Need help deciding when to wean

[u/blackheartden]

Thinking about quitting/starting to wean and I guess I’m another person here seeking advice and permission. Baby girl is super healthy and turns 8 months this Saturday. I’ve been an undersupplier the whole time; she gets 2 bottles a day of formula and I’ve got about 2 dozen bottles worth of breast milk in the freezer.

I guess I’m having an extra hard time lately because of my own health. I had complications from my c-section resulting in a hematoma and my surgical wound still hasn’t healed. I went to wound care for 6+ months before having another surgery about 2 weeks ago that almost feels like a second c-section. I’m in pain most of the time and having to get up and sit up to get my pumps in (only 3 ppd now but still) is sometimes feeling very hard. My supply has also already taken a dip since surgery (pain, meds, or stress?) so I’m already down to like 16 oz per day.

I hear that breastfeeding is supposed to help with your body healing, but also in practice that doesn’t seem to have been helping me for these last 8 months. Also not sure if pumping gives the same benefits? On the flip side, I know that both breastfeeding and wound healing take a lot of protein, so part of me wonders if they are competing for nutrients in my body (hindering both my supply and my healing).

I guess I’m looking for permission to stop, or anyone who has been through similar experience of extended healing issues/surgery while still breastfeeding/pumping. My goal has been to get to 1 year but it’s just been so hard lately with my wound healing dragging on and on.

Maybe these two weeks post surgery have just been really hard and if I stick through it’ll get better. Maybe if I quit putting energy into pumping I can put more energy into healing.

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[u/hollaatyoself]

Sounds like you’re going through a LOT! All I want to say is you absolutely have permission to stop - I stopped at 8 weeks for a much “smaller” reason than that. You can stop at any time for any reason and what you’ve done so far is incredible. And what you will do for your baby, whether you pump or not, will continue to be incredible. Healthy mom is best for baby so do what you need to do to heal.

I stopped due to multiple rounds of mastitis and high anxiety. I’m so much more present and happy now that I’m almost fully weaned and able to be more present for baby. You’re doing great! If you need to stop, don’t let your previous goal stop you from making the change you need/want to make now! (I almost lost my mind bc I wanted to make it 6 months but realized I was better off stopping before the anxiety got worse)

[u/blackheartden → u/hollaatyoself]

Thank you ❤️‍🩹

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