Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Starting was the easy part...How do I STOP breastfeeding??

12 replies

littlelamb · 24/05/2009 16:26

Well ds is nearly a year old and I think I am ready to stop bf. I'm proud to have got to a year, and I want to be able to start losing weight now, as I have a good few stone to lose and I know from experience that weight will not shift until I've stopped feeding. I fed dd for 10 months and I went cold turkey, just completely stopped. She was at nursery and was having bottles of expressed milk, so it wasn't too difficult for her but I ended up in quite a bit of pain and had to force myself not to express to ease it. Ds has been with mil since last night and has only just come back. I sent him with bottles of formula, which he had no problem taking. But my boobs are about to explode Surely if I express, it will just mean even more milk is produced. Is mastitis inevitable?? Should I get some antibiotics just in case? Or should I try and cut down on bfs over a couple of weeks and subsitute with milk from a cup?

OP posts:
TheProvincialLady · 24/05/2009 16:32

I would cut down gradually as mastitis is hideous even if you have ABs. It feels like flu and will send you to bed for a few days....better to let your body adjust gradually IMO.

themoon66 · 24/05/2009 16:57

Cut down slowly and your milk production will naturally slow down. I found that worked just fine both times. It took me a long time to drop that last thing at night feed though.

littlelamb · 24/05/2009 19:33

Thanks. He's still up (mil let him stay up until 9 so his routine had been a bit muddled up) and having a cup of milk quite happily. Its funny, he does favour one side and that is the side that is agony. I can see myself wandering around with one side significantly bigger than the other for a few days I'll try cuttign the feeds down gradually.

OP posts:
AbricotsSecs · 24/05/2009 19:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

MrsJamin · 24/05/2009 19:54

I wanted to stop at 1 year and a few weeks before, DS went on a nursing strike as he was unwell. I took my opportunity and so went from 4 feeds a day to none. I only expressed a little if I was feeling engorged (to avoid mastitis), and after a week I wasn't producing anything. Good luck and well done to getting to a year!

littlelamb · 24/05/2009 20:08

Well he's just gone to bed. Turned nose up at boobs completely Has had a bottle and settled straight to sleep. I wonder if maybe it was just too full?? They are quite humungous anyway, he gave about 2 disinterested sucks and then gave up. I'm going to try and express some off and when he wakes up try again so they'll be less full. I didn't expect him to refuse to feed

OP posts:
littlelamb · 24/05/2009 20:09

Oh lordy
Do you think it may be the alcohol that could be the problem?? Was rather a large one last night

OP posts:
JustKeepSwimming · 24/05/2009 20:12

I dropped feeds gradually and was still in agony for a week after the last one

was recommended Sudafed - as a decongestant
and as much ibubrofen as i wanted! plus thee odd glass of wine helped too

i could hardy get dressed/undressed my boobs were so swollen and tender. i did hand express/lie in hot baths/put hot flannels on them/etc. time helped the most.

good luck!
(he may not refuse in the middle of the night, does he get up in the night?)

littlelamb · 24/05/2009 20:21

err, yes he does several times. Interestingly enough though when he's being babysat he hardly ever wakes up. I think he wakes up a lot as he expects milk every time. I remember it being agony giving up feeding dd. I did it the week we moved into our flat and it was a state so I drafted in a few friends and we spent all week decorating. My norks were so big I kept opening doors into them and my word did they hurt.

OP posts:
JustKeepSwimming · 24/05/2009 21:23

well lete him feed if he wants the next few nights to ease tings, then you can decide what to do from there....

littlelamb · 25/05/2009 10:26

Well he fed from me in the night but has turned his nose up at boob this morning. After about an hour of offering it I gave in and he took a bottle no problems. I don't know why I feel a bit sad. I suppose i should be happy that he does seem to be choosing to give up rather than me forcing it but still a bit I will keep offering him bfs today and see what happens

OP posts:
MrsJamin · 25/05/2009 11:19

it's totally natural to feel a bit sad about it, it does feel like it changes your relationship but soon they can toddle over and give you a cuddle so you get other nice things in the future! Also be glad that it came to natural finish rather than you having to force it - I was so relieved how this went this way for me.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread