Stopping Nursing or Produce More Breastmilk?

Have you tried Mother's Lactations Tonic? I was having the same problems as you only my son would not take a bottle, a friend gave me these drops that she found at a Health place and they really have helped so much! It contains Fenugreek seed but also Chaste Tree berry, Caraway seed, Fennel seed and Anise seed.It's made by Herb Pharm.I was sceptical but,it really did help me I saw a difference by the end of the day! My son was more than full and I even had to pump once in the middle of the night for comfort reasons. Hope you find what works for you!

My son is the same way...if he knows I'm around, he wants the breast!

Start by eliminating her least favorite feedings. So if she loves to nurse first thing in the morning and before bed, leave those feedings alone for now. If she isn't really that excited about nursing mid-day then start with that one. Every time that particular feeding comes around offer her a bottle or sippy. Do not give in and let her nurse, this will start the whole process over. You should eliminate one feeding every 4 days or so. Continue to knock off her least favorite feedings. Save her very favorite times to nurse for last...these feedings may take longer than the 4 days to wean her and will probably be the most upsetting. Do her very favorite feeding dead last. Go slow, this is not just about her eating, it's an emotional bond that she has to you.

I vote for the beer too! It's great for milk production. But I'm thinking your daughter is needing the bonding time, more than the milk. Your body will adjust to the milk supply if you continue to nurse her regularly around the same time each night. It will take a few days, but the breast and brain and hormones will catch on and produce milk when necessary. I nursed just once day, at night, for over a year with my last 2 kidlets. Even after going away for several days, my babies would start right back where we left off. Which surprised me, as I thought there would be nothing after a few days, but they always had a mouth full of milk, when they would stop, look up and smile at me. You can never replace this precious bonding time with them. I hope you something works for you for the next few months.
Jennifer

Beer. Have one or two beers per night to increase your milk. Yes, drink plenty of water and I've heard the fenugreek helps, but the beer works almost overnight! Get a darker beer and make it an import or microbrew that doesn't have the preservatives (which can give headaches). The hops provides some enrichment to your milk, too so don't think having beer is bad. Don't go crazy and get drunk, though:)

Your baby will eat more and more solid food, too so it is natural for your supply to decrease some since the demand is less. I nursed for over 2 years with my first and my second is 10 months. It gets down to one 5 minute feeding a day for bonding more than anything else. The only reason I went so long with the first was because every time he teethed or would get the flu, it was good to still be nursing.
You can do it!!
B.

I am doing the same thing for my son who just turned a year old except he doesn't mind the bottle, so I don't know how to help you there. I don't want you to get this in your mind as that's the way it's going to be, but I'm having a hard time with the hormone shifts. When you stop breastfeeding, you stop producing Prolactin, a hormone that stimulates breast milk production and makes you feel calm, relaxed, and happy. I've been depressed and having mood swings. This may not happen to you, but I just wanted to give you a heads up. My midwife recommended Mommy Wort (Like St. John's Wort) drops that I am trying. A hormone specialist recommended taking progesterone cream for a little while to help with the transition.

Unfortunately its not very easy. I tried the eliminating daytime feedings and leaving the early morning/late night feedings, but my daughter still refused the bottle and would hold out for the other feedings. So, I ended up just going cold turkey and stopped all breastfeeding. She didn't want to take the bottle at first, and then she would only take a little, just to tide herself over while she was waiting for the breast and then when she realized the breast wasn't coming she started taking the whole bottle. She was 10 months old when we did this (I only stopped breastfeeding because I couldnt get her to stop biting me). It took probably a week total for her to start taking the whole bottle. If you decide to do it this way, you have to stick with it because if you give in and give her the breast she will start holding out for it again. And, I was told to have someone else give her the bottle, but it worked better if I did it because it helped her realize I wasnt going to breastfeed. Good luck!

I never breast fed my son, so I really don't have an answer for ya here. But the reason why I'm answering is because I just had to tell you what a beautiful name you have! E. is so pretty!! Unique and just beautiful!
Best wishes to you and your family! :-)

Stick with it or start your daughter on a straw sipper, and alternate with bottle. My 3yr old son was breastfed until he was 18 mos. I was fine with it. I didn't force him to take a bottle. He transitioned from nipple to cup quicker because I gave him an option.The colorful cups really distracted him and he felt a lil more grown up.Encouraged and supported, they will transition before you know it.My son didn't like the sipper too long, went straight to the children sized cup

Have you tried feeding your daughter breastmilk/formula out of a sippy cup? My oldest daughter never took a bottle. We went straight from breast to sippy cup. I've found Nuby makes the best transition sippy cups. Good luck! I just had to stop nursing my son at 8 months and I was so sad about it. I nursed my 3 other kids for a year each, but my son was just too hungry and I couldn't keep up. I tried all the supplements and tricks too. I had heard of other moms saying they couldn't produce enough, but I never believed it until it happened to me! Some kids are harder to nurse than others...don't give yourself guilt, you've made it farther than most moms do! Good for you! ps. my son was a totally happier baby when I finally gave up and gave him formula....I think he sensed my stress!