Stopping breastfeeding quickly

[jess210187]

I have ebf my baby for 8 and a half months. She is eating a bit in the day, still breastfeeds a lot, constantly feeds throughout the night, we co sleep and it's about every 1-2 hrs she latches on. She will drink water from a bottle and sippy cup doesn't seem to like formula though she will at most take 1 oz occasionally. Tried diff bottles and formulas. I have multiple sclerosis and my neurologist wants to start me on a new drug in 2 weeks. He has said it is probably safe in breastfeeding but I don't feel over comfortable doing this. Does any one have any advice on how to wean a baby this age quickly? Tia

Two weeks is plenty of time. At 8.5months, I'd still wean to a bottle not a cup probably.

I did something similar at 10 months due to DD starting nursery at 10.5 months.

Sucking from a bottle is really different to sucking from a breast. I also tried lots of bottles, DD hated them all. I eventually found I needed a very fast flow teat which surprised me. I also found DD preferred the flavour of ready made cartons of milk (expensive but very convenient). So whichever approach your DD seems to hate least, go with that.

Then you just have to stick it out. Start by switching the daytime feeds, leaving bedtime and night time to last.

If your DP is able to help it would really be a good idea if, say, you do bath and cuddles and some singing or whatever is your routine, and he takes over the bedtime feed.

You'll have to be prepared for an angry, hungry baby - there isn't really a way to avoid that.

Your baby will be increasingly interested in food, make sure you offer water frequently through the day and lots of yummy things to eat. Perhaps up the dairy element of your baby's diet to compensate the loss of BF at least until bottles are established.

Two weeks is fairly sudden for your body if you are used to feeding that often. You will risk mastitis. You should contact the breast feeding network to ask about how suitable your meds are in breastfeeding.

I don't have advice about weaning sorry but would echo previous poster on checking with breastfeeding network on the medication if this is your only concern / reason for stopping

www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/detailed-information/drugs-in-breastmilk/

I have checked the breastfeeding network and I've spoken to several drs/lactation consultants and pharmacists across the world trying to come to a decision about this it has plagued my mind since I found out. It's a monthly infusion called tysabri that does cross over into breastmilk in some women and there is no information to state whether or not it is broken down in the babies gut or if it passes into there bloodstream because not enough research has been done on it. All they know is that it does cross over into breastmilk. Some women do breastfeed on this drug. I'm just really really worried about it. The side effects are serious in me so what about a baby? And she feeds alllll the time at night it's not like she has just three feeds a day. I breastfed my first daughter until she was 18 months and believe me I'd much rather keep breastfeeding!

My dp doesn't really seem that keen on helping at night time which is really annoying to be honest. I'm so bad at letting her cry and things but I think I'm going to have to except that she will cry that we will get even less sleep and be a bit tougher

That sounds really hard, sorry to hear you are going through all this. It's positive that she already takes some formula. Hope it goes ok

I’m sorry, this sounds so hard for you. La Leche have info about when breastfeeding suddenly has to end and perhaps you can get some decent support and suggestions from one of the breastfeeding helplines or a lactation consultant. I hope you can find someone helpful and it goes as well as possible for you both.

www.laleche.org.uk/breastfeeding-ends-suddenly/

I would probably try and work on restricting to every 4 hrs maximum for 3 days so she gets a feed, and you get used to not every 1-2 hr feeds. Then drop down to just every 6hrs for 3 days (morning, midday, evening, and once overnight). Then drop a feed every 2 days. Replacing with formula in bottle if possible, if not beaker or open cup.

Raining zen how long did it take for you to establish bottles?