How to Wean - West Mifflin,PA

We just did it very gradually and I'm so happy with the way it worked out. The last two feedings I gave up were the morning and evening ones.

After that, I gave up the morning feeding.

Gradually, I replaced nursing her to sleep with rocking her to sleep with her music on. After a while, it seemed like she just forgot about nursing.

I did this over a few month period.

C. :)
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Drop one feed at a time every 5 days starting with one during the middle of the day. As you drop that session you will need to pump for 5 mins the 1st day, 4 mins the 2nd day, 3 mins the 3rd day, 2 mins the 4th day and then 1 min the 5th day. This should hopefully stop your chances of engorgement. Then drop the next feed during the midday and pump as stated above. Continue dropping a feed every 5 days ending with either the morning or night feed until you are finished. You can also place cabbage leaves on your breasts after you pump to help too. This was information I received from a lactation specialist and it really works. Unfortunately books tell you how to wean a baby not yourself. Also as you drop the feeds and replace with milk, you should give 1/4 formula (or cows milk depending how old your child is) + 3/4 breastmilk and increase the ratio every day or so for your daughter to get used to cows milk. remember no matter what anyone says, this should not be a painful experience and there are ways to prevent pain from engorgement. If you have problems call a local nursing mothers group or lactation specialist. I hope this helps you. Congratulations on getting this far you should be proud of yourself! If you have any questions feel free to email me.

Drop one feeding per week. If you drop quicker then that you risk cloged milk ducts, mastisis, or even an abscess. Drop the least perferred feeding first, and be prepared for tears from your little one. Some babies do not take forced weening well. Others are fine with it. Just be prepared either way.

I would go with Donna's recommendation. Also, are you part of a Nursing Mother's Advisory group? There are a number in the area, and a volunteer can advise you. With both my kids, the last 3 nursings to go were first in the morning, last at night, and right after work in the early evening. Then it went down from there. I cannot recall how often I was nursing at 10 1/2 months...it's been a while, and I nursed my kids for c. 2 yrs for the 2nd (self weaned) and about 16 months for the first (weaned too suddenly, for an emergency situation, and always regretted that I didn't do it differently.)

Good luck and enjoy these last weeks or months or whatever you choose!

Weaning is a gradual process, and if you try to go too fast, you could have problems with engorged breasts. It may take longer than two weeks. It's best to get your cues from the baby and every child is different. You don't want to stress your baby out after giving her such a good start. I nursed all eight of my kids different lengths of time from 6 months to almost 3 years. I seem to remember that it went hand in hand with their interest in food, and that they lost interest in daytime feedings way before the night time feeding (comfort). But what that did for me is that the milk just dried up with less and less demand from the baby, and I didn't have to get shots for the discomfort. You've done a great job to nurse your baby this long. Relax and let nature take its course. Two steps forward... one step back.
:)
N

Hi, Lauren:

Contact your local breast feeding consultant at La Leche League.

www.llli.org

If you do not get any help. Please let me know.
Good luck. D.

Hi Lauren,

Check out this link: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/weaning/index.html

The Kellymom site has great info for all stages of breastfeeding, including techniques on how to wean, herbs that can help with engorgement, etc.

Congrats on making it more than 10 months, it's not always easy!