Breastfeeding Question

I agree with Stacie, but just wanted to add....you don't have to stop just because he is turning one. One is just the minimum that the AAP and WHO recommend and unfortunately the media kinda portrays it as "the" age.

Just know that if you both want to continue, the milk doesn't magically become less good for him the day he turns one. It still has all the same wonderful stuff in it for him and it will benefit him to continue nursing if you have it in you to continue.

I didn't intend to nurse longer, but my son didn't want to stop and being working mom I cherished those snuggly moments. I would say nursing a toddler is easier and more enjoyable than a baby because they don't take much down time like that once they start moving around. Plus you don't have to nurse them any certain number of times and usually they will understand and not mind too much if you say "not now".

Good luck!

It was a very mutual decision to stop nursing my first child at about 1 year. she would not sit for it and I was almost forcing her. Because I made less and less milk the more solid food she ate, I experienced no engorgement at all and barely leaked. I don't know if this is typical. After my first child, my breasts actually got smaller than they were before. I was fairly well endowed to begin with so that was ok. Also, don't know if that is typical, but I have heard the same from other mommies. After my second child though, diff. story. Boobs are just a tad bigger and sad to say, sloppier, probably due to the skin not being as elastic the second time around!! congrats on keeping up with the nursing. I agree it is a very special experience!

Hi Rachel! The best way I found to stop nursing is to do it gradually! I did this with my son when he was about 13 mths old and it was easier on him and on me! What I did is take a feeding away at a time each one lasting for a few days! I would have the before bed one and the AM on be last because those always seemed to be the most important ones and the most comforting feedings! At least that is how it was for us. I would just do this till you only have the AM and PM left and then I took the AM one away for a few days and it was fine! We both did really well with it! And it helped for my milk production to decrease gradually too! I don't remember leaking at all or having full breasts at all once we were done. Most womens breasts do go back to normal size but as for me I never did see that change at all! I hope this helps! Good luck and cograts on breastfeeding for the full year!
S. Bailey CLD
Aurora
www.tendermomentsdoula.com

Do it as gradually as possible. There's no reason you need to wean at 1 year - WHO actually recommends breastfeeding through the second year of life (ie until age 2). If you want to wean him, decrease the frequency if your feedings with him gradually. I would drop no more than 1 feeding per week. You'll probably end up with the bedtime one or morning one last. Easiest way to drop those is by changing your routine. Have your husband put him to bed instead of you every other day, for example. (You won't be able to go from 1x/day to nothing cold turkey - I would do every other day for a week, then every 2-3 days, then stop). For my son the thing that finally got him to drop his morning feeding was when we moved him into a big boy bed at 20 months. At that point it was more exciting to read books in his bed than it was to nurse in MY bed. After a couple weeks your breasts will be back to whatever size they're going to be. Might be their previous size, might be bigger or smaller - everyone is different. Either way, they probably won't be the same as before. Consider it a badge of Motherhood. (Along with your bellybutton, which probably doesn't look the same). :)

From personal experience and talking to other moms who have nursed, it's best and less painful for you to decrease the breastfeeding by one feeding per week. As far as size goes, everyone is different but you could end up bigger or smaller.

IF you want to wean him then do it but just know that there is no reason to if neither of you are ready. There is nothing that says that breastmilk isn't just as beneficial if not more past the one year mark. That's the minimum recommendation. It's just like with rearfacing carseats, they say the minimum is a year old and everyone flips their kids around. It's just the minimum, nothing will happen if you continue to nurse your one year old and keep him rear facing (gasp!).

I stopped cold turkey each time. My milk supply was so low by the time I stopped because of solids I couldn't do it any other way. It was like having the flu for two days and my breasts hurt soooo bad. I had to wear a tight bra and just get through it. But after the first few days it wasn't as bad and by two weeks I was dried up. I think it's different for everyone. My girlfriend could get milk out after not breastfeeding for a few months. As for the normal size, I was a b before kids and now I'm a c, but it isn't a nice round firm c. Big bummer. However, some women get smaller than they were before. so basically there aren't any guarantees.