is it bad to just stop breastfeeding?

Question

well the reason i ask this i have been trying to stop for a whil but i have no choice my daughter is 1 and i had to take tablets to get rid of a stomch bug and the doc said no feeding for 3 days but she won't take any milk she will have sips but she doesn't like it she is drinking cordial and water out of her sippy cup what should i do has anyone been in this situaition before.

Answer 1

Well, are you ready to just stop? If you are....your baby will adjust...it will be hard on her...yopu have taken away a comfort measure for her...but you really havent taken away her MAIN food source. She may be a bit depressed...clingy...whiny...etc. Maybe a special toy or pacifier will help her through this....On the other hand....if you want to keep nursing her....even after three days your supply may not be all gone...its always worth a TRY! Good Luck

Answer 2

Ok I have a bone to pick with all of you that are judging her about how long she is breastfeeding. I think that a woman has the right to breastfeed her baby as long as she wants. The American Academy of Pediatricians recommends breastfeeding through year. That means that for as long as she wants. There is not medical reason that she has to wean. And no she will not have a four year old pulling up her shirt. I am pretty sure that she is looking for help and not judgments.

I applaud your efforts to breastfeed your baby. I nursed all four of my children for as long as I can. I breastfeed my last for 14 months and he is just fine.

I suggest that you do offer milk in a sippy cup and not a bottle. If you are not willing to wean you should talk to your Dr and let them know that you are still breastfeeding and that you need a different medicine so it wont' interfere with that. There are plenty of meds that can be taken by a breastfeeding mom that there is almost no reason to stop. Be firm with your Dr and let them know how your feel. If you have more questions contact your local lactation consultant for help. Good luck and keep up the great work.

Answer 3

It isn't necessarily 'bad', but it is harder on mom and baby. For her, she feels deprived. For you, you will probably have engorged breasts etc.
I appreciate some of the answers here, but I nursed 7 babies and all stopped of their own accord, no trauma at all, by about 24 months at the latest.
I did let them have bottles when they were about a year old (some people oppose bottles--- I saw them as a spill-proof way to get the nutrition in, and couldn't understand people's almost righteous objection to them)
I warmed the (organic) milk a wee bit (body temperature) and after they were 12 months added just a tiny speck of honey, so it was sweet like breast milk. And I gave it in the criss/cross juice nipples so it came out as easily as the breast--- They soon decided they liked it just fine--- and the more they ate other things the less they nursed. My milk began to dry up, they had to work harder for less reward, and soon they just gave it up of their own choosing.
Also, if you hold her while she drinks her bottle she will get the cuddling that she loves while she nurses--- whether you return to nursing or not.
Best of luck!

Answer 4

You really don't have to stop. You can just take the medication and pump and throw the milk away until it is okay to breastfeed again. When my older daughter was 2 weeks old, I had to stay totally away from her for almost 3 days due to a test I had to have at the hospital (they injected my with radioactive dye). My mother tried giving her formula, which she finally took. After 3 days, I went right back to nursing and continued until her third birthday. She is now a happy and healthy 9 year old.

Answer 5

i don't think it's bad for your baby. actually your doing the right thing.those medicines will harm her.3 days is not that long, it's over before you knew it.if your not yet ready to wean her pump for 3 days then let her have her "favorite milk" after that.

i hope those medicines really help you to get better so you can breastfeed again.

Answer 6

What meds do you need to take?
Docs are often wrong about if meds are safe. It's sad how often moms are told not to nurse when it was actually safe to continue. Do you know if your doc got his info from the PDR, package insert or the book Medications & Mother's Milk? M&MM is the BEST resource for this info and has the most accurate information.
If you'd like to post the name of the meds or PM them to me, I will look them up in my copy. Or you can call your local Lactation Consultant or La Leche League Leader and ask her to check the meds for you.

Answer 7

Hi,
I fed my daughter for 11 months and that was enough for me as she was getting to big.
She never drank any other milk and now at 7 she still wont which concerns me. I just make sure she has yogurt, cheese and other dairy products to keep her calcium up.
Good Luck!

Answer 8

My kids starting drinking regular milk at the age of 1. I only breastfed for about 3 months anyway. Introduce her to other beverages, she is old enough to stop drinking the breast or the bottle.

Answer 9

If you want to stop. Stop. You'll be stuck with a four year old trying to pull your shirt up to feed in the middle of the store. My wife had the same experience with our child. The difference is she is two. It's said that it takes about seven days for a behavior to change. Now would be your chance to ween her. Some say the longer you breast feed, the more intelligent the child becomes. But who really knows.

Answer 10

now is a great time to stop and keep trying with the milk she will adapt to it soon enough.