I know this is the wrong forum but I also know that there are lots of experienced bf mums on this forum and I really need some help!!

My daughter is 2 years and 4 months and still bf 3 or 4 times a day. The main reason I haven't tried to stop is because I am very prone to mastitis and have had it loads of times througout feeding 3 babies. My boys both stopped bf at 8 and 11 months but my daughter has happily carried on feeding. However, she has been unwell over the past 3 days ? with swine flu and is on medication and since yesterday has refused to breastfeed. She has previously been on 2 nursing strikes when she was 10 months then a few months later when she refused to feed for a week but I was still expressing then so expressed continuosly until she fed again.
Maybe this is the chance I've been waiting for to stop feeding her but I never intended to go cold turkey and 24 hours without a feed and I feel lumpy and uncomfortable.
I would really really appreciate any advice on stopping without it hurting.
Thanks xx

Back to top

hi arg. i hav ejust stopped feeding my little boy who is 2 years and 2 months. i just stopped to be honest. he was starting to hurt everytime he fed and i couldn't stand it anymore. he is happy with just cuddles now especially at bed time. and he settles ok. it might be a good time to stop as LO isn't feeding anyway. i was sore for a few days, but just massaged my breast. i miss feeding him. he is my 5th as you know and probably won't feed another baby. good luck hope it all goes ok for you. xx

Hi pen - I hoped you might see this as I know you are one of the breastfeeders!
I have to admit I have been thinking about how and when to stop for a while but apart from still enjoying bf her, I have always been worried about the stopping and hurting. Having said that, she now likes to chat whilst feeding which can be a bit annoying!
My only concern is that she is only refusing at the moment because she is unwell and obviously has a sore mouth because she is refusing any food or drink and keeps pointing to her mouth and crying (I have read that the tamiflu liquid which she is on has a bad taste so I am wondering if it is that?) and that when she is better she will want to bf again. When I offer her a feed she goes on then just doesn't move her mouth then a few minutes later says "finished"!
If I am going to go through a few days of pain I only want to do it once so I don't want her to start again!
How was your lo hurting you when he fed? How long did you feed your others for?
I do also feel a bit sad as we have had that bf relationship for so long!
Anway, Thanks for replying, the pain is getting worse but I will just have to grin and bear it! xxx

hi arg. my archie was digging his teeth in when he fed, it was so painful. it was all for comfort. so i knew i just had to stop.
i fed my thomas for 13 months, oliver for 2 years 1 month, joshua for 7 months, rosie for 9 months and archie for 2 years 2 months.
i am so sorry that your LO is ill my neice is on tamiflu at the mo as wlel she is also 2 years old. she is ill. it is a very hard decision to make to stop feeding especially when you are still both enjoying it. hope all goes well for you. let me know how you do and hope you lo gets well soon. take care. xx

Hi Pen wow you have notched up a few years of bf between them all! It has been really different for me this time because the boys stopped so much earlier and Abigail now seems so much more grown up all of a sudden since she stopped bf!
I am still really uncomfortable and feel full to bursting - got desperate last night but was too sore to express so had to use a slightly more unconventional way to get out some of the milk with help from hubby (sorry if tmi). I think if I could have gone and grabbed a baby from the street I would have! Maybe someone should invent a doll who breastfeeds!
Anyway, I am really hoping that it starts to feel better soon. Abigail is still not eating or drinking much at all but is fine apart from that so I figure she will do both when she feels hungry and thirsty again. Thanks for your support xx

OH God, i am so desperate to stop feeding her. Amelia is younger at 17 months but she feeds like a new born. She is now at the age where she pulls my top and says milk (well, ILK) I hate it. I fed my first 2 for a few days, 3rd for 4 months and 4th for 6 months. I never intended to feed her for this long.

I really need her to stop. Its hurting as her teeth dig in (she does not bite but her teeth pull at times) and I am sick of been a feeding machine.

I know she won't take the bottle now as she has been feeding from me for too long. Where do I start? What do I do?? I think I need to spend a few days away from her. I travel home to the UK next week so don't want to start anything just yet as its so easy on the flight to feed her. I think when I am home and my sister is around to help, I will spend a few days with the boys and try to keep away from her at key times that she usually feeds. I know my boobs will hurt like mad but what else can I do????

I dont want to feed anymore, I want my boobs back!!!!!!! So does my Hubbie!!!!!!!! lol

d xxx

Hi I breastfed all of mine long term ds1 22months ds2 20 months ds3 20 months dd1 2years 8 months and dd2 2 years 2 months.The boys just cut down slowly dd1 was the hardest to stop. With dd2 I cut down to naptime and bedtme and then just bedtime and then every few days. Gonna be doing it all over again in a few weeks!

Claire 37+1

i worry about you going cold turkey as you have had mastitus before, maybe ban the boobie but give her the expressed milk gradually lowering the amount in each feed so three quaters breast mixed with a quatre full fat cow milk n adjust the amounts as you go?? its alot of messing around but i had mastitus n my poor babies watched me pass out! i was all alone with them anyway you decide to proceed we are all here for you if you need us hun xxxxx