Sudden weaning from breast feeding

[Mazzatron]

I suddenly stopped breast feeding my 1 month old yesterday after much deliberation and guilt - for mental health reasons.

I'm very engorged currently and leaking a lot. I'm expressing v small amounts to prevent blocked ducts and stay reasonably comfortable.

Just wondered if anyone else has done this and what I can expect over the next few days / weeks until things get back to normal.

Please do not pass judgement. My baby has taken to the bottle well and is getting loads of comfort and love from me and the whole family. It is better for everyone this way and the decision had to be made for my whole family not just him.

Thank you

Hi OP
Sorry to hear you’ve been struggling, I think certain cold medications can reduce your supply so it might be worth looking into that in case it can help? Decongestants I think usually have the ingredient in that impacts milk.

Otherwise I think you’re doing it right, express just enough to feel comfortable and it’ll signal to your body to make less and less milk. If you do get a blocked duct make sure you go on it right away with all the home remedies (electric toothbrush, hot shower, wide comb) and keep an eye out for mastitis.

Peppermint oil might help. I always used it whenever I needed to bring my ridiculous oversupply back down.

Hot baths helped me if you are sore.

I stopped very suddenly at 2 months. I was engorged for about 3 days and just squeezed a little milk out every now and then when I felt I needed to let the pressure out. After that I still had milk but it wasn't painful or engorged.

I stopped suddenly, although LO was a little older and I found the hormonal come down brutal, it was like extreme pmt. I cried for about a week and then everything rebalanced again. Not trying to put you off just it might feel worse before it gets better!

Don't express too much, just enough to take the edge off. I weaned later but I found ibuprofen, Sudafed (or own brand equivalent) and sage tea helped. Hope it gets better soon x

I did this and found leaving them alone as much as possible helped, and within 10 days they were back to normal.

Well done on making the right decision for you and therefore for your baby, and don't feel bad at all. In a few months they'll be having mashed up potato waffles off the floor anyway 😜

Cabbage leaves in your bra. Take them out and replace periodically.

You're doing what's best for you both! Don't worry.

I get such anxiety going to bed with my new born (4 weeks old). He's got colic and hates laying on his back. I stay downstairs with him as long as I can so he doesn't wake my eldest son (2.5). Then we come upstairs around 11:30 and spend the night with me rocking him and cuddling him til he is asleep. I put him in his Moses and he sleeps for 20-30 mins then starts making loads of weird grunting / squealing / loud breathing noises, then crying and we start over. I'm getting very little sleep.

It's so stressful / is this normal? My first son wasn't like this he would sleep 2-3 hours on his back at this age.

Has anyone else had a similar experience and when is it likely to improve? He is on comfort formula and infacol. He just really likes to sleep upright on someone's chest but obviously that's not safe over night.

Help!

Sounds like he’s uncomfortable to me, my second had reflux and would be in pain when laid on his back, only slept upright etc. Eventually we went to the GP, but he was only so awkward as he was in pain with his stomach acid burning his throat etc. It may well be a similar issue causing him to need to be upright and not to settle on his back. Not all reflux results in vomiting-may be worth a call/visit to check

Ok thank you. I will call the GP on Monday.
He's not sick that often but I guess it could be silent.

Thank you to everyone for the support and advice about stopping breast feeding.

Apparently Epsom salts, milk of magnesia can dry up breast milk supply.

A local midwife used to tell young women who used formula to take it. Her dh, a pharmacist, was furious because it isn't licensed for that use.

Your DS sounds a bit like one of mine and it turned out he reacted to cows milk.

@LBTM what did you do about it? How did you find out? Did it resolve in the end or is he still allergic?

I looked into silent reflux and cow's milk allergy but his green poos made me think allergy was likely. I was breastfeeding my allergic DS so I cut milk (and soya as they often go together) out of my diet and he went from being a very colicky baby to a very content one in about 2 weeks. DS is 18 months now and I think he's just about grown out of it but he maybe still sleeps worse if he has milk.