I think I'm going to stop breastfeeding...

My baby is 8 months old and my plan has always been to exclusively breastfeed her until she's 1.

I've been really ill for a few weeks now, I had the flu which has turned into sinusitis - I constantly feel like I've been punched in the nose, my sinuses are pressing on my teeth and hurting and I've got a constant stream of bright green stuff coming out of me (sorry tmi). Because I'm breastfeeding I can't take anything other than paracetamol and ibuprofen, I've tried a nasal spray that's safe to use when breastfeeding, I've tried steam... Nothing helps.

I feel so drained, I can't ever just go for a lie down cause whenever I get the opportunity it's usually that I need to feed or pump within the next hour anyway so what's the point, I can't have a lie in cause I need to get up to feed and pump etc etc etc.

My supply dropped a few weeks ago when I first got ill and so when it came to sending my baby to nursery I realised I didn't have enough milk to send her with so we ended up sending her with the emergency formula we bought when I was pregnant just in case breastfeeding didn't work and she took it absolutely fine... So part of me thinks do I just call it quits so I can take some decent meds to shift this horrible illness and finally get some rest 😩 but then I feel so guilty for even considering this...

Anyway, the point of this post is
1) am I terrible if I stop breastfeeding so I can take medication? 😩😩
2) if I do stop how do I do it because I imagine cold turkey doesn't work although my breasts haven't leaked in months and very very rarely feel engorged...

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Breastfeeding for 8 months is incredible! If you feel like the time is right to stop, then go with your gut. You’ve got to prioritise your health.
In terms of stopping, hand express when you feel full/engorged for comfort.

thank you 🥹❤️

Have you not started to wean her on to solids? Breast milk doesn’t have any iron in it past 6 months so it isn’t really healthy to exclusively breastfeed past 6 months. Sorry if I’m misunderstanding.

yes she has three solid meals a day - I mean exclusively breastfeeding in terms of her milk consumption

8 months is amazing you should feel so proud and accomplished 💛 you have to do what’s best for you in order to be the best mama to your baby. If that means getting on meds and quitting breastfeeding it’s completely ok. I just went through this and stopped at 8 months it was very tough decision and took me a few weeks to be ok with that. My girl honestly is still just as happy and healthy as she was during our nursing journey. I’m so happy I made this choice. No matter what your decision maybe your baby will be fed, happy, still love you just as much as they do and will stay just as closely bonded as well 🫶

You can stop whenever you like! But what medicine do you want to take? Most are safe! If you’re worried you can always feed formula for a few days, and restart breastfeeding when meds are done. It’s also totally okay to stop pumping and supplement with formula, you can only nurse in morning and night if you’d like. Choose whatever works best for you!

If you want to stop, cold turkey is one option. Another option is to replace one feed at a time with formula, but this takes awhile and I know you want to start meds soon.

If you feel done and want to stop go for it, you have done so well.
But if it’s because you are ill and might regret stopping once you feel better could you pump and dump while you take the medicines you want to take then you have the option to continue breastfeeding once you feel up to it. Buys you a bit more time to make your decision.

8 months is great! But if you dont want to stop could you just pump and dump for now so you can take the medicine?

in our community

AITA

In the uk there is an outbreak of meningitis, in a specific area mainly. My BD has family from that area and decided to go and meet up with them, I said if he does then he cannot have contact with the kids for 7-10 days after incase he picks anything up. Am I being over dramatic? I reallyyy don’t want my young kids getting anything serious

Baby clothes

Just out of curiosity, why do parents love zipper onesies?

Don’t get me wrong, I tried zipper ones it’s easy to zip in and out when putting it on the first time and taking it out, but I find it difficult when changing diapers especially when baby is asleep.

I prefer those kimono style buttons where it’s easy to button or too down button with crotch snaps.

Is everyone thinking the same or different? Lol

This might rattle some people

Ok, this might get a bit long, and a bit bumpy, so get comfy and buckle up.

So about a week or 2 ago, there was a post on here regarding sleepovers. Not letting their child go to them as you can't trust who'll be at the house etc.

Now, given recent incidents in nurseries and schools, plus my own experience back in the 90s, I am more concerned about sending my child to nursery and later school than I am to a friend's house for a sleep over.

The other day a man was jailed for abusing children at the nursery he worked at. A woman has been arrested for sleeping with an underage boy and then getting pregnant by a different underage boy while on bail for the first offence.

Young girls and boys get sexually harassed and bullied when at school, not all of them. But more than you think. And not just by other kids, but by adults who we as parents are trusting to look after our kids.

A sleepover, is a more controlled environment, with only a handful of people coming into contact with your child. A school, a club etc there can be 100s of people coming into contact with your child.

I was targeted at 7 years old by the owner of a prominent private school. Thankfully, I wasn't SA'd. In year 5 of primary school, I started to develop early, I was harassed by the boys and teachers made remarks about how my uniform didn't fit right, always "adjusting it" around my chest and legs.

Years 7-9 of secondary school were hell. But it was all under the guise of "we're just messing around". A teacher twanging my exposed bra strap (none uniform day) is not "messing around".

Boys pinning me down trying to rip open my shirt to see my breasts.

I fear for my daughter. I hope she takes after my father's family, flat chested.

We need to educate all our children, what is acceptable behaviour. And to come to us, as their parents should ANYTHING happen.

At this point I’m not enjoying motherhood

My 22 month old is horrendous at the moment🫣 biting, hitting, pushing, pulling and shoving not only adults but children he also wants what other children have and will just snatch it away from them.

We repeat ‘nice hands’ ‘be gentle’ ‘let’s share’ etc

But how do I make him understand what he’s doing isn’t very nice? At the end of the day I feel like I’ve just been saying his name all day and nothing else.

What can I do?

Car seat

No idea which car seat to get next. Please hit me with your recommendations, 1year+ (preferably rear facing or 360). Thank you 🫶🏻

Dummy

My baby has had a dummy since about 2 weeks old (now 5 months) and over the course of the last month we weaned her off it during the day only for naps and night (which was fine) and then 5 days took it completely away during the day.

The first day no dummy was fine, the second bit rougher. But now it feels impossible she just moans and cries all the time it takes ages for her to go down to sleep (she’s always been an amazing sleeper)

I thought it was meant to get better as time went on not worse. I’m at my wits end I dunno what to do.

Currently typing this as she screams uncontrollably in the car and I cry with her cos I can’t do anything.