I have been weaning my son for the past few weeks since he's almost 12 months. We have been down to three times a day but he would only nurse for 1-3 minutes on each side. When I pumped at work I would barely get anything out.
Well I hurt my back and had to take high doses of ibuprofen and use the icy/hot products which contain menthol. From what I've read you are not supposed to breastfeed when using products like menthol. So I thought since we were down to three times a day and he really didn't nurse much at those times, that it would be okay to just stop since I was using that product.
It's been a couple days (2 1/2) since he has nursed or since I've pumped and my left breast is slightly sore (not hot, red or "painful", so I don't think it's mastitis). It's not tight, just lumpy and slightly sore. I just didn't know if this was the way to do it or if I should be pumping just a little bit (then I won't dry up). If by continuing the way I'm doing it I would just assume the body would reabsorb the milk, but how long does that take? I don't want to get a clogged milk duct or mastitis. Thank you!
this sounds about right. I remeber feeling all weird and lumpy. I mostly just expressed milk by hand in the shower or when ever necessary. that seemed to work to relieve pain but not stimulate thigns too long. It took a couple of months to be completely "dried up."
I just did this as well. BUY CABBAGE IT REALLY WORKS!!!! So I quit nursing my little one because i wasn't getting much and she wasn't all that interested any more. So last week I bought some cabbage, you take a few leaves (enough to cover your entire breast) roll it with a rolling pin to break the spines then put it in your bra until it wilts. Then repeat. I only had to do it for one day and no more lumps or bumps or sore spots. Now I do still have a little milk so you just have to make sure you don't get any nipple stimulation for a week or so (says my Lactation counselor) But it was great. No engorgement, mastitis, clogged ducts, nothing. Good Luck!!
In a breastfeeding class I attended...they said you can put cabbage leaves on your breasts and that will dry up your milk. I guess you just buy a raw cabbage and put a couple of leaves on your breasts, I haven't tried it, I am still nursing my 6 mnth old, but I do remember hearing that.
Also antihistamines are supposed to dry up your milk...you could take some benedryl, but I would try the natural way first.
I've heard that if you are done breastfeeding and are really ready to be done with your milk supply, just take a couple doses of benedryl and it'll dry you up quick!
Drinking parsley tea, as well as rubbing some on your breasts, will help dry up your milk supply quickly. Get dried parsley and a tea ball. Fill the tea ball about half way with the parsley, pour in some boiling water, let it sit for about 15 minutes, remove the tea ball, add some honey (if you want) and drink. Do this 2-3 times a day and your milk should dry up quickly. I have had parsley tea before and it tastes pretty good.
Your breasts will be very tender while your milk supply is drying up. Give it a few weeks. I think it was like 10 days until mine started feeling normal.
It is fine just to stop if he is 12 mos and start whole milk.
It is good that he is weaning himself to some degree too and just stopping is usually best.
After the year mark it becomes more of a habit to nurse then necessity!
Good luck, warm compresses helped me a ton!
My son quit cold turkey on me and cabbage leaves were great. They not only were an instant fix for the pain, but I seemed to make less milk when they were in. Even though I was completely engorged for a few days, I was pretty much pain free.
Sage dries you up. you can sprinkle it on pizza or breadsticks or potatoes or yams.
If your breasts are sore and lumpy, you're on your way to clogged ducts and possibly a breast infection, so I suggest you take action right away to keep the milk moving out. Weaning is a process, and it takes your body 24 to 48 hours to make any adustment in supply (either to produe more or less milk). If you are at all uncomfortable or engorged, that tells you you're moving too fast.
I suggest warm showers/baths with some gentle massaging (always towards your nipples to help things move out) and regular pumping to comfort. Some moms like to lean into a pan of warm water. Many moms find chilled cabbage leaves soothing and they can reduce swelling. Ibuprofen (up to 800 mg a day) is compatible with breastfeeding and is an antiinflammatory to reduce swelling. If your baby will still nurse and you're not opposed to it, he might be able to help you get comfortable by nursing--the best pump in the world has nothing on a well-latched baby!
I highly, highly recommend you contact your local La Leche League Leader. She can answer all these questions and discuss your personal experience in greater detail over the phone--all LLL services are totally free. Your local LLL groups will also have two excellent books to borrow, "How Weaning Happens" and "Mothering Your Nursing Toddler," which can help you strategize this weaning process so everyone is comfortable and happy. You can find your local LLL Leader's number at www.llli.org.
BTW, there's no rule that says you *have* to stop breastfeeding once your child turns one. The American Academy of Peditrics recommends babies continue to nurse until they are at least one, and thereafter as long as is mutually desired by mom and baby. UNICEF, the World Health Organization and the last U.S. Surgeon General all recommended at least two years of nursing, (which sounds like forever to most American moms because breastfeeding rates are so low here, but is really the norm in other countries). Plus, we're getting into winter and there are germs everywhere, so a little extra immunity boost from some mama's milk can help your little man stay healthy--it's OK to wean down to just a couple of little nursings and hang onto those for health and snuggles for awhile.
Good for you for taking such good care of yourself and your baby!
You shouldn't pump because you are trying to tell your body it is done making milk and that will confuse the issue. It is normal to get engorged when stopping and my doctor told me to take a hot shower and massage each breast a "little" to express a tiny bit of milk to relieve some of the pressure. You can also wrap yourself tightly to help relieve the pressure. Usually after about a week you should notice a huge difference and not be so sore. Good luck. I have about 2 more months than I will be in your place!!!
Sounds like he's basically done feeding. You don't need to pump any more unless you want to keep producing milk.
It doesn't sound like any kind of infection, just your body adjusting to not needing any more milk. In addition to the other good suggestions, try ice packs to ease soreness. Not sure about hot packs, I seem to remember that they increas production, but not sure. And they may help loosen any lumps.
After stopping nursing your breasts are going to get tender and a little engorged (even if you think that he wasn't getting much). Just go with it and they will get better as your body realizes that you are needing that milk any more. Things that helped me when I was weaning and at this point was to find a sports bra that was about a size too small to help constrict the breasts and leave it on day and night for a while. While in the shower don't be tempted to hand-express milk as this will prolong the process. Just remember this breastfeeding thing is a supply and demand thing---your baby demands and your body supplies---if the demand isn't there then your supply will diminish but it is going to take a couple of weeks. Good luck.
J.--SAHM of 6
weaning should be done one feeding at a time for a few days each. so if your son was nursing 3 times/day until you started these treatments, then you'll need to nurse him 2 times/day for a few days, then 1 and then things should be fine. sounds like you are full because the milk has not been expressed in a few days. you can hand express the milk, in the shower works nicely, just for comfort, and this will not stimulate the breast to think it needs to continue making milk to nurse a baby. also, have you been replacing the nursings with milk or formula? until a baby is 1 year you should be replacing all nursing times with formula, as little ones need those nutrients until 1 year. Hope you can find some relief
If I became uncomfortable while I was weaning, I would pump just a little - just enough to make myself comfortable - not enough to drain myself. When I would pump only when it got that bad, my body would go longer & longer in between times when I needed to express a bit & finally dried up altogether. I would say that I would go 1 day between pumping a bit, then 2, then 3 and then eventually not at all. Good luck!
