Weaning- How can i dry up my breast milk?

Carly - posted on 07/19/2011

When I weaned my son, I switched first to exclusively pumping and then added in some formula. At 18 months she can have whole milk now, so you can start adding that in instead of formula.



I actually was doing a mix (this was before 1, so it was with formula), and putting like 8 oz BM with 2 oz formula then gradually increasing the ratio until he was just drinking the formula. While I was doing that (over a period of a few weeks), I started to space out my pumpings and pumped for less time each time I stepped down. So I started with about four 20 min. long pumpings a day and gradually decreased to 15 min 3x a day, then 10 min. 2 times a day and then was able to comfortably stop altogether.

Leandra - posted on 07/19/2011

Try and cut down the number of feedings gradually, otherwise you will hurt a lot. When you get ready to stop completely, (and this is really weird) take cabbage leaves and put them in your bra changing them out for new ones every 4 hours. A chemical in the cabbage helps to reduce swelling and will keep your breast from getting to tender. When I read it I really thought it was a wives tale, but after google'ing it, it turns out it is true, also works on sprained ankles. I did use it and I think it helped cut down the swelling time I would of had.

Kristol - posted on 07/19/2011

do not let he use ur boobs anymore sounds harsh but use your breast milk in a bottle n that is all you offer she is 18 months so after she got the bottle part down sounds harsh but take it away she is supposed to be drinking out of cups by the age of 12 months so the faster you can do it the better and then regular milk in the regualr cup after she like the cup no more pumping or feeding will dry your chest up in no time no stimulation does it when i weaned mine off a bottle to a cup they had a hard time the nubby cups were what they gave a chance they have a soft spout and with my older son formula to milk didnt suit his fancy i had to go half and half and little more milk than formula every feed til the next day he was good to go i got them off the bottle first then off the formula easiest way bottle to cup breast milk to milk good luck n be firm it works best if you dont make a big deal out of it n dont give in

Celia - posted on 07/19/2011

everything i have read said cut out feedings gradually. my daughter never actually breastfed ive had to pump and bottle feed. and i was getting so worn out. so i got me some cabbage last week and put that on. and instead of pumping like i had been (every 6-8 hours) i pumped twice a day a few ounces to relieve pressure for a couple days. i used some ice packs. and for a good 3 days i was in soooo much pain i wanted to chop my boobs off, but now they dont actually hurt unless im applying pressure to them. so im using up the breast milk i have in the freezer (about a months worth) and mixing in some formula here and there.