Weaning Part 1

I’m stopping breastfeeding for my mental health & that’s OKAY!
⁣
I started my nursing journey with my 5 month old honestly being pretty naive. I hadn’t thought about the fact that it is a literal full time job to feed for hours a day + pumping + bottle cleaning + pump part sterilizing + the mental stress of keeping up your supply, figuring out what milk to use when, etc. The list goes on…it’s A LOT⁣
⁣
I spent the first few months having to use a nipple shield, dealing with clogs & an oversupply.⁣
⁣
Then, once things regulated & I felt like we were in a groove, Vonn was getting too distracted or uninterested to nurse. So I was having to top off with bottles & pump after every feed. Not to mention pumping multiple times while working. The mental & physical toll was putting me in a dark & resentful place. ⁣
⁣
I’m no superhero and this is not out of the norm. I’m so grateful I was able to nurse at all. But these are the things that lead me to decide to end our journey. I felt crazy guilt for it (and still do sometimes), but I know I shouldn’t.⁣
⁣
I know that even when we are fully weaned my baby will still be fed and happy. There’s no shame. And I will be the best version I can be as his mama.⁣
⁣
FAQS:⁣

• Currently combo feeding @bobbie + my pumped milk for 3-4 bottles per day. I’m still nursing him morning/night but will drop those feeds soon.⁣

• I’ve avoided clogs/mastitis while weaning by going SLOW. Plan 2-3 months for weaning if you do it like me! I also take Sunflower Lecithin & have stopped taking any production-increasing supps.⁣

• I went from pumping 15 minutes to 12,10,8,5, decreasing the time of the pump session every week or so.⁣

• I also slowly stretched the time between pumping from 3 hours to 4,5,6 & can now go 7 or 8 hours as I’m dropping feeds⁣

• I have a freezer stash we’ll continue to use with formula as combo bottles once I’m dried up. When that’s gone we will do full formula until he’s 1!⁣

• I’m okay so far hormonally but am anticipating some mood swings once we are fully wrapped up ⁣⁣

• Follow @karrie_locher for any and all breastfeeding/weaning info!⁣ I’m feelin a little sad, relieved, powerful and confident!