This is only my 3rd day without breastfeeding at all and I miss it. I never EVER thought I would, I was only doing two or three feedings a day, and even at that I had to supplement afterward with a bottle, but now that I'm not doing it at all? I miss it. I'm a sick person. HA! I hated my experience, now I miss it and can't understand what the hell is wrong with me. Ugh. Anyone else have these feelings?!
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I wonder, can you go back to just one feeding? Maybe just a comfort one before bedtime? Then you have the fun of doing it without the stress of actual feeding.
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I had a similar experience. Breastfeeding was entirely unsuccessful for us, so we had to supplement heavily from the very beginning. Yet 3 months in when I finally gave up on BF for good, it was a bittersweet moment. I missed the closeness with my baby, even though she didn't seem to miss it at all
If you miss it too much, go back to BF-ing a couple of times per day. There's no harm in doing that.
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I just started the weaning process Friday and already feeling a tad case of the blues..but I think it's normal. Our bodies are controlled by our baby for 9 months and then how many other months we bf. So, now we stop and don't remember what our boobs were like before or who we even were before becoming a mommy! I'm right here with ya girly.
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@sarac: I think I might do that...I'll start taking the vitamins again so I can try to get more than just a dribble...
@skibobrown: Is it sick and twisted that I'm glad I'm not alone in this?? I thought I would be so unbelievably gleeful to be done, and honestly I had a huge glass of wine when I got done with pumping (THAT was miserable...) but this somehow makes me feel so sad. *sigh...
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@babyjmama: Hugs. So sorry you're feeling so torn about it. I second the recommendation for returning to comfort feeding. I hope you feel better about it. I'm currently struggling with how to pump enough milk at work so LO has enough at daycare. It's such hard work!
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@pregnantbee: I can't even imagine the pressure of pumping enough to keep up while you're at work! I only lasted pumping at work for a month and it was half/half bottles that baby J was getting. I went back to work and had lost my private office (where I could have pumped comfortably) and had nowhere decent to pump. (We lost one of our office buildings and had to consolidate offices for space...ugh). Hats off to you, m'dear!!!
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@babyjmama: Well, even if it's just a dribble, I bet your baby would love it! And you could enjoy it too, as purely bonding and snuggling. And even a few drops of breastmilk still give a lot of the benefits of it.
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@sarac: Thanks for the support (oh how I LOVE hellobee!) I'm going to go back to it as much as I can. DH will be happy to hear that too, I'm sure, he wanted me to continue to 6 months if possible (for us it's mainly b/c we have cold season coming up and want to make sure he can get a little help from me!)
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Awh, I totally know what you mean. I had a really hard BF-ing in the beginning so around week 3, I started to drop feedings in anticipation of weaning. I thought I would feel really good, but instead, it made me really sad so I started BF-ing again, and we're still BF-ing 8 months later. Maybe you could try incorporating a couple feedings a day?
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@babyjmama: hormones! Don't stress if you decide to just stop or feel pressure from anyone, even your DH, to continue if it isn't the right thing for you. You can also just add extra snuggle time with your LO
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@MungBean: how did you start up again? I seriously feel like I'm sick and twisted for asking that.......maybe I wasn't ready to stop completely?! Ugh. I feel like a crazy person.
@FriedBabyMama: I just saw your post on when did you stop bf'ing...I can't bring myself to type on it that i've stopped...maybe that's my sign?! I'm insane.
I had gotten a lot of pressure from DH (not anymore, we had a MAJOR chat about that.......) to bf to at least 6 months, so now I guess I have this internal nag saying "you have less than 2 months you pansy!" haha
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@babyjmama: I was planning on weaning by cutting out a feeding every couple days. DH took over that one feeding and I was able to get more sleep and my nipples started to heal, which made me think that maybe I could do this after all. After a couple days, I thought I'd give BF-ing one more shot so I added in the feedings that had been dropped. My supply did take a hit so I had to take supplements to bring it up.
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@babyjmama: Yeah, already feeling the pressure. I decided to go back to work slowly, so I just finished 2 P/T weeks and return F/T tomorrow. A little stressed because I pump 4 oz each time, but he keeps eating 5-6 oz each bottle at daycare. Eek.
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I've heard that hormonally, it's hard on your body and it's normal to feel sad when you wean. Plus, I think it's just another thing reminding us that our babies are growing up, and that always seems a little bittersweet to me (there were some tears the day I put away the newborn clothes).
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@babyjmama: Well, I think that breastfeeding rocks, but a happy mommy is far better. If you can do both, I think that's a win. The breastfeeding bond is amazing, and even doing it just a little will get you that.
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@pregnantbee: I hope your first full day back to work wasn't too stressful!!! I know coming back to work FT sucks. A lot. 4oz pumping is really awesome! The most I ever got combined was 6oz from one session (which was a MIRACLE) usually I got 3oz combined. Have you tried any supplements? My LC suggested Fenugreek and it really did help me!
@MungBean: Thanks for sharing your story! I've selfishly always had DH doing a midnight feeding. I am NOT someone who can survive without sleep...it would be ugly. I have no doubt that is part of the reason that I have taken a hit on my supply. *sigh.
@erinpye: It is a sad moment!
The last 4 months (5 next week!) have FLOWN by. @sarac: I think being a happy mama is a pretty important thing too
I started taking my supplements again in the afternoon/evening and am going to try and do at least one or two feedings in the evening, even if they're more comfort or just to "top him off" after his bottle.
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@babyjmama: it's actually pretty common to experience depression after weaning!
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@Mrs. Bee: THANK YOU for that link! I feel less crazy now...I thought it was so strange that I didn't have a great experience and then would feel such a strong response to this separation. I hope someone starts to study that closer. It's definitely unexpected!!!
If you miss it too much, go back to BF-ing a couple of times per day. There's no harm in doing that.
I started taking my supplements again in the afternoon/evening and am going to try and do at least one or two feedings in the evening, even if they're more comfort or just to "top him off" after his bottle.
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