Weaning Cold Turkey Vs. Gradual/ When Do the Breast Stop Producing Milk

Personally, I think cold turkey is the worst approach. I know some peds recommend it, but most peds know very little about BF. Doing this cold turkey is traumatic...she has know BF all her life as her comfort and her source of nutrition...to suddenly just take this away from her is kind of traumatic. I would imagine it is hard for you too.....uncomfortable and emotionally difficult. Also there is no reason why you need to do it NOW. If your daughter still enjoys it, and you are ok with continuing with it, there is nothing that changes at 1 year that makes nursing suddenly not as good for your child. I don't know your situation...whether you did it cause you wanted to or if you were pressured by someone, but just know that if it wasn't your idea.

It would be much easier to just cut down one feeding and go with that until she is used to it, then try cutting another, until you are no longer nursing. It will be a gradual adjustment for both of you...you won't be sore and upset (and won't have to pump) and she won't be upset either.

As far as when you stop producing milk, it is different for everyone. Some Moms still have some milk months and months afterward. My breasts did not return to their previous size but I also had gained some weight. I think usually most women get at least close to their old size.

S.:

everyone takes a different length of time for milk production to stop.... as to breast size... again, every one is different.

P., RLC, IBCLC, CST
Breastfeeding and Parenting Solutions

I just weaned my son (he's 21 months) and we did it very gradually - I had no problems with engorgement or anything. We cut back to 2 feedings per day, then one, and then we'd skip the one every other day or so. Then we'd skip it for 2-3 days in a row but I would go ahead and let him nurse if I was feeling uncomfortable on that side. We went about 6 days in a row without nursing, I let him nurse one last time, and we've been done ever since. He asked for it for a couple of days afterwards, but was easily distracted with something else (grapes, in his case) and now it's been about a month and he hasn't asked in a long time. Painless for both of us.

I don't know how long it will take you to stop feeling full if you stop suddenly, but I thought I'd put in a plug for the gradual method (or at least gradually tapering off the pumping) - it's easier on everyone I think.

it took me about a week from nursing once a day to not at all, to dry up, but it took a bot longer to go back down to my original almost nothing size. I've gone back to the same size between each baby but I've gotten gradually saggier I think because the skin gets stretched out while I'm up a couple sizes.

I did same Cold turkey and then pumped.

I was up 4 size and down three. I am still size up. But i know people who are back to same.

All the luck!!

Just remember that everyone is different.

That being said, it took me about 1-2 weeks to dry up (wasn't painful), after exclusively pumping 6-8x/day for 4 months. My breasts went from a nice, perky C pre-preg to a nice and full D while pumping, down to a deflated, saggy C. Yes, I will be getting that fixed. No, I do not feel guilty about being vain and wanting my pre-preg breasts back.