Weaning breastfeeding pain is normal, varied among women, and different than typical breastfeeding pain. It’s different because the pain is not from feeding your baby but from transitioning her from one source of nutrition to another.
The most likely offender of weaning breastfeeding pain is engorgement of the breasts.
Many of us enjoyed larger breasts during pregnancy and breastfeeding, the most vibrant and womanly we’ve been. However, weaning engorgement isn’t sexy– it’s just a pain! To avoid this, take weaning slowly. Maintain your child’s morning and evening routines of breast milk intake. But select one feeding during the day to not offer breast milk. Continue to increase the decrease of breast milk offerings over the period of two to four weeks until you’re only offering only the morning and evening feedings. When you and your child are ready, wean completely by eliminating all breastfeeding sessions.
If engorgement pain persists, even while weaning slowly, utilize a breast pump to express your milk. This will alleviate the engorgement you feel. You may also find that breast milk, from a bottle, helps ease your baby from breast to bottle smoothly. A peaceful transition, for both of you, is the goal!
Other ways of treating engorgement pain: Cold Compresses directly applied to breasts or Cabbage Leaves. (You read that right, Cabbage Leaves, who knew?) Pain relievers, such as Tylenol, may also be used until pain and engorgement subside.
The second most likely offender of pain during weaning is that of your emotional well-being.
Some mamas are ready to stop breastfeeding, while others are not. Some women may feel they’re ready only to discover, when breastfeeding comes to an end, they’re sad regarding the disconnect. You might cry, and it’s okay to not feel okay emotionally. But if you’re feeling sad to the point of depression seek out assistance from your OB/GYN (Obstetrician/Gynecologist).
It’s normal to mourn, even to mourn when a new routine replaces an old one, and to look back wistfully. Prescribed short-term use of medication, to help you transition mentally and emotionally when dealing with weaning breastfeeding pain, could be a life saver for you! Moms at their best ensure that babies are at their best too. There is no shame in asking for help or seeking out mental health treatment.
The good news? Weaning breastfeeding pain, whether physical or emotional, will fade and become just another bump in the road. A memory without pain associated with it. Just like all pains related to our children– childbirth, breastfeeding, weaning, and/or child-rearing– the pain is worth the joyful moments in between. And, I’ve heard, that grand-parenting is awesome! You’ll be much more laid back, and will find immense joy and satisfaction, in shopping for all things baby all over again; the circle of life.
Take each day of motherhood with your head held high. Awesome is on the horizon and I look forward to meeting you on the other side of our mothering pains. Journey well, friend, and remember you’re not alone in whatever you face today. May our connection, via the internet, be enough to sustain you and show you this truth: With 7 billion people on the planet, there is someone out there facing the exact same hurdles as you. Never alone, we mothers are everywhere!
And, regardless of political affiliation, no truer words may have ever been spoken than those by Hillary Clinton, “It takes a village.” It takes a village to raise up our children and it takes a village for moms to be healthy too. We all need each other and that’s part of why the Breastfeeding Place is such a wonderful stop along life’s way for us to take moments of pause, deep breaths, and gather round together.
May you take these words with you as you go: Mothers are made awesome, it’s in our name (M.A.M.A.), and we can do hard things with panache and a smile.
