How to stop breast feeding?
- Thread starter taysty
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nicolejoy
Registered User
What are you doing now? Directly nursing, or pumping, or both?
In general, you just want to do it for less and less time each day or each week and your supply will therefore decrease naturally. If you do it that way, you can stop breastfeeding with no engorgement, pain or mastitis (unlike if you go cold turkey!!)
In general, you just want to do it for less and less time each day or each week and your supply will therefore decrease naturally. If you do it that way, you can stop breastfeeding with no engorgement, pain or mastitis (unlike if you go cold turkey!!)
as my supply wasn't great to begin with, it took me about 1-2 mths to go back to "normal" but still, if you pressed on hard enough some milk would advertently come out...not enough to feed anyone though - and that went away maybe completely in about 4-6mths...can't remember very clearly.
I went cold turkey by going away for a weekend. The breasts did become hard and I was tempted to pump, but having regular warm showers/baths provided some relief and allowed some leakage. As I wasn'tn pumping, it just took about a week for my breasts to stop making any milk - it all just got reabsorbed into my body. That was it!
nicolejoy
Registered User
If I were you, I'd guess how long I pump for in total and reduce it each day by 5 minutes or so. That's probably what I'd try...
Another thing that you could do is drop a pump - if you currently pump four times a day, try going down to three, and then when that "stabilises", try two and then one...
How frequently are you pumping??
Another thing that you could do is drop a pump - if you currently pump four times a day, try going down to three, and then when that "stabilises", try two and then one...
How frequently are you pumping??
nicolejoy
Registered User
What I would suggest is reducing the number of times you pump every day, but maybe make each pumping time a little longer at least at first to accommodate. Dropping pumping sessions generally will reduce your supply.
How old is your baby? I found that the engorgement was worst in the first couple of months or so, but now that she's closer to six months, even though I'm pumping greater volumes less frequently, now I don't get engorged so much and I don't leak or anything at all... but when she was a month or two old, I was getting engorged more and leaking more, even though I was pumping more frequently and less volume each time! *shrugs* it doesn't make sense to me!!
How old is your baby? I found that the engorgement was worst in the first couple of months or so, but now that she's closer to six months, even though I'm pumping greater volumes less frequently, now I don't get engorged so much and I don't leak or anything at all... but when she was a month or two old, I was getting engorged more and leaking more, even though I was pumping more frequently and less volume each time! *shrugs* it doesn't make sense to me!!
If you count each one of your pumping sessions as one feed then drop one session every five days and then stop altogether. Don't do pumping sessions next to each other i.e. plan it so they are at different times of day. Then you will have a comfortable slow down without much pain. I then wore a tight-ish sports bra for a week and it all worked out fine with no issues at all. I did this after feeding both my babies.
@ nicolejoy
My baby is close to four months now. I also find it doesn't make sense as I sometimes get more milk when I'm engorged but sometimes not.
@ newbiekt
I think your way is good at different time each day.
@ yonge
I work 5 days so taking warm shower is not so convenient though I want the quickest way.
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My baby is close to four months now. I also find it doesn't make sense as I sometimes get more milk when I'm engorged but sometimes not.
@ newbiekt
I think your way is good at different time each day.
@ yonge
I work 5 days so taking warm shower is not so convenient though I want the quickest way.
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southside852
Registered User
With my first son, I dropped a feed every 3 days. I had no engorgement and I didn't pump.
My lactation consultant in the United States said that if you want to dry up your milk supply all you need to do is take a cold medicine with any decongestant in it. It will dry up your milk supply quickly. Of course, you should be done breastfeeding your baby at the point when you start using the medicine so that your baby won't be taking in any of the medicine.
So, I think that your idea of reducing the amount and times that you pump breast milk is the first step--meanwhile getting your baby established on using a bottle/formula. Then pick a date that you won't be using your breastmilk to feed the baby after and on that day start taking a cold medicine with a decongestant in it. You can still pump breast milk to relieve pressure if needed.
Some of what I've read recommends taking ibuprofin for any pain or swelling associated with not expressing milk and wearing tight sports bras to provide counter pressure. You can also put cabbage leaves in your refrigerator and apply them to your breasts--this is a home remedy for engorgement.
I stopped pumping and breastfeeding my son "cold turkey" when he was about 6 months old. I just said one day, "I'm done." I don't remember any particular problems with engorgment--but that might be because my breasts were always itchy, sore and miserable the entire 6 months I breastfed so any new discomfort probably went unnoticed. I finally found relief when I stopped breastfeeding. However, my son was born over 3 years ago and I still had milk leaking from my breasts even before I got pregnant with the baby I'm carrying now. So, even though your milk "dries up" sometimes your body still produces milk--for up to years afterward. I think this is pretty common.
Hope everything goes well.
So, I think that your idea of reducing the amount and times that you pump breast milk is the first step--meanwhile getting your baby established on using a bottle/formula. Then pick a date that you won't be using your breastmilk to feed the baby after and on that day start taking a cold medicine with a decongestant in it. You can still pump breast milk to relieve pressure if needed.
Some of what I've read recommends taking ibuprofin for any pain or swelling associated with not expressing milk and wearing tight sports bras to provide counter pressure. You can also put cabbage leaves in your refrigerator and apply them to your breasts--this is a home remedy for engorgement.
I stopped pumping and breastfeeding my son "cold turkey" when he was about 6 months old. I just said one day, "I'm done." I don't remember any particular problems with engorgment--but that might be because my breasts were always itchy, sore and miserable the entire 6 months I breastfed so any new discomfort probably went unnoticed. I finally found relief when I stopped breastfeeding. However, my son was born over 3 years ago and I still had milk leaking from my breasts even before I got pregnant with the baby I'm carrying now. So, even though your milk "dries up" sometimes your body still produces milk--for up to years afterward. I think this is pretty common.
Hope everything goes well.
I was pump feeding for a few months after I went back to work, and started weaning when bub was 6 months.
My lactation consultant Mrs Chee advised me to drop an ounce with each pump session, eg if you normally pump 4oz on one breast in the morning, try dropping it down to 3, and see how that feels. Normally it will take a couple of weeks to wean though. Eventually I could also stretch the times between pumping sessions, and dropped down to 3 a day, then 2 a day, then 1, then once every 2 days etc. I weaned successfully over 3 weeks I think, and my periods came right back.
Mrs Chee also advised eating pate, black beans, and pigeons to help with the weaning.
My lactation consultant Mrs Chee advised me to drop an ounce with each pump session, eg if you normally pump 4oz on one breast in the morning, try dropping it down to 3, and see how that feels. Normally it will take a couple of weeks to wean though. Eventually I could also stretch the times between pumping sessions, and dropped down to 3 a day, then 2 a day, then 1, then once every 2 days etc. I weaned successfully over 3 weeks I think, and my periods came right back.
Mrs Chee also advised eating pate, black beans, and pigeons to help with the weaning.
Ground up goose liver, traditionally but can be made with other types of liver as well. Pigeon? I always tease my husband when he eats that that he's eating a "flying rat"--some of the greasiest meat I've ever seen in my life.
No probs. Braxton Hicks keep going at it and keep getting stronger. But, I'm hoping the rumors are true that it's better to have more and have stronger ones because it warms up your uterus and gets your cervix ready for birth. Apparently, midwives say that the more you have and the stronger they are the better chance you have of a faster labor. And I'm all about having a fast labor (43 hours with my last one start-to-finish with no pain meds)! Thanks and I hope that you find a suitable way to go off of breastfeeding soon.
To those who gave me advices, I'm now stucked again. I cut down the number of pumps gradually to 2 times a day, then go cold turkey last Friday. The first night was tough but it gets better. The problem now is my breast is full of hard lumps, I massage, put warm towel, all doesn't work. Doesn't leak alot but sometimes have kind of prickling pain. Anyone have this kind of experience? How long will my breast back to normal again?
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