I may stop breastfeeding today . . .

[Mum2Ela]

But I am not sure.

I don't want to stop altogether, but am findning it a real pain in the backside feeding DS when we are out as he is so nosey he doesn't feed for nore than 30 seconds to a minute and he pulls off (owch, it really hurts) to have a nose around before re-attaching himself.

I think I might keep b-feeding him first thing in the morningin bed as this is the only feed he really seems totally interested in, and bottle feed him through the day (10.30am, 2.30pm and a bottle for bed).

Does this sound reasonable? Can I go from exclusive b-feeding to only 1 feed a day like this?

He is 7 mths btw.

x

fine. If that's what you want to do. I cut the DTs down to bed time feeds only and used a bottle in the days once they were one.

I think you've done very well getting as far as you have and if it's a pain for you, then stop.

Gosh, sound a bit patronising... sorry

Thanks Marslady. NO you don't sound patronising, I probably sound a bit winey, I just want someone to say 'yes, thats ok' iykwim.

I think I know the answer to this, but does it ever become ok the use the normnal contracteptive pill whilst breastfeeding? DH moans about using condoms (men, eh?) and I don't want to use the mini pill as I know I will forget to take it and probably end up PG, which is not in my immediate plans!

you're welcome. Woke up this morning and if I hadn't already booked a date to do it would stop breastfeeding now. DT1 has been pulling on me rather than feeding and I've suddenly become DT2's chew toy.

IMO if you want to stop BF now that's absolutely fine. I dwindled it down to the first morning feed then stopped when dd was 7 1/2 mths. There's no right and wrong, it's up to you and more importantly how you DS feels about it. I found dd was quite happy to stop when i did! If you're asking for health reasons then my HV told me that by 7 mths a baby should certainly be having a pretty varied solid diet and doesn;t need to keep BF.

I don;t know about the pill - i heard you shouldn't take it while BF - and never, ever rely on BF as a contraceptive!

No I don't rely on b-feeding as a contraceptive, although my doctor told me it was as gd as the mini pill (yeah right, thats why my periods came back when DS was 4 mths!)

Nah you can't take the pill cos of the hormones

Mum2Ela, ds (9 months) did exactly this at same age - soooo annoying, impossible to feed him unless in dark room, quiet, by ourselves (impossible except at night/morning). He seems to be coming out of it now - feeds very fast when out but he does feed. No sure that's any help to you though

Thanks dinny, glad my ds isn;t the only one! Its such a nioghtmare, he constantly shows my boobs to the world when he pulls away all the time, so much for discreet feeding!

I think i'm kinda selfishly wanting my body back now iykwim, hoping my boobs may go back to being somewhere near normal again (or is that wishful thinking?) and also am tired of ruining all my nice t-shirts and tops by yanking them up all day and DS pulling at the necks.

Blimy, how selfish do i sound?!

I cut ds down to 2 breast feeds and 2 daytime bottles from 6 months, by a year we were back to 2 breastfeeds and we finally stopped at 17 months. Replace one feed at a time though and leave it a week or so until the fullness has subsided at that time of day before you do the next one.

and sparying milk everywhere! funnily enough was going to start thread asking if boobs stay bigger than normal however long you bf for. have to go back to work and do not want to spend loads on tops to fit my big boobs in when they are small when not bfing. any ideas if they get smaller?

Mum2Ela:

FFS YOU ARE NOT BEING SELFISH FOR WANTING YOUR BODY BACK! Since when did 'mother' become synonymous with 'martyr'?

You have BF for longer than most women do, you have done brilliantly. Now stop punishing yourself and do what you want!!

PS Yes your boobs do get temporarily smaller Dinny. Not sure how long for though - I think mine were pretty much back to their old pre-preg shape six mths after stopping BF. Not quite as pert though!