Hey Ladies,
Well my daughter turned a year old last week, and I've decided not to breastfeed anymore. At 11 months old, she decided she didn't want to nurse anymore, so I just pumped and gave her my milk from a sippycup since then. So, I've been pumping 2-3X a day for the last month or so. Well, I don't want to do it any more. She as transitioned to Organic Cow's milk really well, so the problem just lies with me.

The questions/problems I'm having is...how do I dry up:confused: ?? I've tried to only pump when my breasts feel really full/swollen, and for only a short time. They feel really lumpy (like ducts are swollen or something). What should I do? How long does this process take? How often (or not often) should I be pumping? It has only been 3 days now since I've "quit."

I appreciate your help:wave: ,
Stacey

I pumped over 40 ounces a day for 10 months straight.. yes, I was the human milk cow.

To stop you just stop. No more pumping at all. Then bind your breasts well and tightly. It is the only way, it is going to hurt, but it helps. If after a couple of months you are still haveing issues with lactation go to your OB and have them test you. They will give you a shot to dry up the dregs.

Best of luck.. it sucks, but it will end.. eventually.
Sincerely,
MG

lumpy is not unusual. I would also stop completely. See when they are engorged and you pump to releive it you are telling b(O)(O)ies hey i need more. So if you stop it will be a pain in the butt but it will tell your hormones to stop supplying and dry up. It can take up to 18months to no longer be able to squeeze them and get milk. Trust me on that one.;) Do not touch them dont even wash them ... Just let the water rinse over them and your shampoo from your hair will be just fine. We create that oil that helps clean them all by ourself. no stimulatoin from hubby either. I kwno he wont like it but gotta do what ya gotta do to stop the stimulation. K

I have to disagree with the other mom's. Not that it didn't work for you, but when I stopped, ds was 14 months old, and I did at first stop cold turkey......and wound up with mastitis, and blocked milk ducts galore. I had to call the doctor, and she told me to slowly wean my body, just like you're doing by pumping when you're uncomfortable. I might take a few more days, even a week or two, but I really think it's better than getting sick.:)

I think you should only pump when you are extremely uncomfortable and only enough to ease the pain. Decrease your fluid intake and try to wear a tight bra, even during the night. This might sound crazy, but you can stick cold cabbage leaves in yor bra. Cabbage has a small amount of estrogen and can help you dry up. The cold helps too. Also being on birth control pills (not the mini-pill) can help the process if that is an option. As far as I know they are no longer prescribing that medication to dry your milk up. I believe they found it had a high risk for causing brain aneurysms. Ouch! Good luck

I really appreciate all of your feedback. I've had to pump a little (about an oz. or 2 each breast) two times over the last couple of days...just to help relieve some of the pain. When I pumped it was mainly clear (which I'm guess in colostrum or foremilk). I haven't had too much pain, so hopefully I won't get any clogged ducts. My right breast is still pretty lumpy though.

-Stacey:wave:

I am going through the same thing right now. The past few days were really uncomfortable, but I found manually expressing a few drops made a huge difference. I have the pill but was waiting for my period to return. Does anyone know if there is a good reason I can't start it now before the return of AF?

The natural course of the breastfeeding relationship is a slow and gradual weaning process, so stopping abruptly can put you at risk for mastitis and blocked ducts. Also, with regard to your DD, most babies don't self wean at 11 months. Biologically they aren't prepared for that. It's often brought on (often unintentionally) by parents who replace too many feedings with meals and other liquids. I bet if you gave it another go , and with some patience she'd nurse again and then you could gradually wean. Much healthier for everyone involved.

I agree with the last poster. It would be way better to wean gradually. For both of you. It's what I plan to do too. From what I've heard and read it really is a bad idea to stop cold turkey. Good luck!

Okay, you have to wean (either cold turkey or slowly). Either way will work eventually. Children CAN wean themselves as early as 7 months old. I have personally seen this happen. Babies should have solids at 6 months in order to know how to chew/eat later on in life. If you start up nursing again, you will have to start this process all over. So, I disagree, Miss.

Just another thing too, I stopped nursing DD, b/c I wasn't producing enough (lack of a proper breast pump and was totally my fault) at 6 months. In any case, I still had milk (colostrom) coming out on occasion until I got pregnant this time, and DD is 3 YEARS OLD!!!! So, technically I could have started nursing her again anytime I wanted. Just wouldn't produce much. I didn't, b/c it hurts enough weaning the first time. I too got mastisis and had to be on antibiotics, b/c it got so infected. I think you are doing the right thing and don't be surprised if for a long time you can sill squeeze out a drop. LOL!:)

MissChic-she actually did wean herself at 11 mo. I wasn't feeding her too much table food or anything. She was nursing as usual every day...5X a day. One afternoon she was pushing me away and trying to bite me with her only 2 bottom teeth. So, I figured she wasn't hungry. An hour later I tried it again, and the same thing happened. I gave her a snack ("real" food), and she ate it like she was really hungry. 3 hours later I tried nursing her again...same thing. This went on for almost 24 hours. Eventually I had to pump. I offered her my breastmilk from a sippycup, and she drank it right up. So that is what I did for her until after her 1st birthday. Now she is only on Organic cow's milk.

So I would have to say that you are wrong. 11 month olds do wean themselves when they are ready. Every kid is different and is ready at different times.
-Stacey