So I'm almost at 5 months of exclusively breastfeeding. My husband wants me to start weaning her off…
So I'm almost at 5 months of exclusively breastfeeding. My husband wants me to start weaning her off soon and to put her on formula. He says so it's easier to wean her off the boob and so when we go out we don't have to worry about if she has enough breastmilk at home and also so I can have a night here and there to enjoy myself and have a few drinks for the holidays coming up. I know I can pump but right now I breastfeed on demand and during the day she eats every 2 hours more or less so when I pump I only get about 2oz each time in between feedings. So it takes some time to store up some breastmilk. I'm having mixed feelings because I love breastfeeding her and I don't want to stop my goal was to make it to a year of breastfeeding her or at least 9 months. If I wait that long to wean her off the boob will it be a lot harder than doing it when she's like 5 1/2- 6 months?
Mish·
I weaned my son at 14 months. It took maybe 3 days. Every child is different. If you have a goal then don’t let your husband pressure you into changing your mind. Also try pumping after you feed her to trigger your body to make more milk. That way you can store more.
Aylenrose··
Thanks for the tip! It would be great to be able to pump more in between feedings so it would be easier to store some milk. Yeah it's like I get where he's coming from but I'm just not ready yet.
Hibben ·
I personally wouldn’t wean now. Everything you said wouldn’t be a big enough deal to wean. I have a couple drinks here and there no big deal and I’m definitely not going to spend money on formula after I got over the hardest part of breastfeeding. As she gets bigger she’ll not eat so often.
Is she sleeping through the night? I always pumped more in the middle of the night. That’s how I built up my stash.
Aylenrose··
Shes still kind of all over the place some nights its every 3 hours some nights 4 hours and every now and then she will sleep a full 6 hours before wanting to eat. Yeah I don't want to wean her I love breastfeeding and I've put so much time into it I just got to start pumping more so it's easier to build a stash up.
Hibben ··
Do you stay up after you put her to bed? Or wake up before she does? Make sure to stay hydrated. It helps more then you think.
Aylenrose··
definitely need more water. I usually go back to sleep because I never know when shes going to have a longer night. Sometimes I wake up before her though.
Rose ·
It's best to do it up to a year old, I'm on 7 months now and planning till she's 2
Aylenrose··
You go girl! A year was my goal but I feel like I may want to go to 18 months even maybe.
mrs.Jay__x·
Мама троих детей, ждёт четвёртого
Do whatever makes you comfortable n happy. I get where he's coming from but if you're not ready then he can't force you. If you're having second thoughts about it now then you'll regret it later n maybe even start resenting him cos if it. You just finished from the hardest part of bf. Do what you feel right mama
Melinda Westad·
Why is it up to your husband? He’s not the one nursing. If you want to continue then do it! It’s a sacrifice you are making to not have drinks or go out that often but it’s temporary and you’re doing it for your baby. You haven’t even gotten thru the hardest part yet. It’ll get easier when she’s a little older. And yes it’ll be harder to wean at a year old versus now, but why is that a reason to wean?
I breastfed my daughter til she self weaned at 2.5 years old and I still miss it to this day 😢 That time we had together will never come back and nursing made our bond so strong. I’m currently still nursing my 17 month old son and have no intention of weaning him. I worked full time from when he was 4 months to 16 months and I pumped 3x a day and it was hard but I pushed through and was so glad I did it. Your husband should support you and encourage you. My husband would never dare tell me to wean, he loves that I’m willing and able to provide the most perfect food for our babies 😊
Aylenrose··
It isn't up to him I'm going to continue to breastfeed because I'm not ready to stop and I love breastfeeding her. He was putting his two sense in I guess but I think its because he doesn't want to help at night by getting her and handing her to me to feed at night. He'd rather just give her a bottle real quick and be done. He'd never force me to stop but he's been trying to hype up all the freedom I'd have if we switched her to formula.
Melinda Westad··
he’s going to change his mind quick when he’s spending all his free time washing bottles! Breastfeeding is way more convenient. You don’t have any carry around a can of formula and bottles and make sure you have water. You just lift your shirt, latch baby on, and then be on your way. Sooo much more convenient. Those night time bottles aren’t just ready to go, someone has to make them!
Melissa ·
Мама двоих (младенец)
Why does he want you to wean her onto something that is inferior?
Melissa ··
Мама двоих (младенец)
@aylenrose you just make sure its what you want too. Really bm never stops being amazing for babies and personally I think its selfish for him to push formula for that. Formula cannot and won't ever be as good as breast milk. I'm not bashing anyone. Its just facts.
Aylenrose··
@divinely_favored yup I'm on your side plus I didn't get to breastfeed my son and it made me so sad. My daughter loves to breastfeed and he wants formula and I'm like no.
Melissa ··
Мама двоих (младенец)
My mother made me stop nursing my first bc she felt he was too old. I'm still not over that. With this one we're going to nurse until we're ready to stop.