Please help me feel better about stopping breastfeeding!

[UsefulZombie]

DS is six and a half months old. I had all sorts of problems getting him to latch at the beginning due to various reasons, so ended up exclusively expressing. We needed some formula top ups for the first 6 weeks or so as it took me a while to build up my supply, but after that he was exclusively on my milk until about a week ago when I decided to drop some pumps and introduce a bottle or two of formula a day to take the pressure off.
We've started baby-led weaning now which is good fun but messy, so I feel like I have another thing to work around in my day on top of regular pumping/sterilising. I want to be able to enjoy preparing food for us and eating with him without stressing. And I want to be able to take him out for more than an hour or two without worrying about being back in time to pump. I feel like the past 6 months of my life have revolved around pumping and I'm starting to really resent it. And, tbh, I just don't want to pump anymore. I hate it, it's uncomfortable, and I find it physically really draining.
Six months was always my goal, so why do I feel so guilty at the thought of switching over to formula and stopping pumping? How can I get some perspective on this? Am I doing the right thing? I feel really sad at the thought of him no longer being breastfed, but equally gutted at the thought of giving over more hours of my life to pumping when I could be really enjoying exploring food with him.

You have got to do what you've got to do! Look, my ds is 15 now. I stopped b earlier than I'd planned because I was sick of it. I couldn't tell you now if that was at 11 months or 13 months. Or maybe 12.

And that's my point. Right here and now it seems like the biggest decision. In a few years it won't. You've given him a brilliant start. And the guilt will be there over every decision you make, so in the nicest way, give up the guilt. Do what works for you and makes you all happiest!

Exclusively pumping is hard work. You managed it for 6 months that’s amazing! You have managed a lot more that most uk mums.

I exclusively expressed for about the same time. My DD was born as an emergency c-section and ended up in SCBU. By the time I got to hold her and feed her we both struggled with her latching on. I really wanted her to have my milk but eventually I lost so much weight and looked awful. My milk gradually became less. You have given your baby the best and should definitely not feel guilty! You should be proud, now do what you need to.

Exclusive pumping is hard work so well done you. Absolutely no reason to feal guilty. I bf to 4 yr but I dropped the pumps early on, ebveryones journey is different. Can you say pump during the evenings and not the day, so reduce rather then go cold turkey? That might make you feal better.

You're amazing and it's wonderful that you've managed for this long. Don't feel guilty about stopping. You need to do what's right for you too. I struggled horribly with breast feeding and spent months feeling guilty about formula feeding my baby. DD was being fed, had a full tummy and I wasn't stressing about trying to feed her myself and that's all that mattered. She's now 19 months and loves all different kinds of food. I don't regret making the decision that was right for us at the time. Good luck OP. You're doing a wonderful job!

You've done a great job, but in case it helps, you don't need to bother sterilising for breast milk. Especially after 6 months.

I understand OP.

My son is older than yours but I have reached the point of being really frustrated about breast feeding him.

Sometimes I plan to give up but then I feel so guilty at the thought of it but I don’t.

Sometimes it feels like he’s on me ALL THE TIME and I feel so angry and fed up and then tel my DH that “I’m done” and I’m ready to stop, but within a day I change my mind again.

It’s a very emotive thing deciding when to stop breast feeding.

Do the right thing for you and if that’s switching to formula then just go for it. I admire anyone who has the dedication to regularly pump so can totally understand that they would hit a point of just saying “enough is enough”.

Thank you all for the support and perspective. Much appreciated x