Choosing to stop breastfeeding? Mental health?

[lisaalove]

Has anyone here chosen to stop breastfeeding to help with their mental health? I just feel so overwhelmed all the time and like everything falls onto me. I wash bottles, middle of the night feeds, naps. Im so emotionally drained and I feel like I'm drowning at this point. I keep thinking maybe it would be better for my mental health if we chose to formula feed. So I suppose I'm wondering has anyone stopped breastfeeding for their mental health and not ended up regretting it?

 

[Jft1]

I did. I felt the exact same as you. I’d get up to feed then I’d stay up to express too, just so if needed to pop to the shops there was milk there for DH to feed DS. I was absolutely exhausted and emotionally drained. I felt I wasn’t interacting with the baby as much as I should have been during the day because I was so tired and that upset me. So I decided to give up and formula feed and personally for me it was the best decision I made. I felt so much better, he slept well so I wasn’t exhausted getting up for feeds and felt like during the day I was refreshed and was able to enjoy my baby. The first day or so I felt a lot of guilt because I know people breastfeed for much longer than I managed, but that soon passed and I felt 100 times better mentally. Good luck with whatever you decide to do

 

[Flueky88]

With my 1st, I had a major undersupply. I tried and did everything "right" for awhile. I ended up drying up at 3 months because I was finding it hard to get time to pump starting around 2 months. I supplemented from the very beginning with her and went fully formula fed at 3 months. I felt so much guilt and sadness initially but once that went away, I felt so much better. I don't regret going to formula fed. I supplemented q little with my 2nd and 3rd after returning to work, no regrets because mentally I just can't stretch myself any thinner to pump as frequently as I should.

 

[FranM]

With my 1st, I had a major undersupply. I tried and did everything "right" for awhile. I ended up drying up at 3 months because I was finding it hard to get time to pump starting around 2 months. I supplemented from the very beginning with her and went fully formula fed at 3 months. I felt so much guilt and sadness initially but once that went away, I felt so much better. I don't regret going to formula fed. I supplemented q little with my 2nd and 3rd after returning to work, no regrets because mentally I just can't stretch myself any thinner to pump as frequently as I should.

Don't feel quilt!!! I transitioned from breastfeeding to bottle feeding between 3-4 months. I, too, work and could not keep up with the pumping. Plus my pediatrician was concerned that the baby was not getting enough calories from my breast milk as I also had issues with undersupply. In fact, my pediatrician (who has been ranked as best and most compassionate doctor of the year since 2016 - was emphatic that parents needed to introduce soft and then solid foods starting 3 months so that the baby a) slept through the night (she sleeps 7:30PM to 8:00AM), and b) develops a palette for foods with different tastes, spices, and textures. She recommended that I use the littlechomions.com (two Os) kits/guides to ensure an easy, fun, and successful transition. She was right. Great kits/guides/tips/foods. My parents thought it helped our family so much that they bought me the 6-9 and 9-12 months kits along with a consult with a pediatric speech pathologist.

 

[Bevziibubble]

You have to do whatever helps you to feel better mentally An unhappy mummy won't be best for baby and that's the main thing.
Yes you may have moments OF regret, but not regret it as a decision overall. Breastfeeding does get easier over time but I totally get how you're feeling

 

[lisaalove]

@Bevziibubble yeah I'm not having supply issues or anything and I know how easy it can be, I bf my second kiddo till he was almost 3. Its not like it was last time though. I feel like I keep waiting for myself to enjoy it and bond with him the way I did with my second but instead I find myself frustrated, overwhelmed and touched out. Im not sure im thinking maybe either pumping and feeding or trying combi feeding because I do enjoy some moments while feeding him but I just need a LITTLE time where he's not attached to me.

 

[Bevziibubble]

That's understandable. It can just get too much.