Changes with Ending Breastfeeding

Before breastfeeding, I didn't understand why some mothers didn't want to stop. But, as the time to wean approached, I completely understood. I, too, was a little sad. When your baby is born, it's the first thing you do for them, and it becomes such a part of your routine and relationship. When you wean, it's like you're ending one phase of your life (and your baby's). I breastfed my twins until they were 15 months old, and it was an emotional time for me. Another mom told me it's almost like a grieving process. You'll get through it, and after a few days I was surprising happy at the freedom I had since I was no longer constrained by having to be with them at certain times to breastfeed.

I know those feelings! I got a staph infection just after my turned a year old and the doctor treating me told me that I would have to stop breastfeeding while I was on the antibitotics. I instantly burst into tears. Luckily, I got myself together and called my midwife for a second opinion and she assured me that I was fine. I had stopped pumping at a year, but continued to nurse until my daughter was 18 months.

That being said...I think that you are thinking about it WAY too soon. I was totally ready to be done pumping, but loved the closeness of nursing my daughter. I took the opportunity to wean her at 18 months when I made an 8 day overseas business trip--otherwise I would have gone longer. There were a few rough days for me when we got back...she took to it like a champ.

SO MANY things will change in the next year. You'll have plenty of things to worry about between now and then...don't stress yourself out! He may even make it easy for you and wean himself in the next year.

I think it's completely normal to miss it. It's one of the great stages of being a Mom that unfortuantely ends. The upsides as someone pointed out is that you have your body back : ). My daughter lost interest before I did. In a way that was better - I'd rather be the one to "miss it" than her. Enjoy the next 11 mos.

Of course it does and I suggest you listen to those feelings. This is your conscience talking and your instincts too. I always thought I would wean @ 12 months when I had my first...then he was so allergic to everything, even things I ate. ( and so I adapted my diet) that he was unable to eat anything but Mommy milk until he was a year and a half old and I continued to be his main source of 2.5 years old.

At the point he was a year and a half old my new commitment became that I would continue to nurse him until my need to wean was greater than his need to nurse. We never hit that point, instead he gradually gradually nursed less and less and less until when he was 5years old ( ie his birthday ) he told me he was done....and he was. I was sad, but he was ready. I have no regrets....I know I would have if I had stopped before he was ready to stop.

I have handled the weaning of my next oldest child the same way and am still nursing the 2 youngest ones....your feelings are correct. It is normal to feel that way.

Its totally normal, in my opinion, to have those kinds of feelings. My son is about to turn two and stopped breastfeeding, on his own about 2-3 months ago. I also am 32wks pregnant, which changes things more.

For a while, honestly, I started getting annoyed with breastfeeding. I kinda just wanted my body back to myself ya know? But then once my son started weening himself I started getting sad lol. Its a BIG BIG connection and it is hard to get over.

I breastfed until 19 months. I would have gone longer, but felt pressure to wean. My one advice is not to wean until you and your baby are READY. Maybe that's 24 months, maybe that's later (or earlier). I wish I had not given in and kept going for a little longer.
For us it took a few months to regain the balance in our relationship (me and my daughter). I was sad and wish I could kept going and she was upset and missing her source of comfort. It is SO much easier to comfort them when they are upset, when you are BFing. We used a pacifier as a substitute, wich worked well (weaned from that about a year later without a problem).
While I have some regrets, it eventually all worked out. I think if you wait until ready, it won't be quite as emotional. Good luck!

My doctor told me the new guideline for Breastfeeding was 24months so good for you. My son is 17 months and I still nurse him. I will miss nursing him since he is my last but kind of look forward to having my body all to myself again.

I nursed my daughter for 29 months - we were both ready to stop. :-) For many months prior my emotions would sway from wanting my breast back to not; I enjoyed our quiet nursing time and I knew I would miss that; it was emotional.

It's a great time, enjoy it!!!

Totally normal to feel that way, but you have plenty of time left, so no need to worry!

It really is a very simple normal process when you let it occur on it's own. Once my son was about 18 months he was pretty much just nursing at nap and bed time. He did that consistently up till about a month ago, and now will sometimes skip those feedings. Just yesterday we had our first no nursing at all but I know that doesn't mean that he's not going to nurse again. Once they get a little bigger, prob at least 18 months maybe closer to 2, just practice don't offer, don't refuse. If they ask, go for it. If not, skip it. This ensures that things happen as they need it to happen. And then one day you realize you haven't nursed in several weeks and will try to think back to the last time so you can have that memory. I felt very much like you with my first son, he ended up going until 29 months, I pumped at work till he was 14 months. He decided on his own when he got his big boy bed that he was too big for that now. My second is doing things a little more gradual...every child is different.

Congrats on nursing so long and doing what's best for your baby!

Good for you! Keep it up, I believe in self-weaning. It will feel like they'll never stop, but they will stop on their own. Self-weaning has a ton of benefits as well, so don't rush yourself to stop at 2y. I bf till my son was 35m, it went so smoothly, no tears for either of us. BUT before that, everytime I thought about stopping I cried. But when you do it gradually it just seems right and ready.

Weaning was a very confusing time for me. It was the only time that I was completely lost and didn't know what to expect. My SIL helped me out with that. She was the only one I knew that had nursed 3 kids (any kids for that matter) so she told me what to expect.

I miss the closeness sometimes. That was the real heart breaker. But on the other hand, I was so glad that my husband could finally do something with our son and give me a little break! He was always hesitant to be away from me with our kids. He still is!

Once your hormones get back to normal- 6 months or so after you stop, it will be okay. You will still have that rush feeling in your breasts when you hear a baby cry- I still get it sometimes when I am around infants even though I have not nursed in 4 years!

I nursed all my boys (3 of them) until they were ready to stop. My first at 13 mos and the other 2 at 22 and 23 months. That last one was the easiest and that hardest at the same time. A sense of finality knowing there would not be another one after him.

I know I didn't help much. Good Luck to you!