is it bad to be tired of breastfeeding?

Question

i breastfed my son(2), and my daughter!(16 months) i just stopped breastfeeding my daughter a few weeks ago. is it wrong for me to not want to breastfeed my third baby? i know it's better for them, but, i'm just tired, and it was more work than connection with me and my kids anyway. my son did great, but my baby girl had a hard time from day one. could it be that i'm just scared it'll be harder this time?

Answer 1

It is BEST to at less nurse your baby for the first 6 months... Doctors have shown that not nursing for the first 6 month is as bad as smoking when pregnant...Even though it's best to nurse them for as long as you can (2years)... after 6months you can stop.... It is such a wonderful and great bonding thing you should do it with all your children... ♥

I nursed my son for 19 months and it did get hard, but I will do if for all of my kids.... ♥

Answer 2

No, it's not bad to be tired of breastfeeding. Nursing a baby (along with many other aspects of parenting) is exhausting, and it's normal to need a break.

I am confused a little about your question. How far apart in age are your son and daughter? And are you pregnant again now?

If you're not pregnant yet, I wouldn't worry about it at all. You'll have plenty of time to figure out what you want to do. Also, it's a lot easier to start breastfeeding and then switch to formula rather than start out formula-feeding and possibly regret it later on. Once you've had a bit of a break from nursing, you might be ready to give it another try. And who knows, you could get another "easy nurser," and it might not be as difficult as it's been with your daughter.

Keep in mind, too, that formula-feeding isn't always easy either, and it's certainly more expensive. Yes, someone else can feed the baby, and usually they eat less often, but there are bottles to wash and prepare, and you always need to have one with you. Plus, someone has to sit up with the baby for those nighttime feedings rather than just bringing baby to bed with you and lying down.

My daughters are 3 and almost 2, and my younger daughter is still nursing, so I've been pregnant and/or breastfeeding for the past 4 years now. It does get exhausting, and I know what you're saying. I just know that I personally would regret not trying to nurse a future child, and I don't know if you would feel the same way or not.

Good luck to you, whatever you decide!

Answer 3

Well, I am an advocate for breastmilk because of all the research that keeps coming out reinforcing my beliefs that it helps prevent so many future problems as well as being the best nutrition. I totally understand where you're coming from. It's not always that easy. I worked full time, so I pumped a lot. My daughter lost interest in nursing all together by 8 months. I continued to pump milk for the first 13 months. After that, I gave her whole milk.

If it seems like too much this time around, you can try pumping so Dad can help out with the feedings too. Even giving breastmilk for 6 months helps a baby tremendously. I give you a lot of credit for nursing your two children as long as you did.

My husband and I are ttc again and I have thought about whether I can do another year, but then guilt always comes back because I can't help but think if I have another child and don't provide breastmilk as long and he/she gets sick - could I have prevented it?

Will the mother's guilt ever end????

Answer 4

I know how that is. I only breastfed my son for 5 weeks (my milk got too thin, and wasn't giving him enough nutrients), and I'm breastfeeding my daughter, who is 2 weeks old. She was a preemie, so I'm trying to stick it out the longest I can, but I don't know how long that will be. It's so messy, (milk letdown both when you're feeding and when you're not), inconvenient (when I go away, I have to bring my pump with me), and painful. I am tired, too. It's a lot of work physically to breastfeed, which I'm sure you're aware of. Maybe if you breastfeed for the first 6 months? Pump it all, and feed her the breastmilk from a bottle. I am partially doing this. Sometimes she gets milk from a bottle, sometimes from me. It just hurts so much when she latches on (and yes, I'm sure she's latching on right). It happened the same way with my son. And the letdown.... Ouch!!

So, no it is not wrong of you to be tired of this. Lord knows I am, and I haven't done it nearly as much as you.

Answer 5

Relax if you feel there will be problem breastfeeding talk to a lactation consultant. I'm a first time mom and it was a bit difficult to get into the routine of breastfeeding a baby (I'm 21) I would sometimes want to do something else and feel it would be easier to just pop in a bottle, but you must keep in mind that if you feel that there are more important things that has to be done (the important things meaning trivial...cleaning house, grocery shopping, etc.) remember that there is always time to do those, but once that baby grows up and independent, there's no more time to breastfeed.

I hope that makes sense.

Answer 6

Wow, great job with the first two. Breastfeeding seems to come naturally to those who want to do it, but to others, it sometimes seems a hassle. Though it is the best possibly thing for you child during the first few months of life, with it also comes along alot of pain and disscomfort for the first little while. I can completely understand why you don't want to go through it all again. Look at it this way, if you so chose to express some breat milk and use bottles, it is still a great start for your child, as well, it gives Dad a great opportunity to bond with your child the way he perhaps was not able to with the first two as breasfeeding can only be done by Mom.... I think in the end you will make the right choice.

Answer 7

You are NOT a bad mother. Breastfeeding is a preference. Formula has come a long way in recent years. I believe that a fed baby is a happy baby. Also, you won't bond with your baby as well if you feel like you are "forced" to breastfeed. You may start to resent your baby and that won't be good for anyone. Just do what you feel comfortable with and congratulations on your new little bundle of joy!

Answer 8

Dont feel guilty if you cant but I really think every woman should give it her best shot.
I have read an article that likened the dangers of not breast feeding to riding a mechanical bull while pregnant.
My father has Diabetes and told me that new research found there may be links to formula feeding and Diabetes as well.

I am breastfeeding right now and I agree, sometimes I just want to give her a bottle and once a day I do! But I keep on breastfeeding because you cant argue with mother nature.

Please do not feel guilty if you just cant though, it is your children and your body!

Answer 9

There's nothing wrong with being tired of BFing and nothing wrong with being worried it will be harder. I tried to BF my son when he was in the NICU and so many people had to stand and watch, that it humiliated me and I refused to do it anymore. I pumped for him until my supply dried up and I felt guilty for at least another month, and sometimes I still feel guilty. Everytime I tried to BF him, 2 nurses, the lactation consultant, my husband and usually another nurse or two would poke her head in. It drove me nutty, and I'm a rather private person, so the whole thing bugged me and I know that's what made my supply dry up, because I was too nervous to actually try hard enough.

My son is on a special formula for preemies and he's doing find. If you don't want to BF then don't. If you do want to, then go ahead and if it gets tough you can switch to formula whnever you want.

Answer 10

It is NOT wrong to not want to breastfeed. Although I am sure there are people out there that will tell you differently. I bottle fed my first two and then tried breastfeeding with my third...UCK. I felt like I was living in a wet swimsuit all the time between the milk and the never ending period....I was glad I tried it...and god bless the women that can do it baby after baby. But it just wasn't right for me...we did it for 8 weeks and then it was on to the bottle. And life was much easier for us all. Plus, Daddy can help alot more when you use bottles. I recommend playtex bottles and the drop in liners...best things going. Used the playtex bottles for all three of mine although the drop ins didn't come out until sometime between baby 2 & 3....yup, they are older. Good luck hon, do whatever feels right for you!!

Answer 11

I wouldn't think it would be wrong to think that, you're tired woman and you've had a kid latched on for three years. You obviously know the benefit, not just with the connection, but for the baby.

I would make a decision to do it for at least 5 months. Then give yourself some freedom.

You know as well as I do that your mind is a powerful thing and probably a bigger factor in breastfeeding than your actual body. My mind, due to stress, almost dried up my milk and I decided to stop breast feeding. Make sure you're doing this with a peaceful heart and mind and the milk will flow.