Quiting Breast Feeding

I had a tough time with pumping as well. But I agree with what the one lady said about still nursing at night or in the morning. When you cut down the amount of milk you're producing... the nutrients and vitamins are concentrated... so even if your child isn't nursing off of you as much, the milk they get from you is even MORE nutritious!

If and when you do decide to quit nursing, I've heard to put raw cabbage leaves in your bra. When they smell like they're cooked, then switch them out. Doctor's recommend this too, so it isn't just an old wife's tale.

I weaned my son completely at 12 months... by that time he was drinking regular milk except for at night when I would nurse him. When I weaned him, I didn't have any problems or soreness. Since I weaned him slowly over a few months, I guess it wasn't as dramatic. So maybe you won't have any problems at all with your breasts being sore.

Hope this helps!

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There's no need for binding. When I was pumping and working and got to the point where you are (when it seemed pointless, and way too much trouble to get just a couple ounces), I simply dropped a pumping session every 3 days until there were none. You might experience a little engorgement. If so, take advil. (It's ok to pump a tiny bit just to relieve the pressure, but if you do a full pumping you'll make your body think it needs to produce milk at that time.) Keep drinking lots of water to reduce the chance of plugged ducts (though I didn't have this happen). After I quit pumping at work, I kept up nursing morning and evening for about a week, then dropped the evening nursing. The morning nursing lasted about another week or so, then I dropped that one.
It will be ok! In about a week you will be a lot less stressed when you don't have to worry about milk production and lugging milk bottles and a pump around with you. Have yourself a margarita to celebrate 6 months of hard work!
Oh, and in case no one has told you, your boobs won't feel like "themselves" for a few months, and that's normal. You might wait a couple months before making your trip to Victoria's Secret for the celebratory non-nursing bra.

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Hi J.,

There's no need to bind your breasts or do anything drastic like that. Cut out one of your daily pumping sessions, replacing that milk with formula for your little one. Every 4 days to 1 week, cut out another pumping session and continue until you are no longer pumping at all. If you do it gradually, you will not have a problem with engorgement.

One thing to consider...If you want, you could still continue to nurse her first thing in the morning and/or right before bed at night. You won't be producing that much milk, but if nursing is a comfort to you and her, there's no reason to cut it out completely, and there's no need for pumping!

:-) H.

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I stopped about the same time with the same problems. I just stopped pumping and breast feeding and it dried up quickly. If you want maybe just pump the first and second day once a day. But, especially when you have not been making a lot of milk, it dries up quickly.

When I quit breastfeeding, I didn't really do anything special. Your breasts will get really sore, and you can pump just a little to relieve some pressure, but for me the soreness only lasted about a week or two. I don't think you really need to bind your breasts, but it is all about what is going to be most comfortable for you. Good Luck.