Breastfeeding - Tallahassee, FL

I exclusively nursed and pumped until my daughter was 1 year (she's 18 months now). At 10 months, during my period, she started to refuse the day-time feedings (I guess my production was down) but would nurse in the am then before bed. At 11 months, during my period, she refused all together and got frozen milk until 1 year. With the less feedings and the return of my cycle, I NEVER had engorgement (this is a tip I have for nursing mothers � if your period returns while you�re nursing, wean-when you/baby are ready-during a cycle!)

~J.

i took a certain birth control. it's called triphasal. it took about a week or two to dry up.

Soemthing I did that really helped make it less painful (without taking pills), I did a 50/50 kinda thing at first. Added a bottle every other time I fed. I did that for about a week and then did 2 bottles out of every 3 feedings and so on until the milk had slowed production on its own, naturally. Hope this helps!

The best way to wean from breastfeeding is to simply stop all breast stimulation. Get a head of cabbage and keep it in your fridge. take a leaf and place it on each breast. the cabbage leaves maintain their coldness longer and conform to your breast. for the first 24 hrs you can pump to relieve pressure only, but donnot pump until your brests are empty. After 24 hr, no pumping. no allowing any warm water near your breasts until they are dried up. when taking a shower, turn away from teh spray and don't let the water run over your breasts. take tyenol or advil for pain. Depending on how long you've been nursing, will depend on how long it takes, how much discomfort you will have and how much engorgement you will have.
hth
B.

It is best to decrease gradually over a couple weeks so your body and your child will adjust to the change. Stopping suddenly can cause engorgement, plugged ducts, or mastitis. Are you having a problem with breastfeeding? I know some moms just are ready to stop, but I thought I'd ask just in case there's some other issue.

I know this may sound funny but it really works....raw cabbage leaves placed on your actual breast draw your milk out. I had so many problems when I breastfed and they would become engorged, so big that I would just cry. Cabbage was my best friend! Try it ! Really!

I heard that cabbage leaves work really well. Just take a cabbage leaf and put it in your bra like you would a breast pad. Apparently it works really well. I havent gotten to that point yet (my son is 10 months old) but I think this is the approach I will try when we're ready. Hope this helps.

If you go cold turkey, expect a few days of hell. Your breasts will be full, your baby will be fussy, and you will be irritable. The milk will dry up on its own - you don't need a drug for that. The hardest thing for me was knowing what my son wanted but not giving it to him. He was not ready to wean when I was so it was a struggle, but we got through it. If you can do child-led weaning I would recommend that as I have heard it goes much smoother. Good luck!

Hi H.!

I breastfed 5 children so I have a little knowledge...lol. I have to first say that the answer does depend upon the age of the child. If they are still young you can slowly supplement formula interchangeably with feedings. If they are older you can supplement regular milk. The less you are breastfeeding the less your body will produce. And then eventually the production will stop. If you stop "cold turkey", it is a little uncomfortable for the first few days. I don't know of anything to take to dry up. Your body just naturally stops producing. I waited until my kids were eating regular foods as well and could have milk (about 1 year). But with my last 2 I was working as well, so I supplemented formula and my production slowed. Then it was easier to dry up. Hope that helps! Kim D.

Please do not stop cold-turkey. This could cause real problems both with pain and mastitis (which can be fatal if left untreated). The best way for mom and for baby is to gradually elminate feedings over a period of weeks. Start with the feeding you dislike the most. Let it happen naturally.

H.

Cabbage leaves.

Take a leaf from green cabbage and put it in your bra. Replace the leaf after it is "cooked". Continue doing this all day and by the end of the day your milk should be about dried up.

HTH!

S. Mills
Touched By An Angel,
Childbirth Services,Inc

To dry up your milk, you just stop feeding...Its safer than any drug, and usually works just as fast....

To wean your child..start with a bottle or two a day and go up from there....Or you can go cold turkey and just use bottles/sippy cups...this can sometimes be a harder way, tho....

Good luck!

When I weaned my babies I just took a feeding away each week giving them a bottle instead. So for the first week I would nurse for all feedings except for one feeding they would get a bottle, then the second week, I would nurse and they would get two bottles, and etc. I then got down to all bottles during the day and then only nursed during the night. Once they started sleeping through the night then I dried up and we were done breastfeeding. I nursed both of my children until they were about 10 or 11 months. Wanted to have them weaned by 1 years of age when regular milk can be introduced. Hope these helps. I know it takes longer but for me stopping cold turkey was just physically too painful.