What's the best way to stop breastfeeding? | ExpatWoman.com
 

What's the best way to stop breastfeeding?

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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 01 January 2011 - 19:57

Some mums have told me to just stop, others say cut out a feed at a time. Any advice, please? I'd like it to be as stress-free and painless as possible for both of us!

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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 07 January 2011 - 10:56
we did it gradually until I had no milk left basically. Can explain when I see you. DS wanting attention. xox
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 January 2011 - 22:56
It was very easy to stop with my boys. I refused during the day from 12 months - using distraction and alternative drinks or foods, as neither would drink milk. Then at 16 months, I just told them "Mummy's milk's all gone" and one cried for about two minutes, the other not even that. I had been really pushing the "All gone." phrase, so that they knew what that meant. My 17 month old daughter is totally different. She wants my breast as comfort during the day and to help her get off to sleep, so it's much more of a struggle. This week, I've decided to take the bull by the horns and stop day feeds, with a view to stopping night feeds shortly. I've had enough, because she plays a lot with me at night, chewing and pulling and I'm tired and sore. I've basically hidden from her in the mornings when she's been very tired and left my maid to comfort her - which she can do very well, getting her to sleep in 5 minutes, where she just becomes hysterical with me if I don't give her my breast. Day one, I lasted from 4am to 6.30 pm, when I fed her, because it was bedtime and I thought I was about to explode. Day two, I was out all afternoon with her and she never even looked for it until 6.30 pm. My plan is to continue - distract, offer alternatives, give her to others to comfort her and hide.
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 03 January 2011 - 10:13
[i'> Desert Rose - how was it stopping the night feeds? Can you elaborate a bit? At the moment I formular feed during the day and breast feed 3 or 4 times during the night! DS is 10 months old..... Did you replace with a formular feed? edited by Tru Blu on 02/01/2011 edited by Tru Blu on 02/01/2011[/i'> I just replaced night feeds with formula as well - this was done gradually too, so depending on how many feeds DS had, so lets say if he had 3 feeds per night for the 1st week I only dropped 1 BF and then 2nd week no BF at all, although in the 2nd week there were times he searched for the breast whilst alseep but he was full on formula and so didnt drink, it was more out of habit. edited by desertrose on 02/01/2011 Thanks. I will be doing this over the next couple of months....!
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 03 January 2011 - 02:37
Hi Dubaicat! You're back - how was the trip to the UK? I stopped BF 2 months ago, as my milk had started to diminsh when he started solids and even with expressing it did'nt help, but anyway... I dropped the 1st feed of the day and then afternoon feed and so on, as the other ladies have suggested doing it over a course of time def helps with getting them used to formula and helping with breast engorgment etc. I was quite lucky because DS took the formula quite easily and I didnt have any breast discomfort. Once he was established on formula during the day which took a couple of weeks I then took another 2 weeks or so to stop the night feeds. Take it nice and slow and it will work out better for both of you. Good luck :) edited by desertrose on 02/01/2011 We leave the UK tomorrow so we'll be back at midnight - it's been so lovely being with family and leaving is not going to be fun. I'm not sure which feed to drop first but we'll see what works. I am kind of sad about it though!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 January 2011 - 01:11
Hi there ladies. I'm quite desperate to stop breastfeeding as well but ut just isn't happening! My LO is 19 months old now and i've been trying the gradual appraoch for some time now! She'l ltake cow's milk and other dairy products during the day, but still wants "booboo"! We were doing great and then a new tooth popped out so back to square one now! Would appreacite any tips or magic mantras!!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 January 2011 - 23:41
[i'> Desert Rose - how was it stopping the night feeds? Can you elaborate a bit? At the moment I formular feed during the day and breast feed 3 or 4 times during the night! DS is 10 months old..... Did you replace with a formular feed? edited by Tru Blu on 02/01/2011 edited by Tru Blu on 02/01/2011[/i'> I just replaced night feeds with formula as well - this was done gradually too, so depending on how many feeds DS had, so lets say if he had 3 feeds per night for the 1st week I only dropped 1 BF and then 2nd week no BF at all, although in the 2nd week there were times he searched for the breast whilst alseep but he was full on formula and so didnt drink, it was more out of habit. <em>edited by desertrose on 02/01/2011</em>
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 02 January 2011 - 19:48
Hi Dubaicat! You're back - how was the trip to the UK? I stopped BF 2 months ago, as my milk had started to diminsh when he started solids and even with expressing it did'nt help, but anyway... I dropped the 1st feed of the day and then afternoon feed and so on, as the other lades have suggested doing it over a course of time def helps with getting them used to formula and helping with breast engorgment etc. I was quite lucky because DS took the formula quite easily and I didnt have any breast discomfort. Once he was established on formula during the day which took a couple of weeks I then took another 2 weeks or so to stop the night feeds. Take it nice and slow and it will work out better for both of you. Good luck :) Desert Rose - how was it stopping the night feeds? Can you elaborate a bit? At the moment I formular feed during the day and breast feed 3 or 4 times during the night! DS is 10 months old..... Did you replace with a formular feed? edited by Tru Blu on 02/01/2011 <em>edited by Tru Blu on 02/01/2011</em>
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 January 2011 - 17:24
Hi Dubaicat! You're back - how was the trip to the UK? I stopped BF 2 months ago, as my milk had started to diminsh when he started solids and even with expressing it did'nt help, but anyway... I dropped the 1st feed of the day and then afternoon feed and so on, as the other ladies have suggested doing it over a course of time def helps with getting them used to formula and helping with breast engorgment etc. I was quite lucky because DS took the formula quite easily and I didnt have any breast discomfort. Once he was established on formula during the day which took a couple of weeks I then took another 2 weeks or so to stop the night feeds. Take it nice and slow and it will work out better for both of you. Good luck :) <em>edited by desertrose on 02/01/2011</em>
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EW GURU
Latest post on 02 January 2011 - 10:39
DubaiCat I also want to stop breastfeeding, but I can't even get him to drink 2 oz of cow's milk. He's 10.5 months old. My little guy is the same age. Is it okay to give cows milk at 10.5 months? I always thought it was 12 months but maybe things have changed since DS1 Since I was planning on weaning him off my boob by 12 months, I give him 2 oz so he can get used to the taste. Most of the time he doesn't finish it. He loves yogurt and cheese so that's a big plus :)
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EW GURU
Latest post on 02 January 2011 - 10:24
Tru Blu, current recommendations are still breastmilk or infant formula until 12 months. Small amounts of un-adapted cow's milk are fine earlier (e.g. in dairy products, or small amounts used in cooking) but as a baby under 12 months is still receiving most of their nutrition from milk, cow's milk is not appropriate as a main drink.
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 02 January 2011 - 10:18
DubaiCat I also want to stop breastfeeding, but I can't even get him to drink 2 oz of cow's milk. He's 10.5 months old. My little guy is the same age. Is it okay to give cows milk at 10.5 months? I always thought it was 12 months but maybe things have changed since DS1
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 02 January 2011 - 01:06
DubaiCat I also want to stop breastfeeding, but I can't even get him to drink 2 oz of cow's milk. He's 10.5 months old. At the moment the little terror won't take a bottle of formula at all so I think we may have another battle on our hands! Thanks all, this sounds like a good plan. Part of the reason I want to stop feeding is that His Lordship seems to have developed an association between b00bs and sleep, so I was thinking it might be an idea to get DH to feed him a bottle of formula for his last feed before bed. However, if he won't take the bottle, am I just going to make things worse with the sleep issues we're having? ETA: How are you doing, meals? Hope all is going well.x <em>edited by DubaiCat on 02/01/2011</em>
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EW GURU
Latest post on 01 January 2011 - 21:41
One feed at a time is definitely the way to go. Also, try as much as possible not to express at all - your boobs will be engorged and tender but will settle after 2-3 days with that one feed. It might take a few weeks to stop completely. I would suggest dropping the day time one's first - -mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Eventually leave it to the last one before bed at night. Take it slowly, hand express in the shower for comfort if necessary (but not too much, just until they're not painful) and take panadol. Hope it's painless. LuLee - at 10.5 months old I wouldn't stress too much about your LO not taking milk - substitute it for dairy products, cheeses, yoghurts etc. He will get enough calcium from these if he eats enough of these.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 01 January 2011 - 21:08
DubaiCat I also want to stop breastfeeding, but I can't even get him to drink 2 oz of cow's milk. He's 10.5 months old.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 January 2011 - 20:12
I agree with Gina ! This is way I did it and it worked just fine !! Good luck !
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 January 2011 - 20:07
Safest and most comfortable way is to do it gradually. This is the advice I was given. Gradually increase the amount of formula and decrease the no. of breastfeeds per day until you have replaced all breast feeds with formula. Eg. substitute 1 bf with formula per day and when your breasts settle down (they will be full for a day or two until they get the message they don't need to make so much milk), then two feeds, then three feeds, etc. Remember to stop formula when baby is 12 months old and give whole milk as a drink as solids will be the main source of nutrition.
 
 

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