I'm in the process of trying to wean my 22 month old daughter from breastfeeding. I work full time and am still pumping twice a day(once in the morning and once in the afternoon) which I'm not sure if I really need to be doing. I'm just worried about getting engorged and wasn't sure if I should just quit one of them cold turkey and then eventually cut out of the other session or just quit both of them completely. I'm sure I would still be producing milk. Any thoughts or suggestions?? I also had to cut dairy out of my diet since it didn't agree with my daugther and have been nervous to try and give her whole milk. She does eat cheese here and there but not completely sure if she is now able to eat dairy. What is the closest thing to breastmilk?
Thanks for all your kind suggestions:)
I quit slowely, cutting out one feeding every couple days and I didn't have any pain or discomfort. When I tried to do it quicker it was really painful.
Your body is amazing at adjusting to "demand". I'd suggest cutting one of your pumpings and see how it goes. If it's painful, then do it very briefly, just to alleviate the pain, but not to empty. (The Lactation Consultants always told me that if you're becoming engorged, just "pump to comfort".) In about 3 days, your body will compensate and produce less at that time of day. Then do the same with the other pumping. Good luck!
By the time I weaned my daughter, I was only feeding her morning and night. If you are still feeding her at these times, I would go ahead and cut one pumping session, then a few days later, cut the other. You should be fine through the day. Then cut one nursing session. I am pretty sure no matter how slowly you do it, it's a few days of pain, unless you are out of milk...
It is best to stop slowly. Cutting back little by little will help keep you from getting engorged, which you probably already know can be painful and lay the groundwork for a breast infection. Cut back your pumping time and with your little sweetie the Le Leche League way is "don't offer/don't refuse". You also don't want her to freak out. Hope this helps!
I would pump only enough from both sessions to relieve any fullness you may feel. Your body will adjust over a couple of days. IF you get engorged at all, just express enough to relieve the fullness. It could take a few days to adjust but if you are only pumping twice a day (though you don't mention how much you pump at each session) you should be able to get by with just pumping less until you can cut one session out completely and then continue to decrease the amount you pump/express with the other session until your body adjusts.
Even after you completely stop pumping, you will still produce milk but you should not be leaking at that point. It could take months before your milk completely dries up.
First cut one. You will probably get a bit engorged but that will go away. when you finally go down to none, you will be engorged for a while but it will eventually go away too. it's just something you have to go through.
When I weaned my twins from those final nursing sessions, I was waiting for engorgement to come. It never did. You may not have an issue with it at all.
Good luck...I know it's hard to make that decision to stop nursing! I nursed my little guy for 23 months. He LIVED to nurse. One day I just decided 'Ok, we're done'. Cold turkey. It was the only way I could emotionally deal with it...I loved nursing him. So I had a tad bit of discomfort that day and the next...nothing at all horrible...and I did what I read from many other sources...I got cabbage leaves...put them in the freezer, and stuck one in each side of my bra! It sounds crazy but it so helped!!! Fear not...you can do it!
I quit nursing gradually (one session every two weeks). When there was one feeding left per day, I did that for two weeks and then stopped (no every other day thing or anything like that). I had no engorgement at all. It was so much easier than I anticipated.
I'd suggest quitting pumping first, and then drop daughter's feedings one at a time. If you feel you're getting engorged, use the pump again, but only for relief of engorgement.
When I weaned my daughter (13 months) I didn't have any engorgement issues until the last feeding was dropped. It really wasn't bad either, not like when your milk first comes in or mastitis, just hardened and sore. I never got to a point where I had to use the pump, and it took about a week before I felt anything, then maybe another week to dry up completely.
Best wishes!
The breast feeding resource center at harris methodist has lactation consultants that will talk to you for free and give you professional advice. You can call them 9-4, Mon.-Sat. at 817-250-baby. I've used them for guidance, they are great! Good luck, and good for you for nursing so long!
I would end the night time feedings,then quit one pumping session morning or afternoon I would do the afternoon,then quit another feeding,then quit the morning feeding then you'll have to quit the feedings with your daughter.You didn't mention how many times a day your feeding your daughter but this process shouldn't take long allow a good 2-3 weeks then she'll be weaning herself off along with you.
I've read the other posts and have another suggestion to add. If you are looking to quickly dry up try popping a Benadryl or Sudafed. Cold meds typically have ingredients in them that dry out your system - not just your runny nose.
Although I am not a big pill popping proponent, I did learn that using these meds will dry you up fast.
If you are going to continue nursing or pumping in the meantime, I wouldn't do it tho.
Just wanted to throw in some advice I hadn't seen posted yet. (And 1 or 2 pills aren't going to hurt you.)
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