How do i stop breastfeeding cold turkey: 7 Methods to Try and 3 to Avoid

Опубликовано: January 2, 2023 в 9:28 am

Автор: alexxlab

Категории: Miscellaneous

7 Methods to Try and 3 to Avoid

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1. Binding

Binding means to tightly wrap the breasts. Breast binding has been used throughout history to help women stop producing breast milk.

In a 2003 study on non-breastfeeding, postpartum women, the effects of binding were compared to those of wearing a support bra.

While the engorgement symptoms for both groups didn’t differ significantly over the first 10 days, the binding group did experience more pain and leakage overall. As a result, researchers don’t recommend binding.

A supportive bra or a gentle binding helps better support the tender breasts when moving and can reduce the discomfort.

2. Restricting fluids

Breastfeeding parents are often told to stay hydrated to maintain their milk supplies. You may wonder if restricting fluid intake may have the opposite effect. This method isn’t well studied.

Researchers have discovered that increasing fluids may not actually increase supply. Without clear evidence that drinking more increases (or decreases) supply, it’s best to stay hydrated regardless.

3. Pregnancy

If you become pregnant while breastfeeding, your milk supply or the taste of your milk may change. Breastfeeding advocacy group La Leche League explains that it’s common to see a drop in supply between the fourth and fifth months of pregnancy.

Since the changes vary by individual, pregnancy isn’t a reliable “method” for drying up breast milk. Many people breastfeed successfully throughout their pregnancy.

Gradual weaning is generally the safest plan, when possible.

How long it takes for milk to dry up depends on the method you try and how long you’ve been breastfeeding. It may take just a few days, or up to several weeks or months, depending on your method of lactation suppression and your current supply.

Even after most of your milk is gone, you may still produce some milk for months after you wean. If your breast milk comes back in without any reason, talk to your medical team.

Abruptly stopping breastfeeding does come with the risk of engorgement and the potential for blocked milk ducts or infection.

You may need to express some milk to relieve the feeling of engorgement. However, the more milk you express, the longer it’ll take to dry up.

Lactation suppression can be uncomfortable at times, but if you experience pain and other worrisome symptoms, call your doctor, midwife, or lactation consultant.

Sometimes, a plugged duct will lead to breast tenderness. Gently massage the area while expressing or breastfeeding.

Contact a medical professional if you can’t unblock a milk duct within 12 hours or if you have a fever. A fever is a symptom of a breast infection such as mastitis.

Other symptoms of a breast infection include:

warmth or redness
general malaise
breast swelling

Sometimes, oral antibiotics are recommended to help treat this condition before it becomes more serious.

You can also contact a certified lactation consultant. These professionals are trained in all things breastfeeding and can suggest different methods or help troubleshoot any issues you’re having.

Drying up your milk supply is a highly individual decision and is sometimes necessary for a variety of reasons.

If you’re weaning due to a medical condition (or other reasons), but still want to provide breast milk for a baby, there are milk banks across the United States and Canada. You can find one through the Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA).

The breast milk is tested and pasteurized so it’s safe for consumption. These organizations also take donations from parents who’ve either lost a child or otherwise wish to donate their milk.

Can I Quit Breastfeeding Cold Turkey? — Genuine Lactation

Can and Should are two different things – Yes, you can, but No, you shouldn’t, unless entirely necessary.

Breastfeeding isn’t a difficult concept – the sucking and pulling of your baby or your breast pump tell your body to make milk. You empty the milk, it fills back up again. If that stimulation and suction stop, it tells your body you don’t need it anymore. BUT, this is not an overnight process. And unless you just love sore, engorged, possibly mastitis-laden breasts, you should follow a gradual and slow weaning process to help your body and your baby adjust. You don’t quit prescription meds cold turkey – you don’t quit breastfeeding cold turkey.

Quitting breastfeeding or your milk drying up is called weaning – and you are allowed to wean whenever you or your baby decides it is time. However, weaning your baby cold turkey is going to make your life a living hell – both physically and mentally.

The Emotional Rollercoaster of Abrupt Weaning

Gradual weaning is always the preferred means of weaning, it allows for a gradual shift in hormones, and reduces the risks of plugged ducts, mastitis, and discomfort associated with more rapid weaning. However, there are times that breastfeeding comes to an end abruptly. There may be medical situations, or personal circumstances that drive the need for abrupt weaning on the parents’ side. Sometimes the situation prohibits a family from working through a nursing strike. Abrupt ending of breastfeeding is not uncommon, but requires attention to both the emotional and physical needs of the dyad.

For the parent, care needs to be given to the emotional impact of the end of a very important relationship, as well as the physical impact of rapid weaning. There is a high risk of clogged ducts, mastitis, engorgement, and physical discomfort. Active efforts to reduce milk supply quickly to alleviate the physical aspect may need to be managed.

Feelings of depression that can be a normal part of the weaning process may occur, as well as intense grief at the loss of a special relationship. Abrupt weaning often prevents the nursing parent from meeting the goals they initially established for themselves, and this can compound the grief. These feelings are completely normal, and attention to these grieving processes should be given the care they deserve.

Some parents find that they feel the opposite about the unplanned ending of breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is a lot of work, and weaning can bring about a new sense of freedom for the breastfeeding parent. If breastfeeding was difficult there may be a sense of relief at moving onto the next stage in your child’s life. Sometimes, these feelings in themselves become a feeling of guilt at not grieving the loss of the relationship like other parents.

Whatever your response to an abrupt ending to breastfeeding, you should know that your feelings are normal, and not a reflection on your relationship with your child. Parental relationships are made to move past breastfeeding at some point, and while the transition can be difficult, you will find new ways to interact with and comfort your child. There will be a new normal, and this is a good thing.

What is a good way to gradually wean my baby?

Parent-led weaning can be done in several ways, depending on your baby’s age, your timeframe for weaning, and your baby’s temperament.

If your baby is under the age of 1, your baby will need to have expressed breastmilk or infant formula in place of nursing in order to meet their nutritional needs. Infants will likely need bottles to meet their needs, but over the age of six months some children happily wean to a sippy cup. Over a year, sippy cups should be used instead of bottles, and you should consult with your child’s health care provider to determine what replacement milk to use with your baby.

All 3 of these parent-led strategies can be viewed here.

Child-led weaning can done in several ways as well. The biological norm for child-led weaning is 2 to 2.5 years, with self-weaning rarely occurring before 1. If a child before 1 is showing signs of weaning, it could be mistaken for a nursing strike. A nursing strike can occur for many reasons. View here.

Can I take a medication, vitamin, or eat a food to dry up my milk quickly?

There is, unfortunately, no set answer for this. Each person’s body responds differently to weaning, and some will lose their milk supply rapidly but others take much longer. Typically, it takes a few weeks to bring milk production to an end, but it can be done more rapidly. If you need to wean rapidly, you would greatly benefit from a weaning consultation to make sure you are able to help avoid clogs, mastitis, and manage the engorgement that will occur with rapid weaning. Often times, if rapid weaning is medically indicated, a health care provider will be consulted to help with the medicinal options for drying up the milk supply.

Here are some basic strategies to assist your body in reducing your milk supply:

Just as there are foods and herbs that support healthy lactation, there are foods and herbs that are reported to reduce milk supply and assist in the weaning process of drying up the milk supply. The challenge with these recommendations is the evidence-base for these practices is lacking.

Peppermint candies like Altoids (natural peppermint flavor)
Sage or jasmine tea. Begin with ½ cup tea daily and increase gradually until results are seen
Peppermint tea 2-4 cups per day until results are seen
Tea Designed for Milk Supply Reduction (Earth Mama Brand or Pink Stork get positive reviews)
Parsley, cilantro or sage in food

Apply cabbage treatment to reduce engorgement:

Apply cold compresses to reduce engorgement

Medications to discuss with your doctor if other measures are ineffective in reducing milk supply:

How Do I Wean from the Pump?

Much of the discussion about weaning surrounds the nursing relationship, but what about mothers who are exclusively pumping, or pumping to reduce supply after an abrupt end to nursing?

What about the practical matters of weaning off the pump? When weaning from the pump, the goal is to reduce and space out the number of pumps until the milk supply is reduced, while pumping only enough to be comfortable without engorgement.

We want there to be milk remaining in the breast while weaning in order to signal to the body that less milk is desired.

You want to avoid pumping between 11pm and 5am if at all possible as the higher prolactin levels at that time will extend the time required to wean. See The Pumping Weaning Schedule on this page.

I Feel Stressed about How to Wean!

Scheduling a weaning consultation is a great way to talk through you lifestyle, concerns, and the temperament of your child in regards to your breastmilk. Don’t hesitate! Schedule a consult today!

Termination of breastfeeding | Stopping breastfeeding

When is it time to stop breastfeeding and what is the best way to do it? Read our article for useful practical tips on weaning.

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How long should breastfeeding continue? Three months? Six? Year? Or maybe a few years?

The World Health Organization (WHO) and other authorities recommend that infants be exclusively breastfed for the first six months and then continue to be breastfed along with other foods (complementary foods) for at least two years. ¹

The fact is that breast milk is not just food. It is a natural sedative if the child is anxious or tired. In addition, milk contains immune-boosting components, the amount of which increases dramatically when the baby gets sick. ²

According to anthropologists, the natural age of a person to stop breastfeeding is even more than two years. Given factors such as tooth development, body weight, comparison with other primates, and historical evidence, some scientists believe that breastfeeding may last up to two to four years. A number of researchers even believe that our ancestors breastfed children up to six or seven years of age. ³

Today, more than 60% of mothers in developed countries start giving their babies formula or complementary foods before six months of age, ⁴ although WHO does not recommend this.

When is it time to stop breastfeeding?

Weaning means that you gradually stop breastfeeding your baby. Ideally, the first step in this process is the gradual introduction of complementary foods, starting at about six months of age. In this case, breastfeeding continues. The weaning process continues until the mother’s milk has been completely replaced by other foods and drinks.

“After six months, the baby needs higher doses of certain nutrients, such as iron, zinc, vitamins B and D, that he cannot get from breast milk or from his own reserves,” says Sarah Beeson, health visitor from Great Britain.

“But solid food should at first only supplement the main diet with breast milk and gradually replace it. Mother’s milk remains the main source of nutrition for the baby for many months to come.”

On average, a seven-month-old baby gets 93% of its calories from breast milk. And even between the 11th and 16th months, milk provides him with about half of the daily calorie intake. ⁵

“Sometimes moms think that breastmilk isn’t that important once a baby has started solid foods, but the truth is, no matter how many months old a baby is, there’s nothing better than your milk,” continues Sarah.

In fact, the process of finishing breastfeeding can take as long as mother and baby want. “When to stop breastfeeding is up to you,” says Sarah. The only thing that matters is what you think is right for you and your child.”

How to wean

Whenever you decide to start weaning your baby, it’s best to do it gradually. An abrupt cessation of breastfeeding can lead to lactostasis, blockage of the milk ducts and mastitis, and in a child such a sudden change can adversely affect the state of the digestive and immune systems. In addition, it will be difficult for both of you psychologically.

When should I stop breastfeeding?

Sometimes mothers mistakenly believe that it is time to stop breastfeeding, when in fact there is no reason to. If you’re returning to work, breastfeeding can be a great way to stay close to your baby during this difficult time for both of you. You can express milk at work, and morning and evening feeding sessions will give you the opportunity to spend time alone with your baby. If you need to leave without your baby, you can also express milk and bring or send it home.

If you get sick, this is not always a reason to stop breastfeeding. Read our advice in the article on breastfeeding when sick and consult with your healthcare professional.

Weaning up to six months

If you cannot continue breastfeeding until six months and want to try weaning your baby, start by replacing one feeding a day with a bottle of formula.

“It’s best to start with midday feedings. Babies are very alert and able to smell breast milk nearby, so ask your partner or relative to give your baby a bottle when you’re in the other room,” Sarah advises.

“Be hygienic when preparing meals. Be prepared for the fact that the baby will take fewer servings of expressed milk per day than if he was fed directly from the breast. Don’t make him eat more milk than he wants.”

You will probably feel that your breasts are fuller and more tender. This is due to the fact that your body is rebuilding to produce less milk. If this creates discomfort, try expressing some milk—just enough to relieve the discomfort without stimulating extra production.

When your body adjusts to the new volume – usually after a few days – replace with formula for one more meal a day. Continue this until you have changed all feedings and your baby is completely weaned.

“I had complications after my first birth, as a result I lost a lot of weight very quickly, and besides, I developed mastitis. Lactation was very weak, and at three months I was forced to stop breastfeeding,” recalls Jennifer, a mother of two from the UK, “I gradually replaced one feeding, so physically it was easy, but mentally it was hard for me.”

If you want to maintain closeness with your baby and all the health benefits of breastfeeding, but still need to cut down on breastfeeding, try partial weaning, replacing only a few feeds a day with formula.

Weaning after six months

Once your baby starts eating solid foods (about six months old), you will notice that breastfeeding naturally occurs less and less. For a year, it can be reduced to just a couple of times a day, and feedings will be replaced by full meals and healthy snacks.

Anyway, if you intend to continue to reduce breastfeeding, do it gradually, replacing one feeding at a time. Use formula milk if your baby is under 12 months old. With cow’s milk, you should wait at least up to a year.

“When I decided to wean my son, I breastfed him three times a day and gave him other foods three times plus light snacks. Gradually, I replaced all breastfeedings with formula. By 11 months, we only had one nighttime breastfeed left,” says Ruth, a UK mom.

There are various ways to distract a child from changes in his diet. Some mothers suggest that instead of breastfeeding something to drink and eat together to maintain a sense of closeness. You can also change your daily routine, play your favorite game, or replace feeding with caresses – from you or from your partner. Some children take longer to get used to the new food, but in the end everything falls into place. If you are having difficulty weaning, ask your healthcare provider for advice.

Ending breastfeeding naturally

Ending breastfeeding can be guided by the baby’s wishes. This is called baby-initiated weaning, or the natural termination of breastfeeding. Such a process is likely to be long and gradual. Month after month, feeding sessions will become shorter and less frequent, until one day the child completely loses interest in the breast.

“My daughter stopped breastfeeding on her own when she was four years old,” says Sarah, a mother from the UK. And once, when we were on vacation, she seemed to just forget about her breasts. Now, six months later, she sometimes still asks for breasts, but she already knows that there is no milk there.

You will have a huge amount of time for the body to adapt, so there should be no discomfort or swelling of the breast. However, you may find it difficult emotionally, so spend more time petting and bonding with your baby.

“Child-initiated termination of breastfeeding was right for me because I never gave my son formula or a bottle. I didn’t want to abruptly stop feeding and refuse him,” recalls Kelly, a mother from the UK, “He himself lost interest in breasts at the age of two and a half years. For us, it was the best scenario, although emotionally it was not very easy for me.”

What if you need to stop breastfeeding quickly?

It is best not to stop breastfeeding abruptly, but sometimes it is necessary for medical reasons or because you cannot be near the baby.

If you have been breastfeeding your baby up to this point, you will most likely have to express your milk to avoid breast swelling. Some mothers prefer to use a breast pump for this, others find it easier to express milk manually. You only need to pump a little, just to eliminate the discomfort, otherwise your body will take it as a signal to produce more milk.

At first, the breasts may swell and become tender, but this will pass. Breast milk contains a so-called feedback lactation inhibitor. When breastfeeding is stopped, this inhibitor tells your body to slow down milk production, but it can take days or even weeks for your breasts to rebuild.

Certain medications can relieve pain and should be discussed with your doctor. Always follow your pharmacist’s instructions or directions, and consult your healthcare professional before taking any medication.

“I had to abruptly stop breastfeeding when my daughter was eight months old because she had to take strong painkillers,” says Peggy, a mother from Switzerland. “It was very difficult because the baby was constantly looking for a breast and crying. I held her tightly to me as I gave her a bottle. This calmed her, and after a month everything was all right.

Can I continue breastfeeding if I want to get pregnant again?

Breastfeeding is a natural contraceptive. However, this method is not the most reliable, especially after six months or if you are not exclusively breastfeeding. This means that you can get pregnant even while you are breastfeeding.

Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers sometimes receive conflicting advice about whether to stop breastfeeding. Consistent feeding of two children of different ages is of course possible, and with the advent of the second baby, your body will produce the kind of milk that both of them need.

It is not uncommon for an older child to refuse to breastfeed or skip feedings if the mother is pregnant. This may be due to changes in milk composition that occur during pregnancy. Milk can change the taste and become less sweet. ⁶ If your baby is under one year of age when he starts to stop breastfeeding, make sure he continues to gain weight.

Talk to your doctor if you want to continue breastfeeding during pregnancy, but have had a preterm birth or miscarriage, or have any bleeding in the past.

If you need medical help to conceive, certain drugs and procedures may not be suitable while you are breastfeeding. Discuss all possible options before deciding to stop breastfeeding.

And finally…

Whenever you decide to end breastfeeding, and whatever method you choose to do so, be kind to yourself and your baby. This is a huge change for both of you physically, hormonally, and emotionally, so proceed thoughtfully and carefully.

“Although my body responded normally to stopping breastfeeding, it was psychologically difficult for me. The thing that united us for so long is over, – Jane, a mother of two children from the USA, shares her impressions, – I worked long hours, five days a week, and breastfeeding made me feel that I occupy a special place in the lives of children. But when it stopped, we soon found other ways to be together.”

Literature

1 World Health Organization. [Internet] Health Topics: Breastfeeding: 2018 [Accessed: 02/08/2018]. Available from : http://www.who.int/topics/breastfeeding/en – World Health Organization. “Health Issues: Breastfeeding” [Internet]. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO; 2018 [Visit 02/08/2018]. Article linked: http://www.who.int/topics/breastfeeding/e

2 Hassiotou et al. Maternal and infant infections stimulate a rapid leukocyte response in breastmilk. Clin Transl Immunology. 2013;2(4): e 3. – Hassiot F. et al., “Infectious diseases of the mother and child stimulate a rapid leukocyte reaction in breast milk.” Clean Transl Immunology. 2013;2(4):e3.

3 Dettwyler KA. When to wean: biological versus cultural perspectives. Clin Obstet Gynecol . 2004; 47(3)712-723. – Dettwiler KA, “Time to wean: weaning from a biological and cultural point of view”. Klin Obstet Ginekol (Clinical obstetrics and gynecology). 2004; 47(3):712-723.

4 Victora CG Breastfeeding in the 21st century: epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect. Lancet. 2016;387(10017):475-490. – Victor S.J. et al., “Breastfeeding in the 21st century: epidemiology, mechanisms and long-term effects”. Lancet 2016;387(10017):475-490.

5 Dewey KG et al. Breast milk volume and composition during late lactation (7-20 months). J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr . 1984;3(5):713-720. — Dewey C.G. et al., “Amount and composition of breast milk in late lactation (7-20 months)”. F Pediatrician Gastroenterol Nutr. 1984;3(5):713-720.

6 Prosser CG et al. Mammary gland function during gradual weaning and early gestation in women. Aust J Exp Biol Med 9021 9029 Sci. 1984;62( Pt 2):215-228. – Prosser S.G. et al., “Breast Function During Gradual Weaning and Early Gestation.” Aust J Exp Biol Med Sai. 1984;62( Pt 2):215-228.

Night weaning: how to stop night feedings

Contents

When can night weaning start?
What is the best way to wean at night?
Are there any reasons why you should not wean at night?
Conclusion

Sleeping through the night seems to be what you did in your past life. Days and nights flow into each other in a misty haze, and all you know is that when you hear your baby crying at night, it’s a signal to bottle or breastfeed.

As your child gets older, you may start to wonder how long this will last. When can you end night feedings and start night weaning?

When can night weaning be started?

Like many developmental milestones, when babies sleep through the night and are ready for nighttime weaning, they can vary greatly. Many babies can sleep for 6 to 8 hours straight when they are 3 months old, but then there is a growth spurt around the age of 3 1/2 to 4 months.

This usually results in children waking up frequently during the night. But don’t lose hope, because it’s usually just a short phase!

Many babies sleep through the night by 6 months, although some babies continue to wake up at night for the first year or even longer.

Babies need to consume calories in order to grow and develop properly. Especially in the first months when his stomach is very small, your baby will need to wake up every 2-4 hours to eat because he cannot eat too much and his stomach empties quickly. In these cases, it is not advisable to restrict children in food.

When your baby is 4-6 months old, introducing longer, larger feeds during the day (and often adding solids!) may be a sign that your baby’s stomach is able to consume the calories it needs without nighttime feedings.

Ultimately, only you can decide what time is right for you and your baby to wean at night.

What is the best way to wean at night?

There are many different ways to wean at night. From very gradual methods to giving up turkey, only you can determine what is right for your situation.

In most cases, caregivers and parents suggest using a gentle, gradual method of nighttime weaning (and weaning in general!). If you choose to wean at night gradually:

If necessary, increase the number of feedings during the day so that your baby does not lose important calories.
Feed your baby right before bed. If you are breastfeeding, this means that your breasts will be empty when you fall asleep and your baby will have a full stomach to help him sleep.
Avoid only one feeding at a time. Wait at least 3-4 days before giving up the next feeding.
Consider shortening the feeding time and reducing the amount of food during the feeding session before stopping the feeding session, so it’s not a cold turkey.
Ask your partner or another adult to monitor nocturnal awakenings and consider not responding immediately to urges to see if your baby calms down and goes back to sleep without a feeding session.
Provide other forms of comfort, such as a pacifier, which can enable sucking and help calm down. (Bonus: in babies under 1 year of age, a nipple may help reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). If you’re breastfeeding, make sure the bra isn’t pushing or cutting into your breasts (This can lead to clogged ducts and mastitis, especially if your breasts are fuller than normal due to not being emptied as often.)
Talk to your doctor about using Sudafed, birth control, or herbs to reduce your milk supply.
If the milk supply becomes too painful and you need to remove it, try hand expressing milk or use a manual breast pump only until you feel more comfortable. Remember, if at all possible, do not completely empty your chest. You don’t want to cause an increase in supply!

If you have an older baby, you would like to introduce him to evening weaning:

Talk to the child and explain what is happening. (If you are old enough, you can use wake/sleep hours to indicate when it is okay to breastfeed or ask for bottles. )
Offer other forms of nighttime comfort (blankets, soft toys, nightlights, etc.).
Increase your daily hugs and physical attention. This will help ensure that your child’s need for touch and attention is met during the daytime and not at night.

Are there any reasons why you should not wean at night?

Night weaning is not suitable in all situations. It’s probably best to wait a bit before making a decision about nightly weaning if your baby:

not doing well
adjusting to a new caregiver
not gaining weight
going through a milestone (or growth spurt)

There are occasions when night feedings are essential for healthy development and should not be skipped. Some babies are just not ready to sleep for a long time without waking up for food, even if you heard that their peers have started sleeping through the night.

If this applies to your child, you can relax in the knowledge that this is completely normal.