I have been breast feeding my son for the last 11 1/2 mths and he is ready to be weaned since he is bitting and also is not very interested in nursing. Not to mention I have enough milk in the deep freezer to keep him going for a few more months. My question is: do any of you have any suggestions for the weaning process so I am not in so much pain. I am also really worried about Mastisis I have already had it twice this time around and once with my daughter and do not want to go thru that again. I have been very lucky with my milk supply and get about 5-8oz per pumping session from each breast every 6 hrs so as you can imagine when I do not pump the engorgement is awfull. I just called my doctor and they said to take Tylenol and use ice packs. I asked about a shot or pill and she said they do not use that anymore, just cut back slowly. But how slowly is slowly????? I work full time and would love to not have to pump on my lunches anymore but I work ten hour shifts and have not been able to go more than 8hrs without pumping.
Thanks for you help and advise.
I was also going to tell you frozen cabbage leaves. It really does work. I have also had mastitus and didn't even know what it was until it was almost too late. I know it sounds funny but really, do the frozen cabbage leaves. I wish you the best of luck!
Andrea S
"No real reason to stop"? THE REASON IS THAT SHE IS READY TO STOP! Please stop discounting a breastfeeding mother who is ready to stop--your comments are very disrespectful.
K.: Cabbage leaves do really work. Congrats to you for successful breastfeeding of almost a year!!
There is no real reason you have to stop now, but that being said....all kids go through an easily distractable period and biting and it is usually just a phase.
if you are still uncomfortable, pump just enough to relieve the pressure. Just a little to make you comfortable but don't empty the breast. When you are with him, try cutting out one feeding, then waiting a couple weeks or so till you think you have both adjusted to the new schedule and then try dropping another. When you are at work don't pump if you feel you don't need to, if you do, just do that little bit. It might take a little time for your supply to decrease but if you do it gradually you should not feel pain or engorgement. Whatever you do, don't try to go cold turkey! I can't believe some of the doctors that try to tell you to do that.
It really is awesome you have been able to keep up such a supply with doing primarily pumping for so long! Congrats!
While I didn't nurse my son, I exclusively pumped and when it was time for me to stop I would just 'pump to comfort'. I would go as long as I could stand it then pump enough to take the edge off. It started out being 8 hours between, then 12, then 24, then 2 days, and it was not horrible at all. The milk looked really funky though (and I dumped it).
I have heard cabbage leaves help! cut a hole in the middle for yous nipple and put them in your bra. Also, your breasts only produce a lot more if they are emptied, so if you pump enough just to relieve the engorgement, you won't be producing extra. It will take a little longer than cold turkey, but it won't hurt as much.
When he asks to nurse, let him but when he bites, sternly tell him no and set him aside so he knows it's not ok to bite.
Good Luck!
I know this sounds like an old wifes tale but lettuce REALLY works. I tried it when I thought I couldn't nurse my son because of medicine I was taking. I have an overabudance of milk and am engorged in no time. So when I thought I was quitting cold turkey I followed the advice of putting ice cold frozen lettuce in my bra. The next day I found out I could still nurse and I honestly had to work hard to get the amount back up!!
I bought a crop of lettuce and tore of a few large pieces (large enough to cover my breast with one piece) and put them in the freezer. When they would get warm I would get a new cold one since cold felt better.
I am sure you know that the best way to quit would be to reduce the amount and time of nursing and defenitely no more pumping.
Good luck!
Your milk is by supply and demand. It takes your body 24-48 hours to respond to the change. When I weened I cut out a pumping session, then gradually cut out more. When I would get engorged, I would pump a little bit to releave and that's all. Also any antihistimine will help dry you out (as they work in the concept of drying out the mucus membranes) Also if you're really anxious- you can buy water pills. They help rid your body of water by salt, which will also dry out your breast. For engorgement, try frozen cabbage leaves in your bra. Weird I know but it works. Good luck, and remember with-in about 2 days your body will start slowing, then cease production.
Try cold cabbage leaves. Something in the leaves supposedly dries up the milk and the cold can relieve the engorgement. Maybe only pumping enough to relieve the engorgement would be good too that way your body learns that you don't need that much milk.
H.
The best way to wean, (I found) is too very slowly cut down on your pumping. Try to stretch out the time between pumpings, and the amount you pump. Don't completly empty out each time. This may take a month or so but it is alot less painful then cold turkey. I wen cold turkey on my first born after a year of breast feeding... and learned a hard lesson. The next two I weaned very slowly. After stretching out the time between and less pumping, start pumping just a little to relieve engorgment. Pretty soon your body will get the clue and start producing less and less. It can be a long process, but definetly better than the shorter more painful process of stopping cold turkey. Hope this helps, good luck!
PS... good for you breast feeding for a year!
Do not pump until you are empty, pump only until you are comfortable again. By emptying your milk supply you are making your body think you still have a very hungry baby and that it still needs to make a lot of milk. By only pumping a little your body starts to think that your baby's not so hungry so it will start making less and less.
Good luck!
K.:
you are welcome to call me/ I am an international board certified lactation consultant and patenting coach.
you need to pump to "comfort"/ you can take sage tea/ capsules or tincture to reduce and ultimately stop milk production.
P., RLC, IBCLC
Pres. Lactation Support Group, Inc
www.lactationsupportgroup.com
My doctor said putting cabbage leaves on your breasts will relieve the pain. I didn't try it, but apparently it helps. Good luck!
I haven't completely weaned my 18 month old, but I DID stop pumping at work and I can tell you how I did it with minimal discomfort. I should also mention that when you do it really gradually, it is not a big deal - we're down to 1-2 feedings per day and I haven't had any problems cutting back.
I was down to 1 pump per day and when I decided to drop it I gradually shortened the pumping sessions. For the first week I pumped 10 minutes and no longer. The next week I dropped that back to 5-7 minutes. The third week just a couple minutes per day and I completely stopped the last week. The key is, you can't nurse your son a ton over the weekend - you need to keep it consistent while you drop back during the week.
Put cabbage leaves in your bra. It sounds strange, but it really works!
