Weaning before going back to work

[sparty04]

Right now I bf but don't plan to continue once I return to work next month. With DS1 I weaned over 2 weeks but it seemed easier because I was EP (I just timed my sessions and reduced the time I pumped every few days). What is the easiest way to wean from bf and hopefully avoid mastitis?

As of now I'm still waking up engorged and DS2 has been sleeping in approx 4-6 hour stretches for about 2 weeks now. I'm a little worried about how long my body will take to react if I were to just cut out nursing sessions altogether.

[sparty04]

7 weeks now, my plan is to start weaning after the new year (he'll be 2 months). He hasn't had formula since he was a day old, but gets 1 bottle of pumped bm a day

He nurses every 2.5-3 hours typically during the day, and we usually get a 4-6 hour stretch of sleep during the night

[curbsideprophet]

Are you trying to wean completely or just cut back so you do not have to pump while away from him?

[sparty04]

Dec 21, 2014 16:50:34 GMT -5 curbsideprophet said:

Are you trying to wean completely or just cut back so you do not have to pump while away from him?

Wean completely. I'm ok with a gradual wean, but I prefer to be done before I go back to work

[Velar Fricative]

I definitely would not wean cold turkey at two months. I agree with @starry - track feedings so you can gradually replace nursing sessions with formula bottles. You will likely feel some discomfort but you offer yourself a better chance of lower discomfort and no mastitis by weaning gradually. Good luck!

[curbsideprophet]

I would probably only drop one session a week to give your body a chance to adjust. Not sure if that really has you completely weaned before going back to work though. Maybe an evening session first since most people tend to have a larger supply in the morning. Have you checked out kellymom?