How do I go about stopping breastfeeding?

[MrsFogi]

I know the obvious answer is just stop but I was wondering is there a tried and tested way of gradually cutting down that avoids the risk of me having boobs fit to burst and that will not be too much of a shock for dd?

I think the recommended route is to cut down by no more than one feed per week. Less risk of mastitis that way.

If you just stop it's incredibly painful (so I've heard) and really not the way to go about it.
With both mine (children that is, not bosoms ) I reduced the feeds very gradually over a period of about 2 months, dropping one feed every 7-10 days. I dropped the bedtime one last.

Thanks for the replies. Does anyone have any views/ideas re what order to drop feeds in?

My dd is on 3 feeds a day (13 months), but has been since weaning. I think the daytime ones are easiest to drop. Babies wake up first thing desperate for milk and a cuddle and last thing at night it's great to help them settle.

You could always keep first thing and last thing and just drop daytime ones. Depending on how old your dd is you could carry on breastfeeding and wear lovely bras during the day! That's what I'm doing as of today - she was handed a cup of milk at 3pm with no objections, but she would be very miffed if the other 2 feed disappeared at the mo. I'm hoping she'll keep it up for as long as possible - all those antibodies for her and health benefits for me!

If there is no choice and you really have to stop then one feed a week is the way to go.

Once we were down to three feeds per day, we dropped the morning one, then the lunch one (fed to sleep at lunch time), then the bed time one.