Conflicted about reducing breastfeeding

[StretchyPants1988]

We saw the paedetrician (we're British but we live abroad) for a check for my 9.5 month old son today. She asked me how BF is going (she was incredibly helpful with BF when my son was born). I said it's getting too much. I'm working full time and pumping is too much work. She said you know you can stop giving him breastmilk in the day? You could BF morning and evening since he's taken so well to solids (he's on 3 meals a day and loves it).

I don't know, I feel weird about it. I've been complaining about it so much lately but also it makes me really sad and I think "am I useless now"? I feel like such a hypocrite!!! I've saying daily how I really want to be done with pumping especially but now I've been given approval to do so.....I'm sad?

I'm also worried about him not getting enough calories in the day, I hope this doesn't mean he starts waking up at night (he's not the best sleeper).

I'm very pro bf but it doesn't have to be all or nothing and you need to look after yourself too. I returned to work around DDs first birthday, I never pumped, she had solids and water with the CM, but I continued to BF her until she was 3.5.

I think what she has said good advice, that's what I did when I returned to work after 6 months mat leave. He drank from a cup at nursery and we continued to breastfeed until he was 3 although by then it was just before bed at night. I did pump at work but he hated bottles so I stopped and it took so much pressure off and my supply adjusted really quickly.

I went back to work at 9 months and didn’t pump in the day. They fed on wake up, at pick up and before bed.

I think it’s good advice as well. Pumping is exhausting, well it was for me anyway. You won’t he useless at all, they’re still a baby and it’s just a small and positive adjustment

I went back to work at 8.5m and then 9.5m with my 2. Neither ever took a bottle so I didn't express. I would typically feed them in the morning (sometimes twice!), when I got home and before bed. They were both feeding in the night too, so I carried that on until 11/12 months. This gradually reduced to twice a day (12ish months) and then once a day (by 18m, can't exactly remember).

They went on to feed for 3 and 4 years respectively, so cutting down the day time feeds didn't end their breastfeeding journey! (It probably prolonged it as I was happy to continue at a manageable amount and didn't need to spend time pumping.

You could replace whatever you are pumping with formula (or even cows milk if they are having at least 3 feeds a day) and hopefully it won't be a big adjustment for your little one.

exactly the same, especially if they like solids.

fed one to 3.5 and the other till 4. Night weaned around 2

I returned around 9.5 months first one and about 11 months second.

first had a bit of pumped milk but it quickly became unsustainable and I didn’t bother with second

Thanks all!!! I think the fact that he has a lot of allergies is colouring my view as his meals take more effort than your average baby, so it actually means more work for me without the immediate cuddly reward of breastfeeding 😂

Also, I was confused as I kept reading "food before 1 is just for fun" so I thought I had to give breastmilk at the detriment of food but the paedetrician said that's wrong and that statement annoys her so much 😂 so it's just a mental adjustment for me.

I think I will definitely keep going with breastfeeding for a long time.

Now to go off and enjoy my work day without pumping 😯

It's ok to do different things on different days. When you are at home, you can still offer a breastfeed in the day. Although obviously be guided by your Paediatrician about how much food you give first.