Breastfeeding diary – when you stop breastfeeding

Breastfeeding diary – when you stop breastfeeding

Before I begin, just to warn you, I may cry all over my keyboard as I type out this post. After 16 months, Alex is no longer being breastfed. When I was pregnant I decided that I would try my best to breastfeed my second baby for a year and I was so proud and happy when we reached that milestone. I was sort of left in breastfeeding limbo after that though, I don’t know what I was expecting to happen after Alex’s first birthday but I kind of thought that he would just be over the whole breastfeeding thing the second he finished opening his presents and shovelling birthday cake into his face. Well, that didn’t happen. Turning one made no difference to Alex’s desire to breastfeed so we carried on, until last month that is. For my final entry *sob* in my breastfeeding diary, I am going to talk about how it feels when breastfeeding comes to an end,  how it feels when something that has become such a big part of your life is suddenly over. Just like no one really prepares you for the emotional rollercoaster of trying to establish breastfeeding with your newborn, there is not much talk about how when it’s over you go for another trip around the rollercoaster track, not to mention the boobs you are left with (or not) at the end of it all!

Breastfeeding diary – when you stop breastfeeding

Last month I got the flu, it was horrific and I can honestly say I have never ever felt so ill. Over the past couple of months Alex had dropped down to a maximum of three feeds per day. Mostly he was having milk when he woke up, when I put him down for his nap and when it was time for him to go to bed. Some days he would skip the morning feed and opt for his bowl of Weetabix the second he woke up instead. Sometimes I would give him a bottle of cows milk on the school run as during the chaos of getting Leo ready for school I’d run out of time to sit and feed him myself. The feed at bedtime was a constant though and I think we both enjoyed our sleepy cuddles to finish off the day.

Anyway, when I was ill I could barely lift my head off the pillow and the thought of having a wriggling, grabby toddler stuck to my chest did nothing but make me feel even worse. On the two days where I was basically bed bound, the decision was sort of taken out of my hands to feed Alex or not, even if I had wanted to there was no way I could have lifted him. He didn’t cry for me to feed him at all during those two days, he was happy having milk from a bottle and wasn’t fussed by the sudden boob ban at all. Over the previous weeks I had been thinking the time to stop breastfeeding was pretty much upon us, I just wasn’t sure how to go about it without upsetting Alex as he’d grown quite fond of the boob and definitely used it as a comfort a lot of the time. When breastfeeding was suddenly taken off the table and Alex didn’t seem at all bothered by it, I knew that this was my opportunity to wean him off breastfeeding with as little upset as possible.

stop breastfeeding mum and son

He still loves me even though boobs are now off limits!

When I was feeling better again and well enough to breastfeed him, all my intentions of stopping went out the window and as bedtime rolled around, we cuddled up in the nursing chair and, as if on autopilot, I tried to feed him. Alex probably ‘fed’ for about a minute and then came away all grumpy and fussy. I guess the milk was all gone. After two days of no breastfeeding and a couple weeks of sporadic feeding before that, my milk supply must have dwindled and, even though I’d changed my mind, our breastfeeding journey was over. I text Oli downstairs to bring up a bottle of milk and cuddled Alex close and fed him that instead, no big deal. Except it felt like a massive deal. We fought so hard in those newborn days to establish breastfeeding, it got easier and then it just became a part of our daily routine. Through the PND fog, breastfeeding always made me feel calm and through the chaos of our days, breastfeeds were a chance for Alex and I to connect in the quiet together. Feeding helped us form such a strong bond and as I sat feeding him his bottle I let a few tears escape down my cheek.

No one tells you what it feels like when a positive breastfeeding journey comes to an end. You hear a lot about mums feeling guilty that they stopped, or ashamed and angry that it didn’t work out for one reason or another but not much is said about just stopping because your baby has decided they don’t want it anymore. In a way, although I’m feeling all the emotions right now (hormones?), I am relieved that we aren’t feeding anymore. There was a part of me that worried that Alex wouldn’t want to self wean until he was about 3 or 4 (or 5!) and whilst I would never judge another mum for feeding for that long, it’s not something I wanted to do. I am looking forward to having some more energy, breastfeeding steals your calories and can make you feel SO tired, especially if you don’t eat enough. I am sure Oli will be happy if I can keep my eyes open later than 9pm, maybe we will actually be able to make it through a whole film in the evenings now?

Yes, I’m sad that it’s over, it means my baby is growing up and is becoming less of a baby and more of a toddler every day. I feel so proud though, of Alex and of myself. We went through a lot in those first couple weeks and when I was sat crying on the bed at 3am because my newborn would just not open his mouth wide enough, I would never have imagined we would breastfeed for 15 months. But we did! Go boobs!

stop breastfeeding

Missing those newborn milky cuddles!!

Speaking of boobs, something else no one really tells you is that breastfeeding basically kills your cleavage. All cards on the table here, I now have no boobs. There are 11 year old boys out there with more of a chest than me and I know it might seem shallow but I am kind of gutted about it. If I could go back in time and not breastfeed but keep my perky C cups, would I? Absolutely no way. Breastfeeding Leo and Alex is something I am so glad I was able to do, it helped me build strong bonds with both my babies and if I can ever convince Oli we should have another baby, I would do it all over again without a second thought about what size bra I’ll be wearing when it’s all over.

When I stopped feeding Alex I had no leaky boobs, there was no pain or clogged up ducts and I think that just goes to show that Alex wasn’t really taking much milk from me anymore anyway. I am glad we weaned gradually, slowly dropping feeds over time until we were able to get to the point where I could stop and not have any uncomfortable side effects. Alex has only asked for milk twice since we stopped, he started whacking my chest one day after his nap when he was grumpy and groggy and just wanted the snuggles. Then there was that night he woke up teething at 2am and he kept trying to pull my top down, it was nothing a big cuddle and a bottle couldn’t fix though. It is such a relief that he is not crying and pulling at my clothes three times a day like I feared he would be.

To all of you who have read my breastfeeding diary right from the start, thanks for joining us on our journey. I hope you have found my honest account of breastfeeding useful and reassuring in some way. If you have any pregnant friends who are considering breastfeeding then I would love for you to share my breastfeeding diary with them.

All that is left to say is..
goodbye breastfeeding, thanks for all the cuddly memories
goodbye boobs, thanks for all your hard work and remember you did look awesome once and..
hello to the next stage of this crazy parenting ride!

Did you breastfeed? How did you feel when it was over? All emotional like me or were you ok about it? I’d love for you to share you experience in the comments section.

If you enjoyed reading this post you may also like to read..

How to breastfeed in public with confidence

The first two weeks of breastfeeding

Breastfeed with confidence with The Bshirt

The best bottle for breastfeeding mums

Pumping made easy with Lansinoh

6 weeks of breastfeeding

How to survive a baby growth spurt

6 months of breastfeeding

9 months of breastfeeding

What are your thoughts on breastfeeding in public?

A letter to new breastfeeding mums

Baby feeding rooms – a help or hindrance to breastfeeding mums?

The realities of breastfeeding a one year old

How to breastfeed with confidence

Pin me!

An honest look at what happens when your baby decided to wean themselves off breastfeeding    #breastfeeding

For exclusive content and to be the first to hear about upcoming giveaways, subscribe to the monthly Naptime Natter newsletter




facebookinstatwitterIf you enjoyed this post I would love for you to share it 🙂

Follow:
Share:

Leave a Reply to Noleen Miller Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badge

21 Comments

  1. March 2, 2018 / 7:58 am

    Oh I here you! My ill health robbed me of my decision of when to stop feeding too. I was distraught. Well done to you for an amazing 16 Month effort, that’s fabulous! ❤️ #Blogcrush

  2. March 2, 2018 / 9:10 am

    I fed all of my four till about 16-18months and none of them wanted to stop. I found the hardest part was when I was weaning them I couldn’t cuddle them because then they wanted to feed. I felt bad about limiting physical contact for a while. True, I miss my short lived cleavage too, I have just about nothing now! #blogcrush

  3. March 2, 2018 / 10:38 am

    Breast-feeding for so long is such an achievement, you should be proud! #blogcrush

  4. March 2, 2018 / 10:49 am

    that you could feed forthat long is a great achievement. unfortunately breastfeeding has never worked out as planned for my wife. #BlogCrush

  5. March 2, 2018 / 12:25 pm

    Oh Wendy, I remember this moment really well and it was totally sad. I always thought I would have a third child and I didn’t. It was only when my second was about 2 that I suddenly felt sad again about never having some of those ‘new’ child moments and breastfeeding was one of those moments. Try to look forward and think of all the positives of having a slightly older child. Good luck and take care. #blogcrush
    Sophie recently posted…What Can I Do To My Garden Today To Make It More Appealing When Summer Arrives?My Profile

  6. March 2, 2018 / 12:32 pm

    My wife soldiered through twins until about 15 months, doing what the doctor suggested in tapering down the feedings. The last one to go was the wake-up feed, but by that point they didn’t seem that interested anymore. Once the feedings ended, it meant she could sleep in 45 minutes more.

    She did always make sure to have her chest covered around them for a few months after that, just in case they suddenly remembered what they were missing out on. We knew they didn’t care when they came running into the bedroom while she was getting dressed, still topless, and they didn’t even give her a second look. #BlogCrush

  7. March 2, 2018 / 2:33 pm

    I remember how incredibly emotional I was when we stopped breastfeeding. Nobody can evee take away that feeling and that special time that you shared though lovely. Here’s to the next phase! Thanks so much for hosting #blogcrush
    Rhyming with Wine recently posted…#DreamTeam Linky – Week 95My Profile

  8. March 2, 2018 / 2:38 pm

    I cried each time I finished breastfeeding even though I was also ready to be done with it each time. It is such a bonding experience, but it is also hard work especially at the beginning.

  9. March 2, 2018 / 5:06 pm

    You’re definitely a champion for 15 months!
    Goodbye boobs indeed! They looked nice once, but I wouldn’t take them back for all of the sweet time with the little one!
    #BlogCrush

  10. March 2, 2018 / 7:46 pm

    #BlogCrush First of all, congratulations on completing your breastfeeding journey! I am currently on my 2nd journey with my baby 2, but I can feel how strong your feelings during your weaning season. Our babies grow up so fast, don’t they? Our breastfeeding days with our babies will always be a season we can be proud of. Great job, mumma!

  11. March 2, 2018 / 7:52 pm

    You done amazingly – well done Wendy! It is interesting to read about a positive breastfeeding journey coming to an end as it rarely gets spoken of. I know what you mean about boobs after breastfeeding – mine are blinking round my ankles and I only lasted til 5 months with the girls and less with son no. 1! #Blogcrush xx

  12. March 3, 2018 / 8:22 am

    What an amazing post! Firstly, congratulations for making it to 16 months, that’s beyond brilliant! We are at 12 months now and the thought of stopping just makes me really sad! So we’re going to prod along and see how things go! #BlogCrush
    Soffy recently posted…February FavouritesMy Profile

  13. March 3, 2018 / 8:38 am

    It is really nice to read something positive about the end of a breastfeeding journey. And well done for going for 16 months #blogcrush

  14. March 4, 2018 / 10:11 am

    We haven’t stopped yet, 3 years in and she’s still just as keen as ever. I wouldn’t mind if she wanted to stop now but she’s showing no signs of wanting to. I’d hoped she’d self wean but I might have to start making an effort to wean her myself. I want my body back, but it’s also heartbreaking to consider taking away her ‘favourite thing’ which is what she tells me it is. Well done to you for reaching such a fab breastfeeding goal, and it’s so lovely it’s happened naturally. Enjoy your boob freedom!! #BlogCrush

  15. March 4, 2018 / 9:52 pm

    Despite I never had the option of breastfeeding my girls, as odd as it may sound but I went through the exact same emotions with finding the right bottles my girls would take to, feeding being our special bonding time that was solely ours and that I didn’t have to share with anyone and once the bottle was gone, a part of our special time slipped away with it. Of course we still have our special time but it’s not quite the same with a toddler who wants to be climbing on the ceiling rather than snuggled in a dimly lit room with heavy eyes, nestled in your arms. Them growing up is a very hard emotional curve for us Mum’s #blogcrush

  16. March 7, 2018 / 10:32 am

    My breastfeeding journey came to an abrupt end too (when she was 14mths old) as her big sister was rushed into hospital and so the little one had to stay with someone else for 2 weeks. It really is heart-wrenching, especially when it happens without you expecting it. But you’ve done a great job getting this far, with all the ups and downs. You’ve given your little boy a great start in life and he will always be indebted to you (even if he doesn’t realise it!). #blogcrush
    Lucy At Home recently posted…9 Things My Kids Say That Make My Heart SingMy Profile

  17. July 29, 2019 / 10:44 am

    Interesting that you felt the milk had dried up so quickly. I was only BFing twice a day from about ten months old (baby was combi-fed 50% formula from five days after EBF made her seriously ill), and it gradually reduced down following my daughter’s cues, so I only fed once a day until about two years, then a few times a week, until it was about twice a month at 3+ years. Last time she tried latching on (a few weeks ago) she reported no milk, whereas previously it was described as ‘yummy’! I stopped for a month at one point due to using a drug and she was very upset the one time she tried to latch on then and I had to stop her. But she resumed BFing no problem after that month so milk was still there.
    As for how I feel about it – I am very glad breastfeeding is over and that I never have to do it again. It made the first few months together very miserable and I regret bowing to the pressure to breastfeed instead of standing up for myself. With hindsight I’m not convinced it was worth the hassle of doing it, but then I wouldn’t have known that if I’d stopped and maybe would have thought I’d have missed out on something? Who knows?!

  18. September 1, 2020 / 2:30 am

    Thank you so much for sharing this! What a sweet story and worded so well and relatable.

    You are so right … no one talks about how you feel when breastfeeding ends. True, for some it is a huge relief or the removal of a burden due to difficulties related to breastfeeding. But for many who go unnoticed it seems, the end of the breastfeeding journey is very emotional and difficult.

    I was a hormonal, emotional, and physical wreck while day-weaning my daughter eight months ago. It was horrible. I felt physically sick, went through deeper emotional turmoil than I could have possibly anticipated (greatly emphasized by the hormones) and it was just unexpectedly awful for several days.

    It got better … but my hormones have continued to be a mess since then (read my post expounding on my post-partial-weaning experience here: https://mamarissa.com/hormones-after-weaning-from-breastfeeding/) and I almost hate this in-between phase of nursing part-time. While nursing around the clock, I was happier and not this messed up hormonally. On the other hand, when I completely stop, I’m hoping everything will level out. But this in-between phase that is likely to last a while still is very difficult.

    Anyway … I totally agree that ending the breastfeeding relationship can be extremely difficult for the mama. But congratulations on how far you went with breastfeeding and how you impacted your child and grew your relationship with him through it!