Weaning- How to Stop Breastfeeding

Some women experience some pain while trying to stop breastfeeding baby. Not all mothers experience such pain. Weaning process is a gradual process, you don’t have to stop breastfeeding once. Abrupt breastfeeding cessation can cause pain and body system confusion. Example of such pain includes breast

engorgement, plugged duct and mastitis. It takes more time for a mother with much milk to stop milking.

• Observe your baby for the readiness to be weaned. A baby can start developing interest in solid foods. However try to breastfeed your baby for minimum of a year, but you can start introducing them to different foods. Avoid giving baby cow milk before the first 12 months.  Some babies will start developing hatred for nursing. It’s a sign of their readiness to stop breastfeeding. By the 6^th month, they will have interest in other food despite no teeth.  Teething is not a factor to stop breastfeeding. Although some babies will start biting when they start teething, just try to caution your baby to stop biting.

• Do not rush your baby with solid food. The digestive system will have to adjust to change in feed. Start the introduction from little amount.  Reduce night breastfeeding and later stop it finally. Don not breastfeed your baby in sleeping positions.

• If you use breast pump, you still have to stop it gradually. You can reduce the pumping time to half of the number of times you use before. Stopping breast pumping and breastfeeding has the same implications.

• Incase of breast engorgement, you can use a cold compress.  You can pack some ice blocks or cubes in a clean cloth and place on the engorged breast. Cold compress reduces pain, discomfort and milk production.

• Nipple stimulation and pumping should be avoided as it sends wrong signal to the brain that thinks baby is actually sucking the breast. This ends up making the milk drying up unsuccessful.

• In case of leakage, you can place some nursing parts under the nipple. Cabbage leaves can help fasten milk drying up. Cabbage leaves can be place inside the bra before sleeping at night.

• Avoid warm showers as much as possible because it helps to stimulate milk production. If you need warm compress for massage, after the warm compress, use a cold compress after the warm compress. The cold compress can be in form of cold wash cloth or ice packed in a clean cloth.

• In case of sore, fever or reddish area on the breast, seek for medical attention. It might be a sign of mastitis. Mastitis might result from the blocked duct and it needs a serious medical attention.

• In case of pain, you can take the common pain reliever like paracetamol.  If the pain is so much and unbearable, see your doctor as he may prescribe ibuprofen or other better NSAIDs.

• During process of stopping breastfeeding, women usually suffer from mood swing due to hormonal change. Just try to watch your mood and behavior during this period.

• Care less about the baby cry and tears in weaning period; babies are bound to crying when they miss breast milk. All have to do this period is to comfort and cuddle the baby.

• Above all, eat a balance diet during weaning period. Have a healthy lifestyle. Stay clean and hydrated always. Ease yourself of everyday stress by having a good night rest.

•  Do not devoid yourself of sleep. Sleep helps to regenerate the body and aids healing.

• Spend time cuddling and showing attention to your baby. Hug and kiss your baby as much as possible, this helps to reduce the sense of physical contact with breast in the baby.  Involve him or her in fun games, this helps to create more distraction for the baby and it will take longer time for him or her to think of breast milk. Your partner can help you in keeping the baby busy with games and some funs.

• You can visit a lactation consultant for checkups and advice about your stoppage of breastfeeding. Also, others mom can advise you from their experience on how to increase breast milk supply or how to stop breastfeeding a baby.