Breastfeeding

Just know you’re not alone. I stopped breastfeeding around the same time (when I went back to work) because it was just easier to make a bottle and my milk dried up very quickly. I went through the same thing you’re going through, feeling very guilty like I was letting my kid down.

I even went back and forth a few times, trying to build my supply back because I felt so bad!

Just take comfort in the fact that you did breastfeed for two months, and that’s a lot of benefit, even in that amount of time. Don’t put any pressure on yourself to be supermom, and don’t listen when other mothers try to give you grief for using formula.

Good luck to you!

well sweetie two months of breastfeeding is better than having never breastfed her at all! If its too hard on your scedule than what can you do? And that bond wont go away it was built to stay when you ****** fed for two months!

I was only able to breastfeed my son for about 3 weeks, and my doctor told me the most beneficial milk is the colostrum in the very very beginning (the thick yellow milky stuff they first drank, then it goes more watery or milky than thick). He reassured me that the baby got all the anitbodies and healthy stuff in that and that formula is very pretty comparable to breastmilk. My son is now 3 and is very very healthy. He has only gotten sick twice (he doesn’t even get the flu when my husband and I do). As for the bond you can still take the same routine (sitting in a special chair or room, etc) and the baby will still bond with you whether you hold the bottle or are breastfeeding. Just don’t prop the baby in a carseat with a bottle or prop the bottle with a blanket (i **** seeing parents do that) that is what ruins the bond. I am sure you will do fine and the baby too. The baby will still be healthy and got the best from you already. Good luck!

Technically 6 months is better if you are planning on stopping, but congrats on going 2 months strong!! I didn’t last 2 weeks, LOL..Just remember ANY amount of breast-milk is better than none at all and you have done an excellent job of keeping up with it for 2 months. If you want to stop now, don’t let anyone make you feel bad about it.

I’m a bit puzzled here. If you are feeling guilty about stopping, and love breastfeeding, why stop? Why not just nurse more often/pump more often and get your supply back up?

To answer your initial question — there is no age at which the ‘best benefit’ stops. Nursing for 2 months is better than nursing for a month. But nursing for 3 months continues to offer benefits — and so does nurisng for 6 months, a year, or 2-3 years. There are ALWAYS important benefits to breastmilk and breastfeeding– for your baby AND for you.

So nurse for as long as you are able and baby wishes. When you are ready to stop or need to stop, (or baby no longer wants to nurse) then gradually wean your baby.

First of All- Congratulations on going this long! And know that any time you breastfed is better than none at all.

We ran into extreme constipation with our daughter -which caused me to look for ways to re-establish my milk supply…in the end I ordered Domperidone from inhousepharmacy.com and was able to get my supply back up. While she still gets some formula during the day for convenience sake I’m happy to report that I enjoy coming home and breastfeeding her after a long day at work. During my day I penciled 2 15-minute periods into my calendar in which I retreat to a meeting room (with lock) and pump…I’m now back to about 6 ounces pre pumping session…

MY ADVICE: Stop freaking out about it! According to my lactation consultant -even one bottle of Breastmilk a day contains plenty of antibodies…do what you can without running yourself ragged!

I’m with SillyGirl……….I’m a nursing and pumping mommy that works full time. I started back to work when my son was one month buit jkust three days a week, and went to full time when he was three months old. It can be an aweful lot of work sometimes, but I make the time to make it work. I also pump three times while I’m at work and nurse him whenever he’s with me, on top of one pumping session in the middle of the night since my son sleeps about ten hours through the night now. I ocassionally have supply issues but we get by and he gets enough to eat and is growing fine.

To get your supply back up, try pumping after nursing, it does wonders for increasing supply. make sure you never go more than three hours without pumping and or nursing if you can help it.

I also feel guilty at the thought of stopping….my personal goal is one year. Do what feels right, if you feel guilty, give it everything you got so that when you do stop you feel it is right. Your baby will be healthy, smart, and grow up fine if you switch to formula…but if you would rather she gets the extra benefits of ****** milk, make that extra time.