why is stopping breastfeeding making me so sad

[crout]

Hi all,

Please help me, my son is currently 7 months and I am still breastfeeding him morning and night time, however I am going to have to stop soon and the thought of it really upsets me as I love feeding him

I am returning to work in June and unfortunately my job requires me to travel away from home for 2-3 days at a time. My son will be in great hands with his Dad and grandparents but I am dreading leaving him. Hence why I need to stop feeding soon, so that I know he will settle without me for my own sanity and my Dh's

Did anyone else feel sad at stopping feeding. I know I have given him the best possible start but that doesnt make me feel any better. Please help Thanks

Yes I used to cry at the thought of it and each time it made me realise I wasn´t ready. I finally stopped when ds was about 22 mths and we were both ready, it was easy and I wasn´t sad at all.

June is a good while away, couldn´t you worry about it nearer the time? You might come up with a solution in the meantime or have become more used to the idea, or have given up naturally without the sadness?

It's completely normal to feel sad at the thought of stopping doing something so good and satisfying for you both. I felt sad when DD gave me up at 15m, and DS is currently petering out at nearly 2yo, and it feels like a big change.

But you don't have to stop if you don't want to. It would be quite possible to express while you're away to keep up your supply and just feed your DS when you're at home. If it's really important to you, you do have a choice.

Your DS settling for other people may have nothing to do with feeding - he knows Daddy can't do that.

And Maveta is right - June is a long way off! A lot can change before then. Try not to stress and just enjoy your time with your lovely DS.

Hi Crout, I just posted a bfeeding thread as I have to go away with work for a few days and am still bfeeding.

I planned to stop bfeeding in plenty of time for going back to work at 12 months, but am still going at 14 months!. I tried to drop the morning feed a while back as DD didn't wake up until 9am (usually wakes for a feed at 6.30am). I thought she was ready to stop, but she was very upset when I tried to take her downstairs, and I was glad to feed her as it made me feel upset to stop too.

I think you still have plenty of time left to carry on feeding, but if you do have to give up when you go back to work, please don't feel bad about it. You've done a grand job, and babies seem to adapt a lot better than we do!

I don't think you necessarily need to stop. You may find that he gets used to feeding around your work. I've left my eldest for two weeks (not deliberate, a week holiday with my parents then I went into hospital for a week) and no problems. I'd also think about waiting a little longer if you definitely want to wean him as he's still quite young and you still have plenty of time.