I have to wean my baby right away. What’s the best way to do this?
There are various reasons why you might need to stop breastfeeding suddenly. While it's not ideal, sometimes it's unavoidable. If your baby is under one year, you will need to provide formula as an alternative to breast milk.
How to Wean Suddenly
Milk needs to remain/build up in the breasts to signal your body to decrease production. The key is finding a balance between becoming engorged (hard, painful, swollen breasts) and emptying the breasts too much. You will need to remove some milk by pumping or hand expression until your body adjusts.
- Go as long as you can between pumping sessions.
- Pump enough to relieve some fullness, but never to fully empty.
- Use a cold pack to decrease swelling.
- Wear a supportive bra. Gentle pressure on the breasts can be helpful, but avoid a bra that is too restrictive or has underwires. Binding the breasts isn’t recommended.
- Talk to your doctor about taking an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory/pain reliever like ibuprofen (Motrin) or acetaminophen (Tylenol).
- Watch for signs of inflammation/infection.
How to help your baby cope
- Provide extra cuddles.
- Read, sing and play together.
- Let your baby have a comfort item, (special blanket, stuffed animal, pacifier) but be sure to follow safe sleep guidelines.
- Offer the bottle (ideally have someone else do this) in a different place than you normally breastfeed. A change in the routine and environment will reduce breastfeeding cues.
- Be patient and show love when your baby experiences difficult emotions.
Bottle Feeding Tips
Keep these four things in mind when offering a bottle:
1. Timing: Offer the bottle at the right time. Aim for 1-2 hours after the last nursing session, while your baby is active but not starving!
2. Happy Cues: Make bottle-feeding a pleasant experience by smiling and talking in a soothing voice.
3. Go Slow: Babies who are used to being fed at the breast like to take their time. Practice paced bottle-feeding to make it similar to breastfeeding. Give baby a small taste on their lips and be gentle.
4. Stop if anyone becomes frustrated: Be patient and try again later. If possible, have someone else offer the bottle to your baby.
Choosing a bottle nipple with a wider base and a flow rate similar to your breast may help. Watch for signs baby is getting enough to eat during this transition.
If Your Situation Changes
If the need to wean abruptly changes and you have more time, consider gradual weaning instead. Click here if your baby is under 1 year, and here if your baby is over 1 year.
Increasing milk production is possible again, even after the weaning process has started and milk supply has decreased. Frequently removing breast milk by nursing and/or pumping, while carefully reducing formula supplementation, will cause your supply to rebound. Make sure baby is getting enough to eat by counting dirty diapers, weight gain and contentment. Reach out to your peer counselor, lactation consultant or doctor for guidance.
For more information on relactation, click here.