Breastfeeding is a personal choice. Therefore, if you’ve been considering that it’s time to stop breastfeeding, then here are some important questions, tips, and suggestions that can help you.
Medically reviewed by Mae Charisse Antalan, MD · General Practitioner
Breastfeeding is a personal choice. Therefore, if you’ve been considering that it’s time to stop breastfeeding, then here are some important questions, tips, and suggestions that can help you.
Experts recommend that infants be breastfed for at least six months. There are plenty of reasons for this.
Ideally, you should stop breastfeeding by the age of one. This is the time a child’s nutrition demands increase and intensify, and breast milk may not be enough to fulfill these anymore. However, this decision is completely dependent on how comfortable the baby and the mother are.
After the age of one, babies use breast milk for comfort as they are used to their mothers, and to support their immune system.
Sometimes, mothers also experience pain, itchiness, tightness, and sagging breasts due to breast engorgement, mastitis, thrush, or blocked milk ducts. This is a primary reason why many opt to stop breastfeeding.
Therefore, it is a decision that the mother and her partner need to take, keeping in mind the baby’s well-being.
For your breasts to make more milk, you need to breastfeed more. This can be difficult, especially if the baby isn’t able to latch well to the breast. Because of this, your milk supply suffers.
As babies start growing older, their nutritional needs evolve. A growth spurt is the main reason for this. This also means that the baby starts becoming unsatisfied with breast milk and consumes less.
If you introduce formula milk while breastfeeding, chances are the baby will eventually start losing interest in your milk. Formula milk satiates an infant’s stomach for a longer period of time.
This can be either the mother’s or the baby’s. Sometimes the mother has other health problems that do not allow her to actively breastfeed her child.
Most mothers get back to work after 9-12 months and need to shift their babies to formula milk along with solids.
It is possible for the mother-baby connection to be weak if breastfeeding hasn’t been established as a routine. This can eventually result in less milk supply and the baby being more dependent on formula milk.
Slowly
You can begin with weaning during the baby’s least favorite meal time. This can be afternoon, early morning, or late night feeds. Gradually shift the baby to solids or formula milk during this time. Or feed the baby solids a little before feed time so that he or she is too full to ask for breast milk.
Disclaimer: Weaning immediately is not the best option and should be considered thoroughly. This has repercussions for both the mother and the child.
If you wish to stop breastfeeding right away, it may result in breast engorgement or blocked milk ducts. Because of this, you might feel tightness and pain in your nipples or experience dry or sore nipples. You can take pain relievers to ease the breast aches. Other than this, you can also opt for using ice packs around your breasts. This will help eliminate swelling caused due to overload of milk supply. Please remember to use a cloth as direct contact with ice can damage nerves.
Another step to include can be to express a little milk to ease off the pressure from your breasts. Do not completely drain the milk as that will only signal your body to make more milk.
One major drawback of sudden weaning can be the baby becomes irritable and uncontrollable. This is because babies are used to comfort while breastfeeding time, and this abrupt halt might cause them to throw tantrums.
Prolactin and oxytocin are two hormones which are produced during breastfeeding. These are also responsible for the increased milk supply. Once you stop breastfeeding, these hormones start declining as well. This hormonal imbalance may lead to erratic mood swings, symptoms of depression, and gloomy temper.
If your periods didn’t resume after your baby was born, post-weaning period, your periods will make a comeback as well.
After continuous feeding for six months to one year, your breasts may feel more sensitive than usual. This can be due to the milk deposits in your breasts. It can also be a result of breast engorgement. Therefore, phase out breastfeeding in a gradual manner.
Breastfeeding is ideally the best way to lose all that baby weight. But, when you’re nursing, you’re also consuming food for the tiny human you’re feeding. Once you stop breastfeeding, this additional calorie intake can backfire and make you gain weight.
Before you get on the weaning off wagon, consult your doctor whether it is the correct time to do so.
Mothers may decide to stop breastfeeding due to health issues, having less milk supply, going back to their routines before pregnancy, and recognizing their child’s changing nutritional needs. It is recommended to stop breastfeeding gradually. It also helps to introduce formula milk and solid foods to your baby. Mothers may experience hormonal imbalance and tender breasts after stopping breastfeeding.
Learn more about Breastfeeding here.
Disclaimer
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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