my last one ever.

if i ever have another im aiming for a year

I stopped at 2 weeks
This was due to pain, lack of help and not knowing about mn!
I was devastated. I managed another few weeks of expressing, then dried up. If I have another, I really hope to make bfing work (and look out, I'll be asking for your help!).
I don't regret it now because ds is a fine wee man and I was going insane at the time. I am sorry I wasn't better prepared and supported - sometimes I feel a bit sad about missing out on it with him, but am hoping to use my experiencce to improve the next time.

I stopped when ds was over 4 but under 5. Years that is. Can't remember when exactly because it was so sporadic for a long time before it tailed off completely. Not sure if he was getting any milk towards the end, but then I never was very sensitive to let down after the first year or so.

I only have 3 dc but there was a time when I could say I had spent most of the last 10 years either pregnant or lactating.

I wish I could have donated more to a milk bank.