Turmoil over stopping breast feeding
I got this letter today and I connected with it in a big way as I also had a tough time when I gave up breastfeeding.
“Hi my name is Sarah and I have stopped breastfeeding… Everybody told me that being a parent is linked to feeling utterly guilty about everything. This is one of the things that I feel the most guilty about. It happened naturally. My milk just got less by the day and it became a struggle for her to drink enough and gain sufficient weight. I tried everything from jungle juice, brewers yeast, lots of water and expressing milk after every feed. Feeding time was not fun or special anymore. So we moved on to formula milk. The worst part is that the formula containers have warning signs printed on them just like cigarette packs. Could formula feeding be just as bad as smoking? Rebecca is now picking up weight and I do not have to worry about everything I am eating. My best friend visited us this weekend and we could drink wine, eat chocolate cake and have a cup of real caffeinated coffee in the morning. The funny thing is that these where important things to me, but my heart still longs for that feeling of holding your baby close to your skin in the middle of the night and listening to her sucking sounds while holding her little hand.
I have to accept that she is growing up and we need to adjust as her needs change. Formula feeding is what is needed currently to help her grow and be the happy baby that she is.”
ANTOINETTE:
Hi Meg.
I too can relate to this letter. Giving up breastfeeding for any mum is a hard decision to make. We are bombarded with information during pregnancy and the early days with our babies. We all know that breastfeeding is best for our babies, but we dont know until we try if it is going to work out for us. I have had so many friends who have battled with breastfeeding, one to the point where her baby was drinking her blood as her nipples were so sore and the baby could not latch properly. We need to realise that it is not always best for mom or baby to keep going, and if it does not happen, then not to beat ourselves up about it.
My personal experience was amazing. Breatsfeeding came easily to me and my babies, but I chose to stop at 6 months. I too felt very guilty about stopping, but it was a personal choise that I made. I felt that as it came so easily for me perhaps I should just carry on. In Daniel’s case, as in the letter, he could not put sufficient weight on during the time he breastfed. Once on formula and on some solids his weight shot up. I felt very emotional on my last breastfeed as I knew that Daniel was probably my last baby. I do miss the closeness and being forced to slow down, that time spent with your baby is so special.