Feeling sad for my soon to be ex-ebf baby

[lal123]

DD2 is just about 8 months. Until she was 6 months she was ebf. Weaning going really well - she loves her grub! I've been cutting down the number of bfs, now only getting fed once in morning and at nights. My supply has really dropped - boobs very soft, shes pulling at breast and generally not as satisfied. So, I've been trying to replace these feeds with formula.

Poor wee darling! All she wants sometimes is boobs and she screams at the bottle. Ashamed to say that I give in to her nad end up offering her a breast (crap though it is!). I do want to stop bfing, but I will miss it terribly (think this is reason I give in so easily!)

Guess I just need some understanding, no advice as such...

Wait, I don't understand, why do you want to stop bf?
Breasts do get much softer after 6 months or so, that DOES NOT mean that enough milk isn't produced.
Replacing those feeds with formula otoh would contribute to a drop in the supply.
DD is 16 mo and feeds in the morning, v.fast one in the afternoon and then before bed at night.
She's been like that for months.

You want to give up bfing but you'll miss it terribly? I'm confused. Do you want to stop and want reassurance or want to continue and want to know how? I'd offer understanding, but I don't.

Soft breasts and pulling/fussing are normal. Your body adapts to how much your child feeds so there's no longer an overflow.

I'm as confused as you are...

I think I'm ready to stop bfing, but DD2 will be my last baby and I know that I will miss it. I love the closeness it gives us, the comfort it gives her and the fact that I can eat an extra cake or 2! But I really think that she's not getting enough milk from me now and she needs topped up? Also whilst I'll miss it, I would like to get my boobs back if you know what I mean.

Although DP is supportive I feel a little under pressure from others, who keep asking when I'm stopping.

I'm still confused. If you assume that your breasts are producing enough milk (it would be very odd and rare for them to suddenly stop making enough milk, the fact that they're soft and you have a grumpy baby means nothing) and ignore what other people want you to do or believe you should do, do you want to give up or not? It's okay if you do want to give up, but it's your decision, not somebody elses and shouldn't be base on an erroneous belief about supply.

Sounds like you don't want to stop and IMO if there's no compelling reason past 'other opinions' then you shouldn't.

Breasts definitely soften around 6 months, without it meaning your supply is dropping. If she needs more, and likes solid food, then give her more solid food, surely?

if you are ready to stop, stop, but it doesn't sound like it from here.

Thanks. How much milk does she actually NEED at stage if she is eating lots of solids?

Well generally as much as they want. They should still have milk to demand and with bfing, you never know do you? Your baby is usually the guide of whether they're getting enough. You just continue to feed to demand until 12 months, offering milk before solids.

The tugging/pulling on the breast is a behavioural thing at that age, I think. I remember mine got very athletic with nursing. The boob became a toy, sadly for what little tautness I had left at that point.

See I don't want to continue bfing during the day, so don't offer her milk before solids. Reasons for not wanting to bf any more during the day are totally spurious, i.e. fed up with not being able to wear what I want!

If DD is only having 1 feed in the day are you giving formula as well? By 12 m/o babies should still be getting 75% of their calories from milk (breast/formula) so if you aren't bfing during the day you need to replace the feeds with formula NOT solids.

DD3 is 8m/o and is still bf on demand and has 1-2 meals a day with some snacks (breadsticks/biscuit/etc) if hungry on bus or other very inconvenient place. She probably feeds 8-12 times a day (2-3 of those in the night). My breasts have lost that 'gallons of milk' feeling and she messes about with pulling away and pinching but I know I have milk - DD2 tells me so!

If you don't want to continue bfing in the day you either need to add in formula or 'reverse cycle' and offer more feeds in the night.

Ignore my post I can't read