Weaning Tips

Tips on weaning:

If you are ready to wean then there are several things you can do to ease the transition and possible engorgement that can occur while weaning.

The preferable method is to cut out 1 feed every 3rd day until you are "dried up". It can take weeks or months. This method is the least painful for you and baby. This worked REALLY well for me. It did not take long for me before we ended up only nursing before nap and bedtime. Then, when I was ready for that hurdle, I quit that as well. I did not need to use cabbage leaves or cold packs but I am told those really work.

The quick wean method is to cold turkey stop all feeds and stop ALL EMPTYING. If you keep emptying you will keep producing. DO NOT BIND your breasts, this not only is painful but it does not help.

You can however use cabbage leaves to aid in the process and reduce engorgement pain. Simply buy a head of green cabbage (red is ok but will stain fabric). Tear the entire leaves off, wash them, put them in a ziploc bag in the fridge to store and place one leaf in your bra until it is wilted. Throw away the wilted leaf and replace. Do this over and over until your milk is gone. It has been known to dry up milk in a day instead of a week.

some advice above was collected from askthelactationconsultant.com, which is a great resource for breastfeeding moms, and some is just what worked for me. I hope it helped. Share your weaning story!

Weaning Tips

Tips on weaning:

If you are ready to wean then there are several things you can do to ease the transition and possible engorgement that can occur while weaning.

The preferable method is to cut out 1 feed every 3rd day until you are "dried up". It can take weeks or months. This method is the least painful for you and baby. This worked REALLY well for me. It did not take long for me before we ended up only nursing before nap and bedtime. Then, when I was ready for that hurdle, I quit that as well. I did not need to use cabbage leaves or cold packs but I am told those really work.

The quick wean method is to cold turkey stop all feeds and stop ALL EMPTYING. If you keep emptying you will keep producing. DO NOT BIND your breasts, this not only is painful but it does not help.

You can however use cabbage leaves to aid in the process and reduce engorgement pain. Simply buy a head of green cabbage (red is ok but will stain fabric). Tear the entire leaves off, wash them, put them in a ziploc bag in the fridge to store and place one leaf in your bra until it is wilted. Throw away the wilted leaf and replace. Do this over and over until your milk is gone. It has been known to dry up milk in a day instead of a week.

some advice above was collected from askthelactationconsultant.com, which is a great resource for breastfeeding moms, and some is just what worked for me. I hope it helped. Share your weaning story!

Skin to win!

I LOVE the reminder from askthelactationconsultant.com about Kangaroo Care. What is Kangaroo Care you ask? It is another name for skin to skin contact with newborns. I had never heard this term, but apparently it originated from the ways Kangaroos carry their babies in a pouch (makes sense).

I do know that right after I gave birth to my son the nurse rapidly ripped down my gown (oh, yes she did) and put my son on my chest. I had read it was important to do but I found it interesting that the nurse did not ask, she just went ahead and did. Of course I am grateful, as I know the importance of the contact. In the first few days my husband also spent a lot of time having some Kangaroo time with our son and we all loved it as we felt it strengthened our bond!

Here is some more information about the benefits, which I did not know at the time:

The use of this technique has helped babies especially a premature baby to thrive. This simple action benefits the baby in many ways. To mention a few: helps to regulate blood sugars, temperatures and breathing.

The impact of chest to chest contact has on babies outcomes has been remarkable. Askthelactationconsultant has personally witnessed "a reduction in the "need" for formula supplementation due to low blood sugars, in my hospital setting, since we implemented this practice after birth."

Askthelactationconsultant urges moms (and Nicole says why not dads too! Heck even grandma or grandpa can right?!) to have a newborn placed on your chest as often as possible the 1st 24 hours. The benefits are many not to mention it is so precious.

Tip: Baby is stripped down to diaper, placed against the chest, blanket over both of you. Moms you may feel really warm while doing this, your body temperature will rise naturally to keep the baby warm. It is an amazing thing.