You’ve decided the time has come to stop breastfeeding or chestfeeding. There isn’t an exact way to know how long it will take for your milk supply to dry up. You can start by slowly decreasing the number of times you nurse your baby. Show The time has come. You’ve made the decision to stop breastfeeding, and now you’re experiencing all the feels. Maybe you’re beyond ready to get rid of your nipple shields, breast pump, and breast pads. Perhaps you’re not personally ready to stop breastfeeding, but it’s become evident that you shouldn’t continue. Maybe you never breastfed, but need to dry up your milk supply after being pregnant. Whatever your reason and however you’re feeling about this decision, know that it’s OK. Whether your baby is 3 days old or 3 years old, we know that you’ve probably put a lot of thought into this decision — and we’ve got your back. (Or should we say front?) We’ve got the information you need to efficiently stop breastfeeding as comfortably as possible. Although there isn’t a precise formula for determining how long it will take to dry up your milk supply, we hope following some of the suggestions below can make it an easier process. Ideally, you stop breastfeeding over a period of weeks or even months. This allows your milk supply to gradually decrease as milk is removed less often. Depending on the age of your child, this extra time also gives you the opportunity to introduce other solids and liquids besides breastmilk. Giving yourself time to slowly wean off breastfeeding will be more comfortable and less stressful. (Slow and steady wins the race!) But sometimes it may not be possible to stretch out the weaning process. If you need to stop breastfeeding quickly (or even cold turkey), here are some suggestions to help the process:
You may have experienced physical changes — and emotional ups and downs — as your milk supply increased. Now, as your body stops producing milk, many of those same side effects may appear again (or for the first time if you didn’t experience them when your milk came in.) For example, you may find yourself with engorged breasts from milk not being drained out regularly. Clogged ducts or mastitis may come along with this. You may also find that your breasts leak some of the excess milk and that you feel a great amount of sadness, anxiety, anger — or even happiness. Wondering how you can minimize some of the unpleasantness or deep emotions? The answer, though perhaps not what you want to hear, probably comes as no surprise: You may have fewer (or less severe) side effects to deal with if you prolong the weaning process. By giving your body more time to adjust and decrease milk production, engorgement may be less — which generally means less breast swelling and less boob pain. If you do experience side effects, consider treating your symptoms with some of our tips below sooner rather than later. If you’re ready to stop breastfeeding and dry up your milk supply, a good rule of thumb is to plan to drop one feeding session every 3 to 5 days. This sounds simple and straightforward enough, but let’s talk about minimizing some of the common issues that come with this tried-and-true method. Preventing mastitisNo matter how long your milk supply is lasting, one method not to use to reduce milk production is breast binding. This may cause clogged ducts and mastitis. Mastitis — basically, inflammation usually caused by infection — can come with a great deal of pain. In addition to not binding your breasts, consider the following tips to help avoid mastitis as you stop breastfeeding.
Should any signs of mastitis — such as fever and hard red bumps — develop during weaning, immediately notify your doctor as you may need antibiotics or other medical treatment. Dealing with the emotional ups and downsEven with slow and steady weaning, your hormones are changing. And we’re not going to sugarcoat it — even if you haven’t been a fan of breastfeeding (which is totally OK, by the way), it can be emotionally tough to stop and may even feel like you’re losing some closeness with your sweet baby. (Don’t worry, though — the bond you have with your child will only deepen as the years go by.) Some tips for dealing with this roller coaster if it happens:
Using home remedies for painful boobsHere are some effective ways of treating sore breasts and engorgement at home:
Helping your baby through the processLet’s be honest: Weaning can be hard on both mom and baby. If you find yourself with an enraged child, take a deep breath and try the following:
Whatever your reasons for moving on from breastfeeding, you deserve to be as pain-free as possible — physically and emotionally. It’s important to be kind to yourself and your body. Remember this is not the end, but rather the beginning of a new stage with your child. If you have to stop breastfeeding quickly, talk to your doctor about methods that can help — and keep a watchful eye on your symptoms. Otherwise, try dropping a feeding every 3 to 5 days and remember that no matter the emotional ups and downs of the process, you’re doing a wonderful job. How do I stop my breasts from hurting when I stop breastfeeding?One way to alleviate discomfort is by pumping a small quantity of breast milk. Avoid pumping lots of milk, as that can increase supply. Instead, try pumping for 2-3 minutes, or until any pain has gone. Women who are weaning their baby can give this pumped milk to the infant at a later feeding session.
What helps with drying up breast milk pain?It will take a few days for your milk to dry up. If your breasts are soft and you have just a little colostrum/milk, do not stimulate the breast tissue or nipple areas. To help with the pain and swelling: Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen.
How long does it take to dry up your breast milk?There is no set timeline for the lactation suppression process. Instead, how quickly your milk dries up depends on several factors, including the age of your baby and your average milk supply. Breast milk can take days, weeks, or months to dry up. It is recommended that you gradually wean your breastfed baby.
|