Finished Nursing and Can't Stop Crying

You are not abnormal in any way! my dear. Now it is time to move on with her in this new, more active phase of her life, and find that closeness in other ways like snuggling up with reading her a book, or singing to her, or getting down on the floor with her to play ball or blocks. You will get past it ok.

Mama, she's going through a nursing strike not weaning! Being distracted is totally normal at this age, so please don't stop nursing because of it. If you are not done, she's likely not done (babies under a year don't wean themselves) then get her back to the breast!

Its normal to feel bad... breastfeeding lets out your 'feel good' hormones. Once you stop, you drastically slow on those hormones, therefore the slump you are in.

honestly though, put her back to hte breast. She will come right back, and you will feel better, she will be getting breastmilk, and you will see in a week or two she will slow on her fidgeting while nursing. Get her a lovey or baby doll to hold while nursing, or wear a funky necklace that is long enough for her to reach while nursing. Having something to fidget with while nursing will keep her on the breast and occupied so she doesn't pull off and look away so often. But doing that is normal at 8/9mos old, so don't wean becuase of it. yo uare obviously not done ,and she still needs it, so bring her back to the breast!

I recommend the book The Edge Effect. It helped me get rebalanced and is scientifically sound. At least you loved nursing and will always have that lovely experience!

I agree totally with Becky! Babies need milk (when I say milk I mean breastmilk OR formula) till AT LEAST 1 YEAR OLD! My son would not sit still around that age too. I started wearing beads for him to play with while we nursed and that seemed to help some. I finally weaned him at 18 months because my milk was mostly dried up and he was only doing it for comfort. (Waking 2 to 6 times a night!) And yes, I was sad after we quit too. But I was ready to start trying for another baby so that helped me get through it.

.

I think it's your hormones.
The first year is full of so many joys, but also it goes by so quickly.
I tend to be very sentimental about things and if I thought about it on a regular basis, I would have cried every time my kids learned how to use a spoon or hop up in their own beds.
It's hard, but we need to be happy about all the milestones and little victories they accomplish. My first baby started refusing to nurse at 4 months. It certainly wasn't the way I had envisioned it, but she was happy and healthy and walking at 7 months.

You have a whole lifetime of being close to your child. She still loves, needs, and depends on you for everything. That hasn't changed.

I think you could use a nice, long, hot bubble bath and just relax.
Know that you are blessed in so many ways and this isn't the end of the world.

Best wishes to you.

I am in the beginning stages of weaning my almost 8 month old daughter and the thought of stopping has me sad. I think it is completely normal to have these feelings and I am sure the extra hormones are not helping. I think once you realize that nothing has changed, she still loves you unconditionally, you will feel better.

My baby (who will turn 2 in 2 weeks!) has gone through several times where she has seemed less interested in nursing but I've always kept offering because I wasn't ready for her to stop. She still nurses occasionally and here she is, almost 2, and I still feel sad that we are getting close to being done. You do not need to feel guilty about not nursing her until she is one. Formula is perfectly fine for babies too. There are some women out there who act like you are poisoning your baby if you feed them anything other than breastmilk. I am pro-nursing for sure--but I am also pro-mom because moms need to be supported when they are doing what they need to do to keep baby and themselves healthy and happy, no matter what that means. This is totally normal and you are a sweet, sweet mama and obviously very in tune with your baby. :) Don't give up quite yet, she really might not be done. And if she is and you need to grieve the loss of that extra special time together, that is ok too. :) You can still give her the bottle, snuggle her close and gaze into her eyes.

yep, I felt really, really sad when I stopped nursing. Just take care of yourself, spend extra time loving on your baby and watch that it doesn't get any worse. I usually got over it in a week or two.

I just looked at someof the answers here....I breastfed both girls until over a year so I do think the breast is important and by the way if you want to keep trying go for it...it can't hurt and might help...and yes, I read about nursing strikes but honestly, my second was ready to stop before a year. I kept going because I wanted her to have the best I could give and because I didn't want her to say but you fed my sister longer...still I don't think my second was on a nursing strike I don't think she liked milk...she didn't like formula and she still doesn't like milk. Really, we were hanging on until solids in her early months. Now, we sneak in calcium through other foods...anyway, I think babies can be inclined to wean before a year...you did a great job going this long and if you want to keep going give it a whirl, but if it is time to stop, congratulate yourself, take care of both of you and be at peace with it.

Babies don't self-wean before they are more than 12 months old unless they are prompted to with scheduling and extra bottle supplements. They do go through nursing strikes though, and that can turn into weaning if you give in and supplement. If I were you I'd go back to nursing until she's at least 12 months old as the AAP recommends. It's so much better for her:) Good luck!

I don't know i'm still nursing my 1 yr old daughter out of 3 kids she is the 1 who i'm nursing all the time she doesn't want to stop and neither do I.My husband tell's me you have to get her off the boob just because she cries so what get over it & I have never left her for long with anybody his parents have yet to watch her so I have to hear that every now and then.It will pass it did with my daughter my son I don't remember feeling sad

It is very possible that your daughter is on a nursing strike, it happens a lot around that age. Be patient, keep offering it to her. And pump all you can. If it does seem like this is the end (and it is OK if it is) try other things to keep that bond going. Take a warm bath with her, lay on the floor with her and give her a baby massage, anything to keep that physical closeness going will work wonders.

I agree with the PP who said that is a nursing strike. We went through a period of several weeks like this, then my baby got past it and we got back to nursing without a problem. 10.5 months here and still going strong. If you are really interested in continuing, you shouldn't give up yet. The AAP recommends breast milk for the first year of life at a minimum for a baby.

If you want to be done, that's ok too, and it's compltely normal to feel sad about it like you do; I expect I will be the same way no matter how long we keep up the nursing relationship. Hang in there!

I had very hard time when I stopped nursing all 4 of my kids... eventhough I slowed down & weaned 3 of them, I still went through the hard time. When you nurse I think you post pone the "baby blues" because the hormones don't change as much as moms who don't nurse... instead they remain similar to when you were prego - that is till the nursing stops.

You will alway be close to you daughter... my son is 2 1/2 and nursed till he was about 10 mo old. He is a cuddle bug still & loves time with mommy. He likes being read to and loves hugs & kisses. He is also the only one that tells me "no kiss me there, kiss my lips" - so try to relax & look for other ways to have one on one time with you sweet baby girl.

My daughter just recently got sick and was teething and she just up and quit nursing. Her last session was at 3:00 in the morning and she hasn't nursed since. That's been a bit over a month ago (she's 11 months now). It was too strange and emotional for me too since my first two nursed 'til they were two yrs (when they self-weaned). I cried quite alot for about the first week, always still offering and hoping it was just a strike. Well like I said, it's been over a month so I'd say she's (been) done! Of course your gonna miss it at times for awhile, but as far as the crying and sadness goes, it won't be too terribly long. Just give yourself a week or so.

I tried nursing and didn't stick with it. My little boy wanted to nurse all the time and I just didnt produce enough and it took a huge toll on me so we stopped it. I was a basket case! I cried all the time and for me it took going to the dr. and talking with them. They prescribed me some anxiety medicine only until I thought I could handle things again. Hang in there, but if the sadness persists be sure to talk to a dr. A good thing to do while she is sleeping peacefully is try to do so yourself.... nothing helps better than a good nap.

I totally understand this. I think your feelings are completely normal and that you need to allow yourself the space and time to go through this transition. It is great that you are in touch with your feelings. As mothers, we always want to to give to our children and nursing is such a great way of transmitting all of that love we have inside of us. It may feel like somewhat of a loss but you can still connect deeply and bond joyfully in other ways with your child. I just stopped nursing my 3 year old and have not been feeling like myself since I stopped. I am sure that it is a result of the change in hormones (I am trying to find some good articles on this change and what happens chemically when a mother weans her child but have not found anything yet). Another thought I have on this is that if you were successful and good at nursing, you probably felt useful and needed and it boosted your ego. Suddenly, when that stops, there is a certain void that we naturally want to fill. As well, if there are other life cycle changes occurring, or even things happening on subtle levels, or not so subtle levels within us and around us, we can be affected by the cessation of nursing a child.