Giving up breastfeeding.....

[Mummabubbles]

Tell me what will happen!! Lo is 8 months been exclusively breastfed until last 3-4 weeks when 1 bottle of formula a day has been given. For various reasons I have decided now is the time to stop breastfeeding, can I do it suddenly?? I think lo will be fine with it, she's not a booby monster, only feeds when she is desperate!! I haven't fed her for 24 hours now (she has bottles today), boobs feel ok, little bigger than normal but that's it. Will I wake up in agony?? What should I do if I am? Express a bit? Just leave it? How long til everything will feel normal?? Sorry for all the q's, I've never stopped breastfeeding before!! Tia x

Ok, sorry for this. It will hurt. A lot! Your boobs will quadruple in size and from around day 3 to 5 or 6 you will bearly be able to move. My advice is to go cold turkey, you can express a bit when it gets too much but imo that just prolongs the pain. Cabbage leaves! Honestly they work, even if they do stink. Buy one, pull all the leaves off and put them in the fridge. Cover your whole boob with them until they get warm and wilt then replace. Painkillers. Sorry for the doom & gloom. It took about 2 weeks for my milk to go, but the pain was only really sever for about 5 days. Good luck!

Stopping breastfeeding suddenly is a recipe for mastitis. Much easier for both of you physically and mentally to drop a feed every few days.

Oh gosh, yes, drop feeds gradually, maybe introducing one additional bottle instead of a feed every few days.
It might be easier to nightwean first by letting somebody else settle her rather than you.

I went cold turkey at 8 months. 2 days of pain, like engorgement when the milk first comes in and then all ok. It took 4 weeks for milk to totally dry up.

Be on the look out for mastitis, but cold turkey doesn't necessarily mean you are defo going to get it in my experience.