Stoping breast feeding

[mimik]

I am going to stop breast feeding, im alreading weaning. Is there something to speed up the process of drying up?? and is there anything to do for the discomfort?? Thanks

[blondie72]

How old is your little one???  If not a year yet you should really try to stick it out.  I know it is hard I am so ready to quit sometimes but I will stick it out.  I mean this is your decision and I am not saying anything bad here so please do not take offense to what I have just said.  It is a trying thing to do.  I do not think there is anything you can do to speed things up.  When I weaned my DD 6 yrs ago I remember the engorgement was awful.  I called the nurse at my dr's office to ask and they said lots of warm/hot showers letting the water hit the breasts and also to wrap an ace (type) bandage around them tightly.  Good Luck to you.  I am not looking forward to all that again when my little guy goes off the hoots.  Take Care.

[Still_AndiJ]

Weaning entails dropping a feeding, waiting a few days, usually a week and then dropping another until baby is weaned. If you do it this way, there will be little or no discomfort. Stopping abruptly is not good for you or baby, it should be a gradual process. If baby is under a year, you need to replace each feeding with a bottle of formula. If baby is over a year, you can give regular whole milk in place of the feeding.

Andrea

[mimik]

we had a alot of trouble breast feeding in the hospital. i have inverted nipples and she just couldnt latch on. Ive tried everything, even shields, and they didnt work. So
they( breast feeding consultants) had me pumping full time. Now my milk supply sucks!! She is 3 weeks. I cant get enough for her. I feel like im letting her down, but its either let her starve, or go to formula.

[mimik]

Thanks , i have been relacing feedings with formula. I wasnt sure if i was doing that right. Thanks for the reensurement!!

[carolyn55806]

If you haven't breastfed for at least 6 months I would encourage you to try for a little longer. But when you're ready, you shouldn't jut abruptly stop. You should supplement with formula for a couple weeks and gradually move over to formula alone.

[cinnamonheart]

You do whats best for you and your baby
Obviously she needs to be fed and if you dont have enough milk then yes you should substitute formula
Good luck to you

[Still a mom]

I also have inverted nipples. One came out of it with the shields but my other wouldn't. A nurse told me to put a bottle nipple over my nipple and let Alex suck on that and it would draw out the milk and my nipple and it worked. After a couple times I could do it with out the nipple. I was really shocked since nothing else worked.

Also about your milk supply, they suggest eating lots of oatmeal to help. Also there are herbs that help boost milk supply that really do work. I know lots of women who have benefitted from taking them.

Don't feel like I am trying to push you towards not weaning, just giving some ideas if you would like to continue nursing.
mandi

[jennimom]

You can always use both formula and breast milk, rather than giving up completely.  Also, I've heard that rental pumps are better than ones you buy in terms of establishing your milk supply.

[mgi]

when I weaned I had no discomfort or engorgement because I did it very gradually
good luck

[mimik]

Thanks for all of your help. Im going to keep pumping as much as i can. I rented a good one from the hospital. Thanks again

[mimik]

It seems like my milk is real watery than it used to. Could something be wrong with it??

[Still_AndiJ]

Doubtful, as far as there being problems with the milk itself. The foremilk, what comes out in the beginning is supposed to be thinner and watery and the hindmilk is the stuff that is loaded with fat and protein to fill baby up. It is amazing how nature works.

I had an inverted nipple with my second. I was able to nurse for a short while and drew it out, but I developed mastitis and for some reason neither of my boys would nurse on the right side. So I have nursed him exclusively on the left side since he was 10 days old. I did the same with my first born. I kind of wonder about people claiming inadequate supplies, it is so very rare and I was able to nurse 2 very healthy boys without a single bottle of formula (my youngest had literally had less than one ounce of formula and promptly spit it up and wouldn't even look at it again!) using only one breast for 14 months with Jonathan and now almost 12 months with Tristan and they had both maintained 95th+ percentile for growth : )

Give it a go, contact WIC, they have hospital grade pumps they loan for free to increase your milk supply. They did that with me when I developed mastitis, but I was too far gone as it abscessed and was tainting the milk.

Good luck!

Andrea

[jennimom]

the consistency, color, etc. of the milk changes based on the stage in the feeding and the baby's needs, so I would not worry about that.  Good luck with the hospital grade pump, I've heard from nurses that they are much better at establishing the milk supply.  With any luck, you might get some increase!  Jenni

[Myah's Mom]

I went through almost the same ordeal with dd. She lost one pound while in hospital, and still wouldn't feed once we got home. I stopped after about a week. I know a lot of women on this board have had success at breastfeeding, and therefore encourage others to stick it out, but I also had to make the choice that was right for my child. At barely 5 pounds-it was either start feeding her formula or have her hospitalized. Seems like a pretty obvious choice to me.
You are NOT letting your child down!!! Yes, I agree breast is best, but I don't feel that formula isn't an adequate way to feed your child. Most of our generation were raised on formula (or carnation milk!) for heaven's sakes, and are no worse for the wear.
Your decision was probably hard enough without others trying to change your mind. 3 weeks already gave your baby colostrum and a wonderful start on life, so be proud of that, and move forward to what you have to do.

[cinnamonheart]

you go girl!!

[Cheryl23]

Though I am an advocate for breastfeeding, I did want to tell you that each woman is different. I've known women who've done it throughout the first year and others who couldn't make the first week. Remember, it is a PERSONAL choice and no one else's opinion should sway what you think is best for you. If you are continuing to breastfeed, good for you. If you're having trouble and feel the need to switch to formula - that's your choice and you should not feel bad about it.

[Still_AndiJ]

Wow, it is interesting to see some are coming across as anit-breastfeeding on this forum. One in particular seems to champion anyone who chooses against nursing. Just a casual observation. I wonder how people on here would feel if someone was against prenatal care.

[blondie72]

I agree with you on the post about wondering about inadequate supply.  I have heard so many people say "I had to stop because they would nurse every hour it seems I wasn't making enough milk".  I just want to tell people that say that "YOU HAVE PLENTY OF MILK"!!!!!!!!!  It is digested so easily that they seem hungry again and this is how you build your supply so they do nurse less and less until they hit the dreaded growth spirt.  Like I said earlier it really is trying (at least for me)  I have wanted to give up so many times but feel guilty so I will stick it out.  My little guy is 8 1/2 months old and I said I would go for a year but I will let him tell me when he is done I think.  My DH made me quit cold turkey with my DD when she was 15 months old and I hated it.  I think it is cool that you nursed both your boys exclusivly (sp??) I feel EVERYONE CAN do it unless there is a medical reason against it.  It is a sacrifice but given all the benefits it is definitely a sacrifice I am willing to make for my baby.  Formula feeding does not make you a bad person though so please for those of you who are doing that please do not take offense.  I am not here to judge.  You are doing what YOU think is right for YOUR baby I just think nursing is better for MINE.  Take Care

[nanakay]

you know what my sister bought me for mothers day??

i got this card and in it it said happy mothers day and under that it said that a donation had been made in my name to the breastfeeding coalition of Washington.....isn't that cool!!

my house is so full of clutter and 'stuff' that i always tell people don't buy me anything...so i thought this was a very cool gift!
~nanci

[cinnamonheart]

Well i never came back til now
I AM NOT AGAINST BREAST FEEDING (you know the one who champions on it) i DONT THINK PEOPLE SHOULD BE MADE TO FEEL GUILTY IF THEY CHOSE NOT TO OR CANT FOR SOME REASON  -- GOT IT NOW