My darling baby girl is self-weaning and I'm completely devastated!!!

**Epacris** · October 29th, 2009, 07:29 PM

Ahhh.... where do I start, I guess with this, over the last few days it's just hit me (like a freight train) that my tiny, little, darling baby girl has pretty much self-weaned. I am shocked and devastated

. I was aiming for the WHO 2 years recommendation but it doesn't even look like we're going to make 12 months.

We had a bit of a rough start with some sucking issues, nipple twanging issues and a cracked nipple (and I have inverted nipples too). Then along the way we dealt with mastitis and expressing when I returned to work when she was 4 months old. Ahhh, back in those days she'd have 5 X 120ml bottles of EMB while I was away from her (and I would be dying for a break to express).

We've done a combo of BLS and mush which she really took to at 7 months. I guess from around 8-9 months I knew she had dramatically cut down the amount of breast milk she was getting from me, because I didn't need to express when I was at work anymore. For the last couple of weeks she's been having 2 X 120ml bottles of 50% EBM, 50% cows milk on the two days a week that I work. The top up with cows milk is because I've been really sick of expressing and am finding I don't get much for my efforts.

When she's with me she doesn't get any bottles of any kind of milk, just a sippy cup of water. I offer the breast regularly but she just rejects it outright or has a couple of sucks, then squirms and squawks, or worse, gives me a good bite.

She doesn't even have that much dairy in her diet. What am I supposed to do??? I don't want to give her bottles of ABM or cows milk, I want her to have my milk. I don't want to express and give her EMB because that is just way too much of a PITA. And it's such a vicious cycle, the less she demands, the weaker my supply, the harder it is for her to get any and the less she can be bothered.

**Arimeh** · October 29th, 2009, 07:35 PM

I have absolutely no advice, but I just wanted to give you a huge

and some

and tell you that I think you are amazing.

xxxxxx

**Jakabella** · October 29th, 2009, 08:03 PM

Aww Hun - I have no advice as you know I was never able to BF - sp I do know the devestation you are feeling.

Its really no consolation but Bella has weaned her self down to 2 bottle (again I know no real help as its ABM) but I think its due to the fact that she has really really taken to solids - in fact if I didnt offer her bottles she would not look for them.

Maybe its a sign that your little princess is such a well adjusted bub and really loves her solid foods??

Again sorry that I didnt help at all.. huge hugs and thinking of you!!

Kate xox

**Epacris** · October 29th, 2009, 08:06 PM

Mel and Kate

thank you darlings for your hugs

I might just have to go and cry into a glass of red or something

**Jakabella** · October 29th, 2009, 08:08 PM

Aww hun.. Im so sorry! Your such a wonderful woman & Mother.. and I feel utterlu useless and cant do anything to help.. Im sorry!

A nice glass of red and some choccie??

**Sterla** · October 29th, 2009, 08:10 PM

No advice - just wanted to give you a big

.

**thepixie** · October 29th, 2009, 08:15 PM

Oh babe.... Unfortunately I don't have much advice either but I really wanted to give you some

and

Have you tried having a bath with her in the evening? DD can never resist the floating bar

I hope you can continue.... you must be so sad your gorgeous little girl growing up so fast

**Claire_A** · October 29th, 2009, 08:42 PM

Hun I know how you feel, my DD self weaned at 9 months and I was shocked! She was such a booby girl I thought we would go well past 12 months, but one day she just refused to BF and has refused every day since. I have been expressing for her which she happily takes in a sippy cup, but my god what a pita! I only have a manual pump and now have blisters all over my fingers from expressing. It's so sad when you're not expecting it, isn't it? I had a few teary days before I admitted to myself that our BFing journey was over. It's like she doesn't need me anymore, whereas atleast before I was good for milk if nothing else lol! I guess we have two independant girls on our hands!

**Epacris** · October 29th, 2009, 08:54 PM

Oh Sterla, Pixie and Claire, thank you so much for all your hugs too. Geez, I need them tonight. Pixie, I love your floating bar idea (and image

) but bloody DS will want to hop in as well and it will turn into a water fight for sure

.

Claire, wow 9 months and you're expressing for her now. Hmmm, what sorts of things does your DD eat, does she have much dairy? Do you worry about her diet? I don't mean that you should worry at all, and I know that I probably shouldn't either, but I just can't help it.

**Butterfly Child** · October 29th, 2009, 09:01 PM

Aww hun no great advice except some big cuddles

You have done such an Amazing job hunny, you should be so proud you have done given the greatest gift for your beautiful girl xx big hugs

**Jennifer13** · November 7th, 2009, 01:26 PM

Great news, hun. I hope you enjoy even more than the first 12 months of bfing!

**rufalina** · November 7th, 2009, 02:24 PM

I missed this when it was happening, but it is great to open a thread and see you have worked through your issue, and come to a good place!! So happy for you hun. Well done!!!