11mo refusing breastfeeds-- help!

[doolallysally1]

My 11 month old DD has been EBF up until now and we were down to two feeds a day-- one before her morning nap at around 10 (she fazed the first feed of the day out and that was as early as she would take it) and then her bedtime feed (as well as MOTN feeds).

She had a long feed on one boob last night and then refused the other (🫠) and I woke up the next morning with agonising pain in the refused boob. Got to the morning nap and she refused it again. Hysterical crying every time I offered it! And now it's bedtime and I'm desperate for relief and she's refusing again 😭😭

Is this normal? Should I just knock BF on the head now? She's not keen on cows milk at all which is why I worry.

I was hoping to stop at 12 months and if this is it, that's fine, but my poor boobs are suffering cutting two feeds at once 😭

EBF fed mine for 12 months each. And before anybody chips in...it wasn't easy but dp and I have allergies sofollowed advice.
Both mine self weaned at about 12 months old. Ist born was poorly and refused and 2nd born started biting and wasn't interested.
They are 8 and 10 now and fine. Never had formula but didn't mind cows milk ( i only gave it in the morning, beaker cup) they had yogurts and cheese etcetc for calcium.
Mine only ever had water all bar milk with breakfast. ( night as well etc)
Maybe your little one just had enough and it actually makes weaning easier?
.....I actually would have liked to breastfeed my 2nd child longer as I knew it would be my last and loved the bond etc....was a bit gutted about their refusal...

2 of mine gave up at 11 months one bottle fed and one breast fed.

As older teens discovered they are lactose intolerant which I found interesting.

Check there's nothing else that could bothering them and putting them off bf like teething etc. Is it particularly warm where you are? It sounds like you're comfortable to call it a day now, and your instinct is likely the best indicator. Just saying that if you don't feel ready then do explore other reasons LO might be rejecting the breast.

I stopped bf DD1 at almost 2 when I was pregnant again and just felt utterly gross, couldn't bear being touched, but she'd been showing little interest for a while. In hindsight I could probably have stopped far sooner and she wouldn't have cared much. I think with DD2 I'll be more open to stopping sooner depending on her interest, although I know it's bittersweet.

It could be teething. Hand express to relieve the pressure and they (boobs) should calm down in a couple of days.

Don't assume it means your DC is self weaning. 2 of my 3 did similar and they all fed past 2 years

Any chance you could be pregnant OP? This is what happened to me, DS1 was about to turn a year old, and suddenly refused to feed, found out I was pregnant shortly after.

When my DD started refusing feeds I’d give her three days of offering before I stopped offering. I expressed milk during the usual feeding times and would use it for her breakfast in Weetabix etc so she was still having it and my supply wasn’t diminishing! I’d say as you’re so close to 12 months I’d just accept the refusal x

Not pregnant. We had a contraception failure about 6 weeks ago but had the MAP and a period since then.

She could be teething. She's had some kind of bug (low grade fever about two nights ago, faint rash) recently but is otherwise well in herself.

I've read about nursing strikes and this may well be one but I guess I'm wondering if it's okay to roll with it and finish up BF? I had hoped I would be able to plan this and phase down (largely to spare my boobs the pain) and to make the adjustment easier. I finished with DS1 when he was 18 months old and it was very easy as his bedtime feed had dwindled to basically nothing anyway.

She also doesn't like cows milk so I can't just swap it out for that.

You can get oat and soya based alternatives (alpro do some called "growing up" milk I think - soya used to have a giraffe on and oat had a monkey) if you want to swap to that.

If you want to use it as an opportunity to stop then roll with it. Your supply probably won't stop for a while so you'll be able to pick it up if you change your mind in a week or 2