Hi R.,
As a Parent Coach and former nursing mom (my sons are all in school now), I would like to offer some ideas.
Congratulations on successfully nursing your beautiful daughter for a full year! You have given her a GREAT foundation for nutrition, immunities, bonding and other wonderful benefits. Celebrate this milestone!
I hear your need to get back on your medications in this email. Respect what you feel is best for yourself and help your daughter in the process. While the transition to another source of milk may be challenging, she will be fine.
Of my three sons, one was a bit difficult in getting him to take milk. We tried many things, but I will mention some that worked for us and some ideas I've just now thought about.
First, if your daughter was not offered a bottle for anything when younger, she may never like the synthetic nipple in her mouth. Since she is already a year old, a cup may suffice for her nutrition. Let her take the lead on that.
Buy her a new special sippy cup. See if she will help you pick out a new one and use it as soon as you get it cleaned. Let her carry it to the checkout line and carry it home, talking about it all the way, building anticipation. Some sippy cups come with valves to prevent leaking - I highly recommend looking for one of these.
Also, try colorful straws, especially the "curly" kind. My boys loved watching any liquid go through the curly straw.
Try a gradual approach to transitioning her. If you can pump breast milk, do so for some feedings and try the sippy cup or bottle. If possible, someone else may need to do the feeding for this because she associates you with the breast. Save the nursings for the times when she most seems to want them - the last feeding of the day was usually the last one we let go.
When she will take breast milk in a cup or bottle fairly consistantly, take the breast milk and gradually add the milk of your choice to it. Begin with mostly breast milk and only a bit of the new milk and add more of the new milk over time.
As far as any allergies go, consult your Pediatrician about this. I think most kids don't have trouble with them if they've been nursed exclusively for a whole year. Also, ask the doctor about what needs to be done to goat's milk and other raw milk to make it safe for kids to drink (pasteurization, etc).
Your daughter probably wants to nurse for comfort as much as nutrition. Find other ways to provide that love and attention, using your loving arms and luvees, blankets, etc. Children do (eventually) need to learn how to self-comfort using blankets and luvees. For example, if you put her in a Mother's Day Out program later, she will need to be able to self-comfort (with love from the caregiver) and take nutrition from a bottle or sippy cup.
This is a transition that you and your daughter can do!
Let me hear what you decide to do!
Good luck,
J. B.
Parent Coach