Weaning - Evansville, IN

I nursed all my kids and never pumped. By the time each was around 13-15 months old, we just naturally dropped the daytime nursing because we got busy with other things, they ate well at mealtime and had other snacks and regular milk in cups during the day. I continued to nurse all of them until at least 18-20 months old... the youngest is 22 months and still nursing a couple times a day - in the morning and evening. Most moms I know can drop the daytime pumping/nursings and continue to just nurse morning/evening for 6-12 months or longer with no problems.

I agree with the other responses. Your milk supply should easily adjust from 4x to 2x. I recently decreased mine from 4x to 1x. I was confident in going from 4x to 2x but didn't know if my body would continue just 1x. It has been 5 days and so far so good.

The first feeding I dropped (late morning) was the easiest. I waited 3-4 days to allow my body to totally adjust. When I dropped the second one (late afternoon), I slowly did it. Since I was pumping this one at work, I decreased the amount of time that I pumped over 3 days (8 minutes one day, 6 minutes the next and then 4 minutes). I continued to nurse in the morning and at night for another 2 weeks or so. This past weekend I dropped the evening feeding. I have to admit that I was really uncomfortable by morning. I actually got in the shower and released some of the pressure before I fed my daughter. I was not uncomfortable at all the second day. I hope this helps and good luck!!

In my experience, I was able to just stop the pumping during the day. Then my body regulated itself to provide enough milk for morning & evening feedings. I nursed full time for a year and then at morning and night only for 6 additional months. I made the mistake of cutting out all of the day night nursing and pumping at once. i thought the cold turkey approach was a good idea. What happened was my body continued to make enough milk for the additional feedings for a few days. My breasts became so engorged that I couldn't even take a shower without them leaking for 30 minutes. I believe the recommended weening schedule is to cut out one nursing/pumping session per week. This will make you more physically comfortable and make the transition for your child a little less nerve racking as well. Good luck.

Hello K.. I agree with Nikki. I am not sure what "one step" is, what I did with weaning my daughter was mix breastmilk with regular cows milk. And I also nursed her after she ate regular food; she was at the point where she nursed just for the comfort and routine of it and didn't really drink much. Remember to wean slowly not only for his sake, but for your comfort. Best of Luck!

I would cut out one of the daytime feedings for a few days or a week, and then cut out the other one... you will feel fuller... and then your body will adjust. I did that for my son...nursed him at night only until he was 20 months old. It was our special time and then he would sleep so well and I loved it... Just cutting down from 4x a day to 3x a day or 4 x a day to 2 x a day will not make you completely dry up... continued nursing keeps the milk coming...so as long as you are actively nursing morning and night...there should be milk.

The wonderful thing about breastmilk production is, that it functions on a "demand - supply" cycle. If you want to stop pumping during the day and still nurse at night and in the morning, you will not dry out. I would say, go ahead and stop one pumping and let your body get used to it, which should only take a couple of days, and then eliminate the other pumping. You'll be fine. You'll still be able to nurse morning and night.

I have to second what the others have said... our bodies are amazing and can adjust feeding to as much or as little as we need. I am still nursing my 15 month old... just twice a day, morning and bedtime. We slowly cut out the daytime nursing as she stopped asking for it, so it probably was over a week or two total. But didn't have any pain or engorgement. Years ago, the pumps weren't what they are like today... and a friend of mine had to return to work and let her daughter have formula during the week. But the mom's body still made milk - enough to feed on the weekends only. She never had any pain or such... just amazing what our bodies can do! Good luck and like the others said, just slowly cut back and your body will adjust. Buy some cabbage leaves just in case (help to put on your breasts for engorgement pain - crazy but it works!). ;-)

I am curious about similar thing.