I need help and advice on weaning off the breast. I have started the weaning process with my 18 month old. We have been nursing 3 times per day for a long time. Two weeks ago, I skipped the afternoon feeding, and she did well with that. Then, I waited a week and skipped the nighttime feeding, that also went well, because I had my husband rock her to sleep. Now, we are down to the morning feeding. I was wondering if I can just skip this one like the others, or will I get engorged? Just a little note, I have not been engorged since she was 6-7 months old. My breasts feel very empty, so I don't think this will be a problem. I just wasn't sure if this was the right way to stop the remaining feeding. I thought about skipping one day a week, but that will take a while, and I'm really ready for it to come to an end. I just need to know if I can just stop this last feeding without feeling any pain in my breasts. HELP!
I haven't had any problems, except an occasional let down, especially when ovulating. My breasts will just feel sore when that happens but it goes away fairly quickly. No engorgement or anything. Dropping feeding like you have done is the best way to do it.
If you're not feeling any fullness before the morning feeding, you shouldn't have any problem just skipping the morning nursing--assuming you haven't had any mastitis/plugged duct issues up to this point.
If you do experience some fullness or discomfort, pump just enough to relieve the pressure and place raw, cold cabbage leaves in your bra to diminish milk production.
Unless you want to go all natural...a couple of days of over the counter antihistamines can also dry up your supply.
It is fantastic that you've gone 18 months. My little one is down to naptime and nightime nursing--I have no doubt that she'll go at least until 18 months. I am just happy that I don't have to pummp at work anymore!
Hi! I'm a mother of 8 and I have nursed every single one of them. You are really on the right track for weaning already. You probably won't engorge at all, but if you are worried about it, you can "take a day off" and if you feel any discomfort, nurse that next morning. Then the next day, take a day off again, and then another, then re-evaluate how you are feeling. You really should have no problem with engorgement since the body really learns quickly what is needed and what is not. I hope this helps!
yep! you're don't a great job! That's all that I did. Best wishes!
Well congrats on being a breastfeeding mother!! I don't think there are many of us anymore!!! I just finished with my 13 month old. Well he weaned himself!!! I am so pround of him. I never thought he would want to stop. He never did a cup or anything until he stoped. Now he does a soft sippy and drinks his big boy milk and still twirls my hair and looks at me just like he did when he nursed. Anyways........... We were down to 2 times a day and he just forgot about me :( he had a morning feeding and was done!!!! I was an emotional wreck for about 2 weeks and my breast did get engorged and all.......I talked to a Laction Consl. and she said to start taking a regular (estrogin) Birth conrtol pill and that will help the fastest to dry you up and take sudafed with psuedrine in it. You have to get that behind the counter at the pharmamacy and they run your DL # and all. Ice packs and frozen cabbage leaves. That is just part of it i guess. Motrin helps with the inflamation too. I would just call the OBGYN and get a pill before you start to not nurse..... that is what I will do the next time around. Just tell her you talked to a L.C. and that is what she wants you to do. You know Dr's they don't want to tell you anything. Good luck! :()
It sounds to me like you are doing it just right. I did the same thing, and had no problems. You should be fine. This is the natural way to do it.
I stopped breastfeeding last week and I weaned very similar to the way you have by reducing one feeding a week. As with you my breast feel fairly empty. I had one last peaceful morning feeding last week and that was it. I haven't felt any engorgement.
A friend did have a few issues with feeling full and uncomfortable when it came to the last feeding. She nursed her son once every two or three days when she had the discomfort. When she stopped having the discomfort she completely stopped.
I also weaned at 13 months in a similar fashion. I never had any engorgement...but if you do, you can use cool cabbage leaves in your bra and this will help.
I never had any problems with engorgement after dropping the last feeding (at night for my oldest, morning for my 2nd). I only ran into trouble when I tried to stop by oldest at 19 months when he was still nursing 3+ times a day! Congratulations on nursing for 18 months! I nursed by oldest for 21 months, my 2nd for 17 months, and I'm still nursing my 14-month old. I wouldn't trade it for anything!
I don't think you should have a problem either. My dd is 18 months also. I usually nurse her and then get her breakfast with my other kids. For about a week now, I have just been putting her at the table with everyone else and she has been fine.
Elizabeth,
I bet you won't feel any pain or engorgement if you cut down to just one feeding and then after about a week quit all together. I would imagine that at this point your toddler is not getting a whole lot of nutrition, rather just comfort. I weaned both of my kids around a year and just cut down slowly and never had any pain or leakage, etc. I thought both of my kids would miss it more, but they were ready! Good luck and congratulations on going to 18 months! E.
You probally will not get that engorged feeling at all.. from my experience when my oldest was about the same age I had weaned him and I did not get that feeling at all and up until he was a year old I was pretty heavy and still wearing nursing pads. so you should have no problems
I think you will have some pain but probably not as much as you would if you were nursing more often. I was down to a night time feed with my son and I stopped that and was in pain for about 2 or 3 days. I just used compresses and tylenol for the pain and made sure I didn't wear a tight bra for those days. It went away and I was fine. I think the pain, on some level, is just part of the process unfortuneatly.
