Not ready to give up?

[lanaross]

Isabella is going to be six months this Tuesday. We had lots of rough times with breastfeeding and I do supplement because of thyroid issue that caused my milk to go down. But we have two full feeds out of four and I can't give it up. My parents and friends kind of hinting that it's time. My OH saying give it another week or two if you are not ready. I just can't explain this but I love our quiet time in the morning and her look when she is done. And now that she is practicing her kissing skills, it's even harder! I also feel a bit guilty that I couldn't give her 100% milk feeds since 4,5 months and hoping if I continue it will benefit her somehow? Will it? Or it doesn't matter?

I think before six months there is a lot of pressure to keep breastfeeding but once you hit six months mark everybody thinks it's weird??
Very black and white.

When did you stop or planning to stop? Was it easy? How did it go? Did your LO miss it? Did you miss it?

 

[teal]

If you're not ready to stop then you should keep going for as long as you and Isabella are happy to

I'm getting friends commented on me still breastfeeding even though my son is only just past 6 months old! I'm not ready to stop and my son certainly isn't ready to stop now.

I don't know what the issue is with 6 months!

Huge hugs You're doing a fab job xx

 

[fernie3]

If you dont want to stop then keep going! Its nothing to do with your parents and friends and you OH seems happy for you to continue for a while

 

[kimbo46]

I was planning to stop at six months, but i'm not going too. I love the bond we have, even though we have had some rough times with it. My OH is happy for me to carry on, TBH i dont think he dare suggest I stop but my SIL and some other family members think its weird that LO has never had a bottle. She wont take one, simple as. What do they want me to do, starve her? When ppl ask, I just say that we will stop when she is ready, and not before.

 

[Lu28]

I think alot of us have found this, people are generally supportive until 6 months and then it seems to disappear! If you're not ready to give up then don't, at the end of the day it really is your decision. Why does your OH want you to stop? I think if you gave up without feeling ready, it's a decision you might well regret

 

[cutie4evr01]

Isabella is going to be six months this Tuesday. We had lots of rough times with breastfeeding and I do supplement because of thyroid issue that caused my milk to go down. But we have two full feeds out of four and I can't give it up. My parents and friends kind of hinting that it's time. My OH saying give it another week or two if you are not ready. I just can't explain this but I love our quiet time in the morning and her look when she is done. And now that she is practicing her kissing skills, it's even harder! I also feel a bit guilty that I couldn't give her 100% milk feeds since 4,5 months and hoping if I continue it will benefit her somehow? Will it? Or it doesn't matter?

It will definitely benefit her! Any BM she gets will help her immune system, her digestion, not to mention your own health. She continues to get your antibodies and of course the comfort babies find in BF is terrific for her also. I mean if you decide to stop, that's ok, but certainly don't stop because you think there is no benefit to BF after 6 months, because there really is! Don't let anyone pressure you, you know what's right for you and your baby. I too had friends/relatives hinting at stopping when we got to 6 months, but I've told them I'll continue until she's one and on cow's milk, and most of them have stopped commenting now.

 

[venusrockstar]

I'm planning to BF for at least a year. I don't want to give formula at all.

 

[lanaross]

I think alot of us have found this, people are generally supportive until 6 months and then it seems to disappear! If you're not ready to give up then don't, at the end of the day it really is your decision. Why does your OH want you to stop? I think if you gave up without feeling ready, it's a decision you might well regret

Thanks Hun. I think you pretty much summed it up for me - I will definitely regret it if I am not ready and *have* to give up. I think a lot of pressure comes from her being a big girl as it is (she is already at 12 months clothes and my god she loves her milk) - so she looks like a toddler already and everybody thinks it just looks odd. But at this point I just more concerned about how it feels and it does feel right.

 

[Seity]

I have to combo feed and there's no way I'll stop giving him breast milk just because we've hit 6 months. He's barely even started tasting solids and milk will be his main source of nutrition until he's a year old, so I want to make sure as much of it is breast milk as I can give him and if I'm lucky I'll be able to breastfeed past the 1 year mark because he won't need as much, so I might be able to stop giving formula completely.

 

[pinkclaire]

Lanross, I have the same problem! James isnt big, in fact hes tiny for his age, but hes really advanced for his age with his chatter, awareness and hes been crawling since 5 months so people always think hes older than he is and ask when am I going to give up and look at me like I'm that women out of little britain. I definately think you shouldnt give up if your not ready, I think I would cry everynight if someone made me give up! I've started giving formula in the day for a few reasons, so he has 50% bf and formula. The ones I give are the ones like you said where you get to cuddle up ie first thing and last thing. I'm definately not ready to give up those precious moments! And their in the privacy of my own home so I will do what I want lol xx