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Stopping breastfeeding. Need help.
I?ve been going back and forth about this for the past few weeks and I think it?s just time to bite the bullet. It really breaks my heart and right now I feel physically drained just worrying about this decision but I think it needs to be done for my own health. As much as I want to breastfeed her and share that bond , I don?t think it?s a good idea anymore. Please don?t try and talk me out of it. I just need to stop feeling guilty. I?ve been crying all morning.
I feed her in the morning, pump three times at work, feed her when I get home from work, once before bed and sometimes twice at night. The quicker I can stop the better. So I need to know what the best approach is. Should I start with skipping one pumping session? For how long. I already missed my 9am pumping session so I?ve started. My next one is at 12. Should I skip that one too? I want to wean in a way that won?t make me too engorged and possibly give me an infection.
I?d post on the breastfeeding board but it?s the breastfeeding board and I don?t want to still waffle back and forth about this.
Re: Stopping breastfeeding. Need help.
It's easier said than done, but don't beat yourself up over it! You have to make the right decision for both YOU and DD, and that is not always breastfeeding.
I'm a big proponent of just stopping cold turkey.
http://www.bflrc.com/ljs/breastfeeding/dryupfst.htm
Here are some tips.
I'm no expert, I stopped nursing just before 3 months and exclusively pumped. I'm not sure what all your reasons are and am in no way trying to "talk you out" of your decision but just one general piece of advice, to quote Rayskit... Breastfeeding is not ALL OR NOTHING.
I don't know your situation, but nursing was too much for me, pumping was easier. So, if I were you, I'd probably stop nursing and pump 4 times a day, then supplement with formulas as needed and see how that goes. I'd pump first thing in the morning, 2 times during the day, once before bed, mixing in formula as needed.
If you are done, done, done, no turning back.......I think you could probably drop a session ever 3-4 days, just watch how your body reacts, don't push it and let your body adjust between each session you drop.
Good luck and do what you have to do! Hugs!
She has had formula three times before so I know she can handle it. The last time being a few days ago. I gave her 2 ounces and then BF'd her. She is fine with bottles too since I've been back to work for the past 3 weeks. I'm going to start giving her formula at night and probably a bottle during the day.
I don't know why this is so hard. It's not like she's not going to be still a happy baby on formula.
Well, I quit a lot earlier than you. I only made it 5 weeks with both and with both, I ended up pumping and not breastfeeding because of supply issues/latch issues, etc. I just quit cold turkey. I figured I wanted to just get it over with and deal with the pain and not prolong the process more than needed. I won't lie, it is very painful quitting. The engorgement etc. I took Sudafed (the kind you have to get from behind the counter), put cold cabbage leaves in my bra, took Advil, wore a well-fitted sports bra (not too tight), and didn't let the water hit my breasts when I was in the shower. It took a week or so for the engorgement to go down and took a while longer to completely dry up. I know some weaned slowly to help with the pain but I don't know that process since I just wanted to be done as quick as possible.
I'm sorry it isn't working out for you but there's no need to feel guilty. 4 months is great! There is nothing wrong with formula and your sanity is more important than breast milk. ((hugs)) I hate the stigma about breastfeeding. You should NOT feel guilty for quitting - it's not like you're going to just stop feeding your child all-together.
BFP with no treatment!
Because it's an emotional thing. It's also something that is pushed pushed pushed now. People will flat out say that people that formula feed are lazy and other things that are SO not true. So, you may already have some sadness about it and then also have other things you've read making the sadness worse. This is a very personal decision, but just make sure you are absolutely positive that you are done before you quit since you can't go back (well, not without a LOT of work) once you're dried up.
BFP with no treatment!
And for the record, I was never so happy than the day I packed up that pump. BF/Pumping caused me a great deal of stress. And when all that was gone, I was a new person.
Good luck!
I dropped a session (pumping or nursing) every 2-3 days. I had a good amount of milk in the freezer so we would do bottles of 1/2 breast milk 1/2 formula. As we got closer to the end of the freezer stash we upped the amount of formula and phased out the breast milk.
I hope this is a smooth transition for you.
Dx: PCOS and short luteal phase
18 cycles (3 with our RE) - Metformin + Clomid + HCG booster did the trick!
BFP #1 6/22/09 EDD: 3/2/10 DS born: 3/8/10
TTC #2 since Dec 2011
BFP #2 7/8/12 EDD: 3/18/12 M/C @ 9w1d: 8/16/12
Same here. I was SO happy to pack everything away and be done with it.
BFP with no treatment!
I am a "wade into the water" person, as opposed to jumping in all at once. If it were me, I would start with skipping a session for a few days and then take away another one a few days later. Then again, my ducts like to clog way too easily, and the pain/discomfort of that drives me crazy.
I hope this is me. My mom has been telling me to stop for a month now but I just can't. I'm not going to pretend I'm still not debating it in my head. Ugh. It is like a loss.
I have no advice to offer, but this did bring a story to mind. When a friend was weaning she decided to try cabbage leaves in her bra to help out. She said it helped a lot, but she hated how it was staining her bras red. She didn't know that there was green cabbage.
Even funnier when we went bra shopping months later & I got to overhear her telling that story to the sales girl.
That's really funny!
I forgot about cabbage. I used it - the green stuff
I only had to be at home by myself though. It smelled turrrrrrible. I don't think I would have used it if I had to be in a cube or near another human.
i still love this story every time i hear/read it!
For the quickest way - i would just keep skipping sessions until you are uncomfortably engorged, then just pump for 5 minutes or so just to relieve the pressure, but not enough to tell your body that you need to produce more. I would completey throw your schedule out the window and play it by ear.
Be proud that you made it this far with it! It is quite an accomplishment!
Dx: PCOS and short luteal phase
18 cycles (3 with our RE) - Metformin + Clomid + HCG booster did the trick!
BFP #1 6/22/09 EDD: 3/2/10 DS born: 3/8/10
TTC #2 since Dec 2011
BFP #2 7/8/12 EDD: 3/18/12 M/C @ 9w1d: 8/16/12
Thanks guys.
I'm feeling better about this now. Just the morning was really rough to take that first step.
It sounds like you are doing the best thing for yourself and your baby so good for you!
Just another option to throw out there, not trying to change your mind, but Abbie was 1/2 breast 1/2 formula fed from about 5-10 months. I found I was so stressed trying to pump at work so I had to quit doing it. I sent formula to daycare and I nursed her in the morning and at night. That way it was not stressful at all, but I didn't have to quite entirely. If she woke up at night I gave her a bottle. I never pumped - just breastfed twice a day.
I think since I did that when I stopped all the way when she was 10 months it was no big deal. I started breatfeeding her just in the mornings and then every other morning, and then just stopped!
Best of luck to you, I hope whatever you decide that it will make you much happier.
Collin Thayne 10.11.2010
With Luca I cut out one session every 2-3 days... I started with the 2nd feeding of the day (11:00) ish and then cut it down so I was only nursing every other feeding. Then just morning and night.. then just morning and then NADA. I swear stopping was the best decision I ever made. It was killing me!
With Lila, I got a horrible rash all over my body (including breasts). I had to stop ASAP. I went cold turkey. It wasn't that bad. I would pump just an ounce for comfort. I was fine in a few days. I didn't completely dry up for a few weeks, but it wasn't an issue. I did sudafed.
It's such an emotional decision and all of the opinions out there can really mess with your head. When I stopped I was down to producing such an insignicant amount that I stopped cold turkey and didn't have any issues so I can't speak to that BUT I just wanted to encourage you to stay firm with this decision if it is what's best for you and your baby (and it sounds like it is!). Formula is perfectly fine for your sweetie pie! She will grow and thrive and you'll never look back.
Everyone has their own reasons and decisions to make on this topic. IMO, as long as you're only deciding between breastmilk and formula at this stage you're in the clear! Thinking about introducing some cows milk or juice at 4 months and I'll give ya the side eye! LOL