Reaching the end of my tether with BF..

[ninipops]

My DD is 22 week and is exclusively BF. I have had no problems BFing and have a bountiful supply. I never had any plans as to how long I would BF I was very much just seeing how things went but I'm starting to get a bit fed up with it to be honest. I will keep feeding her until she is 6 mos and logically I know FF is not going to do her any harm but somehow it feels like I am copping out/not doing the best thing for her. This isn't helped by the fact that my SIL is still BF my 13 mo old niece and my whole family are very pro BF.

Anyone got any advice/encouragement - I guess I'm just feeling a bit conflicted about the whole thing.

Can you say more about what you're getting fed up of? Is it something physical (pain, discomfort)? Is it about frequency or being tied to the baby? Something else?

I would just continue because you're up and running with it, well past the tough stage, I wouldn't care either way about family opinions just you've put the work in so you might as well stick around for how it gets easier and easier, and it is the best thing for your dd. If you're conflicted why not just keep doing what you are doing? Is it that you feel in compitation with SIL? and so want to get the whole thing just over with and out of the way?

I understand how you feel, I'm looking ahead at the moment myself to think about when I'm going to give up bfing 18 week old DS.

I suppose it boils down to the fact that you are your DD's mum, not your SIL or anyone else in the family, so you have to be the one to make the choice. Try not to compare yourself to anyone else.

You've done excellent getting to this stage with bfing so give yourself a pat on the back!

You've given her the best start in life, but in truth bfing is a small part of being a good mum.

There are many other ways you can show her love, nurture her, give her good food when she's weaned etc. So if you choose you stop bfing sooner than your family did, then it's no problem and won't do her any harm, just a different way of doing things.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that there is no right or wrong, so it's really just what you as the mum think is the best course of action for you and your baby.

Some women feel much more strongly about bfing than perhaps I do, and I'm sure others will be along soon to counter/reinforce what I've said.

You don't have to breastfeed if you don't want to. It's perfectly fine to stop if that is what you want to do - you have done fantastically to get this far! Think of all the good you have done her already.

But having said that if you are just having a moan and want to carry on, that's fine too and feel free to moan as much as you want! In my experience it got loads better after 6 months when the baby is also taking solid food and water etc and the pressure is less on you.

4-5 months is a classic growth spurt time so she could be feeding more to get your supply up (it will adjust if you let her feed as much as she wants) - add to this the hot weather, she is likely to be feeding more, because breastfeeding is a drink as well as a food. So both things together, she's probably feeding more than normal, and I'm not surprised you are finding it a bit much. If you want to hang in there, I can assure you that this stage will pass.

I think its about being tied to the baby. My DH does have regular 'baby days' and does get up during the night to feed her an expressed bottle if I am having a particularly tough time (I have mild PND) but inevitably I end up having to feed her because he can't get her to settle or she knows I am in the house.