Stopping breastfeeding

Question

Hi Oby,
I spoke to u last night.Pls I would like to know steps to take when one wants to stop BF.what can be a substitute for kids wen they dnt have acess to BM.tnx.
Ug
Nigeria


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It's always a very tough decision to stop breastfeeding. Tough to stop but tougher to implement. Breastfeeding to me is addictive. With my first son, I breastfed him till 14months. It was so because my doctor was always full of praises both for me and my baby. His growth chart to him was very impressive. He actually encouraged me to keep up till he was 2yrs old unless if I thought otherwise. To stop breastfeeding should be a decision of the mother with the support of her spouse because with his support, he can help and make it easier for the mother. Stopping breastfeeding requires strongwill or you will never stop. Below are a few tips that I believe will help u.

Take it slowly: If you have breastfed your baby all his life and without introducing solids, suddenly stop; it will be very tough both for the mother and her baby. It's easier when your baby eats other foods coupled with the breastfeeding that way, he misses breastfeeding but can at least eat other nice foods you offer him. So take it slowly by introducing solids at 4months(u can find that in my previous articles) and gradually, you'll start eliminating his breastfeeds.

Eliminating feeds: Eliminating feeds is essential because once you start, your baby will start getting used to it. If your baby breastfeeds at night to sleep and feeds in between the night as well, you can start by giving her the breastfeeding to sleep and eliminating the in between feeds. She definitely will not like it but you have to try. You can put some water in her feeding bottle and give her when she wakes up at night to feed. This will help and also make her get used to not getting a feed like she used to. By the time you keep giving her water, she might not even wake up at night because she wouldn't want to bother waking up to a bottled water and you also will get a better sleep! You might also decide to sleep in a seperate room(if you usually sleep with her) for her not to feel you and want to breastfeed.




Don't be too emotional about it: It hurts mothers when their babies cry and hurts even more when they are crying for a feed and you are denying them when you have it all stored up. Sometimes, you may get emotional and start breastfeeding your baby again after denying him some feeds because of his cries and the pain you too might be experiencing from engorgement. Try to be calm and stay firm because the more you feed your baby, the more your breasts get stimulated and produce more milk. I recommend you ask for help when you are stopping to breastfeed your baby because you will need it. If a friend or relative distracts your baby, it will be half the battle for you and you won't need to carry your baby on your breasts so often.

Restrict movement and friction on the breast: With a helper, you can avoid carrying your baby on your breasts which would prevent any contact like her rubbing against you and making your milk come in. Do wear a tight yet comfortable bra for the breasts to stay in place and have less movement.

Pain or Fever: Having pain or even a fever is not new at all when stopping your baby from breastfeeding. It's all accumulated stress because your body is producing milk which your not giving out. When this is the case, you can take a paracetamol and express some milk with your breast pump but don't express too much. Just enough to give you a little relief because pumping alot might make your body produce more milk. Also massage your breasts when taking a bath, it relieves alot.

The milk will naturally be absorbed back into the body and won't produce more. It may take a few days and you'll be all normal again. Your baby will also be used to not being breastfed but don't tempt her too quickly.
I hope this helps and you have pain less stop.
Enjoy.
Ate ja.