The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends feeding your baby breastmilk for the first six months of your child’s life and to continue to provide breastmilk for up to a year longer. Each mothers journey is different based on milk supply issues, nursing challenges, or a job that makes it difficult to continue pumping at work.
Do you want to wean from pumping, but are unsure how? No matter your situation, you are probably curious how to make the transition from pumping easiest for you and your baby. Here are a few tips:
If you’ve decided to stop pumping and wean your baby off breastmilk, you may be tempted to quit cold turkey. But stopping pumping abruptly can lead to engorgement, plugged ducts, infection risk and more. Here’s what to expect if you stop pumping suddenly and how to ease the transition.
As a pumping mom, you know it takes commitment to keep up your milk supply. But when you’re ready to wean your baby off breastmilk, you may wonder if you can simply stop pumping from one day to the next
Quitting cold turkey may seem like the fastest route But stopping pumping abruptly can wreak havoc on your breasts and emotions Going slowly is ideal, but if you must stop pumping immediately, here’s what to expect.
Engorgement and Leaking
Once you stop removing milk from your breasts, they will quickly become engorged from the excess milk buildup. Engorgement is often very painful, with breasts feeling hard, swollen and tender.
Your breasts will likely start leaking milk as well. You may soak through breast pads and find wet spots on your shirts even when wearing a tight bra. Leaking and engorgement can persist for days or weeks after quitting pumping until your milk supply officially dries up.
To find relief, try cold compresses, gentle massages or warm showers. Ibuprofen can help reduce swelling and discomfort too. Avoid stimulating your nipples, which signals your body to produce more milk.
Increased Infection Risk
When milk backs up in the breast ducts, it creates a breeding ground for bacteria. Plugged ducts and mastitis (breast tissue infection) are more common when abruptly stopping pumping.
Watch for symptoms like fever, chills, body aches, redness or soreness in the breast. Seek medical treatment promptly if you suspect an infection. Taking over-the-counter pain relievers and using hot compresses can help.
Emotional Changes
You may be eager to stop pumping, but once you do, feelings of sadness often follow. Some moms even report depression or mood swings from the abrupt drop in oxytocin and prolactin levels that are high during lactation.
Give yourself grace as your hormones recalibrate. Take time to process the emotions that come with this transition. Share your feelings with loved ones who can offer support. The baby blues should pass within a couple weeks.
Baby’s Reaction
If you’ve been directly breastfeeding and baby relies on nursing for food and comfort, stopping abruptly can be a difficult adjustment. Your baby may seem irritated, cry excessively or refuse bottles at first.
Have patience and keep offering the bottle. Allow others to give bottles too since your baby may associate your scent with nursing. Use snacks, cuddles, pacifiers and other soothing techniques during fussy times. The more consistent you are, the quicker baby will adapt.
Tips for a Smoother Transition
While cold turkey weaning is never easy, a few proactive steps can help minimize issues:
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Wean gradually over weeks if possible, dropping pumping sessions incrementally. This gives your body more time to adjust.
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Wear loose bras that don’t put pressure on your breasts as they adjust to less milk removal. Avoid stimulation.
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Use cold compresses, pain relievers, massage and warm showers for relief from engorgement. Cabbage leaves can help reduce swelling too.
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Watch for signs of plugged ducts or infection. Seek medical treatment if symptoms persist or worsen. Antibiotics may be needed.
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Be patient with your baby and offer lots of cuddles. It may take a couple weeks for baby to accept bottles comfortably.
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Take care of your mental health and reach out for support. Postpartum depression is more common when stopping lactation abruptly.
Your Body Will Recalibrate
Though quitting pumping cold turkey may not be easy on you or baby at first, rest assured your body will recalibrate. As the excess milk works its way out of your system, the discomfort and leaking will diminish.
Your mood will stabilize as your hormones find balance again. With time and consistency, your baby will get used to bottle feeding. Trust the process and go easy on yourself.
Stopping breastfeeding and pumping is a personal decision. Do what’s best for you and your family, even if that means going cold turkey. Just be prepared for what to expect, stick it through the rough patches, and you’ll both adjust in time.
Increase time in between pumping sessions.
a. Slowly add more time in between each pumping session. Try to delay pumping sessions for as long as you are comfortable. However, you should not try to wait until you’re experiencing breast pain or extreme fullness. This can lead to clogged ducts or mastitis. Let your comfort level be your guide.
b. If you are pumping more than three times a day, begin weaning by dropping down to two pumping sessions a day about 12 hours apart.
Gradually decrease the amount of time you pump at each session.
a. Sometimes, an abrupt stop to pumping can be uncomfortable and higher the risk of developing painful engorgement, clogged ducts, and/or mastitis. Quitting cold turkey works for some women, but for others, it can cause problems. Consider dropping a pumping session every few days to give your body time to adjust. Eliminate these sessions one at a time until your milk has dried up.
WEANING COLD TURKEY! | Stopping Breastfeeding | What to Expect
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