(@) related - Getting Off The Boobs

[NitaX]

I'm tired of being attached to the pump, so I've been slowly weaning Nae.
So far, dropping the sessions has gone smoothly. I only pump first thing in the morning and the amount I get is about 4-5oz (this is a big drop because I would previously get 8-9oz first thing in the morning).

We are down to basic comfort nursing - mainly around bedtime. I've dropped the work pump session, and now I'm inching toward dropping the night nursing.My biggest fear is that Naomi will pitch a hissy fit and throw the bottle of regular milk clear across the room. Any tips to make the nighttime transition easier?

And how long did it take for you to finally go all day without any fullness? I didn't get to slowly wean T. I had a wicked sinus infection when she was about Nae's age and had to quit nursing cold turkey. Plus the meds dried my milk up so I never had any engorgement.

[meg]

you can cut the pump without cutting the nursing fwiw (if you WANT that is). I stopped pumping about a month ago... I just cut one session at a time. For a few days I tried to shift the times a little etc but in the end I just cut a session and that was that. I had some fullness for a few days but it really wasnt bad. If you are only pumping once anyhow you could try just... stopping. If that is too uncomfortable you can just pump for half the time and stop before you are done, kwim?

Have you introduced milk yet? I would do that before weaning her personally (but not everyone does it that way). Do you have milk in the freezer for her? We are still nursing (a LOT lol) though he hs cut back some. I introduced WCM not long after he turned 1. He takes it mostly in a sippy just fine, though doesn't take nearly as much as a bottle. I have just started giving him a bottle of WCM right before bed in an effort to try to get him to sleep longer at night. He chugs it just as quick as a bottle of BM.

GL!!!!

[NitaX]

May 30, 2012 17:20:28 GMT -5 meg said:

you can cut the pump without cutting the nursing fwiw (if you WANT that is). I stopped pumping about a month ago... I just cut one session at a time. For a few days I tried to shift the times a little etc but in the end I just cut a session and that was that. I had some fullness for a few days but it really wasnt bad. If you are only pumping once anyhow you could try just... stopping. If that is too uncomfortable you can just pump for half the time and stop before you are done, kwim?

Have you introduced milk yet? I would do that before weaning her personally (but not everyone does it that way). Do you have milk in the freezer for her? We are still nursing (a LOT lol) though he hs cut back some. I introduced WCM not long after he turned 1. He takes it mostly in a sippy just fine, though doesn't take nearly as much as a bottle. I have just started giving him a bottle of WCM right before bed in an effort to try to get him to sleep longer at night. He chugs it just as quick as a bottle of BM.

GL!!!!

Yep. She has been introduced to milk. I still add whatever BM I pump for her (but only like 2 oz to her bottle with cow's milk). If she gets too close to me or lays on my chest, she will want to nurse.

My freezer stash is pretty much depleted. There's a little left, but not much may about 40oz or so if that much.

[meg]

yeah me too on the freezer. Id cut either the pump or the night nurse one at a time (Id go with the pump first myself just because well... pumping sucks lol). We aren't weaning so I can't really help ya out... maybe try having daddy be on bedtime duty a little to help? Or maybe she will surprise you and be OK with cuddling with mommy with a bottle.

Whatever you do Im sure she will get used to it quickly... a few bad nights at the most!

[EllieArroway]

When I weaned DS I slowly cut him down to just the night session then told him that my milk was all gone & we switched up his bedtime routine so that DH put him in bed instead of me for a week or two until he finally stopped asking for it. It was honestly much easier than I was expecting it to be. He was 18 months, though - I'm not sure how old your LO is or if she would understand 'all gone' yet.

[ering1115]

We are in the same boat, ds is just 13 months. No more pumping (thank you baby jeebus!) and we nurse first thing in the morning, immediately after daycare, and right before bed.

I am trying to cut the post-daycare session but it is HARD. He flips if we don't and we both really need the power nap he takes right before dinner. I am going to try to give him a snack on the walk home from daycare and see how he responds to that next week. I think dropping the morning nursing session will actually be the easiest for us. I just need dh to be ready to wake up a little earlier and feed him a sippy of milk if he is hungry before he gets to daycare for breakfast. I think the night session might not be horrible but the one after daycare.....

We have a TON of frozen milk still and ds hasn't gotten wcm yet. Should I start letting him do a sippy of wcm and a sippy of bm at daycare? He loves milkshakes and smoothies so I am hoping it isn't too rough of a transition.

[Deleted]

Take some sudafed. It will dry up your millk, but let her nurse.

My boys didn't like milk so I gave them those stoneyfield farm milk drinks initially slowly adding cows milk to to them.

[ringstrue]

What happened with DD is that, when I stopped pumping, I wasn't full enough in the evenings to satisfy her so she'd get upset and want the bottle anyway. I can't tell if you are trying to get rid of all nursing or not, but if you are, I'd just give it a few days to a week to adjust down. Your body picks up the fact that it isn't getting nursed on really fast- that's why EPing is so hard.

I never had to deal with stopping comfort nursing- but I can tell you that just having the bottle right there in your hand and having a really low supply gives her a natural way to segway on her own.

[cookiemdough]

I let DH feed DS at night when I dropped the last nursing session. DS was ready anyway though because he was getting frustrated with my low supply at that point.

[ering1115]

May 31, 2012 8:06:18 GMT -5 @barefootbarista said:

Im trying to rigure this out as well. Ive dropped to one pumping session. I tried to drop it, but my boobs would get so full and uncomfortable.

To add to this question-how on earth do you get them to drop the bottle?? DD is a distracted eater and nurser, so I can only really get her to dri k if she is isolated-so I nurse or give a bottle before naps. She is 11 months, but my pedi thinks she should be off the bottle by 13-14 months.

We started with a sippy cup of cold water at dinner first. Since it was completely novel- ds loved it. We slowly transitioned to cold bm in the sippy, just trying a few ounces now and again. He will do that with meals, at daycare, or during the middle of the day.

[NitaX]

May 31, 2012 8:06:18 GMT -5 @barefootbarista said:

Im trying to rigure this out as well. Ive dropped to one pumping session. I tried to drop it, but my boobs would get so full and uncomfortable.

To add to this question-how on earth do you get them to drop the bottle?? DD is a distracted eater and nurser, so I can only really get her to dri k if she is isolated-so I nurse or give a bottle before naps. She is 11 months, but my pedi thinks she should be off the bottle by 13-14 months.

Thanks everyone! Ellie - My DD is 14 months old. I'm going to try just dropping her morning nursing session. I still pump in the morning, but I'll cut it short like megs suggested.

BFB - Try out different sippy cups for your LO. Nae doesn't really care for the Avent sippy cups, but the Munchkin ones are her favorite. www.diapers.com/p/munchkin-mighty-grip-trainer-cup-8-oz-2-pk-18150?site=CA&utm_source=cse&utm_medium=cpc_D&utm_term=MC-079&utm_campaign=googleproductsearch&CAWELAID=1338637237

Her daycare gives her a sippy cup with meals and snacks. She gets a bottle at naptime and DH will give her a bottle at bedtime if I don't nurse her. I swear we went thru about 3 different cups to find one she likes.

[shouldbworkin]

When we were down to only nursing am/pm (had already cut out pumping and nursing during the day), I was out of the house for a few evenings in a row, which forced DH to handle bedtime. After 3 nights, DD gave up trying to hold out for mommy. She ended up weaning completely in 3 days and was fine. I did introduce a paci at that time though b/c she was a comfort sucker. She didn't take one as an infant, but probably would have if I'd tried it later. She used one until almost 3 y/o, which I was ok with.