How do I stop breastfeeding?

Question

I need to stop breast feeding my 6 month old soon as I am due to return to work in 2 months. Should I begin slowly now or just stop altogether a few weeks before. He is on 2 solid meals a day and has a bottle before bed. The rest of the day I still breast feed. Any advise or tips please

Answer 1

Definitely gradually. With my first baby i stopped suddenly, and although she was okay, i was miserable. My breasts were extremely engorged as if she was just born, and when the milk did finally stop coming, my breasts disappeared! They became much smaller than they were before I was pregnant. With the second child, I did what is recommended by pediatricians (go figure..) and replaced meals little by little. By the time I went back to work, Jason was eating solids all day, and I would nurse him once in the evening. About 2-3 weeks later, I stopped altogether- painlessly.

And my boobs didn't disappear- big added bonus.
Hope this was helpful.

Answer 2

Why would you stop? It would be no trouble to pump enough for while you are at work as most of the breastfeeding can be made up for during the time you are home. Even if you don't want to pump at all you can still breastfeed when you are home. If that doesn't work out and your milk slowly dries up then that is what happens. You can either start pumping because you decide that breastmilk is important, or the slow reduction will lead to weaning.

Breastfeeding has incredible benefits, even at 6 months, even at 12 monts. The American Academy of Family Physicials, Health Canada, The World Health Organization, etc, etc ALL recommend breastfeeding for at LEAST the first two years.

Answer 3

You should most definetely stop slowly - as it is hard on the baby and also hard on you. You might end up with mastitis that way.
You should replace one meal after another with solids, preferrably the lunch then night time feeding, which you did already I guess. You could also still pump milk to leave that for feedings you are not around for. Which works well for me and if your baby accepts a bottle she can enjoy the benefits of your milk a little longer.
You can store the pumped milk in the freezer, they last up to 6 months.

Answer 4

i am just now doing the same thing. i have dropped a feed every 3 days and replaced with formula one feed at a time and gone straight to using a sippy cup, that way you can cut out bottles altogether. i then still breast feed first thing in the morning before work, and last thing at night and also through the night as i find it easier than coping with making up formula. once you have dropped as many feeds as you need to, you can start introducing another solids feed when ready to.

Answer 5

You should begin to ween your child slowly off the breast milk. You have more than enough time to accomplish this. Slowly cut down the breastfeeding sessions and give a small bottle before breastfeeding. This way, he won't breastfeed as much as he would have. If you are giving formula, you can start supplementing half formula and half breat milk, slowly increasing the formula amount every week or so.

Answer 6

I would urge you not to stop breastfeeding completely for the sake of maintaing good health for your baby. In the morning before going for work, breastfeed your baby and then pump your breast milk in the bottle so that the baby could be given while you are away. The person babysitting should continue giving solid meals to the baby until you come back from work. In the evenings, breastfeed your baby before going to bed. Later when you feel like stopping him completely, do it gradually, i.e not abruptly.

Answer 7

Why stop?

Why not just wean him off the daytime feed over the next few weeks, and carry on as normal in the morning, evening and night. Your body should get used to that and you won't have bursting breasts during the day for very long before it evens out.

It will help you remain close to baby, and continue the bonding you might miss when at work.

Answer 8

i finished with my daughter at 14 and a 1/2 months-I in hassle-free words stopped as i became 1/2 way by my 2d being pregnant and also she wasn't even feeding for lengthy in the course of the evening so i presumed i ought to stop so theres a lot less fuss once the toddler comes My 2d is now 17 months and im nevertheless breastfeeding him and we both like it. i quite do not opt to stop in spite of the indisputable fact that it yet he will be eventually turning 2 quickly so i plan on preventing by round that aspect and then sick attempt to particular and aspects him some in the bottle or maybe with.

Answer 9

gradually stopping breastfeeding is best, then you hurt less.

I slowed my daughter down to just a morning and night time feeding, and we continued that for months after she was off breast milk for the day.

I was doing a very physical job, and never did hurt, because my breast were not full of milk, but by 8 pm I was ready to nurse her!

Congratulations on giving your child such a great start.

Answer 10

Same as above really. Do things gradually. And if you are willing to express then baby can still have your milk. If you start doing this now then your baby can adapt to bottle but still with your milk and you feeding him then gradually adapt it.
If he is not used to the bottle then try it at a time when he is not ravenous or trying to settle, like when he has had solids.