I could really use some advice from those of you who have already gone through this.
My daughter will be turning one soon, and I’ve been exclusively pumping for almost a year. I’m so grateful I’ve been able to make it this far, but I think I’m finally ready to begin weaning.
The problem is…I have no idea where to start. I want to stop producing milk gradually so I can avoid becoming engorged or getting clogged ducts or mastitis.
For those of you who have successfully weaned:
How did you slowly decrease your milk supply?
Did you drop one pumping session at a time or shorten each session?
About how long did the process take?
Is there anything you wish you had known before you started?
Any tips, schedules, or personal experiences would mean so much. Thank you in advance!
I know there’s conflicting answers on this, but my doctor and LC advised to use cabbage leaves in the bra and stop cold turkey. They said IF you need to, express until relief. I have pumped/BF for a few months and have done this 3 times. Never had any mastitis. My chest gets rock hard and painful to the touch but it only lasts about a week. The cold cabbage leaves feel really good. Again, this may be controversial and others may not agree but this has worked for me.
As for the gradual stopping, drop a pump/feed a week and eventually your supply will drop.
I wish I had advice to help you. I exclusively nursed and pumped with my second, but I became pregnant with my third when he was about 10 months old. Naturally, my milk supply started to drop because of the pregnancy & eventually it dried up on its own. It was such a bitter sweet transition, so I completely understand how much of a change it can be! Hoping some mamas on here have advice that can be super helpful in this season of motherhood for you
Of course I wear them all day every day and change them out several times throughout the day for about a week. If you take them out and no milk comes out, you may be close. If you start to see milk shortly after stopping the cabbage in your bra, then pick up again and do it another day or two. The cold cabbage feels wonderful. I was also told to keep my back to the shower so the heat doesn’t help express milk.
When I did my first, I first shortened my morning pump.i also stopped prioritizing snacks- food, so I ate a Lille mess. Then I cut a pump. Then just kept that routine. I took a couple months , about 1-2 weeks per phase. It didn’t have to take you long but I was ok with it and didn’t want to risk any clogs
Hi! My last journey I had to dry up fairly quickly as my baby was diagnosed with 100% dairy allergy. I used a decompression and cabbage leaves, make sure you crumble these before placing it in your bra as there’s something inside that helps with drying up.
Of course!! Yes like Tori3 said, break the veins of the cabbage leaves then stick in the bra. There’s enzymes, I believe, in the leaves and that’s what causes the milk to dry up. So break the spines/veins of the cabbage and then put them in your bra. It’s shocking to your boobs at first but I do put them in my bra ice cold. They feel good when you’re so engorged and in some pain.
I exclusively nursed and pumped with my second, but I became pregnant with my third when he was about 10 months old. Naturally, my milk supply started to drop because of the pregnancy & eventually it dried up on its own. It was such a bitter sweet transition, so I completely understand how much of a change it can be! Hoping some mamas on here have advice that can be super helpful in this season of motherhood for you 
method. Do you know how long to wear them? Thank you so much for your help. 
