Desperately want to stop breastfeeding but baby doesn't

[Pearlg]

Just that really. Sounds dramatic but it's really getting me down & I feel like a failure. My baby is 19weeks old & I've never been relaxed while breastfeeding her- constant worry about milk supply etc. I'm ready to stop & but the problem is baby won't take a bottle with either breast milk or formula! We've tried everyday in Feb & the fact that Mon is March has really hit me today & I feel so down about it.

I've tried Mam bottles & she did take but I let a month go past without pumping & giving her a bottle & now she is refusing & I'm so annoyed at myself. I've had a bit more success with Nuk bottles but she still chews the teat & then cries - I've tried DH giving her bottle with me out of the house, distracting her, slipping in while she's sleepy etc & still she refuses.

anyone any tips on what worked for them? She also uses me as a dummy in middle of night so really want it to be over!!

@FolkSongSweet I did actually try her with a Doidy cup & some breast milk & she just tipped it up over her face bless her, we do need to get practising again with it as I don't want the cup to become an issue like a bottle has, just wouldn't want her having night feeds in a cup at this stage!

@nurseriess I have brought her with us a few times usually around 5am when we are desperate to get rest but it's not something I wanted to start all the time - nothing against it I was just a bit freaked out each time we did it & kept dozing off then waking in a panic I'm such a worrier thanks for reassurance re how much she's taking, I didn't know advice was no more than 4oz at a time for formula!! I feel a lot more positive now

No more than 4oz at a time? I've never heard that unless referring to pumped breast milk. If that's the case I'd have to feed 10+ times per day....just not practical.

@BeHappyAndSmile yeah I think that is either referring to formula top ups when breastfeeding or feeding expressed breast milk.

When BF you do tend to feed more times per day than FF so I think the advice above is when bottling you avoid them hating the boob pace after a top up/bottle of expressed.

Since the OP doesn’t wanna BF anymore I don’t think that’s a worry? That would probably be the optimum situation if they started to prefer the bottle.

@FTEngineerM that makes sense! I had a moment after reading that thinking shit where do you fit the extra feeds and still sleep forgot breastfed babies have different eating patterns!