How to stop breastfeeding?

[Momma99]

Hey moms! So I’m currently 40 weeks pregnant and of course I have thought about breastfeeding I really want to give it a try but just thinking ahead how did yous stop breastfeeding? I understand the baby starts eating solid food but how does it all work when you want to stop breastfeeding? When do you stop? Does the baby just stop by itself? Is there a right time to stop? I really don’t want to be breast feeding until the baby is like 2 ... thank you!

[Seb9]

Babies naturally wean at between around 2 and 4, they start eating solid food and don't need to feed from you.

Milk should be babies primary food till they are at least one so depending on how long you want to breastfeed you can either introduce a bottle of formula if they are under 1 or cows milk when they're 12 months old.

At 6 months you can introduce food and they just naturally eat more as they get older and have less milk.

If you have a good time breastfeeding you might find you end up carrying on, I wasn't sure how long I'd carry on for but we're at 13 months currently. I loved not having to carry bottles or buy formula when she was little or make bottles on the middle of the night. Now I love having it in our tools to help settle baby and for our snuggle time. At first it felt that she was always feeding but now I love when she'll snuggle up with me for a feed and a five minute chill out.

[Momma99 in reply to Seb9]

that’s is why I wanted to breast feed I heard so many things about it having a lot of health benefits for the baby and me and of course it’s a lot easier to carry your breasts around rather than bottles 😁thank you for the answer was great help ❤️

[Seb9 in reply to Momma99]

If you can get through the first few weeks, it can be really great. At first I felt like my boob was out constantly! It's so good for baby though and for mum too so it's really worth it. I'd definitely recommend getting support with latching if you have any pain from it and get a good nipple cream, I love Weleda as I found Lanisoh to sticky.

It might feel at times that you're not making enough milk, but go by weight and output rather than baby fussing or not showing. If they're doing lots of wet and dirty nappies and have weight gain, you're doing fine. I would also highly recommend a feeding station with water and food that is within easy access, the amount of times I would go to feed baby and then realise I was thirsty or hungry the second she'd latch on.

There is lots of support out there if you do struggle and lots of Facebook groups that are really lovely too good luck xx

[Novice_knitter in reply to Momma99]

Ahhh this is the exact answer I would have given too - I absolutely second this! I’m almost 11 months in, and I def feel like I’ll let her self-wean, or combine my milk and another milk alternative once she hits 1 (especially when she goes to nursery, or I might express, haven’t decided yet) x

[roxannacar]

Might sound a bit rude. .. are you sure you want to breastfeed? It's a bit odd to think about stopping before you have tried started and there is a lot of pressure for mums. to do it

You can breastfeed as long as you want to, there isn't a right time. I fed mine till 14 and 18 months. I slowed down feeds and started replacing feeds during the day and ultimately stopped at night. It is not always easy, and some babies will get disinterested but some will still be interested for a long time and then you actively need to look at stopping if that's what you want to do. With my 18monthnold.ot was quite a struggle as she was waking hourly wanting a comfort feed, so.it had to stop as I was destroyed.

Even though they start eating at 6 months they will still.need mainly milk as their food in some shape.or.form till at least age 1, as at the start.they basically have tastes of food and not quantity for their calorie need.

Saying all that I still plan to breastfeed no. 3.

[Momma99 in reply to roxannacar]

I’m just curious as to how a baby would just stop wanting the milk and how it works? As I said I was thinking ahead and because I know from my mam she breastfed my little sister till she was over 2 years old and one time she was running around the airport screaming for boob😅

[roxannacar in reply to Momma99]

I think it's pretty tricky to say cause all babies are different tbh. But ultimately it's what works for the both of you.

[staaa88]

Absolutely fine to ask this! It’s all a bit of a minefield so I understand why you might ask something like this, especially if you’re like me and like to know the ins and outs of a ducks a**e 😂 I exclusively breastfed until 5 months. I then introduced formula in the morning and then started giving her one in the evening until I was just breastfeeding in the night. I stopped at 6 months as that’s all I wanted to do. I had been on IVF drugs for pretty much 6 months before my pregnancy and with that, pregnancy and breastfeeding I felt it was time to have my body back to myself! I found that it took a good couple of weeks until the breast milk “dried up” and it can be quite painful if you leave it like I did 🤦🏼‍♀️ without expressing every now and then. It’s totally up to you when you want to stop. I know some women who have never breastfed and some who are still breastfeeding their 3 year olds! Have a chat with your health visitor. You’ll be surprised at how you and your baby just figure these things out yourselves along the way though. Good luck! Xx

[Shinyhalo1]

Hi, I’m currently drying up my milk. I’ve breast fed for 12 weeks and I’ll be honest I’ve not enjoyed it that much. Make sure it’s the right option for you; I wanted to give it a try to ensure my babe had the best of the breast and It’s a lovely feeling to have my little man wanting to feed from me and being able to provide all the goodness that comes from that; but it is a very singular task and very tiresome. I’ve not even really suffered that much either he’s a good latcher, my nipples have been fine and I’ve not suffered from mastitis; I just found it very hard.

You can feed for as long or as short as you like. I’m now just expressing to dry up my milk and if I have another I think I would just stick to formula feeding so that my partner can be more involved.

It’s a lovely thing to do; don’t be pressured by anyone in the hospital or by friends to breast feed and definitely do what feels right for you. Xx

[Seb9 in reply to Shinyhalo1]

It is really hard at first but it does get easier and you can introduce a bottle to get some rest and for your partner to get involved. My partner bonded with my daughter so many different ways, he gives her her bath, does all the nappy changes when he's at home. It's only 6 months that they're exclusively fed breast milk, so now he gives her, breakfast before he goes to work and we all have dinner together.

While formula milk is fine, breastfeeding is such much more and if you've loved the feeling of baby feeding from you maybe you could look at combination feeding so baby still gets all that powerful goodness from you. X

[Shinyhalo1 in reply to Seb9]

Hi yeah I combination fed too but still I found it very “meh”! Like people say it’s not for everyone and if I had my time again I probably wouldn’t breast feed.

Get the men involved far more haha! X

[Seb9 in reply to Shinyhalo1]

Lol I definitely married a good one, he's just bought me tea and chocolate on the sofa while he puts the washing away and makes the packed lunches for work tomorrow. I definitely see the benefits of boobing on the sofa while he does the chores 😂

[Loopy_lass]

Hiya! Congratulations on your pregnancy and I hope labour goes well.

It is all down to personal choice and as others have said dependent on the baby. I EBF and we started to give him the odd bottle when he was first born which he accepted fine but we were put off by the HV and midwives who said we should wait until BF was established before offering bottles. I really wish we hadn't listened though because by the time we waited a few more weeks until I felt comfortable with BF he refused the bottle. So I couldn't really leave him with anyone. He took to solids really well and dropped his feeds himself and by the time he was 10 months old he only wanted boob before bedtime.I was quite relieved as I went back to work at 10 months so wouldn't have been able to feed him anyway! He's 15 months old now and has just dropped the bedtime feed which was harder for me than it was for him I think! Do what is right for you and don't feel pressured into anything. BF is great once you get the hang of it but I can be emotionally and physically tiring especially the night time feeds. If we have another I would either combines feed or express. Xx

[Prosopon]

This is a good question! I don't know the answer myself, so interesting to see the replies. My goal was to breastfeed for 6 months, but we're now at nearly 9 months! I hated it at first as it was so painful and exhausting, but now I love it so I'm glad I persevered. My son is definitely breastfeeding less since starting solids and I suppose that will continue to decrease as his solid food intake increases, but he still definitely uses breastfeeding for comfort, as well as nutrition. I really don't know how long I'll continue for. It worries me about going back to work as I don't want him to be solely dependent on me and it's quite hard for others to comfort him. But we'll cross that bridge when we come to it! I don't really like the idea of breastfeeding a toddler but I think it will be hard to stop! Breastfeeding has been a very emotional experience for me.

[Breastfeed2]

Hello, from my own experiences I loved being able to feed my children. I would always say it's the best way to start. But it has to be right for you and baby. And if hand on heart you can say "I have done my best" and for what ever reason it is not right. Then be proud that you had a go.

Back to how it will stop. I went back to work therefore wasn't feeding as much. Then it starts to dry up. And second time my child started teething ( real teeth) I got bitten a few times. It was painful so decided to stop. And went on to bottle.