Talk to me about partial weaning

redrocksmama · May 2014

Just looking for any insight from ladies who have partially weaned. I'm thinking about weaning for LO's 2 mid-day feedings, but I'd like to keep nursing at night and first thing in the morning. Has anyone had success partially weaning and having it not affect their supply for the remaining feeds? I'm nervous my overall supply will tank by removing feedings. Also, I'm struggling with what would replace those 2 feedings - WCM, formula or solids. DS is one of the younger J13 babies and just turned 10 months.

And finally, is hand expression or a few minutes of pumping the only thing to help engorgement if I'm only partially weaning? I assume cabbage leaves and Sudafed would be harmful to my supply since I'm still trying to keep night feeds. I've always been prone to plugged ducts (I average at least 1 every 2 weeks) so I'm really scared about what missing feeds is going to do. :-S

R314159 · May 2014

I don't have any experience but what I plan to do is just drop one pump/nurse session every several days.

I posted on here a week or so ago asking the same question...about giving WCM or formula. My LO is almost 11 months though. My pedi said it was fine to do WCM since LO is closer to 11 months. I still haven't actually done it yet though, still trying to hold off a bit longer.

I would Not do Sudafed or anything. I'm thinking you can just drop one session at a time and be okay.

Good luck!

Pink724 · May 2014

I would also ask your pedi about WCM at this age. My pedi says it's fine after 10 months, so personally that is what I would replace it with. Good luck!

bobcee · May 2014

I slowly weaned DD similar to this and your body will adjust. I cut out one pump each week or so and then dropped one nursing session each week and was just doing morning and evening. I eventually was doing just evenings. Pump just for relief of you need to, not til empty. If you drop them slowly, I don't think you'll have many issues.

I have no advice on what to replace it with though because we didn't start dropping until after a year, so we just went to WCM.

redhead610 · May 2014

We have totally weaned at this point, but at 7 months we dropped one feeding and replaced it with formula, and continued just that one feeding for a month before weaning further. My supply was not affected at all.

I would use formula if lo is only 10 months - store brand or maybe the toddler transitions. As far as the engorgement goes, try to let your body adjust naturally, but if necessary hand express a little.

opheliainwaders · May 2014

I've been starting to wean from the pump, dropped from 3 pumps to 2 last week, and pumped just once today. So far, so good. DD drinks whatever I pump mixed with WCM (she'll be 1 on 6/6, so our pedi said not to bother with formula if she's still nursing too). So far, I haven't noticed any issues with supply, and I've started offering one bottle during the day in lieu of nursing before lunch. She's not really a fan at the moment, but we'll see how that goes. Otherwise, I just nurse on demand when we're together.*

*which, because she's cutting teeth 5&6 is, apparently ALL NIGHT LONG. Blerg.

cuterusaurus · May 2014

Meh. Do I need to think about weaning? Waaaah

Lelo2006 · May 2014

2012ames said:
Meh. Do I need to think about weaning? Waaaah

You don't have to if you don't want to!

DenverBride2005 · May 2014

Hey mama--all good advice from PPs. With DS1 I weaned down to just morning and night at a year and I was able to keep supply up for another few months although I'd stopped the daytime feeds/pumps. Although at that point I was mostly comfort nursing him just to keep up our routine and because we both still wanted to do it, and not out of nutritional necessity. I am not going to lie that I am getting excited about stopping pumping soon, I think my plan is to stop by end of June so that I can wean slowly over the next two weeks and we'll be on cow milk by 11.5 months (I have a 7 day work trip in mid-July and I have no interest in dragging my pump along for that trip!). We're already supplementing with formula quite a bit because I'm only pumping enough for one bottle a day now!

It feels like a lot of work for such little output but the end is in sight so I am just going to stick it out another month. Good luck with your plan! I think going slowly will help your body to adjust.

equinus · May 2014

With my DD I stopped pumping at a year and continued to nurse on demand evenings and weekends, and she got WCM during the day while I was working. She self weaned at 21mos. Nursing a toddler was a wonderful experience, I'm hoping Ian goes to at least 18mos,but I am leaving it up to him.

With Ian I got sick of the pump at 8 mos, and he gets 2 bottles of formula during the day while I work, and I nurse on demand evenings and weekends. I definitely noticed a supply drop when I started supplementing, so I do still pump occasionally if I feel like I need a boost. Engorgment really wasn't an issue with me, but maybe just get a hand pump for the occasional relief if you are prone to engorgement/clogged ducts? I plan on switching to WCM once this tub of formula is done since he is almost 11mos. OP, If your LO is barely 10 mos, I would probably do formula, but that is a good question for your pedi. Good luck!

Want a personalized experience?

Talk to me about partial weaning

Re: Talk to me about partial weaning

Choose Another Board

Search Boards