I have been breastfeeding my son for a little over a year now. I am trying to wean him. Can anyone tell me how long it will take for my milk supply to dry up? Any tips to help the process along?>
If I remember correctly it took about 2 weeks for my milk to dry up. I also remember that a sports bra (tight but not uncomfortably so) was my best friend. I wore it all the time (sleep and awake) except in the shower. It helped to keep me comfortable. The first 2-3 days I was fine and then the discomfort started. It will pass though. Good luck!
When I weaned my first son at 12 months, I believe it took me nearly a year before I could no longer express any milk! It all depends on your body I guess. My family calls me the "Dairy Queen" because I seem to have a never ending supply of milk LOL
I know weaning is a personal decision and you're probably making the best possible choice for you, your child, your family... but, when my oldest son was 1, I was told flat out by his pediatrician that I had to stop nursing him (back then, it was only recommended to nurse for 6 months, so I was quite the rebel in going "so long") - I regretted it SO much!!! It was the worst parenting choice I may have ever made (or close to it). I vowed to never again be pressured into weaning (as neither myself nor my son was truly ready to wean at that point). I nursed my second son until just befor his 3rd birthday and am just over 2 years and still going strong with my 3rd son. If you're feeling pressured by anyone to stop, I'd just like to encourage you to carefully evaluate how you and your son feel about your nursing relationship and know that the World Health Organization recommends a minimum - yes a MINIMUM - of TWO years!! Long term nursing is nothing to be ashamed of and carries extraordinary benefits for your child.
Sorry if you feel I am being preachy, but I'd never want another mom & baby to suffer like I feel my son and I did all those years ago!
I hope you find this link useful...
Make sure that your son gets adequate liquids during the process. When I first started to wean him, he would start running very high fevers from dehydration.
Best of luck!
When I was weening it took about 3 weeks. You can ty taking over the counter sudafed (doctor told me) and if the pain try cabbage leaves. It really helps a little stinky but it helps.
Good luck.
By no means am I an expert or have even really educated myself on the best way to wean, but this is what I can tell you from my current experience. In preparation of my son's first birthday at the end of July I have started the process. I originally was nursing in the AM, after lunch and then pumping in the evening. I dropped the afternoon feeding about 3 weeks ago. Immediately I noticed about a 4 ounce decrease in the amount of milk production when I pump at night. My son is not 11 months 1 week. Next week I will drop the evening pump. I have to say that I feel NO discomfort at all. This is drastically different than with my first. I stopped nursing him at 4 1/2 mo due to allergies. A friend suggested going cold turkey. Big mistake. All the tight bras, tylenol, ice and cabbage didn't make the pain go away for 3 weeks. It was worse than childbirth! Good luck!
Both of my kids kinda weaned themselves around a year. They just weren't interested in it anymore. We started with only feeding in the morning and at bedtime and pretty soon they were ready for just a bottle at night. Since it was a gradual I didn't have any problems with stopping my milk supply.
It may take your supply quite a while to completely dry up, but if you're weaning and not feeling engorged, you should be fine. There were times months after I stopped breastfeeding that a little milk would come out if I squeezed (or if one of my kids sat on my chest!).
It depends on how often you are feeding still. I would cut back one feed a week and your body should follow suit!
Slow down and take the weaning process in small steps. If your son is not adjusting to less feedings, then perhaps he is not ready to wean yet. I would not cut down too quickly...maybe one less nursing every week or two or so. You probably are not feeding him too many times a day at this point, anyway, right? I wouldn't move "the process along" too quickly. I know others wrote that they had milk for a long time after weaning. My son weaned himself about 3 weeks before his 2nd birthday, and I don't recall it taking too long for my milk to dry up. Nursing is such a beautiful experience that you'll never have back with this child...slow down and smell the roses as you undertake the weaning process! :) Good luck!
Hi S. -
I am also beginning to wean my 13 month old. I started to gradually decrease feedings around 11 months. Around a year, I was only feeding her in the morning and before bed. And now we're down to just bedtime. I'm thinking around 14 months we'll be done and I'll just substitute some cuddle time and books. That is about how I weaned my older daughter too. It seemed to work out fine. I do want to say don't go out and buy new bras right away - I didn't shrink all the way down until probably a week after completely weaning.
It's really easy! Just take away a feeding for a few days, then another, then another until you're done. I thought it would take weeks-it took me two days-I nursed my daughter twice the first day, gave her milk all the other times, then next day I didn't even nurse her, and that was it! Everyone is different, but just taper off. KUDOS to you for making it a year!
How are you weaning him? 1 feeding a day or night? the less you feed him the less milk supply you will have then eventually nothing. My son was eating 1 feeding a day then to nothing cause I just ran out.. He had no choice in the matter.. lol.. Goodluck. My son liked reg. food better so I think I had it easy.
I dropped a feeding every two to three days when I weaned my sons. I did feel a little engorged that first day, but it subsided quickly as my body adjusted. I actually could still express a little milk a YEAR after weaning. I would check in the shower about once a week and started to get worried, so I asked my doc. Turns out any stimulation at all can make your body continue producing. So, that means no trying to express, no husband touching, etc! Once I listened to that, my milk did dry up in a few weeks. Good luck. I loved nurinsg but it sure does feel good to get your body back!
When I decided I was gonna stop breastfeeding I ask my husband's aunt who is a Lactation Consultant what would help with weening and the drying up. She suggested I start to use a nipple shield. That helped soooooo much because it slowed my supply and I was dried up in a lil over a month after the last nursing. I didn't have the extreme pain from engorgment that i had after I stopped nursing my first daughter. I hope this is helpful. Good luck!
