Hi Moms -- In the next month or two, I plan to stop pumping. My daughter will almost be a year and I'm exclusively pumping (due to extenuating circumstances). I have nearly 5 months of milk frozen in storage and it's just time. I'm wondering what to expect. Could you share your experiences? Did your hormones go haywire? etc. Any other unforeseen issues, like hair loss, which I've heard can happen after you stop nursing? I've not had any great hair loss yet, fingers crossed!
I'm a little apprehensive, so I'm just trying to get a head's up! Thanks!
**I reworded my original question, but to clarify for the first responders: when my milk came in, it came in hard and strong. My daughter was a preemie and therefore I ended up with a LOT of extra milk. I've actually donated 8 gallons to a local milk bank (and still have 5 mos worth in storage!). I pump every six hours for 15 mins and I always get anywhere from 7-9 ounces each time, which is WAY more than my other new mom friends. Sooo, I guess that's why I considered myself a bit of an over-producer. I have not yet talked to the doc about the shot, but as I said, I plan to. I can certainly begin reducing the pumping, I'm just so weary of doing it and so ready to be done with it, I thought if the shot was safe and available, I would do that. So, aside from the shot issue, if you have any experiences to share, that would be great! Thanks!
You aren't over producing. The breast works on supply and demand for the most part so when you pump it dry it thinks 'hey the baby is eating everything so we need to step up production'. Cut back on the pumping. If you pump each side for 5 minutes cut back a minute or two and then lengthen out the time between pumping. It'll be a little uncomfortable at times but you'll stop making as much and you'll dry up.
Boy, am I envious of your pumping abilities!! Is there a specific reason you want to stop cold turkey? I breastfed for a long time so when I finally weaned, there was barely any milk left anyway so it was like nothing to stop. Since you are going full power, I would start by decreasing your pumping sessions and increasing the intervals. Bodies are meant to adjust to the baby's demands so I would really try that first. As far as the shot, your doctor is the best reference.
If you are just pumping, just start pumping less frequently, nature will take it's course.
I had no side effects after stopping nursing my 2 year old... just smaller boobs.
If you can manage just a little longer and slowly wean from pumping it will be a much easier process for you. Drop a pumping session every few days. Also, not sure what your birth control situation is, but for most women being on a birth control pill with estrogen will dry up the milk a lot. I think the lactation suppression shot is not very common anymore, too many risks and side effects that are worse than some short term engorgement. I have heard cabbage leaves in the bra help with engorgement discomfort and help with drying up the milk.
Never used the shot, but as my milk dried up, your breasts get hard as rocks and hurt like hell. It's important not to run them under the hot shower or massage them, because that stimulates milk production. I'd still leak like crazy every time the baby cried. It was miserable for about a week, then tolerable the next week. Due to your hormones winding down, you might FEEL like you're losing hair, but that's totally normal... the average person loses 100 strands per day (I lose more, not that you can tell by looking at me, but check out my floor!)... the hair thing is totally normal.
I was a bit of an emotional mess because *I* wasn't ready to stop (3 times!), but within a month, I felt relatively, emotionally 'normal'. Once you get past that hump, things even out, and you begin to feel like a woman again!!
Oh, and don't let your husband fool with your breasts or nipples for a while... you'll still leak, and that's not exactly the sexiest thing ;)
Good luck! You'll do fine... we all did :)
I did not get the shot and I weaned slowly so my experience may not be the same. I found that my hormones did go out of wack for a little bit and I gained a couple of pounds, but it wasn't too bad. I did not have hair loss or bad acne or anything.
If you are pumping, have you considered pumping a little less each time til you aren't pumping much at all? It would mimic how a nursling would wean.
I dont want to be the bearer of bad news but someone has to say it - IT SUCKS! It hurts, your boobs get all lumpy, your hormones go nuts on you, you leak at the most unopportunistic times, its just NOT fun. Oh and if you are one of the lucky ones your boobs freakin disappear (what is up with that little surprise?)
I am 21 weeks pregnant with number 2 and I have my 'sexy' pregnant boobs back but I am scared to say goodbye to them when I stop breastfeeding this one
Ive heard that this onlyhappens to some so maybe you will get lucky and get to keep your boobies
Good Luck and sorry to be so blunt - I hope it goes better for you than me
Yep, I lost gobs of hair and my hormones made me go through crying jags. Anything would set me off so I went on an anti-depressant for 6 months afterward. We weaned very slowly. Oh, and I have perpetual nipple hard-ons now. I actually asked a question about it on here and found out lots of moms who used to nurse do, too.
Have you actually discussed this w/ your Dr.?
I thought that they no longer offered this due to safety issues.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/lactation-suppression/AN...
http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=621941
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=2008060915565...
Cabbage leaves are supposed to help w/ this.
ETA: it really depends on how old your child is (pain wise). When my DD weaned she was a toddler. I had no pain whatsoever. No leaking. It was just over.
ETA2: Sorry, missed the pumping part. YES! Decrease the pumping! Baby step down and your body will slowing produce less.
I would cut back on the pumping also. My daughter was 20 months and only nursing once a day when I stopped. But I was really surprised that I got plugged ducts about a week after we stopped. I was susceptible to them and had had them quite a few times already. It's important to massage the plug out or you can get mastitis (sp?) I believe you can also use cabbage leaves or cold compresses on the breast to help with over production and engorgement when weaning. There's a great book called The Nursing Mothers' Companion that has advice on weaning. I don't remember having any hormone or hair loss problems but it's been 4 years!
