Weaning is a topic that worries and distresses many mothers, and that generates a good share of doubts and fears! But don't worry, just as establishing successful breastfeeding is a process that requires TIME and PATIENCE , successful weaning is also possible if we apply the same principle.
To find out how to start this process, we spoke with Paulina Campos from @bendita_lactancia , a nurse and breastfeeding and child neurodevelopment consultant, who explained to us step by step how to do it in a way that is respectful for the mother and her child.
So if you are thinking about weaning, but don't know where to start, this post is for you!
How to identify when it is time to start weaning?
The moment of weaning is very personal. Some women enjoy breastfeeding from the start and others do not feel as comfortable with it over time. Weaning can begin when the baby stops showing interest in the breast, when the mother is already feeling very exhausted, when breastfeeding is no longer comfortable for one of the two.
Respectful weaning
It is ideal to do it gradually, both for the baby and for the mother's body. Weaning early helps us to replace our baby's food with another, comforting, the way of putting him to sleep and everything related to breastfeeding. Because we must remember that our babies do not only use the breast to eat, breastfeeding is much more than that.
Once the decision is made, where to start?
I always recommend taking a period of observation with our little ones. The breast is much more than food and our babies ask for it for different reasons: to start a nap , to comfort themselves, to eat, to cuddle, etc. Taking the time to observe allows you to understand why they are asking for the breast.
For example, if I know that the baby is asking for the breast because he is hungry, I can offer a food that the baby likes or a milk; if he is bored I can do a fun activity; if he asks for the breast to sleep I can sing to him or hold him in my arms. This makes it easier to replace each feeding and thus gradually wean our baby.
A tip for coping with grief or saying goodbye when weaning
“I would tell that mother to take the time to close that cycle, to end it. Many mothers perform some ritual, write a letter, make some breast milk jewelry with that last milk, have a photo session, to remember this moment forever,” suggests Paulina.
Once weaning is complete, how long can milk continue to flow?
It can take weeks, even months. The process of stopping milk production is not so immediate for all women. If this process takes a few more weeks, it is important to extract that milk so as not to cause breast engorgement. However, in order not to continue stimulating the gland and to continue with active production, it is ideal to extract only if the breast feels engorged and in that case, extract only until the breast feels softer, not until the last drop comes out. In this way, little by little we will need to extract less until we reach the point of not extracting any more.
