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AIBU?

To ask how do I stop breastfeeding?

16 replies

ArtFine · 05/04/2014 12:12

In the ideal world I would stop gradually.

But I need to stop breastfeeding within the next few days, maximum a week. What's the best way to go about it?

(I have an electric pump. Baby is 9 months. I have had mastitis three times before).

OP posts:

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NormHonal · 05/04/2014 20:52

I had to stop quickly for medical reasons. I had to have an operation requiring me to be away from my DC, and subsequently unable to lift him for some time afterwards.

I went cold turkey, just stopped (with support from DH who kept DC away from me - luckily DC was used to bottles) and wouldn't recommend it, I was very uncomfortable with a hugely painful chest for about ten days. I'd had mastitis before and am amazed I didn't get it again.

If I could have done it again, I would have cut down more gradually.

FWIW I did try a few weeks later to re-establish bf, but DC wasn't interested.

But if you have to go cold turkey, you can. But get the ice packs and painkillers on standby.

If it's returning to work, I did that as well with another DC and didn't have to stop even though they wouldn't take a bottle.

Namelessonsie · 05/04/2014 20:50

A huge reach here, and sorry if I'm over stepping, but maybe one of these fact sheets might be of interest? www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/drugs-in-breastmilk-information-and-factsheets.html

pianodoodle · 05/04/2014 20:47

MigGril true - with DD I stopped at 18 months as I was told I couldn't take antidepressants and feed. She was only having one feed a day by then but still.

This time round with DS someone recommended seroxat as being safe and sure enough the doctor looked it up and I was able to take it and bf.

It's annoying that it wasn't found out before though, and if I hadn't kept asking this time I might never have known...

MigGril · 05/04/2014 20:39

Is there a reason you been told you need to stop feeding?

Something medical maybe?

I ask as many women are told they have to stop to take medication or undergo medical procedures when they don't. Often the doctors in charge of there medical care don't even know this.

As you have been breastfeeding for so long you won't just stop producing milk. some women take months to dry up. If you really do need to stop milk production in a short time then you may need to take medication to do this. This should be handled by a doctor.

TheScience · 05/04/2014 17:44

Cutting down by swapping a feed every 3 days or so would be better to avoid mastitis, but you could try swapping one feed a day and see how your breasts feel.

pianodoodle · 05/04/2014 17:42

We gradually cut down to one or two a day when DD was one and then stopped at 18 months so I could take some medicine I needed. By that stage she didn't mind though as we were already down to one per day at bedtime and she was happy to have warm cows milk.

Is there any way to extend the timescale so you could make it a bit more gradual?

Nearly a year after stopping I found I could still express milk if I tried!

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 05/04/2014 17:38

I think you should post this on the breast and bottle feeding thread. There are some real experts on there. I do think you should do it gradually dropping one feed at a time though.

Are you OK OP? Coupled with your other thread you seem stressed and anxious, especially about feeding. Perhaps a chat with your health visitor or GP might help.

KirstyJC · 05/04/2014 13:40

When I stopped feeding DS1 I still had milk a month later. Not much, but still there when I tried expressing to see if it had stopped.

Why do you need to stop making milk so quickly? I think, if you have been exclusively BFing, that it might be very unlikely to stop that quickly.

RandomPants · 05/04/2014 13:39

After I stopped feeding DS I still produced milk for ages.

technosausage · 05/04/2014 13:37

It took 6 months for me to stop producing milk with my first. Why do you need to stop producing?

wightjellybaby · 05/04/2014 13:36

I was going to come back with whats been said already

janey68 · 05/04/2014 12:28

Don't keep expressing, just drop a feed a day as suggested above. You may continue producing milk for a little while but don't be fazed by that.. All quite normal and it will stop. At this stage (with your baby on solid food too presumably) it should be quite straightforward

Dosydoly · 05/04/2014 12:21

Replace a feed every day with a bottle, each day increasing the bottle feeds by one so first day one bottle rest breast next day two bottles and so on, good luck!

ArtFine · 05/04/2014 12:19

I want to give her formula. I don't mind expressing for a couple of days if I need to.

I just need my body to stop producing milk.

OP posts:

Fancydrawers · 05/04/2014 12:16

Do you need to stop for work? Has baby had a bottle before?

wightjellybaby · 05/04/2014 12:16

Do you want to express and bottle feed or just stop and give formula?

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