I am returning to work and want to quit breast feeding, i am only pumping about 8 oz a day, is it okay if I just quit cold turkey? And what is mastitis?
2006-10-30 12:21:14 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
No you can't just quit cold turkey. Since you are only pumping 8 oz a day (assuming you aren't nursing) you should be able "wean" from it within a few days.
This is my non-medical description of what mastitis is......
Mastitis is a clogged milk duct turned into an infection. It's like the milk doesn't come out so it hardens and becomes "clogged" if it's not cleared up it becomes mastitis. When a woman has mastitis, her breast will have a "hot spot", she runs a fever and feels really tired kind of like how the flu makes you feel. The way to cure mastitis is with antibiotics, hot compresses and nursing often or pumping which is what you are trying to stop doing. If you have mastitis once, you will never get it again because you will recognize it when it is just a clogged duct and get it cleared up before it makes you sick.
The infection from mastitis can not be passed on to the baby through your milk!!!
Good luck! P~
2006-10-30 12:48:55 · answer #1 · answered by Psalm91 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you're ready to wean, but your child hasn't shown any sign of losing interest, you may want to start the ball rolling yourself. If possible, try to initiate weaning at a time when your child does not have to make other adjustments. If he's teething or has a cold, or you've just gone back to work, or there's a new babysitter, or you've just moved, or there's some other major disruption of routine, put off the weaning for a few weeks. It's always easier for children (and adults, too) to manage only one change at a time.
First, pinpoint the nursing session your child shows the least interest in. It will probably be the early evening or noontime feeding. Eliminate this one first.
If your baby is under a year old, you may want to substitute a bottle. Most babies enjoy sucking on a bottle until they're well past a year, but not all find them appealing. If your baby doesn't seem interested in drinking from a bottle, don't try to force it on him. Instead, substitute something else, like a cup of milk (formula if your baby is under a year) or juice, or a few spoonfuls of applesauce.
For an older child, the substitution can be any of a number of things -- a game, a cuddle, a walk to the park, a reading session with a favorite book, a piece of fruit or other healthful snack. Most important is your involvement with the activity, so that you show your child that you can show your love for him in many ways. Wait several days, up to two weeks, and then eliminate the next lightest feeding of the day. Keep doing this until you're down to one nursing a day, probably the first one of the morning or the last one at night. By now, you'll be producing very little milk and your child may give up this last feeding easily. Or you may decide to continue this one favorite feeding for a while longer. Many babies wean easily during the day but want to continue nursing at bedtime for some time. Weaning this way should take from a couple of weeks to a couple of months or longer.
Congrats on breastfeeding and good luck!
ps - definition and ways to prevent mastitis is the link below!
Basically it is a plugged milk duct and abrupt weaning is one of the causes, so be careful!!
2006-10-30 20:34:40 · answer #2 · answered by seaelen 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The more slowly you quit, the better. I didn't understand from your question, you are breastfeeding in addition to the pumping, right? If so, try to drop one feeding every few days. It will hurt much less and you will have much less chance of developing mastitis, which is a really painful infection that you can get if you have milk building up in your breasts that you don't pump or use for feeding.
2006-10-30 20:29:14 · answer #3 · answered by cldb730 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I quit breastfeeding cold turkey and turned out OK, but I guess your not sup post to do it that way. I not trying to tell what to do, but I really wish I wouldn't have quit breastfeeding. It so much easier then bottle feeding. Like I said earlier I'm really not trying to judge you, but that was my experience with it.
2006-10-30 21:01:27 · answer #4 · answered by Rosey55 D 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes you can just stop. I would if you have mastitis because it is an infection of the nipple and if you are still pumping from that nipple or if you have it on both of them and are pumping from them you are most likely to be passing the infection on to your baby. Not good i would just stop.
2006-10-30 20:39:44 · answer #5 · answered by Chynna 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
cut back a bit and make it only 5 oz. say a week then 3 oz. then none. if there is not much pain in the breast because of fullness, and there is no leakage, you will do o.k..
2006-10-30 20:28:00 · answer #6 · answered by imawatchman 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its ok to slowly wean yourself off. Mastitis is an infection in the nipples.
2006-10-30 20:24:42 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Just tell your husband u've had enough...it's that simple
2006-10-30 20:33:07 · answer #8 · answered by mm 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋