I have a question about giving up breastfeeding

[Makipuppy]

I have to give up bfing DS (14 weeks) who is pretty much exclusively bf on demand although he has the odd bottle to make sure DP can feed him when necessary.

How do I start dropping feeds when he's used to having a little snack quite often as well as big 2 boob feeds when he wakes up in the morning or after a long nap? Do I just keep giving him the bottle? Or should I try and get him into a three hourly routine?

I'm finding it quite a wrench emotionally too

Do you mind me asking why you need to stop?

Why do you have to give up BF? Is there a time-limit on this? Not sure I have much advice (had to go cold-turkey with DS), but the more info you can give the better people can help you...

It's just that if you're giving up because circumstances are about to change (eg going back to work), or if you're about to start on a course of medication, then there may be different approaches available to you. It sounds like you don't really want to give up, so more info please so we can help you!

I need to give up because I am working and DP/babysitter need to look after DS at home.

We could just cut down, but DP is getting very stressed because DS really holds out for the boob (although he always takes the bottle eventually).

Also we have plans to see if another might come along and as I just turned 42 we have to crack on.

I work from home mostly, so we don't have much childcare, but I do have quite a few business trips away overnight and it's awful for DP if DS is screaming and he knows its because he wants breast.

Practicalities of giving up - try dropping one feed every week or so to give your body a chance to adjust and not get sore etc. Also gives your child a chance to adjust.

If you are going back to work and would like to carry on feeding for a while then you can probably carry on doing the first feed in the morning and last feed at night for longer than you think. Giving up the day time feeds would not necessarily mean you can't do 2 feeds a day if that is what you want.

Also from perspective of falling pregnant - carrying on feeding even exclusively would not necessarily stop you from becoming pregnant. Have dd2 to prove this! I fed dd1 exclusively but periods started again when she was about 4 mths old and i fell pregnant again when she was 8 mths old.

What Sam said. See - much more tailored advice when we know the full problem! Have you got an ovulation test thingy yet? Worth knowing what's going on now, as you may be ovulating already?

Hm, I'm sure I'm not ovulating, I became quite an expert in tracking my ovulation when we were ttc DS.

Sam hope the same happens to me!

PerArdua I peed on all my ovulation sticks when I was pregnant just to see that smiley face - I never once got a positive from them even though I was ovulating perfectly.

What I would like to do is cut down as much as I need to for my periods to return, but of course that point will be different for everyone...

If you are just cutting back on bfing to start ovulating, you may find that cutting down on the daytime feeds makes no difference.

My period returned both times once I, or should I say they, cut down the night feeds. 14 weeks is a bit early to cut down on night feeds though IMHO.

Ineedsome thanks, that's really useful to know. Perhaps I can start there and then, if I start ovulating, carry on bfing.