The End of Our Very Special 7 Months of Breastfeeding

After weaning baby off breastfeeding, no matter how long you breastfed for, many mums suffer from 'weaning blues'. Yes, it's a thing! You may feel sad, shocked, confused, or even depressed when your breastfeeding journey ends, whatever the age of your child or if this was a ‘natural’ weaning decided by your baby or a gradual ‘mother –led’ weaning.

Rest assured, you are not alone. Meet Monika, who experienced this sudden wave of shock and sadness when her daughter decided to stop taking her breasts after 7.5 months of breastfeeding. Upon learning about Monika's story, we were touched by her determination and decided to gift her another breast pump so she can double pump and continue feeding her daughter from the bottle. Needless to say, it made our day to see how much the second pump has helped her journey!

Without further ado, let's hear it from Monika.

Breastfeeding was something I always wanted to do

I can't believe how fast the time flies! Our little princess turned 9 months on the 18th of July and what a wonderful almost 8 months of breastfeeding I had with her. 

Once I knew that I will become a Mom, I wanted to become a breastfeeding Mom. I am so grateful and thankful for the chance that I had, to breastfeed my daughter.

It wasn’t an easy ride, thinking back now it makes me so so proud of us. Luckily, after 3 weeks we found our gold path together with my daughter and everything just went so smooth and well. I loved loved loved breastfeeding her! I also built up my confidence for her and I breastfed anywhere without hiding or feeling shy. All this for her.

Stop breastfeeding was a massive shock for me

Then, all of a sudden, on Saturday 4^th of June our daughter decided to go in to nursing strike. She refused feeding from my breast, she refused to take my nipple in her mouth, she pushed me away and tried to play with it with her finger. 

I don't need to say, that it was a shock for me! A massive shock! Mentally and sentimentality as well, as it was really unexpected and I never thought that she will decide to give up from a day to another, by herself, already! As much as I tried to not to, I did blame myself first, thinking that I’ve done something wrong or different...

I knew that this may be a nursing strike and it can be temporary, but since then she refused to feed from my breast.

Not long after I realised, this will stay permanent with her and she weaned herself off from my breast. What a clever girl! 

Thank God, and luckily, she still loved and loves my milk and having it from her bottles, it makes her happier and feeds really well. Also we keep 4-5 hours in between her feeds now, as she is on solids 3 times a day.

Our happy little princess. 

I can't complain,  I am so so proud of her and very thankful for this special 7 and half months breastfeeding journey with her. By now I am in peace with her decision and I realised, that this is the easier way for her and for both of us to give up breastfeeding.

It took me 2-3 days, to process it through, to be well again, as it affected me physically and mentally too. Realising that she was able to take and make this decision, brought joy to me and to us.

Onto a new journey

As much as it depends on me, and as long as she will still take my milk from her bottles, I am determined to keep up with the pumping and expressing every 5-6 hour a day, evening and morning too for as long as possible.

Since 1st of January 2022, when my first Lola&Lykke pump arrived, I started regularly using it. From a couple of times a week, to a daily use, I've been so happy and relaxed with my electric breast pump, from the beginning. It helped me out all the time, anytime and anywhere!

At home, while nursing my little girl, during traveling in the car, at the airport, on the boat, during our holiday, building up my milk stash in the freezer and also giving the bonding and connection time to my husband and to my Mom with our daughter for them to feed her with my expressed milk.

Luckily my daughter took the bottle really well and since then she is happy to have milk expressed.

We are on this journey for almost 2 months now. 

I can't thank enough Lola&Lykke for this amazing, cordless pump. I would not be here with my pumping journey, without these pumps! As I was lucky enough, to get a second electric breast pump, being more lucky to have it gifted. It helped me out to pump from both of my breast the same time, same time as I did before with one pump on one breast. I love that while I am pumping I’m also being able to be around my daughter and play with her and is so quiet, light and gentle.

I can happily say, that all the products that I purchased and still use from Lola&Lykke are amazing and very good quality.

The electric breast pump, the naturalflow baby bottles, breast milk and storage bags with adapter, extra nipple teats and the Heal-this-mama gift box too I bought for myself before giving birth and I still use the core restore postpartum belly band after my emergency C-section.

A very happy, happy Mom here! 💕

Thank you Lola&Lykke, thank you amazing team and thank you for all the support, encouragement and advices that you give to us all the time.

Warmest regards,

Monika Simon, Isle of man.

Weaning-related depression is a niche of postpartum depression, this is a fairly common emotion though rarely talked about. If your feelings are getting worse, don’t be afraid to seek help from a professional or reach out to someone you trust. Our Ask an Expert service is here for you to talk about your emotions, completely free of charge. Just remember, help is always at hand and you are never alone.

Learn more: E-guide: Protecting your mental wellness while breastfeeding.