Haven't breastfed in nearly 2 days - Time over :(

Grawns

Think I'm finally stopping at 18 months. Am so conflicted and have to restrain myself from offering. I went to M&S yesterday and bought myself some normal nice bras - so I must mean business. Am sad though

lynski

allow yourself to be sad. I was sad when i finished both times and am looking forward to feeding the new one when they arrive.
you have given your child a precious gift and yourself some wonderful (and prob so not so wonderful) memories and it is a unique experience as no matter how many children you have it is different each time.
fyi, you may still lactate for some time - even a little. I did for over a year.

Grawns

I think I'm to crack though, my breasts are telling me to also ? What made you stop, pregnancy? I'm planning on ttc soon and am going to be away from her overnight for the 1st time in Sept so have good reasons I guess. It's been an amazing experience and I had the easiest time.

Tryst

I'm just curious is all she was getting breast milk or were giving her some solids too? And why did you choose to breast feed her for so long its only really beneficial for the first few months so they can get your mdas. You may have guessed from this that i'm not a mother hence the questions.

implausible

Tryst wrote: »

And why did you choose to breast feed her for so long its only really beneficial for the first few months so they can get your mdas

That's not what the WHO says:

"breastfeeding reduces child mortality and has health benefits that extend into adulthood. On a population basis, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life is the recommended way of feeding infants, followed by continued breastfeeding with appropriate complementary foods for up to two years or beyond."

Grawns

I always thought I would do a year anyway. We just kept going. The fact that she won't take milk or formula probably contributed - in addition to knowing the WHO recommendations.

Anyway I cracked so I guess it's not over yet. Give it a few more weeks and we will see. I do think it's more for me than her now though. I'm going to miss it.

lynski

Grawns wrote: »

I think I'm to crack though, my breasts are telling me to also ? What made you stop, pregnancy? I'm planning on ttc soon and am going to be away from her overnight for the 1st time in Sept so have good reasons I guess. It's been an amazing experience and I had the easiest time.

both mine self-weaned as they were getting a bottle a day and as they got older they loved the independence and their curiosity got the better of them.

Grawns

I've had Bridget on a cup since she was 6mths so she never had a bottle and hates cows milk and formula anyway. How old were yours when they self weaned?

Cat Melodeon

Tryst wrote: »

I'm just curious is all she was getting breast milk or were giving her some solids too? And why did you choose to breast feed her for so long its only really beneficial for the first few months so they can get your mdas. You may have guessed from this that i'm not a mother hence the questions.

It's mad that this is still such a common misconception Tryst! I used to think that any longer than 6 months was weird. I think it's only when you get pregnant yourself that you actually bother to find out what it's all about. Even when I was pregnant I had a notion I'd try it for a few weeks and then see. Well, I had my boy, it all worked out great and I soon learned that best advice is to breastfeed until the child is two and beyond that if it works for mother and child. The six month thing stemmed from the fact that you're supposed to give a baby breastmilk only until they are that age, and then introduce solids (with milk remaining the main source of nutrition until they are 12 months).

Grawns - it's a weird time isn't it? My lad came off the boob himself at 10 months - tried everything to stay going but he was having none of it. I've been expressing for him since. He's just turned one and we're slowly moving towards cows milk - I've found expressing fairly tough so will probably fully wean him now. In a way, I'm really sad that his 'baby-time' is over, but I'm also kind of excited that I'll be more 'my own' for the next year or so, and then hopefully we'll be on to number 2! I do miss the closeness though, and knowing that he's getting all that goodness from me. Ah well. I guess they'll be in school before we know it!

Das Kitty

I found it really hard to stop even though it was always agony for me so I can only imagine how hard it is for you to stop. The urge went away after a week or so but I still have a small amount of milk 4 months later.

Grawns

Thanks Guys. I feel like a drama queen getting so worked up about stopping and then not stopping :rolleyes: What a gooner . It's very kind of you to share your experiences and the emotions involved. I really never thought I would keep going this long. None of my friends or family have done such a thing, most didn't breastfeed even so I've been feeling like a smug freak.

mohawk

OP I am so impressed that you are still going at 18months(maybe even a little jealous). My son decided at 10 months to stop. I was gutted at the time as I wanted to get to the year mark. I gave him a bottle during the day when I was at work so he decided that the bottle was easier. It took two months for the milk to disappear for me.
On the plus side is wearing proper wired bras.