Most women will experience some discomfort during the weaning process, whether weaning from the breast or pumping milk. Finding effective ways to reduce pain during weaning can help nursing mothers reach their goals more comfortably. Fortunately, there are some simple steps that nursing mothers can take to make the weaning process easier.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Getting Started
Step 1. Start slowly
Start the weaning process slowly and gradually. Stopping suddenly will confuse the body and cause pain (or worse) because the breasts are too full of milk. If you stop breastfeeding suddenly, your body may not be able to handle the transition easily and you may experience pain.
- The body has prepared itself to meet the nutritional needs of the baby based on how often the baby suckles. The body has not prepared itself to stop producing milk in a short time. The body needs time to realize that breast milk is no longer needed.
- Side effects that cause pain from stopping breastfeeding suddenly are breasts that are too full of milk, mastitis (inflammation of the milk glands), and blocked milk ducts.
- If you're weaning in stages, it can take as long as milk isn't produced in the same way as weaning, which can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. If you stop breastfeeding suddenly, the time it takes for no milk to be produced depends on how much milk is being produced. If you are producing large amounts of breast milk, it may take a few weeks or a few months.
Step 2. Watch for signs of weaning in babies
Your baby will likely show signs when he's ready to be weaned, such as an interest in solid foods and a loss of interest in breastfeeding. However, infants should not be completely removed from breast milk or formula until they are at least 12 months old nor should they drink cow's milk until they reach this age.
- You can follow the weaning philosophy by guiding the baby, which means allowing the baby to eat solids whenever he starts reaching for food. Your baby will gradually eat more food than breast milk over the next few months.
- Follow your intuition by looking at your baby's readiness to wean. Remember, you are the mother and no one knows your baby better than you. Listen to your baby.
- Remember, every baby is different. Every mother is different too. Learn from the experiences of others but don't take them as truth if you feel different. Your experience is your best guide.
- At the age of 5-6 months, babies need other foods even though they don't have teeth yet. You can tell if your child is ready to chew food if he is getting fussy, is able to sit up unaided, is interested in watching you eat, and makes chewing movements.
Step 3. Introduce food to baby
To understand food as the primary source of nutrition, you have to start slowly. Your baby's digestive system is still developing and he needs breast milk or formula until 12 months of age. Start at 4 months of age with baby cereal and work your way up to solids.
- When first introducing food to an exclusively breastfed baby, remove the milk and mix it with a single-grain baby cereal. This will make the food more appetizing and easier for the baby to chew. Food should be introduced to babies around 6 months of age.
- Between 4-8 months of age, you can introduce fruit, vegetable and meat purees.
- At the age of 9-12 months, you can offer small, unmashed foods such as rice, special biscuits for teething children (teething biscuits), and minced meat.
Step 4. Begin to stop breastfeeding
If your baby feeds every 3 hours, at 9 months you can start feeding every 4-5 hours. Or you can skip breastfeeding at least at his favorite time (or at the most difficult time) and see if the baby notices it. If not, then skip ahead.
- A few days or weeks later, skip another feeding and see if your baby notices it. If the baby continues to adapt to the timing of the omitted breastfeeding, you can continue this development until the last feeding.
- You need to continue to breastfeed in the morning and evening to the maximum. For one thing, you have a lot of milk in the morning after a night of not breastfeeding, so continuing to breastfeed will prevent breast tenderness. Breastfeeding at night may be part of a comfortable nighttime routine, as well as a way to help your baby feel full and sleep better. Breastfeeding at night is usually the last thing to do.
- Stop breastfeeding at night by asking your partner or someone else to calm the baby.
Step 5. Replace breast milk with formula
If you are trying to wean before your baby is 12 months old, you will need to replace your breast milk with formula. Replacing breast milk with formula for one breastfeeding session over a few weeks will eventually stop breastfeeding for you and your baby.
- Experiment with replacing breasts with bottles. If you usually give your baby the breast when he's thirsty, try offering the bottle first and see what happens.
- Alternatively, if you are breastfeeding your baby to sleep, when he begins to fall asleep, remove the nipple and insert a bottle nipple. This can help your baby get used to the taste and nipple of the bottle without realizing it.
- If your baby won't drink from a bottle, try something else, like asking someone else (like the dad) to try offering a bottle when your baby is tired, or using a suction cup.
- If the baby is over 12 months old, you can replace breast milk with whole cow's milk.
Step 6. Reduce pumping sessions gradually
If you are pumping breast milk frequently or exclusively, you need to stop pumping and take the time to do so. The same principle in stopping breastfeeding from the breast applies here: reduce the number of pumping sessions per day. The first step is to reduce to two pumps per day, if possible for 12 hours apart.
- Wait a few days between reduced pumping sessions.
- When you reduce to two pumping sessions per day, reduce the time per pumping session.
- Then reduce it to one pumping session per day, for a few days.
- Reduce the duration of this last pumping session.
- If the milk you get from the pumping session is only 60-88 ml, you can stop pumping completely.
- All the same steps apply to stopping pumping if you experience pain from a full breast, blocked milk duct, or regular pain.
Part 2 of 3: Doing Self Care
Step 1. Use a cold compress to reduce pain from full breasts
Cold compresses, such as ice gel pads or cold washcloths, can restrict the blood vessels in the breasts, leading to low milk production. Cold compresses can also reduce pain and increase comfort.
- In the market there are bras that come with gel pads that can be frozen and put in a pocket at the location of the bust.
- If you don't want to spend money, prepare a wet washcloth with ice water and place it between the breast and the bra. Change washcloths frequently or freeze them beforehand, as body heat makes the washcloth warm up faster.
Step 2. Avoid pumping and stimulating the nipples
Both of these activities can make your body think your baby is breastfeeding and that you need to produce milk. This of course thwarts the purpose of emptying breast milk.
- However, if you are really sick, it is not safe to leave the milk in the breast because it can block the milk ducts. Instead, express or pump enough milk to relieve the pain. Be careful not to pump only a little milk and the body will reduce the supply of milk.
- Taking a warm bath can help to expel the milk, but you shouldn't do this as often as a solution because it can increase your milk supply.
- Place a nursing pad on your nipple if leaking milk is a problem, which can happen if you experience pain. Many women are embarrassed when seeping milk is seen on their clothes. These pads are an effective way to aid absorption.
Step 3. Try a compress with cabbage
Cabbage leaves have been used for centuries to help speed up the emptying process of breast milk. To keep the cabbage compress in place, wear bras that fit even while sleeping. Bras that are too small or too big will feel uncomfortable.
- Cabbage leaves secrete enzymes that aid in the emptying of breast milk, so be sure to smooth the cabbage leaves by folding or grinding them with a dough roller before applying them to the breast; it can release enzymes.
- Place a large, chilled cabbage leaf in each cup of the halter and replace when it's wilted for 24-48 hours.
- Avoid wire braids.
- If cabbage leaves don't work for a few days, stop using them and look for other ways to reduce the pain and emptying of breast milk, such as cold compresses.
Step 4. Massage the breasts
Start a breast massage routine immediately if you notice any swelling in your breasts. If this happens, there may be blockage of the milk ducts. Pay attention to the area and increase the massage time. The goal is to open the blocked duct with massage.
- A warm bath is useful for helping massage to be more effective, but is not recommended because warm water can increase milk production.
- Place a warm compress such as a warm washcloth on the breast before the massage and a cold compress such as a cold gel pad or a cold washcloth after the massage.
- Watch for the appearance of sore and red areas. This can indicate the onset of mastitis.
- Seek medical help if massage attempts fail to open the blocked duct within a day or two. If symptoms worsen or if a fever develops, it is possible that the blocked milk duct has progressed to a condition called mastitis. If you suspect this is the case, contact a health professional immediately because mastitis can lead to serious complications if not treated quickly and appropriately.
Step 5. Ask for suggestions for pain relief
Talk to a healthcare professional about using ibuprofen as a pain reliever if the pain is getting worse and no home remedies are working.
The drug paracetamol, also known as acetaminophen, can relieve pain
Step 6. Be careful with mood swings
Note that hormonal changes from reduced milk supply have an effect on mood. Weaning is a psychological as well as physical experience. Allow yourself to feel whatever is being felt.
Don't be shy if you want to cry during weaning. You may feel a little sad and tears are a way to help mourn the end of your closeness with your baby
Step 7. Maintain a healthy lifestyle
Continue to eat a balanced diet and stay hydrated. Maintaining good health has always been an effective way to help the body function better.
- Keep taking pregnancy vitamins to ensure the proper intake of nutrients into the body as the body tries to adjust to the changes that occur.
- Try to get a full rest each night. The body is going through serious changes and can get help from you. Sleep is one of the best ways for the body to regenerate and heal itself.
Step 8. Talk to a healthcare professional
Talk to someone who specializes in breastfeeding, such as a lactation consultant. Lactation consultants can be found in hospitals and sometimes pediatric clinics, as well as in independent communities. Ask people around you or search the internet.
- Ask about your situation so you can apply the valuable advice in the most accurate way possible.
- Many health centers offer seminars, meetings, or educational classes for breastfeeding mothers who want to learn more about the weaning process. These professionals can often be the best source for real guidance, from those with experience with breastfeeding and weaning.
Step 9. Talk to other experienced mothers
If you have a weaning problem and you can't find a solution, talk to other moms. Find out how the weaning process goes. You may be surprised to hear the hints they offer. Often other mothers can be a great source of information on breastfeeding, weaning, and parenting guidance.
Write down what is said and follow the instructions throughout the weaning process
Part 3 of 3: Anticipating Baby's Needs
Step 1. Provide comfort for the baby
Note that your baby may have a hard time adjusting to changes. The baby not only loses his mother's breast, he also loses comfort with his mother. Look for alternative ways to comfort and reassure the baby that don't involve the breast.
- Take time to hug and show affection, such as giving extra hugs and kisses. This helps the baby get used to the reduced physical contact due to weaning.
- Spend time communicating alone with the baby.
- Ignore stimuli like TV, apps and phone communication, reading, which will divide your attention.
- Make an effort to hug often each day so you don't forget to do it and you have a special time to ignore the phone.
Step 2. Divert the baby's attention
Use distraction methods to prevent your baby from wanting to suckle. Diverting attention can be done easily and in various ways. Anything that distracts your baby from wanting to suckle is a successful diversion tactic.
- During your usual time of breastfeeding, involve your baby in fun games or take a walk outside to help your baby forget to feed.
- Avoid sitting in places where you normally breastfeed.
- Alternate your daily routine so that you don't do things in the same order as when breastfeeding.
- Rearrange the furniture in the room where you usually breastfeed to help your baby stop associating the room with feeding.
- Involve your partner in games and other activities to keep your baby distracted during breastfeeding, such as asking your partner to take the baby outside without you.
- Do not prevent the baby from being tied to a blanket or stuffed animal as this helps in the emotional adjustment of the weaning process.
Step 3. Be patient with the baby
Babies and toddlers can be fussy and irritable during the weaning process because they react to changes. This period will pass and you and your baby will move on to another chapter in life before you know it, and it is important to be patient as you and your baby go through this transition.
- Play with your baby or toddler as this is the most important way of learning, experience and communication.
- If your baby cries a lot when you're weaning and this isn't the time to feed, you can do things like take a break by putting the baby to bed or letting your partner take over the baby for a few minutes, strolling in the stroller, or humming a pat. - pat the baby's body.
Tips
- La Leche League is a breastfeeding support organization and its website is a detailed and essential resource for new mothers, from newborn to breastfeeding. You can find them online and search for suitable groups near where you live.
- Don't wean your baby when he or she is sick or is likely to get sick. Breastfeeding while your baby is sick is one of the best ways to keep your baby hydrated and recover faster.
- If major changes are occurring in your baby's life, such as teething, the arrival of another baby, or moving to a new home, delay weaning until the baby can adjust to these changes to reduce stress.
- You will need to wear a bra that fits properly during weaning to help support your body, but don't wrap your breasts as this can cause mastitis and blockage of the milk ducts.
Warning
- Seek professional help if during weaning the depression is long-lasting and severe.
- Do not spend a long time in the shower because warm water can stimulate milk production.
-
Seek medical help if signs of mastitis are seen. Mastitis requires proper treatment and should not be ignored. Administration of antibiotics is a common procedure. Symptoms of mastitis are:
- fever above 38 degrees Celsius
- red skin, shaped like a triangle or triangular pattern
- swelling in the breast
- pain in breast
- feeling sick/losing energy
