How to stop breastfeeding: advice from the midwife
Introduction
Questions about how to stop breastfeeding are common among mothers to say the least.
Given the importance of this topic - ending the breastfeeding journey with peace of mind is crucial - I decided to create this article.
If you want more tips for conscious breastfeeding, I invite you to discover, by clicking on the button at the end of the paragraph, the video course “Al Profumo di Latte” , curated and held by Dr. Maria Chiara Alvisi , midwife.
For more content on the world of mothers and babies, you can visit me on the Instagram profile @drsilva.com_official .
What to do to stop breastfeeding?
When wondering how to stop breastfeeding , it is essential to first remember to avoid any trick that makes the breast unpleasant for the baby.
To be clear, no unpleasant tasting products on the nipple, such as salt, and no plasters.
Having clarified this aspect, it is good to do a little review of the WHO indications.
The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months of age.
Breast milk should remain the priority option even after the introduction of solid and semi-solid foods, up to two years of age and beyond or until both mother and child desire it.
When you stop breastfeeding, things can change significantly depending on the age of your little one.
Find out more about the topic in the next lines!
How to stop breastfeeding a baby under 6 months old
How to stop breastfeeding a baby under 6 months old ?
The ideal is to remove one feeding per day, replacing it with a bottle of formula.
The advantages of this approach are essentially two:
The breast is given the opportunity to calibrate new production on the basis of new demand rates.
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It allows the baby to get used to the bottle , which requires very different sucking mechanisms than those of the nipple (less active).
Anyone looking for advice on how to stop breastfeeding before six months should be aware of the importance of proceeding gradually.
Otherwise, the risk is that of encountering problems such as mastitis and breast engorgement .
Let's take a concrete example, with numbers, for mothers who are wondering how to stop breastfeeding without mastitis and other similar problems.
If you are used to offering the breast eight times a day, you can start eliminating two feedings, replacing them with formula.
This schedule should be maintained for at least three days, after which a further reduction to four can be made.
This continues for another three days, allowing the breast to reduce milk production slowly.
