Weaning your child from breastfeeding should normally be a planned and well thought-out decision. Before starting, ask yourself: why am I weaning? Ensuring it’s for the right reasons, weaning your child in a normal, planned way should be a slow process and should not be rushed.
The World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, with the introduction of appropriate complimentary foods with continued breastfeeding from six months up to two years of age and beyond. However, sometimes mothers need to make one of the hardest decisions to wean their child: due to medical reasons.
This can be a highly-charged time, filled with a sense of loss and mixed emotions. This is also an emotional time for your child, as breastfeeding provides your child with much more than nutritional benefits. Before you start the weaning process, ensure there are no other alternatives. If your health professional tells you that you need to wean for a medical condition or for medication reasons, ensure they are up to date with current research and/or current guidelines on medication and breastfeeding. You can also do your own research and review reliable sources such as; ‘Medication and Mothers Milk’ Hale (2014) and breastfeeding research journals.
Tips for weaning for medical reasons:
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Try to wean as gradually as possible, depending on the medical reason.
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Drop the midday or daytime breastfeeding sessions first.
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If your child is on solid food, swap a breastfeeding session for a meal if possible.
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Limit the length of time feeding at the breast, starting with the daytime feeds, and then move onto the night feeds.
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Use a sippy-cup instead of a bottle if your baby is over four months of age.
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If you miss or replace a feed and your breasts begin to feel full/ engorged or uncomfortable. You can massage and hand express a little milk, only until your breasts are comfortable again.
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If you have breast pain, a red area on your breast, or you are feeling unwell; contact your doctor.
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Try not offering a breastfeed at the normal times; however, if your child wants to feed, allow them to feed, with the aim of reducing the number of feeds and time spent feeding.
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Keep giving your child lots of snuggle time, hugs and kisses, like you would normally.
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You can consider baby/ sling-wearing in a carrier, to give your child a sense of comfort and closeness.
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If your child normally breastfeeds to sleep and you are stopping this feed; try to empathize with your child, cover up your breasts, snuggle up or hug your child without feeding. It will be difficult, and you both might shed some tears, however try to stay strong.
There are also herbs and medication that may help to reduce milk production. These should be used only under the supervision of a medical professional. Herbs that reduce breast milk production include peppermint leaves, spearmint leaves, sage, jasmin flowers, and parsley leaf. Cabbage leaves can be used chilled, as a cooling compress placed directly onto the breast. Medication such as hormonal birth control and pseudoephedrine have been reported to suppress breast milk production.
Depending on the age of your child and the compatibility of your medical emergency with breastfeeding, you may also have the opportunity to partially wean. If you have any stored milk, this can be used. You can also consider relactation/ relatching your child after a medical emergency or situation. Weaning your child for medical reasons can be a very challenging time for you and your child, and you will mostly likely need the support of family and friends.
