The End of your Breastfeeding Journey: Tips for Smooth Weaning
Hey Mama! Is your breastfeeding journey coming to an end? You may be feeling a little emotional and overwhelmed and wondering where to start. We want you to know that whether you breastfed for 5 minutes, 5 years or anything in between, you should be so proud!
While the World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months and continuing while introducing complementary foods for up to 2 years or longer, this is solely a recommendation. You should never feel pressured to continue breastfeeding if it isn’t working for you or your family anymore. The decision to wean is personal, not always easy and can look very different for every mom and baby. Whether the reason is returning to work or school, another baby on the way, illness/surgery, pressure from others or just personal preference, you should feel empowered and supported in your feeding choices.
How do I start weaning from breastfeeding?
There really isn’t a right or wrong way to wean, and it can be parent-led or baby-led. It is ideal to wean gradually, both for your own physical comfort and for your baby’s adjustment, but this is not always possible. If you have made the decision to wean, here are some tips to help guide you:
Try and plan ahead so you can do it gradually
Start by cutting out one feed per day, each week.
If your little one is under 1 year of age, replace that feeding with a bottle/sippy cup of expressed milk or formula.
If your little one is over 1 year of age, they may like a bottle/sippy cup of cow’s milk or water for comfort. If your child is doing well eating solids over 1 year of age, breastfeeding becomes more about comfort and doesn’t necessarily require a replacement feed.
Start with the feed that is easiest to get rid of; for example, first thing in the morning might be easy to distract your little one with toys, games, breakfast, etc.
Each week, drop one more feed, until you are no longer nursing.
What can I expect during the weaning process?
You may be thinking this is way easier said than done! Weaning can come with its own challenges. Not only can it be an emotional time for you and your baby, physically it can be uncomfortable. Breast engorgement is common during the weaning process, so the more gradual you can do it, the better for comfort. If you do experience some engorgement, you can hand express or pump just enough of milk to take away the discomfort; somewhere between 2-5 minutes. The idea is to slow your milk production, so you want to be careful not to do a complete pumping session.
It is important to listen to your body and remain comfortable because unrelieved engorgement can lead to other issues like plugged ducts and mastitis. Advil, cold compresses, or chilled cabbage leaves are very helpful in reducing inflammation and discomfort with engorgement. If your menstrual cycle has not yet returned, you can expect that it likely will return sooner, due to hormonal changes during breastfeeding and weaning. With that you may experience other symptoms like mood changes or headaches.
Every child is so different, and they will respond to weaning in different ways. You might see some resistance and behaviour changes, especially in older children. They may have more night waking initially and some separation anxiety. It can be a big adjustment for them, but over time it gets easier. You can talk to your baby or child; explain to them in a way that they can understand, using phrases like “no more milk”, “all done” or “empty” when they are asking to nurse. Establishing new bedtime routines is very helpful; incorporate more stories or songs, extra snuggles or a new stuffed animal.
Just like breastfeeding, weaning won’t always be linear; stay flexible and give yourself grace always. Remember that you are doing your best and you are more than enough!
If you would like support in weaning your baby or older child, contact us today. We are here to help you every step of the way!
