Depressed about ending breast feeding - Breastfeeding Message Board

fruitloop1024 · 05-06-2009, 02:57 PM

I am really depressed about this, but I am going to stop breast feeding. DS is almost 5m. I was having issues with production, so my ob put me on meds. He also ran my thyroid, and found out that I was hyper. I have hashimotos, so I knew I would be having some issues. Now my thyroid is out of wack again, and the meds to help production are helping much. I have tried pumping every 3 hours, but with my work, I really cant. I just feel like I am letting myself down. I guess it doesn't help that depression issues and thyroid issues go hand in hand.

jsfai · 05-08-2009, 05:07 AM

fruitloop,
you have BF for nearly 5 months and that is a fantastic effort and you should be really proud of yourself for your commitment. Clearly you have loved BF and that is why you are unhappy about finishing, that means that it has all been worthwhile and beautiful. You are not letting yourself down or your DS, you have done a good thing but there comes a time when you must consider the other needs in your life and your mental and physical health are extremely important too, without those you cant be the great mum to your DS that I am sure that you are...
There is no right length of time for BF no matter what people say. Five months is fantastic...be very proud of yourself.
J

Accutane2X · 05-14-2009, 12:35 PM

Be proud of what you have done. You've done a great job!

marisuela · 05-14-2009, 03:15 PM

oh man, that is hard!

listen, it doesn't matter how long you breast feed, it's always hard to give it up. you managed to do it for five months, be proud of that. and you can still bond with your baby during bottle feedings.... it's actually easier with a bottle, because you can actually see baby's face!

is it possible to wean down to just a morning or just a nighttime feeding? i had such a hard time giving up nursing my baby that at 6 months, i weaned her down to just one morning feeding, and that worked well for us for a couple of months (until her top teeth started coming in and she started biting.... now at 9 months, she is all formula fed!). it was my way of hanging on to nursing for just that much longer.... but it was all for me.... she would've been fine without it.

take care of yourself and make sure your needs are being met. as jsfai said, take care of your physical and mental health so that you can be a fantastic mom for your baby!!!

anyway, i've been there. it tears you up inside, it really does. but after a couple of bottle feedings, you'll feel better about it (i cried with each of my three kids with their first couple of bottle feedings.... i know, i'm kind of a nut!), and once you start getting those wacky post preggo / and nursing hormones under control, you'll really start feeling better! good luck!