weaning @ 3.5 months?

I feel so guilty, but I'm ready. It's just a lot with my 3.5 year old. She's always into something when I'm feeding him. I feel like I can at least carry him when bottle feeding. I'm also sick of worrying about my supply, sick of pumping, and just want my body back . I feel so selfish, but it's the truth. So I've been weaing him very slowly. Last week he got 2 bottles a day. I was going to introduce the 3rd. He's getting 1/2 breast milk, 1/2 formula when he gets a bottle. Is that okay? I'm still pumping so not really skipping feedings to reduce my supply, although I'm not pumping more than 3 ounces @ a time. Am I going to be really engorged once he's on bottles and formula all together?

Re: weaning @ 3.5 months?

I weaned at 3m, and I did it super slow, because I had mixed feelings about it. I didn't have any problems. Just go slow and it will be uneventful.

I leaked from time to time afterward, I felt tingles when DS would cry out of hunger, but I was never engorged again.

congrats on doing it for 3.5m! Don't ever feel guilty for taking care of yourself too.

Re: weaning @ 3.5 months?

Of course it's ok. You're supposed to make decisions that make life better for both of you. It certainly sounds like life will be better because of this decision! You've done a great job!

I can't answer your other questions because I was never able to BF because I never got a supply so I never got engorged or anything when I stopped pumping and trying to nurse round the clock at 6 weeks.

You should feel very proud of what you've accomplished this far and not feel guilty at all. Oh, the only downside is that formula is freakin expensive!!

Re: weaning @ 3.5 months?

I am totally where you are! To a T! I even have a 3.5yo. ITs alot with another child IMO. I didnt BF DS#1 but really wanted to with #2. He is now 3months old and still gets BF but not EBF. . I havent figured out how to really eliminate the BF completely or even if I am ready to do that yet.

I have eliminated a few daytime feedings slowly so now my schedule is like this

Feeding #1 - BF
Feeding #2 - Bottle (total formula)
Feeding #3 - Bottle (total Formula)
Feeding #4 - BF (usually around 5pm)
Feeding #5 - Bottle (total formula)
Middle of hte night - BF

I still produce enough during those feedings to satisfy DS. Yet I only feel engorged if I skip the whole day basically.

I pump sometimes while DS naps which is around 9:30am and 3pm. But not all days. I keep going back and forth about totally quitting because I feel selfish as well because BF is working yet I just cant handle it. For me its the lack of predictability with total BF, I like knowing how much he drank and that he will go every 3hours etc. With BF sometimes its hours sometimes 4 between feedings. Also I feel like its hard because I can't do anythign with DS#1 while I am BF. With a bottle he can be more a part of the whole thing.

Anyway I am with you. My plan for total weaning is to start skipping the 5pm feeding do this for say a week. Then start doing a bottle at the first feeding and do this for a week and then hopefully he wont be waking middle of teh night (he now sometimes with STTN and I skip but feel engorged for the first AM feeding).

GL! And if you do it please let me know your progress as it seems we are in the same boat!

ETA: My bottle are usually 100% formula. Unless I recently pumped and then I mix the BM with the formula. But mostly I freeze my pumped milk so that once I stop BF I can carry him alittle longer with some BM in his diet.

Message edited 7/12/2011 5:03:15 PM.