https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 07 Apr 2026 23:30:22 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-advice#post-2819987 Wed, 02 May 2018 21:30:09 +0000 JJ2626 2819987@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@caitcat: got it, thanks! I haven’t tried the sudafed but maybe I will. I did go back on the pill about a week ago so that might help too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-advice#post-2819917 Wed, 02 May 2018 15:12:50 +0000 caitcat 2819917@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JJ2626: I'm so glad it's going well for you - and your daughter! :) I stuck with one pump a day for a few days, gradually pumping a less each time by stopping pumping before I was totally empty. And then I tried spreading out pumping a bit more for a few days - instead of pumping each morning, I pumped one morning and then tried to wait until the next afternoon to pump again, and so on. After a few days of spacing it out a bit more, I realized I felt like I didn't "need" to pump anymore. I ended up not feeling much discomfort at all, which was a pleasant surprise. I did keep up the "no more milk" tea for another week or so, and took sudafed for a few more days. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-advice#post-2819843 Wed, 02 May 2018 11:16:13 +0000 JJ2626 2819843@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So I’m almost done! Down to 1 pumping session a day. My daughter is doing great with bottles and we are all so much happier. She slept 7 hours last night and no longer fusses during feedings! But now I’m not sure when to just drop the final session. @caitcat: how did you drop that final session? I know my milk won’t be totally gone by then, but do I just deal with a bit of discomfort for a few days?<br /> Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-advice#post-2816001 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 18:26:05 +0000 JJ2626 2816001@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: thank you!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-advice#post-2815764 Wed, 11 Apr 2018 20:46:02 +0000 periwinklebee 2815764@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JJ2626: Super complicated. I am dreading weaning and think we will have to do it super gradually when we go that route because I hate clogged ducts and mastitis. I hope that it goes really smoothly for you. :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-advice#post-2815740 Wed, 11 Apr 2018 18:40:00 +0000 JJ2626 2815740@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: thank you! I saw your post on your mastitis and it sounded awful. I’m glad things are starting to get better for you! That makes sense about pumping to empty to avoid clogs. It’s all so complicated! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-advice#post-2815690 Wed, 11 Apr 2018 14:20:29 +0000 JJ2626 2815690@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@caitcat: This makes sense-thank you! ! Even getting to 3 sessions would be great. </p> <p>@sweetiepie: Got it-thanks so much! Hope you are enjoying vacation! I’m kind of scared of the sudafed but will try it! My issue is I don’t really get that uncomfortable if I’m full so I’m not sure how long to pump for, but maybe I’ll start with like 5 mins instead of ten. The clogged ducts happened without warning. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-advice#post-2815668 Wed, 11 Apr 2018 13:38:26 +0000 SweetiePie 2815668@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JJ2626: Sorry on vacation so don’t have my phone as much as usual!<br /> I took sudafed for about 2 weeks total, but I did notice a significant difference after about 48 hours.<br /> I’d say that I felt completely done with discomfort after only a few days, but remember I went cold turkey. I’m 7 weeks pp now and if I manipulate manually I can still get some milk. But I don’t feel “full” or uncomfortable at all. I feel like I have my normal boobs just a little bigger than pre-pregnancy (I’m usually a 34D and right now I’m in a 36DD bra). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-advice#post-2815651 Wed, 11 Apr 2018 12:10:13 +0000 caitcat 2815651@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JJ2626: Yeah, I just started pumping all at once. If a middle of the night feeding happened to fall around (like within an hour) of when I was going to pump, I still nursed then so I wouldn't have to get up twice. But otherwise, I just stopped nursing her and only pumped. For what it's worth, my daughter didn't seem to mind at all! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-advice#post-2815650 Wed, 11 Apr 2018 12:09:38 +0000 Silva 2815650@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have advice but I just wanted to say that you are doing a really amazing job making the best decisions for you and your baby. I'm sorry you were judged and unsupported. Best of luck to you </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-advice#post-2815648 Wed, 11 Apr 2018 12:08:39 +0000 caitcat 2815648@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JJ2626: I think it took me about 4 weeks to be really done, but I took it slowly because I was pretty cautious about clogged ducts and not wanting to feel uncomfortable. I'd had mastitis twice while I was breastfeeding and really didn't want to risk it again. I did pump until empty for the most part through the process. Once I was down to just one pump session a day, I slowly backed off and stopped some of those sessions short before I was totally empty - or just tried to push them farther apart (like going a day and a half instead of a day when I was really close to dried up). </p> <p>Once I was down to two or three pumps a day, it didn't feel like pumping was taking over my life quite so much - and I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-advice#post-2815646 Wed, 11 Apr 2018 11:58:16 +0000 JJ2626 2815646@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@caitcat: One more question-did you just switch to pumping all at once? Like one day just started pumping all sessions? Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-advice#post-2815615 Wed, 11 Apr 2018 10:26:44 +0000 periwinklebee 2815615@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JJ2626: I don't yet have experience with weaning, so please take this with a grain of salt, but I do have way too much experience with clogged ducts. I was getting them in both breasts on a near daily basis, had mastitis, plus an adverse reaction to the antibiotic given for mastitis and a bad GI response to lecithin...in short, I really sympathize with how much they suck. </p> <p>What has worked for me in reducing them - and reducing their severity - may be at odds with the advice given for weaning. I was getting them all the time because my LO was tongue tied - so could not empty my breast - and the pump I was using was also not good for that. I'm now using a hospital grade pump and using it for longer, and it's made a huge difference because my breast is getting more emptied, so clogs are less likely to form. If I were you, I'd follow all the advice about gradually spacing out pump sessions or feedings, taking stuff to dry up supply, but I would empty out the breast when pumping to avoid clogged ducts. For me personally, it would be worth drying up a bit more slowly to avoid that discomfort and mastitis risk... If you've had a lot of them, you probably have some lingering inflammation that will make you susceptible.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-advice#post-2815593 Wed, 11 Apr 2018 09:15:11 +0000 JJ2626 2815593@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: Thank you! That’s great you found a supportive LC. Your info is so helpful. How long did you take the sudafed for? And how long did the whole thing take? So crazy how much work it is!</p> <p>@caitcat: thanks-it really can be rough! The all pumping thing is interesting- I was thinking about this option when I asked about pumping since I’d love a clean break too and the act of BFing has just become so stressful in itself. How long did this all take you? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-advice#post-2815573 Wed, 11 Apr 2018 07:31:54 +0000 SweetiePie 2815573@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was there and I think youre doing the right thing! It helped me enjoy my baby so much more when I wasn’t a slave to BF and the pump.<br /> And I have to say that it’s such a shame that so many LCs are so unsupportive. I would bet that the majority are all feminists and “my body my choice” and all that - but when it comes to a woman weaning because she’s miserable they are pretty shitty. There are some good, supportive ones out there though. The one I had for my first son actually told ME she thought I’d be happier if I weaned around 5/6 weeks. And for this baby (7 weeks) I called her solely because I didn’t want to BF or pump at all this time and I wanted her to help me dry up! And she totally supported me and walked me through it. Here’s what she had me do on a pretty constant schedule:</p> <p>1) ice packs. Both for comfort and to help dry up. I bought a few bags of frozen peas and distributed them to quart sized bags and put those in. I put a sports bra/coobie over my nursing bra and put the peas between the two bras. I just reused those.<br /> 2) avoid the shower water hitting your breasts. Not just the nipples, the entire breast. Keep your back to the shower head for at least a couple of weeks.<br /> 3) “no more milk” tea works great. Add some honey and it’s not so bad. Just sort of minty. 3x a day is what the box says. You can have it hot 3 times a day or you can make a big batch and have it iced or reheat it. I love coffee but I just replaced my morning coffee with it for a couple of weeks just to make sure I was getting it in.<br /> 4) Sudafed sudafed sudafed. It helped pretty quickly. I took it as often as it was allowed on the box - I think every 4-6 hours?<br /> 5) altoids. Just chew a few throughout the day<br /> 6) cabbage leaves. Stinky but works. You have to replace them a lot though. I did this the least of all the things listed.<br /> 7) definitely keep taking lecithin if you already are, start if you’re not.<br /> 8) pump to comfort only. Don’t empty the breast. Since I wanted to wean FAST that’s what I did. I know some people do it more gradually but slowly dropping feeds or pumps. But I just stopped emptying myself cold turkey and pumped to comfort. And I had a borderline oversupply and it still worked for me. </p> <p>You will feel so much relief when you’re all done with BF/pumping. If you felt super conflicted I might not say that, but since it sounds like you’re just over it, it will be a really good thing for you. I had ppd/PPA with my first and the weaning helped immensely. You might feel a little sad at first or second guess yourself - NORMAL. But just power through and after a few days when milk decreases and you feel the freedom, you’ll be over it! </p> <p>Lots of luck to you! I hope it brings the peace you need! (I’m sure it will!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-advice#post-2815566 Wed, 11 Apr 2018 06:05:40 +0000 caitcat 2815566@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I decided to stop breastfeeding around four months with my second baby for similar reasons - we'd had one struggle after another, I had clogged ducts all the time, and I was miserable from it. I was in such a rough place with the whole experience, and I was SO ready to move on. It felt like a huge fog lifted for me once I made the decision to stop. I hope you find similar relief. :) </p> <p>Here are few things that helped me - though there are so many strategies out there! I had been taking soy lecithin supplements to help prevent clogged ducts in the first place, and continued to take it while drying up. I switched to just pumping, rather than nursing and dropping feeds. In part, it helped me have a clear breaking point with nursing - and I also found it was easier for me to spread out my pumping sessions to slowly drop supply. I felt like I could time pumping sessions better than I could time when my daughter wanted to eat. </p> <p>I think I was nursing about 6 times a day when I began weaning, so I just switched to pumping 6x/day for about two days, then re-spaced the sessions to drop to 5/day for a few days, then re-spaced them again to drop to 4/day for a few days, etc. It was kind of a pain to do it this way because for some middle of the night feedings, it meant I was waking up once to pump, and then soon after to give the baby a bottle...not ideal, but it was a short lived problem. A few times, when my pumping session more or less lined up with when she woke, I just went ahead and nursed because it was easier. It took me a few weeks to be done. At the beginning, I think I was pumping about 28-30 ounces a day. </p> <p>I drank the "no more milk tea" - not sure if it helped, but it probably didn't hurt. I also happened to have a pretty bad cold right as I was almost done pumping, and decided to take sudafed - that might have helped dry up at the very end, but was kind coincidental timing for me and I'm not sure it made a difference. </p> <p>Also, I didn't know what an impact flange size could have on preventing or contributing to clogged ducts. With my first baby, the standard flange size that came with my pump worked just fine for me - but this time around, I needed a different size...once I got that fit right, it helped pumping go more smoothly both while I was still breastfeeding and as I was stopping. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-advice#post-2815563 Wed, 11 Apr 2018 04:22:02 +0000 JJ2626 2815563@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mama Bird: dry up completely. Just wasn’t sure if pumping first for a day or 2 would make it more gradual but slowly dropping feeds would be easier. Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-advice#post-2815562 Wed, 11 Apr 2018 04:13:26 +0000 Mama Bird 2815562@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Are you trying to switch to pumping, or to drying up your supply altogether? If you don't want to pump long-term it's probably better to slowly drop feeds without the pumping step involved. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-advice#post-2815556 Wed, 11 Apr 2018 00:08:01 +0000 kitty 2815556@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can you do it slowly over the next few weeks to let your supply dry up more gently? I replaced one feed with the bottle, then another feed a few days later, then another a few days later, etc. I did it without pumping, although I would have just done a short pump at each dropped feed if I had risk of engorgement.<br /> If you really want to switch to all pumping I'm sure that would be fine but I always hated pumping and didn't get much from it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-advice#post-2815555 Tue, 10 Apr 2018 23:45:06 +0000 crazydoglady 2815555@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JJ2626: No per personal advice, but this thread has some great ideas!<br /> <a href="http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-make-my-milk-dry-up#post-1182157" rel="nofollow">http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-i-make-my-milk-dry-up#post-1182157</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weaning-advice#post-2815553 Tue, 10 Apr 2018 23:07:59 +0000 JJ2626 2815553@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi all-My baby is 8 weeks old and I have been struggling with breastfeeding the whole time. From low supply to now maybe a fast supply and clogged ducts, it’s been really hard and one thing after another. I’ve decided I’m ready to wean. We are already supplementing with formula so I know my daughter is ok with a bottle. I met with a lactation counselor last week to talk about the clogged duct and she made me feel awful about wanting to wean and basically wouldn’t answer any of my questions. So, I’m looking here for non-judgmental tips to wean. This is something I need to do in order to be a good mom and be there for my daughter.</p> <p>So, any advice/strategies/tips? I’d like to do it in a few weeks. Some specific questions:</p> <p>-Do I need to replace one feed at a time with pumping for a few days before I drop it?<br /> -Or can I go to all pumping first?<br /> -How do I avoid clogged ducts? I hate them and am terrified of mastitis.<br /> -Any supplements that are worth taking? Like no more milk tea?</p> <p>Thanks for any and all thoughts!! </p>