I am feeling massive amounts of guilt wanting to stop feeding. It's never been an easy task for me. My little girl is 6 months and I've had lots of boob dramas. Mastitis, cracked nipples, breast thrush, mastitis again and thrush again. I just kind of want my body back. I feel like a crap mum wanting to stop. My mum keeps telling me to stop being ridiculous and I've done well so far but I still feel guilty. Am I being selfish?
10 Replies
No! Do what's best for you and Bub breastfeed don't breastfeed it has to work for you just as much as Bub and by the sounds of it your not enjoying it with the mastitis etc. and who could blame you. Don't feel guilty!
You are not being selfish for wanting to stop breast feeding her.
No child will end up in therapy because there mother stopped breast feeding at 6 months. Walk into a classroom full of children and I bet you can't tell the difference between breast and bottle fed babies.
Breast feeding is bloody hard work even if everything is going smoothly it is hard. It sounds like you have done an awesome job to get through to 6 months and now it's time to give yourself a break. Your baby will be fine as long as she is fed in the long term she won't care how she gets it!
I could only breastfeed my baby until just over 3 months, after that I lost my milk and nothing helped. I beat myself up and felt like a terrible Mum...and you know what? My child is happy, healthy and absolutely thriving. It's a personal choice and there is so much pressure to do right by your baby. Do what's right for you...you've done an amazing job, do not get caught up in all the hype and pressure that people put on Mothers today. You're child will be just as bright and amazing as mine, whatever way you go x
No way! You've persisted so far through things that many of.us wouldn't have!
I only.breastfed my.little guy until 3 months at which time we felt it was best to put him onto bottles.... that was what was best for us in our personal circumstances. Do what's best for you abd your bub!
No you're not being selfish. I think most people would consider weaning if they'd had a shocking run of issues with breastfeeding. While of course breast milk is the ideal food for babies, what's even more important is a mum who is well, happy and enjoying being a mum. If the constant issues are causing you pain and making it hard for you to do that, then definitely start weaning. The formulas on the market are great, you'll find something that works for you. You've given her a great start getting through six months!!
6 months was always my goal to feed my children, I didn't even make that my first and i had similar symptoms you have described and hated myself the whole time. As soon as I stopped I felt better about myself and my connection with my child. With my second it's the opposite, I can feed her for days on end and it's a different experience. So if you are ready, start your girl on formula, there is no room for guilt here! But don't dismiss breastfeeding for your next child, it could be completely different like it was for me:)
You are doing a great job.. i know exactly how you feel i never was able to produce enough for both my babies and felt like the worst mum ever.. but my babies are happy health and thats all that matters.
You are doing a great job.. i know exactly how you feel i never was able to produce enough for both my babies and felt like the worst mum ever.. but my babies are happy health and thats all that matters.
I called it quits at 7 mths, Bub was getting distracted and everyone said 'it's just a phase she'll come back it'...no way I was done and wanted my body back. 6mths is a great stint you've done right by Bub and now it's time to do right by you xx
I understand feeling touched out & it does not sound like you have had an easy time! You've done an amazing job so far but I need to tell you it gets so much easier from 6 months on - bubs don't feed as frequently, they're onto solid food & water... You & your baby will benefit healthwise if you continue to breastfeed but do it on your terms! It's ok to make one feed a bottle for Dad to give at night & breastfeed the rest of the time. It's ok to nightwean, it's ok to stick to 4 breastfeeds a day (before breaky, lunch, dinner & bed)! Do what works for you, but if you do decide to wean do it super slowly (one feed a fortnight/month) so that you can decide to keep going if it's working better for you. That will help the guilt xx