should I stop breastfeeding???

So my son is 5 months today and I am just thinking about cutting him off breast milk and giving him formula. Is this selfish? I really don't have a reason not to stop other than I work for 2 weeks straight, 12 hour days and then I have 2 weeks off. but its a lot of work to pump milk for my son the 2 weeks I do work. It does get fruastrating at times because I don't pump enough milk at work for as much as he is eating at the sitters so it seems like all I do is pump when I am off work until I go to bed. Idk any suggestions? any input? please help me!!!

If you're both ready to stop BFing, do it gradually.

  Just stopping will be a shock to both him, and your body.

I don't think it is selfish at all. Mamas need to be happy too. Just do whatever feels right to you.

If you REALLY want to stop then I'd say go ahead and stop. But like someone else said do it gradually. It isn't selfish... It's a good thing you did it for 5 months. I'm on 6 months exclusive breastfeeding with my daughter, i partly want to stop and partly feel like I'm going to be sad about it so I'm going to keep going and see how it goes.

I'm just having alot of mixed feelings about stopping.. I don't know!!.. Apart of me feels horrible with the thought of giving him formula and don't know why. Like I am a horrible parent or something. And no I'm not saying that parents that formula feed are horrible parents, I just would feel like one if I did because I really don't have a reason not to breast feed. Thanks for the replies!

Quoting (¯..•Due•..¯):“ I'm just having alot of mixed feelings about stopping.. I don't know!!.. Apart of me feels horrible with ... [snip!] ... parents, I just would feel like one if I did because I really don't have a reason not to breast feed. Thanks for the replies!”

You could also do both, mama. You could BF at night when you're with him, and get others to FF him during the day. Then you get the best of both. <3

how do i start to do that?

Quoting (¯..•Due•..¯):“ how do i start to do that?”

Start by giving him a little bit of formula each day. Say, 1 feeding. Then every few days, add another.

Just get him used to the formula slowly, and hopefully, he won't care what he's eating, as long as he's eating! Then you can BF when you like, and won't have to pump so much at work.

what type of formula should I try first?

It's not selfish. You should acknowledge yourself for doing a fantastic job for 5 months! Yay YOU!
Maybe you can just BF at night and early morning (i dont know what your hours are).

Quoting (¯..•Due•..¯):“ what type of formula should I try first?”

I've heard then Enfamil Nutramigen is the best one (assuming that you LO doesn't have any allergies)... but it's quite expensive.

I'd call the pediatrician and see what they recommend!

Quoting (¯..•Due•..¯):“ what type of formula should I try first?”

Something like simalac advanced is usually what the hospitals start babies off with. I would just go from there. My daughter had to be on Nutramigen due to allergies and reflux, $25 a can... no bueno.

hmmmm if you are having mixed feelings then maybe you shouldnt stop yet.
weigh out the pros and cons.

pro breastmlk
specifically designed for your baby -your nipples have receptors that can pick up bacteria and your body will create milk wth the right antibodies to fght bacteria.

never have to listen to your LO cry while heating up a bottle

you know what goes into your milk

no bottles to wash


pro formula
daddy can feed baby


con breastmilk
daddy cant feed unless you pump

con formula
you have to listen to baby cry while heat up bottle
bottles bottles bottles
you cant pronounce a single ingredient that goes into formula, let alone have any idea what it actually is
formula stinks but formula poop stinks super super bad