the final part of our journey - need some support!

[sloane]

DS is less than a week off being 19.5 months. he's been a pretty good BFer since the start & our journey has been a good one. we had some hiccups at the start but i can see now that they were more to do with a hormonal, panicking first time mum rather than any real BFing issues.

i haven't always enjoyed it - especially as he fed 2hourly around the clock until he was about 11 months old. but i'm proud to have stuck with it.

now it's time for the final stage of our BFing relationship. i know it's selfish, but we'd like to ttc #2 this year and i would like to have my body back for a couple of months. i want to lose some weight first & i really feel that i need to focus solely on me to make this happen. i know i don't have to wean to do these things but i want to. and i think he's ready - not to wean of his own accord but to accept the change.

he has 3 super quick feeds between 4-6.30am (more about comfort than feeding) & then one before his nap & one before bed. today is day 3 of no feed before his nap.

he's been a little annoyed (who wouldn't be ) but i just tell him that i love him, he can have all the cuddles he wants (and probably more than he wants!) but that he doesn't need to have a feed to get to sleep. he's settling far more quickly (within a few minutes) than i expected - my little man is really growing up.

he doesn't seek out a BF for comfort during the day & it's always had a strong sleep association for him so i don't feel that i'm depriving him of a source of comfort when he's upset or hurt himself.

there's not much point to this post - but DP is happy for me to keep going indefinitely & i've never had pressure to stop from anyone so i just wanted to share & to get some

[tk1999]

[sloane]

thank you! i thought no one would reply i wanted to rep you but need to share the love apparently!

[Mak]

Well done Sloane!!! You have done brilliantly! xxx

[Fuzzywuzzy]

Well done!!! That sounds similar to our journey, I ended up weaning DD at 20months to go on some medication and we haven't looked back since It does feel strange for a little while though I reckon

[MamaPan]

YAY Sloane - well done to you so far and best of luck with this last stage of the BF journey...
I am glad it is going so well. xxx

[Calluna]

Good for you hun. You've done amazingly well to get this far. 2 hourly feeds until 11 months you are super mum! All the best for the last chapter of your journey.

...Oh and...

[Lily Dust]

Sloane, what an awesome effort you have put in to feeding your precious little guy, good for you :cheerblue: I think yu are being absolutely beautiful about explaining to DS weaning and that you love him and I wish you every success in a smooth transition to the next stage. I also wish you a very quick TTC journey!

Well done, be proud

[BekZ]

Babe you've done a absolutely awesome effort. I have no advice just a big hug and congrates. Thanks for sharing your bfing journey with me over the last 19 months

[Cherished]

Well I think it's a great post

[Sterla]

You have done an awesome job! All the best for the final part of your journey. I can completely understand wanting that break between bubs.

[Miss.September]

You've done a fantastic job and there is nothing wrong at all for wanting you for you!

[Manhattan]

What a fantastic job you and your DS have done, 19 months, wow, that is truly an awesome effort

Do not feel bad about wanting to have your body back, I think we all feel that way, no matter how long we have been feeding.

Good luck with the final leg of your journey hun, and never forget what a brilliant gift you have given your son x

[Fuzzywuzzy]

Thanks for the rep Sloane just wanted to give you a little bit of extra reassurance. We were down to only 2 feeds a day before dd's day nap and bedtime and since we stopped she only asked for boobie once. I hope that your experience is the same! There is no doubt that I could've given in to my irrational guilt and continued to feed if dd was constantly asking for it.

[Fleur]

Well done! You have done such a fantastic job

[sloane]

thank you everyone for your support & lovely words - it means alot to me

day 4 today - probably the toughest so far. for the past 3 days we'd been out somewhere before naptime so he was really ready to sleep but today we'd just been at home. but still easier than i expected

fuzzywuzzy - thank you, it does sound similar to my experience so far! i think i have it quite easy because DS does not ask for feeds randomly during the day.

[Calluna]

thank you everyone for your support & lovely words - it means alot to me

day 4 today - probably the toughest so far. for the past 3 days we'd been out somewhere before naptime so he was really ready to sleep but today we'd just been at home. but still easier than i expected

[Isadora]

I think you have done so well to breastfeed for that long, especially seeing as he was feeding 2 hourly till 11 months, thats not easy. So good on you for getting through that, definately something to be proud of.