Question about weaning...

[EsMum]

Hi there, I don't know if this is in the right place...

My LO is just over 12mo and I have decided to stop bf altogether.  Right now she isn't nursing for nutrition, it is more about comfort, especially at night.  Most days she only nurses once during the day (and sometimes not at all), but at night it can be up to 4 times (we've had NWs and it is the fastest way to get her back to sleep).

My question is, with the small amount we are nursing, is it ok for me to just stop cold turkey?  I'm sure I'm not producing that much bm - on the days I don't nurse her at all I don't get engorged.  I'm just not sure if this is "healthy" for me!

Thanks,
Michelle.

 

[Samuel's mum]

Definitely the right place.
TBH I wouldn't recommend it. It's really not worth it. The disadvantages can be massive - blocked ducts, mastitis even abscesses.
You are now at the point where your breasts are very unlikely to get engorged after a day of not nursing but you are still nursing more than once in 24 hours quite commonly. Even for a mother only nursing once in 24 hours, cold turkey may not always be the best thing.
If you want to stop feeding her cold turkey that is your choice but you should continue pumping at least once a day and gradually reduce the length of your pumping sessions and the amount you extract. Be vigiliant about blocked ducts and respond quickly if you notice one.

If it is something she relies on for comfort there is also an argument that you should work on developing alternative methods for putting her back to sleep first before you remove nursing in her life (e.g. keep only one session at bedtime but develop alternative strategies for the rest of nighttime).

The other obvious thing to mention is that she needs to be drinking around 12-18oz of milk OR it's equivalent (i.e. yoghurt, cheese, dairy smoothies) and at this point you can use cow's milk (if you aren't already).

Good Luck. I know 'cold turkey' might sound easier but you need only do the pumping for a couple of weeks and it completely the reduces the risk of some very painful breast conditions.

[EsMum]

Thanks for the info Emma!

I didn't think of pumping (duh!) - I'll give that a try.

Ella will go back to sleep without nursing, it just takes MUCH longer.  Last night I started graduated weaning by reducing the time she nursed for.  We've done this before, but I need to be diligent about it this time.

And yep, I make sure Ella gets lots of milk/formula/calcium throughout the day so that shouldn't be a problem.

I appreciate your help!