Thinking of weaning, but feeling guilty...

haloheathr

Happy Halloween ladies!

DS is 7 months old and I've been breastfeeding since the beginning. On the three days a week I work, he gets bottles of expressed breastmilk. Lately, when I pump the amount I'm able to get is only about 60% what I used to get. DS still drinks full 8 oz bottles most of the time, but I'm only able to pump 4-6 oz. I added an extra pumping session in the evening to try and get more, but it's not helping much. I don't want to pump an additional time because my days are too busy as it is. 

Anyway, I'm thinking about weaning and starting him on formula, which makes me feel a mixture of guilt and relief. I love the bonding aspect of breastfeeding, but would enjoy getting my boobies back. 

Anyone else going through this? I guess I need to hear that there's no reason to feel guilty... 

blissfully_caffeinated

I'm not going through this but if the issue is pumping you could always not pump and give formula while you're gone but continue to breastfeed while you're home.

Whatever you decide to do be proud that you made it this far. Don't feel guilty for whatever you decide.

liza0828

Of course you don't need to feel guilty, but as the pp said, it doesn't need to be all or nothing.  

Summer20

I know it's so hard!  I'm very impressed you made it to 7 months, I only got to 4.  Maybe part of it is that your body is starting to wean itself?  I know some people just have their supply sort of dry out eventually.  Just so you know though, if you do stop pumping there is a chance you won't be able to continue to BF a couple of times a day.  I was hoping to do this, but once I stopped pumping during the day my supply dried up pretty quickly.

 GL, even if you go completely to formula you made it a long time and your DS will be fine!  

Fuzzy8252

I know how you feel. I really would like to BF the full year, but she's starting to bite. When I pump, I never get as much as compared to when I just nurse her. I also just have this thing about really just wanting her to have BM and no formula. I think part of it has to do with the fact that DD has food allergies and I just have it in my head that BFing would be the best thing.

It's just a lot of work...

alreadygone86

I stopped Breastfeeding at 5 months and at first I felt a little guilty. But it didnt bother her as much as it did me and she started gaining more weight. We found out i wasnt producing the same amount of milk so it was for the best! But i definatly applaud you for going this long!

Mrs. Gizzles

I just weaned from pumping. I felt sad to stop, but I was so worn out.  LO could care less. He takes formula or BM with the same gusto.  In the end, be proud of what you have done, and know that LO will be happy and healthy.

loregopar

definitely no need to feel guilty! I'm in the process of weaning right now, I give DS formula during the day, and nurse him at night and in the morning, but I hope to wean completely next month.

It's a process and it's hard, but you need to be a happy mom, and make sure your LO gets as much as needed. So don't worry, you've done a great job already!

And there's no medal for making it one year, you know?

celiabwatson

My baby is 9 months and we were recently sick and work is getting stressful (I teach and this time of year is always crazy). I've been pumping less lately. I'm not sure if it's because he's getting older and eating more so needs less or because I'm still recovering from being sick or because I'm stressed. In our situation my sitter just gives him some extra fruit or something to hold him over and he nurses more in the evenings. We have enough of a frozen stash that if he really needed it he'd get it. I'm trying to hold out since we only have 3 more months to go and we can suppliment with cow's milk instead of formula if we need to.

I agree that you shouldn't feel guilty. Just wanted to share a story of a similar situation and how it's working for us. 

lindsayll

Yep, I'm on that roller coaster, love/hate thing.  Can't stand it when I have to step away from work twice a day to pump and when I'm washing pump parts and bottles at night, go back to loving it when I nurse her in the mornings.  Rinse repeat.  Taking it one month at a time.

naflmj

You need to do whatever makes you feel comfortable. I take GoLacta to help my supply which gives me just enough for DS's bottles and has been a life saver. If you like the bonding, maybe give formula for work so you don't feel tied to the pump and bf while at home.

haloheathr

Thanks everyone for the support! I haven't quite decided what to do yet, but it's good to be reminded that it doesn't have to be all or nothing, and like a pp said, there's no medal for going a whole year. Thanks!

pleasebeonsale

This was a good post for me to read. My LO is getting downright vicious about the biting, but I have guilt when I start deciding that I'm going to wean because of the biting. I just need someone to shake me and tell me I'm being crazy.