stopping the breastfeeding

Hannah - posted on 02/14/2010

I am in the process of weaning and I just breastfeed in the AM and PM (twice a day) and now after a couple weeks my supply is drying up on its own. No pain or discomfort. Plus, if you do it slowly, it makes it easier on ur baby! :) Good for you for making it as long as you did! Ne thing you can do is great! My daughter is 4 1/2 months now and she'll be completely weaned by 5 months.

Heather - posted on 02/14/2010

You guys for real thank you for all your advice .... i know brestfeeding is whats best for her thats why i do it and im not going to stop cold turkey for many reasons 1 is i love to spend that time with her its just sometimes its just not easy to stop for 30 mins and feed her but i think if i let my self dry up then that time i could spend with her is gone that tie is broken and i dont think im ready for that yet but again thank you all for you posts i found them all to be very helpful ... hope you all have a happy v-day :)

Trina - posted on 02/11/2010

Breastmilk is superior to formula. Cowsmilk based formula are inferior to breastmilk. They sell cigarettes in stores too. That doesn't mean they are healthy. I don't think using formula makes anyone a bad mother, and in fact there is a time and place for it use in society. Breastmilk is living, human milk, and it is easier to digest so why stop completely? It doesn't have to be all or nothing. I am reading that the OP is feeling like it has to be all or nothing, and I just wanted to say to her it doesn't have to be that way.. Nikki, this is nothing personal against you. I respect every mothers right to make an informed and educated decision. To make that choice you have to be able to access all of the information needed to make it. that includes understanding the differences between breastmilk and formula. The OP came here for ideas and opinions....and a lot of us are just trying to encourage her not to give up because it is hard. I think she is a wonderful mother for nursing this long, and I applaud her efforts to nurse her sweet baby.

Jan - posted on 02/11/2010

Nikki, I'm not trying to start anything, but I don't think anyone is trying to sway her or say formula is "bad". Everyone gave advice on what they feel is the best way to go about weaning and what their personal experiences have been. If a parent chooses to feed formula that is their choice, but as with any other choice we make for our children it should be an educated choice. The Dr that told you that all the antibodies were passed on at 6 weeks was either very old or very confused. There are antibodies and protective properties in colostrum that help to protect baby from infection and basicallly kick start the degestive system, if you nurse until 6 weeks you will have delevered one large dose of antibodies to your baby, these large doses of antibodies continue to be released at differeing time periods up to and including the most recently discovered imunity "booster" that is delivered around the age of 18 months. The discovery of this additional release of antibodies is what prompted the world health organization to change their recommendations from continued breast feeding into the 2nd year to continued breast feeding for 2 years. Any amount of breast milk a baby gets either from in't mother or from donors is great for them, but there is no "magic" number of weeks that is enough 6 weeks or 3yrs it depends on the child, mother and family circumstances.

Nikki - posted on 02/10/2010

She has made the choice to stop, which is her decision to make, why is everyone so compelled to tell her otherwise. She is asking how to? Not if she should or not. I think we should respect her decision and help her, rather then tell her how detrimental it is to not breastfeed. There is NOTHING wrong with formula it is not " the bad milk" it doesn't lack nutrients, it's not going to harm her child. Why do they sell formula in stores and why is it an option if it's not good enough. Doctors say if you can breastfeed for a least six weeks you have passed on the antibodies to your child, she has made it 5 months. I just find it ridiculous that people seem to think if a baby is bottle fed they are suffering. My son is 8 months and is extremely healthy and thriving. He also reached his milestones much earlier then most. He slept through the night at 4 weeks and never had gas problems. He's been sick once ( which was last week and he fought it off in less then 3 days) I fully bonded with my son just b.c he wasn't on my breast didn't mean I didn't feed him in my lap. I think we as mothers need to understand we all do what is best for our children and us and whatever each mom decides we should respect and support her , not sway her decision onto our beliefs.

Jan - posted on 02/10/2010

I nursed both of mine for over a year, my first weaned at around 16 months and my second gave up at 14 months because I'm pregnant again and although I was totally willing to nurse both her and the new baby, my milk supply dropped off and she got frustrated and basically gave up. IMO the easiest way to wean is to simply not offer the breast but also never deny it, if baby is nuzzling into your chest and obviously wants to nurse then let her, but otherwise don't offer the breast. She is used to having bottles during the day anyway right now, so in the first week drop one pumping session, the second week drop another and so on so your milk supply can adjust without you becoming engorged, once you have eliminated all of the pumping sessions that will lighten your load a lot. After that you may find that you enjoy the one on one time you get while continuing to nurse when you can be with your daughter, or you may want to continue to reduce feeding sessions. Most women are able to nurse just twice a day without "drying up" and I know for me when I returned to work the morning and night nursing sessions where a way for me to feel connected to baby and focus one on one which was nice for both of us since I was away all day. Plus if baby can still nurse a couple of times a day that's a couple less bottles of formula youhave to pay for and a whole lot more antibodies you will be passing on to her because as a woman reduces the frequency of nursing sessions her milk becomes more concentrated with nutrients and benificial enzymes and antibodies. Good luck with whatever you choose but be prepared if you quit cold turkey you will most likely get very engorged and leak, and it is easier on baby emotionally to wean slower as well.

Trina - posted on 02/10/2010

You are so much more than just a food source but I understand feeling touched out sometimes. hugs. Are you sure you are ready to stop? Would you be ok nursing and bottlefeeding? I know you said it is time consuming and a pain but you are in classes , but you could pump in between classes with and keep expressed milk in the car in a cooler. That way you aren't spending your money on formula. It never hurt me to stop. Maybe it hurts for some people but that wasn't my experience.

Michelle - posted on 02/10/2010

as long as you make if gradual its really not bad, I waited till12 months and was down to 1 feeding a day so it was nothing for me, but slower is probably better.

Andrea - posted on 02/10/2010

When you stop breastfeeding, it would probably be a good idea to get a few sports bras that are a size smaller. This will help squeeze the milk out. I must warn you, your boobs will feel like rocks on your chest, and they will be very sore. Oh, and when you take a shower, try not to put your breasts directly under the water that can stimulate them. Also, my daughter uses NESTLE GOOD START with natural culters, it's the closest formula to breast milk. If you want, ask your doctor about possibly switching if you're worried about her nutritional intake.

Hope this helps,
Andrea

Danielle - posted on 02/10/2010

Since she is already 50/50 I agree with the other mothers on here that are saying you should do it twice a day or so that way shes still getting the nutrients from you. and then maybe mix it with her cereal as well.

Jessica - posted on 02/10/2010

.Wow I guess I was lucky...it didn't hurt at all. I weaned for like 2 months... the last 3 weeks I only breast fed one night feeding.

Rachel - posted on 02/10/2010

Anyone who says that quitting breastfeeding doesn't hurt is crazy! I've gone through it 3 times and none of those times was easy. I did wean them off for at least a month before I officially quit. I cut the feedings down to about twice a day but when it finally came down to quitting time, the boobies fill up and continue to fill. It took roughly 3 days before the pressure was tolerable. So much as a slight bumb to the boob was agonizing. I kept ice packs on them constantly which was embarrasing when the water leaked through my shirt...and I even tried lettuce which helped a little. Whatever you do, when you quit, DO NOT apply heat as this induces more milk production. Try to do it on a weekend when you're not as busy with school or work. The worst of it should be over by the time you have important things to concentrate on. Just to let you know though, it does take a few months for the milk to completely dry up so don't be surprised if you're in the shower and you leak a bit or feel them let down. Also, you shouldn't feel guilty about having to quit. A lot of us moms have busy lives going on. Your son got the best nutrients in the beginning few months and kudos to you for keeping it up this long.

Jessica - posted on 02/10/2010

I weaned my son slowly I just decreased the times I breastfed and increased the bottle feeds. My son was fine with it. He preferred bottles anyway.

Melissa - posted on 02/10/2010

I feel that way too about being the food source, but every time I think I'm gonna stop I keep thinking I have come this far. I am now working full time and applying to grad school...which means essays, gre stuyding etc...I thinking I am reluctant to wean since all mothers warn me that before i know it she will be squirming out my arms an drunning around...I think of it as a temporary commitment; but ofcourse it has been a tremendous journey so far!. That and I understand th health benefits, and since her father suffers from severe allergies I feel I am offering her the best chance of boosted protection by breastfeeding. But my question is, once I do decide to wean, about how long will it take.. and will it be harder the older she gets?

Meghan - posted on 02/10/2010

instead of stoping( i of course am assuming you only pump when you are in classes) why dont you feed her once in the morning, and again before bed, and do formula the rest of the day? so she is still getting that real good milk from you :). i didnt wean, i unfortunatly dryed up, my son was just to hungry and i couldnt keep supply going no matter what i tried, but i have heard of a natra pharm "milk stop" spray. and wearing a bra about 2 sizes to small, kind of like binding (and you will become engorged, so watch for mastits)

Brandis - posted on 02/10/2010

If I were you (and this is just what I would do) since she's already 50/50 is stop pumping but still breastfeed her once or twice a day. As long as you do it regularly your body will adapt to that and you'll make just enough for those one or two feedings. At first (probably first 48 hours) you will be engorged and feel pressure and tightness, but actually doing the feedings will help with this in most cases.

If you do still decide to stop altogether it will hurt a little, but it goes away quickly. Pumping a tiny tiny bit just to relieve the pressure can help, but if you pump too much your body is just going to make even more later.

Heather - posted on 02/10/2010

im a full time student and its just hard to pump and study and feed and ugh its just to time consuming i dont want to be a bad mom but its just took much right now also i think shes ready to start exploring other foods and im kind over being a food sorce

Melissa - posted on 02/10/2010

I'm exclusively breast feeding and introduced cereal at 22 weeks. I just mixed the breast milk in the rice cereal. Don't plan on weaning yet but I share your fears.

Trina - posted on 02/10/2010

why are you stopping?