How to go about stopping bf 2 year old

[francesrivis]

Hi, I have just found out I'm pg with number 2 and have decided to stop bfing dd 1 who has just turned 2 (I know it's quite possible to carry on feeding her but I would rather not). Any advice as to how to go about it? She only feeds twice a day - should I cut the feeds out one at a time? How much advance warning should I give her? And are there any implications for the pregnancy? TIA

I can't tell you how to stop, as I found myself in the same position and have carried on (after taking some advice on here - easy to establish supply for newborn and prevent engorgement if you tandem feed!), but I can say that there aren't any implications for the pregnancy either way.

You may find that if you carry on through the first trimester, then she will self-wean during the second or third, as over half of all children apparently do, as the milk dries up a bit and changes taste.

Also think about what if you gave up during the first trimester, and then suffered a m/c - would you be even more upset that you had made her stop?

Congratulations btw .

2/3 of children will self wean during pg anyway, so you may want to leave it for nature to take it's course (easy way out!)
about a third wean during 1st trimester and a third wean during 3rd trimester

otherwise I would get hold of the book 'How weaning happens' from the La Lache League, which has advice for gentle and effective weaning at any age and for all situations. They do always explore the option of carrying on and look at the advantages of this, but there are also suggestions and advice for the easiest way to wean at every stage

I'm coming here to lurk but without advice to give I'm afraid. Hope that's ok.

I think I just stopped one day with dd. But she was ready and didn't seem too bothered. Am facing different story with ds however.

Slur most children will wean between 2 and 4 of their own accord, if that helps
I found the idea of it going on forever quite demoralising but sometimes the thought it might just stop in a few months of ds's own accord decided me to keep going
he did stop, out of the blue, just said he was too old now
I was gutted in a way as by then it had become purely easy and pleasant!

hi my lo self weaned (she was 19 mths at th etime) when i was 4 mths pg. She was just having the am and before feed and i think my milk changed and got less and she stopped on her own which i was pleased about as i was worried about how to stop as she was really in to boobie

Thanks for all the great advice. I'm quite torn now! I definitely don't want to tandem feed - but take on board can'tsleep's point about how crap I would feel if I weaned her and then had a miscarriage. The reason I would like to wean now is not a very rational one I suppose - I just feel instinctively that I want my body to concentrate on growing this new LO rather than making milk for dd as well. Anyone else felt this? Also, as I don't want to tandem feed I also need to take into account that I don't want her to associate weaning with the arrival of new LO - ie feel that she has been pushed out.

Just bumping as I wonder if anyone knows whether there's any logical basis for my feeling of wanting my body to concentrate on growing new LO. I suppose the other side of the coin for me - and equally irrational - is my fear that if I do stop now there will be a hormonal upheaval that could somehow put the pregnancy at risk. Sounds a bit weird I know - I'm normally quite a rational person (honestly!) but pregnancy seems to bring up all sorts of bizarre ideas! TIA