Quitting Breastfeeding For Selfish Reasons

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it's "selfish" of you to stop if that's what you want to do.
I am surprised though, that you think it will be easier to formula feed, if you've already made in to 4 months and you feel it's going well. I felt like breastfeeding, once established, was easier because I never had to wash a bottle. Never had to go to the store to buy formula. Never had to make up/warm up a bottle in the middle of the night.
It just seems like you already successfully completed the "hard part" of the first several weeks/establishing breastfeeding, why quit now?

Because she's over it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Normally I’d say go ahead and quit but right now it can be hard to get a steady supply of formula so I would wait for that supply chain to get worked out

I've had no problem at all getting formula. And now DH takes some of the feedings.

[Anonymous]

Ok cool, breastfeeding wasn't your thing. Why did you feel the need to post this?

[Anonymous]

You obviously have a guilty conscience about this OP.. as others have said, you do you. But given your bias for breastfeeding and the party line that you bought into that it’s the best and only way, remember this moment whenever a colleague or friend is faced with the same choice. There’s too much judgment out there and all our babies are fine.

[Anonymous]

It’s not selfish. Happy mom, happy baby. Most people I know who BFed for any length of time and didn’t love it wish they had quit sooner to be more present with their baby. Wishing you peace OP.

[Anonymous]

It's shocking to me that this is even a question.

[Anonymous]

I breastfed for two years and I support you quitting! It’s whatever works for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just be aware you can combine! You can drop down to 2-3 nursing sessions per day and your supply will hold up at that level just fine. That's what I've been doing for over a year now and I didn't even know it was possible!

Pumping is the worst! Good luck whatever you decide.

It doesn’t sound like she wants to do that at all. Breastfeeding 2-3 times a day is still breastfeeding.

It sounds like she's think about it. Why the militant responses? It's her right to do whatever she wants. I didn't realize it was possible to make breastfeeding significantly easier, so I'm sharing my experience.

[Anonymous]

Your baby has already received virtually all the health benefits of breastfeeding. It is completely fine to stop. It is not selfish to do what works for you and your family. Parenting is hard enough without exhausting yourself with something you don't like that isn't necessary when formula is available.

And I say this as someone who breastfed my kids for years. Why? Because I enjoyed it. But I didn't do other stuff like cloth diapers, baby led weaning, sleep training, or a million other things because I felt about those the way you feel about nursing. No one cares. My sister, who also happens to be a doctor, felt exactly like you do about breastfeeding and stoped at like 3 months. Our kids are the same age and doing equally well in all respects. You don't need anyone's permission nor do you need to justify this to anyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your baby has already received virtually all the health benefits of breastfeeding. It is completely fine to stop. It is not selfish to do what works for you and your family. Parenting is hard enough without exhausting yourself with something you don't like that isn't necessary when formula is available.

And I say this as someone who breastfed my kids for years. Why? Because I enjoyed it. But I didn't do other stuff like cloth diapers, baby led weaning, sleep training, or a million other things because I felt about those the way you feel about nursing. No one cares. My sister, who also happens to be a doctor, felt exactly like you do about breastfeeding and stoped at like 3 months. Our kids are the same age and doing equally well in all respects. You don't need anyone's permission nor do you need to justify this to anyone.

Good post.
I also BF longer than OP (2 kids) but once I was back at work just after 4 months I supplemented with formula since trying to pump enough to keep up was hard for me.

In parenting you have to pick and choose what feels most important to you. No one can do all things at 100% so decide what feels like it helps your kids and/or makes you feel like you are parenting them well and go forward. What other people do is not the determinant of that.

[Anonymous]

I didn't start for selfish reasons! I had zero desire to BF. My kid is pretty much fine. Lol! Nobody cares. Really. Do whatever works for you.

[Anonymous]

I wish I had done formula from the start. Once you make up your mind, be done with it. Don’t let anyone or any slogan guilt you into doing something stressful.

[Anonymous]

I quit breastfeeding my youngest because he sucked too hard, and it hurt. No regrets. He is 8 years old now, and you would never know that he wasn't breastfed and the other kids were.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it's "selfish" of you to stop if that's what you want to do.
I am surprised though, that you think it will be easier to formula feed, if you've already made in to 4 months and you feel it's going well. I felt like breastfeeding, once established, was easier because I never had to wash a bottle. Never had to go to the store to buy formula. Never had to make up/warm up a bottle in the middle of the night.
It just seems like you already successfully completed the "hard part" of the first several weeks/establishing breastfeeding, why quit now?

If op says bottle feeding is easier for her, then don't you think IT'S PROBABLY EASIER FOR HER?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Breastfeeding is not easy and I required a lot of support from my family and DH to do it successfully. Thankfully, our family really valued breastfeeding (and mothering), so my comfort was prioritized at home and both DH and I, were able to ease into parenthood fairly quickly. I am sure that this is not the case in many families.

OP here. I have plenty of family support. My husband took a month paternity leave and doted on me while I learned to breastfeed. My family were all really supportive and I had a ton of family help. My comfort is not my priority and that is why I’m choosing to quit breastfeeding. It’s no longer an enjoyable experience. Formula feeding doesn’t make you less or a mother.